South Valley Tour: Tipon, Piquillacta and Andahuaylillas

Tucked between Cusco and Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley is a truly special place. A slightly warmer climate, the gentle presence of the Andes Mountains, a sprinkling of ancient fortresses, and villages like Pisac and Ollantaytambo steeped in age old traditions is what you’ll experience on a tour to the Inca heartland.

The Sacred Valley Tour from Ollantaytambo to Cusco; A private tour designed for those visitors who choose to spend the night in the charming town of Ollantaytambo or Urubamba in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, either after having a great adventure to the World Wonder of Machu Picchu Inca City or hike the world-famous Inca Trail on the way back to their Cusco hotel or we can even drop you right at the airport for your flight back home home.

This wonderful tour of Sacred Valley from Ollantaytambo of one day long is also perfect for those visitors who choose the town of Ollantaytambo as a base either to explore incredible Inca ruins and villages in the Sacred Valley or as a stop off on their way to a Machu Picchu tour.

Embark on a private tour from Ollantaytambo and make most of their trip to the famous Sacred Valley of the Incas visiting all the must see sites in the area such as Ollantaytambo, Moray, the Salt Mines and Pisac on a full day or multi-day tour with a private knowledgeable guide at your side.

The Sacred Valley is vast and stretches for miles with many small indigenous towns, Camelid farm, secluded weaving villages,  and ancient Inca Ruins including Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Urubamba. The tour starts at the massive Pisac ruins with its impressive Inca cemetery of more than 2,000 tombs, engineered farming terraces carved into the mountain, the Inca tunnel and the religious area of this important citadel. The ATV tour includes the Salt Mines in Maras which has thousands of salt ponds carved into the mountainside fed by natural springs above; and the Terraces of Moray, built in the form of an amphitheater and have different temperatures at each level to grow crops. It was watered through a complex irrigation system and allowed the cultivation of the Incas to grow over 250 types of vegetables. The tour ends at the fascinating and imposing site of Ollantaytambo, a truly impressive Inca ruin with the Sun Temple, the water fountains, the temple of Inkawatana and the impressive storehouses.

This half day tour visits Chinchero, Moray & Maras Salt Mines. We will enjoy the stunning scenery of the Andes Mountains and the Sacred Valley. Visit the picturesque town of Chinchero and its colonial church, the agricultural Terraces in Moray and the impressive pre-Inca salt mine – Salineras.

Please note: The Chinchero, Moray, Maras & Salt Mines Tour is only offered to our clients doing at least a 2-day tour or trek to Machu Picchu.

The Sacred Valley is a treasure trove of timeless ancient Inca archeological sites and stunning natural landscapes that will simply take your break away.  As you can imagine, agriculture presented a massive challenge for the Incas because of the craggy, mountainous terrain of the Andes. However, the Sacred Valley is a fertile and lush stretch of land with endless sources of fresh water. This was the heart of Inca land; the temperature is mild compared to the rest of Cusco and the views are incredible.

Our tour takes you on a comprehensive journey through traditional weaving villages and the Inca ruins of Pisac that remain a true representation of Inca agricultural practices. We explore a camelid farm surrounded by llamas, alpacas and vicunas among many other camelids. Driving of the main road, we visit the experimental farming terraces of Moray and the Pre- Inca Maras Salt mines, that’s still function as a main source of income for this small community and supplies Peru with over 90% of its salt. As the sun begins to set, we visit the archeological site of Ollantaytambo, where the ultimate and most intense battle between the Inca Empire and Spanish invaders took place.

Cusco was the capital of the Inca Empire called Tawantinsuyu and is a living museum overflowing with our country’s history and culture. You can see the different stages of history from ancient times to the conquest up to modern days. There are numerous archeological sites, Cathedrals, museums, night clubs in the social scene and many shops to explore. Cusco is the most important tourist destination in Peru as it is the gateway to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, not to mention a lot of fun!

Visit the most interesting sites in and around Cusco such as the Cusco Cathedral, the Koricancha, which was once filled with gold until plundered by invaders, Sacsayhuaman fortress and its military Inca architecture, and the archaeological sites of Q’enqo, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay!