Honest Sacred Valley Tour Review – Chinchero, Moray, Ollantaytambo & Pisac in 1 Day!
TL;DR
We tested a one-day Sacred Valley tour packing in Chinchero, Moray, Maras, Ollantaytambo, and Pisac – here’s the honest truth about what’s worth it, what’s rushed, and whether this whirlwind itinerary is right for you – or not.
Exploring the Sacred Valley is a must when visiting Peru. And if you’re short on time, a one-day tour from Cusco can be especially appealing. We chose a full-day itinerary that covered Chinchero, Moray, Maras, Ollantaytambo, and Pisac – all in a single day.
With such a packed schedule, it can be tough to know what to expect. That’s why we’re sharing an honest, first-hand review: what works, what doesn’t, and our insider tips to help you decide whether this tour is right for your schedule, budget, and expectations.
Honest Sacred Valley Tour Review
We opted for this day trip from Cusco: Sacred Valley: Chinchero, Moray, Ollantaytambo & Pisac+Lunch:
We shopped around local travel agencies in Cusco for a bit, but surprisingly found the online offer to be cheaper…
Sacred Valley Tour Itinerary
This is the itinerary of the exact Sacred Valley: Chinchero, Moray, Ollantaytambo & Pisac+Lunch tour we went on:
Sacred Valley 1 Day Tour Map
1. Chinchero Textile Interpretation Center
Our very long day trip to the Sacred Valley started with the Textile Interpretation Center in Chinchero. Here, we got a hot drink while we watched a presentation about the process of crafting alpaca textiles.
Of course, there was ample time for shopping.
2. Chinchero Archaeological Center
Next up was the Chinchero Archaeological Center. Built by the Inca Túpac Yupanqui around 1493, it is full of terraces, stone enclosures, sacred sites (wacas), and foundations that once housed the city. The colonial church of Our Lady of Monserrat also stands on the grounds.
The whole area stretches across 43 hectares, but you’ll have enough time to visit the most important points of interest.
3. Moray
Moray is an Inca site famous for its terraced circular depressions, the largest plunging around 30 m (98 ft) deep, complete with an ancient irrigation system.
While the exact purpose is still debated, most agree it was used for agriculture. The terraces create microclimates with temperature differences of up to 15 °C (25 °F) between the top and bottom, allowing the Incas to grow crops in conditions similar to modern greenhouses.
It’s a short stop, so you can either just take photos from the top, venture to the bottom if you’re fast, or try to find the more hidden (and less visited) smaller depressions behind the main terraces.
4. Maras Salt Shop
Next up was another shopping stop. Here, we learned about the salt production in Maras and got to try some salt products, including chocolate.
5. Maras Salt Terraces
The Maras Salt Terraces are an optional stop, and our guide did not actually enter with us.
In Maras, salt has been produced since Inca times, using water from a natural underground stream. The salty spring water flows through a carefully managed system of channels into hundreds of shallow, terraced ponds. Traditionally, any community member can manage a pond, with new families starting on the more distant pools.
As the sun evaporates the water, layers of salt form on the pond walls and floors. The first layer, often pink or white, is the highest quality table salt, while lower layers are used as bulk or industrial salt.
6. Buffet Lunch
The included buffet lunch was so much better than we expected on such a budget-friendly tour. The traditional food options – including trout ceviche, alpaca, and guinea pig – were among the best we had during our time in Peru. Additionally, there were many options for more conservative eaters and vegetarians.
There was a huge selection of starters and desserts as well as all-you-can-drink Coca tea.
7. Ollantaytambo
After lunch, we headed to one of the highlights of the day, Ollantaytambo.
Ollantaytambo is one of the most important Inca sites, second only to Machu Picchu. Known as the Living Inca City, it’s the only Inca town still inhabited today, and you can literally walk from the town straight up to the ruins.
Built by Pachacútec around 1450, Ollantaytambo was both a fortress and a ceremonial site, featuring 17 massive terraces, the Wall of Ten Niches, the Sun Gate, and the Temple of the Sun with enormous pink granite boulders. Its strategic location helped the Incas repel Spanish forces in 1536 by flooding the valley floor.
8. Pisac
Perched above the modern town of Pisac, the Písac Inca complex is a sprawling site of terraces, temples, residential areas, guard posts, and ceremonial spaces. Built around 1450 under Pachacútec, it was designed as a multi-purpose estate: a royal retreat, observatory, fortress, and religious centre, all in one. Unlike Ollantaytambo or Machu Picchu, Písac never saw a major Spanish siege.
The complex stretches along a mountain ridge and is divided into seven main areas, including
- Qantus Raqay: Rounded multi-tiered stone tower at the entrance.
- Terraces: Hundreds of terraces with stunning views of Pisac town.
- Ceremonial Baths: Four ritual fountains still flowing.
- K’allaq’asa (Military Zone) & Sun Gate: Highest point, lookout platform, and ruins.
Unfortunately, our tour arrived too late and the main area of K’allaq’asa was already closed for visitors – a major let down.
9. Pisac Jeweler's
Our last stop of the day was our third and final shopping stop. We visited a jeweller's shop in the town of Pisac, where we first learned about the healing properties of different stones (as somebody who holds a master’s degree in geology and who was very tired at this point, I was quite annoyed by this) before we had more free time for shopping.
Sacred Valley Day Trip – Our Honest Opinion
There’s a lot to unpack here: You have probably noticed that this one-day tour has a total of nine stops, which is too much if you ask us. In our opinion, you need to skip the three shopping stops if you want to visit five historical sights in one day! This holds especially true when you have to miss one of the undisputed highlights of the Sacred Valley – Pisac – because you ran out of time…
While our guide was super friendly and passionate about the Sacred Valley and Inca culture, unfortunately, he did not really explore the sites with us. He gave very thorough explanations at the entrance of each site – which only took away from our time to actually explore – but never walked around with us to point out interesting spots.
Unfortunately, the organisation of the tour was a bit lacking as well. We specifically booked a tour with pickup because of the early start and were first asked to come to the Plaza de Armas, which was quite far away from our accommodation. After some back and forth, we managed to negotiate a pickup closer to our place. A redeeming point was the flexible drop off close to our accommodation instead of back a the main square. FYI, we messaged the tour operator with our concerns and never got a reply.
With all the complaints, the three major advantages of this tour are:
- It’s super affordable.
- It’s very efficient if you’re short on time.
- It’s much easier and cheaper than organising a visit to the five sights independently.
What Other Travellers Say About the Sacred Valley Tour
⭐ Rating: 4.7 / 5 (372 reviews)
This full day tour included a super lunch, representing excellent value for money. Victor was an exceptional guide, taking us across the Sacred Valley to various pre-Inca and Inca heritage sites with knowledge and passion for his heritage. Ollytaytambo was a highlight, along with Pisac and a tour of a chocolate/salt factory. Highly recommended. It is a big, full day, and we didn’t return to Cusco until after 7pm, so consider that in your planning.
– Natalie (see more reviews)
What Does the Sacred Valley Tour Include?
The tour we did includes:
- Hotel pick up in Cusco.
- Shared transport.
- English / Spanish professional guide.
- Buffet lunch.
The tour does not include:
- Tourist ticket (Partial Cusco Tourist Ticket 70 soles or General Comprehensive Cusco Tourist Ticket 130 soles).
- Salt mines ticket (optional, 20 soles).
Conclusion: Is the Sacred Valley Day Tour Worth It?
Honestly, this tour has some organisational problems and feels a bit hectic. Nine stops in a single day, including shopping detours, leaves very little time to truly explore the ruins, especially Pisac, which we barely got to enjoy.
That being said, if you’re short on time and want a hassle-free way to see the main highlights of the Sacred Valley, this tour works. It’s affordable, includes transport and lunch, and lets you tick off Chinchero, Moray, Ollantaytambo, Pisac, and the Maras Salt Terraces in one long day.
✅ Good for: Travellers on a tight schedule, first-timers wanting an overview, budget-conscious visitors. ⚠️ Not ideal for: History buffs, photographers, or anyone who wants to linger at the ruins.
In short, the tour delivers efficiency and convenience, but at the cost of depth.
If you have more time and/or money, think about
- Going independently.
- A private tour.
- Two separate tours to:
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