From Cusco: Sacred Valley & Maras Salt Mines Tour with Lunch

Your professional tour guide will pick you up from your accommodation in the historic center of Cusco, or from a nearby meeting point, between 6:00 AM and 6:30 AM. Travel first to Chinchero, a small rustic town with a long tradition of textile weaving. See various textiles woven using traditional Incan techniques, followed by a visit to the first archaeological site and a beautiful old church.

Next, you will visit Moray and see the agricultural terraces built along the hillsides. These terraces were built by the Incas to grow an abundance of crops on less-than-ideal mountain terrain. Right next to this area, at Moras, there are over 5000 salt ponds which were used by the Incas for salt extraction. This helped preserve their foods for long periods. After learning about Incan agricultural techniques, make your way to Urubamba, the capital of the Sacred Valley, for a buffet lunch.

After lunch, make your way to two historical towns, Ollantaytambo and Pisaq. In Ollantaytambo, you will climb over 200 steps to reach the top of the ancient terraced fortress overlooking the town. An optional drop-off is available in Ollantaytambo for those who need to stay in town or have other plans. In Pisaq, you will visit an archaeological site followed by some time to shop some souvenirs.