Sacred Valley
Inca heartland — Pisac ruins, Ollantaytambo + Maras salt terraces
The Sacred Valley of the Incas stretches 60 km between Pisac + Ollantaytambo. Lower altitude than Cusco (2,800m) so easier acclimatisation. Pisac Sunday market, Ollantaytambo Inca ruins + fortress + station, Maras salt terraces + Moray circular ruins.
Sacred Valley highlights
Ollantaytambo Fortress
Best-preserved Inca village + massive fortress on the hillside. Living Inca town. Gateway to Machu Picchu train.
Pisac Ruins + Sunday market
Terraced mountainside citadel + colonial + Sunday craft market. Combine both in a full day.
Maras Salt Terraces
5,000 salt pans on a mountain slope — pre-Inca. Best photographed morning. Entry ~$4.
Moray circular terraces
Concentric ring Inca agricultural laboratory — different temperatures at different depths.
Chinchero weaving village
Andean textile village + Sunday market. Weaving demonstrations.
Overnight in Ollantaytambo
Base for Machu Picchu train + easier altitude than Cusco. El Albergue by the station is famous.
Horseback riding in the valley
Ranches near Urubamba offer 2-4h rides through the countryside.
Getting there
No airport in the valley. Fly to Cusco (CUZ) then 1h 30m drive to Pisac or 2h to Ollantaytambo. Combi (shared minibus) or private tour from Cusco.
Getting around
Full-day Sacred Valley tour from Cusco (~$25 group) is standard. Private driver ~$80-120. Combi (shared minibus) cheap but slow.
April-October (dry, best views). Wet season January-March.
$40-80 backpacker · $100-200 mid-range · $500+ luxury (Sol y Luna, Explora Sacred Valley, Belmond Rio Sagrado)
Airport transfer from Alejandro Velasco Astete (Cusco) — 1h 30m drive (CUZ)
Getting out of Sacred Valley (CUZ)
Skip the taxi rank and lock in your fare before you land.
Pre-book a fixed-price transfer
Our pickDriver waits at arrivals with your name, tracks your flight, and the price you see is the price you pay. English-speaking, fixed price. No surge, no haggling at 2am.
Check transfer pricesRenting a car instead? Compare rentals with free cancellation.Airlines that fly to Sacred Valley
See each airline’s route map: where else it flies from CUZ.
Where to stay in Sacred Valley
Find hotels in Sacred Valley, Peru
Hotels, hostels & more · Expedia
Fly to Alejandro Velasco Astete (Cusco) — 1h 30m drive (CUZ)
Popular direct routes from: Lima → Cusco → drive
Where to stay in Sacred Valley
Sacred Valley hotels on Expedia
Bundle your flight + hotel for typical 5-15% saving. Free cancellation on most rates for Sacred Valley stays.
Search Sacred Valley on Expedia
US defaultExpedia bundles the flight + hotel discount in-cart (5-30% off the combined book). Price-match guarantee means you can rebook if the rate drops before check-in.
See Sacred Valley rates