Sacred Valley In Depth

Food, Cuisine & Market visits, Local life / Culture

• Browse for souvenirs in the bustling Pisac local market
• Visit key Sacred Valley highlights, the archeological sites of Pisac and Ollantaytambo
• Go beyond the traditional sites to explore smaller streets and experience daily life and local Quechua culture
• Be amazed by the stunning views of the valley along the way

Don't miss the opportunity to hop on a day tour from Cusco to see life beyond the city. One of our favourite spots to show off is the Sacred Valley, a hugely important region during the Inca Empire. Centred around the Urubamba River, the Sacred Valley is home to ancient Incan citadels, scientific stations, and villages like Pisac, our first stop on this Sacred Valley tour. 

 

At the heart of the Sacred Valley, Pisac is an ideal place to see Andean life up-close. Home to a bustling craft market where the barter system is still an accepted method for buying goods, it's a great spot to explore the market and test your bartering skills before heading out of town to a smaller community.

 

As you go, be sure to take in the spectacular landscape of the region. Communities in this area are still living in a very traditional way, cultivating wheat, potatoes, corn, beans, and quinoa, to name a few. The region is home to 3,000 varieties of potatoes, which are essential to the local Andean cuisine.

 

Around lunchtime, we'll stop in Urubamba town, the capital of the Sacred Valley, to feast on local cuisine, before heading further into the Sacred Valley. We'll stop at a chicheria along the way, where you can sample the local drink chica (corn beer) and play local games.

 

We'll continue our Sacred Valley tour with a visit to the nearby archaeological site Ollantaytambo, for insight into the Incan past and magnificent views. Once here, we'll set out on foot to go beyond the traditional sites and explore smaller ancient streets, visit local houses, and experience a day in the life of a local community. Depending on the activity of the day, we can learn how locals knit and dye textiles and hear stories of their local beliefs and religion.

 

After thanking our hosts in the traditional houses, we'll continue by foot to our final destination and the highlight of the Sacred Valley - the Ollantaytambo archaeological site, for insight into the Incan past. We then make our way back to Cusco, through more incredible landscapes, accompanied by stories and anecdotes that your local guide will share along the way. 

Children must be 6 years of age to 11 years inclusively.   Lunch and drinks, items of a personal nature, tips or gratuities for your guides, souvenirs at the markets along the way.

For cancellation up to 3 days, a full refund will be given. For cancellation up to 1 days, 50% refund will be given.