Sacred Valley Tour with Moray & the Salt Mines 1 Day

Pisac, Salt Mines, Moray, Ollantaytambo

Physical Level

Easy

Trip Style

Max Altitude

Group Size

INQUIRY ABOUT THIS TREK

The region nestled between Pisac and Ollantaytambo is famously known as the Sacred Valley of the Incas. This day trip will take you through the stunning landscapes of the Sacred Valley, where you’ll explore the archaeological sites of Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Moray, and the Maras Salt Mines, each of which holds significant importance in Inca history and culture. The valley offers a milder climate and a lower elevation compared to Cusco. You’ll experience a series of charming villages, ancient Incan terraces, and key archaeological sites.

No other agency but INCA EXPEDITIONS includes all these highlights in their Sacred Valley Tour!

Highlights

Highlights of the Sacred Valley Tour with INCA EXPEDITIONS:

The breathtaking viewpoint of the Sacred Valley at Mirador of Taray
The extensive ruins of Pisac, showcasing remarkable Inca architecture
The vibrant Pisac market, where traditional culture is preserved by local vendors
A brief lunch stop in Urubamba (lunch not included in the tour price)
The Moray archaeological site, renowned for Inca agricultural research
The renowned Pre-Inca Salt Mines of Maras, where salt has been harvested in traditional methods for centuries
The impressive archaeological site of Ollantaytambo, with panoramic views of the valley

Itinerary

DAY 1:

Sacred Valley Tour Itinerary for the Day

We will collect you from your hotel at 7:30 a.m. in our private van and drive to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, beginning with a visit to the Mirador of Taray. Here, you’ll be greeted by a spectacular view of the Urubamba Valley, showcasing traditional farming communities and surrounding mountain peaks. Continue reading for an overview of what’s to come!

PISAC
Next, we will proceed to the Pisac archaeological site, home to a vast Inca cemetery with over 2,000 tombs. You’ll discover the fascinating farming terraces carved into the mountainside. We’ll spend approximately 1.5 hours exploring this ancient Inca city, which features numerous examples of original Inca architecture.

Following this, we’ll visit the lively Pisac market for around 20 minutes. Then, we’ll head to Urubamba for lunch, with options including a buffet of delicious Peruvian cuisine or other nearby eateries.

SALT MINES
The Salt Mines (Salineras), near the colonial town of Maras, date back to Pre-Inca times. Hundreds of salt pans cover the hillside, used for salt extraction since before the Inca era. A natural spring at the top of the valley releases a saline stream, which is channeled into pans and evaporated to produce high-quality salt. This is one of the few places globally where you can find naturally pink salt. This visit involves a shorter walk compared to Pisac.

MORAY
The intriguing site of Moray, also known as “The Greenhouses of the Incas,” features multiple levels of terraces carved into a large depression. These terraces create varied microclimates, believed to have been used by the Incas for agricultural experimentation. This is another brief stop.

OLLANTAYTAMBO
We will conclude our tour at Ollantaytambo, exploring the archaeological site for about an hour. Similar to Pisac, this site is extensive, and you will learn about the Sun Temple, admire the water fountains, the Incahuatana, and the impressive storehouses. We will then return to Cusco, arriving at your hotel around 6:30 p.m.

Map of Sacred Valley Tour

Inclusions

Included:

Small group size (up to 10 people)
Professional English-speaking guide with extensive site knowledge
Private, comfortable transportation
Taxes

Not Included:

Entrance tickets to archaeological sites: 70 soles (1 day only) or approximately US$20 per person, available only in soles and at the first archaeological site. (Refer to important info for more details)
Meals
Salt Mine entrance fee of 10 soles

What to Bring

What to Bring for the Sacred Valley Tour

Warm jacket and rain jacket
Hat
Water
Sun protection
Insect repellent
Some money for souvenirs
Money in soles for the Boleto Turístico and Salt Mine entrance
Original passport
Student ID card (for 10-Day Boleto Turístico)

Why to Choose

Why choose “INCA´S EXPEDITIONS”?

“INCAS EXPEDITIONS” is a 100% Peruvian local company and tour operator in Cusco, with many years of experience in hikes, adventure tours, and travel packages. We are a 100% local company.

Our dream as a local company is to offer personalized travel and hiking experiences, operated solely by local professional staff, focusing on a PERSONALIZED and HIGH-QUALITY SERVICE.

We are proud of our reputation as a travel operating agency, in addition to practicing RESPONSIBLE and SUSTAINABLE actions with the environment and local people.

We consider our staff as family and guarantee them a fair salary. We are very proud of our team! Without their support, we could not offer the quality of service that hundreds of our travelers have enjoyed.

At “INCAS EXPEDITIONS,” we are aware that our reputation and what our passengers say are crucial for our travelers to trust their next vacations; you can check the reviews our travelers leave on TripAdvisor, Facebook, and Google; in an honest and reliable operator to create your adventure in Peru.

We offer small groups of travelers.

To offer a more personalized service at “INCAS EXPEDITIONS,” we maintain a limit of 8 people for each of our groups. This distinguishes us from other companies that operate with larger groups.

About our tour guides

We are very proud of our guides. They are experts and professionals, fluent in English. They are experts and knowledgeable about the routes, and they are passionate about Inca heritage and history. Our guides are dedicated to their continuous personal and professional development, researching to offer you accurate and recognized theories about Inca and Andean culture. They are friendly, athletic, and well-educated, with degrees in Archaeology, Tourism, Botany, History, or Anthropology.

About our treatment of Inca Trail porters

Hiking with “INCAS EXPEDITIONS” is an uplifting experience, we prioritize your comfort and enjoyment throughout the hike, and you will have the assistance of our porters. You will interact with local people, explore incredible sites, and rediscover ancient Inca ancestral towns. Our porters carry your gear, prepare your meals, set up our camp tents, and take care of you while you relax.

We provide our porters for free with: jackets, sun hats, warm hats, shirts, pants, hiking boots, comfortable travel bags, canteens, back support belts, sleeping bags, mattresses, and travel insurance. All are hired from isolated communities, improving their economic circumstances and supporting the education of their children. We treat all our porters like family!

Our team

Our team (guides, cooks, porters, muleteers) and our equipment make “INCAS EXPEDITIONS” stand out among our competitors. On our adventure hikes, we include:

Our tents: Enjoy a good rest in our 4-season EUREKA Timberline tents. Our tents are for 4 people, but only 2 sleep in each, providing space for greater comfort and storage. They have a small vestibule for boots and poles.
Our foam mats: Separate and insulate from the ground.
Air mattresses: Available for rent for $20 USD.
Kitchen and dining tents: Used as a meeting room during meals, ideal for relaxing and chatting.
Tables and chairs: In the dining area, adapted to the day’s weather.
Travel bags: Provided the night before the trek.
Others: Pillows, rain covers for backpacks, survival shirts, and chemical toilets are provided during the trek.

Our commitment to social projection

At “INCAS EXPEDITIONS,” we have always believed in giving back to isolated local communities. As part of our commitment to responsible tourism, we carry out various social projects and always hire local people.

We are very proud to support our local people. We not only employ them but also support their families, contributing to a holistic approach with our employees from the Peruvian Andes and their loved ones.

Aditional information

How to Book the Tour

Step 1: Booking Your Bus to Puno from Cusco
To reserve your bus trip from Cusco to Puno, please complete our booking form by clicking on BOOK NOW on our homepage or use this link to BOOK NOW.

Ensure you have the following information for each participant in your group, as it is necessary for the bus purchase:

Full name (as stated in your passport)
Gender
Passport number
Date of Birth (dd / mm / yyyy)
Nationality

Step 2: Making a Deposit
A deposit of $53.00 USD per person is required to secure your entrance to Machu Picchu and train ticket. You can make your deposit by selecting the VISA or PAYPAL icons on our homepage or booking page.

What About the Balance?
To avoid high credit card fees in Peru, you can pay the balance in cash at our Cusco office (US dollars or Peruvian soles). ATMs are available throughout the historical center for cash withdrawals. Alternatively, you can pay online via VISA or PAYPAL, but please note a 5.5% service fee will apply, charged by VISA and PAYPAL. For PAYPAL payments, log into your account and use our email address: incasexpeditions@gmail.com.

Boleto Turístico (Tourist Ticket)
You can choose between a 1-Day or a 10-Day Boleto Turístico.

1-Day Ticket: Costs 70 soles (about US $20) and is valid for one day. It allows access to as many sites as you like in that day. Discounts are not available with this ticket.
10-Day Ticket: Costs 130 soles (about US $40) and is valid for 10 days. This ticket provides access to 16 archaeological and cultural sites in Cusco, the South Valley, and the Sacred Valley. It is the most economical and convenient way to explore various sites over several days. Discounts are available for students under 25 (with a valid ISIC card) and teenagers under 18 (with an ID card), costing 70 soles (US $20). Children under 11 enter for free.

List of Sites Covered by the Boleto Turístico:

Sacsayhuaman
Q’enqo
PucaPukara
Tambomachay
Pisaq
Ollantaytambo
Chinchero
Moray
Tipon
Piquillaqta
Museo Histórico Regional
Museo de Arte Contemporáneo
Museo de Arte Popular
Museo de Sitio de Qorikancha
Centro Qosqo de Arte Nativo
Monumento al Inca Pachacutec

Note: The Boleto Turístico does not include entry to Qoricancha or Santo Domingo Convent (15 soles) and the Cathedral (25 soles). These must be paid separately. Tickets for main sites like Sacsayhuaman, Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, Tipón, and Moray are sold individually. The Boleto Turístico can be purchased at Avenida El Sol or at the first site you visit. Please pay in soles as credit cards or US dollars are not accepted.

Briefing
A briefing will be held the evening before your trek at 6 p.m. in our office, located at Calle Garcilaso 210, office 213 (second floor) in the La CASA DEL ABUELO shopping center.

Tipping
While tipping is not obligatory, it is appreciated if you are satisfied with the services provided. Although it may not be customary in your country, tipping is a significant aspect of the tourism industry in many INCA EXPEDITIONS destinations. Tips encourage excellent service and are based on your assessment of the quality and length of your trip. Feel free to tip as you see fit, but it should only be given for exceptional service.

Are We Sustainable?
Yes, we are committed to being a locally sustainable and responsible tourism operator. We follow universal tourism principles: protecting the environment and benefiting local communities while respecting their culture and religion. Our staff are trained to understand and respect the local places and people.

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