Full Day Super Sacred Valley Tour: Maras, Moray, Chinchero & Ollantaytambo
Let’s be real: your time in the Andes is a finite resource. Most travelers spend days agonizing over whether to see the traditional Sacred Valley or the Salt Mines circuit. At Via Inca Travel, we’ve engineered the Super Sacred Valley tour, a high-impact, small-group expedition that weaves together the scientific genius of Moray, the shimmering history of Maras, the ancient weaving traditions of Chinchero, and the imperial grandeur of Ollantaytambo into one flawlessly executed day.
This isn’t just a sightseeing trip; it’s a logistics masterpiece. Using your Sacred Valley day as a strategic bridge is the smartest way to travel. We end our guided circuit in Ollantaytambo, giving you the flexibility to either catch your evening train to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) or return comfortably to Cusco with us. This is the ultimate zero-friction itinerary for the modern explorer.
Tour Details
Tour Summary: Full Day Super Sacred Valley Highlights
A comprehensive full-day small-group tour combining Chinchero’s textile art, Moray’s agricultural terraces, Maras Salt Mines, a local buffet lunch in Urubamba, and Ollantaytambo’s living fortress, concluding with drop-off at Ollantaytambo station or return to Cusco.
- Day 01: Full Day Super Sacred Valley Tour. Early pickup in Cusco (~7:00 AM), visit to Chinchero Quechua weaving center, guided tour of Moray agricultural terraces, exploration of Maras Salt Mines, buffet lunch in Urubamba, guided visit to Ollantaytambo fortress, and drop-off at Ollantaytambo train station (for Machu Picchu bound travelers) OR return transfer to Cusco.
Inclusions Highlight: Hotel pickup in Cusco and drop-off in Ollantaytambo or Cusco, tourist transportation, entrance permits (Boleto Turístico and Maras fee), local buffet lunch, and university-licensed local guide.
Detailed 1-Day Full Day Super Sacred Valley Itinerary
Our native guides do not simply recite dates from guidebooks. They share ancient Andean legends, architectural secrets, and cultural depth that bring every stone site to life.
Your full-day expedition begins with morning pickup from your hotel in Cusco around 7:00 AM. Joining your guide and small group, we drive up toward the high plateau to our first stop in the colonial town of Chinchero (12,342 ft / 3,762 m). Surrounded by snow-capped peaks, Chinchero is renowned as the heart of Andean textile art. We visit a local weaving collective where Quechua master weavers demonstrate centuries-old techniques, using natural plants, minerals, and cochineal insects to dye hand-spun alpaca wool.
From Chinchero, we drive across the agricultural plains to Moray (11,482 ft / 3,500 m). Resembling a giant, green sunken amphitheater, Moray served as a high-stakes agricultural research laboratory for the Incas. Due to varying depths, stone wall orientation, and wind exposure, temperature differences of up to 15°C (27°F) exist between the top and bottom rings. Incan botanists used these microclimates to acclimatize crops from the jungle and coastal regions to grow in high mountain altitudes.
Next, we continue to Salineras de Maras (Maras Salt Mines). As we round the canyon, you will witness over 3,000 terraced salt ponds clinging to the mountain slope. Fed by a subterranean saltwater spring (Qoripujio), these pools have been hand-harvested by local Maras families since pre-Inca times. As the intense Andean sun evaporates the water, thick crusts of high-quality Peruvian Pink Salt are extracted using ancestral methods.
Following our visit to Maras, we descend to Urubamba (9,420 ft / 2,870 m) for a well-earned local buffet lunch featuring fresh Andean ingredients, native grains, and seasonal dishes (included). After lunch, we drive along the valley floor to Ollantaytambo (9,160 ft / 2,792 m), the continent’s only remaining “Living Inca Town.” We climb the monumental stone terraces of the Ollantaytambo Fortress, where Incan forces famously repelled Spanish invaders in 1537, admiring the massive Six Monoliths of the Sun Temple at the summit.
Tour Conclusion Options:
• Option A (Boarding Train to Aguas Calientes / Machu Picchu): If you have booked an evening train to Aguas Calientes, your tour concludes directly at the Ollantaytambo Train Station following the fortress visit, where our guide will assist you with your luggage to the boarding gates.
• Option B (Return to Cusco): If your itinerary returns to Cusco, you will board our comfortable transport for the scenic drive back through the Sacred Valley, arriving near the historic center around 6:30 PM to 7:00 PM.
What’s Included in the 1-Day Tour?
Total transparency is our rule. We deliver top-tier logistical services with zero hidden fees or surprise costs.
Included:
- Transfers: Hotel pickup in Cusco and round-trip tourist ground transportation (or drop-off at Ollantaytambo Train Station).
- Official Entry Permits: Boleto Turístico (Tourist Ticket) covering Chinchero, Moray, and Ollantaytambo, plus official entrance fee to Maras Salt Mines.
- Meals: Local buffet lunch in Urubamba.
- Certified Local Guide: University-licensed English-speaking guide specializing in Sacred Valley history and Incan archaeology.
- Cultural Experience: Traditional Quechua textile weaving demonstration in Chinchero.
- 24/7 Logistics Support: Real-time coordination from our local Cusco team throughout the excursion.
Not Included:
- Accommodation: Hotel stays in Cusco or the Sacred Valley.
- Unspecified Meals: Breakfast, dinner, and beverages during lunch.
- Train Tickets: Train passes to Aguas Calientes / Machu Picchu (booked separately).
- Gratuities: Optional tips for local driver and guide.
Tour Prices & Package Options
Personalize Your Experience: Select your preferred service option from the table below. Rates are per person in US Dollars (USD).
Group Tour (Shared Service)
Private Tour (Exclusive Service)
Popular Upgrades: Private tour upgrade option.
Essential Trip Planning Information
Comprehensive Valley Circuit: The Super Sacred Valley tour covers the four major sites in a single day (Chinchero, Moray, Maras, and Ollantaytambo). It is ideal for travelers who want to see all key attractions efficiently in one full day.
Train Station Drop-off Protocol: If you are traveling to Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes) on the same evening, please inform us when booking. We will ensure your luggage is stored in the transport during the day and drop you off directly at Ollantaytambo Train Station after the fortress tour.
Boleto Turístico (Tourist Ticket) Note: This tour requires the Partial Tourist Ticket Circuit 3 (or the Full 10-Day Tourist Ticket). Entrance to Maras Salt Mines is paid separately as it is managed by the local community cooperative.
Physical Pace & Stairs: The tour involves climbing stone stairways at Ollantaytambo and walking along unpaved paths at Moray and Chinchero. Comfortable hiking or walking shoes with good tread are required.
Clothing & Essentials: Chinchero morning weather can be cold, while lower valley sites like Urubamba and Ollantaytambo are warmer. Dress in layers, wear sun protection (hat, UV sunglasses, sunscreen), bring a waterproof rain jacket, and carry cash (Peruvian Soles) for artisan markets and salt purchases.
