Day 1: Cusco – Pisac – Moray – Maras Salt Mines – Ollantaytambo
Departure from Cusco & Pisac Archaeological Site
Your excursion begins with a prompt 7:00 AM pickup from your hotel lobby in Cusco. We travel by private van toward the Sacred Valley, stopping at El Mirador lookout for sweeping views over the Urubamba mountain range. Our first major stop is the Pisac Archaeological Complex, perched high above the valley floor. Your guide leads a walkthrough of its massive agricultural terraces, residential sectors, and ancient cemetery. Afterward, take a brief stroll through the colorful Pisac artisan market.
Moray Agricultural Laboratory & Maras Salt Mines
Next, we venture off the main highway to Moray, an impressive arrangement of deep circular terraces carved into a natural limestone depression. Your guide explains how Inca agronomists utilized these distinct thermal tiers to domesticate wild crops. From Moray, we make a short drive to the Maras Salt Mines (Las Salineras), where over 3,000 terraced pools cascade down the canyon wall. Learn how salty spring water is channeled and evaporated using traditional pre-Inca techniques.
Ollantaytambo Fortress & Optional Train Station Drop-Off
We conclude our valley circuit in Ollantaytambo, a historic town where original Inca street layouts and stone foundations remain intact. We climb the iconic stone terraces leading to the unfinished Temple of the Sun while taking in views of the surrounding mountain granaries. After touring the fortress, our driver drops you off directly at your Ollantaytambo hotel, the local train station for evening trains to Aguas Calientes, or returns you back to Cusco.
- Meals Included: None (Local lunch stop provided along the route)
- Elevation Range: 2,792 m – 3,450 m / 9,160 ft – 11,318 ft
- Total Driving Time: Approximately 4 hours total overland transport
- Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate (Includes stone stairs at ruins)