The Agricultural Heart of the Incas
Step back in time as you travel through the majestic Urubamba Valley. Enjoy a fully private adventure starting from either Cusco or the Sacred Valley, tailored entirely to your pace and comfort.
Surrounded by spectacular mountain views and accompanied by the valley's famously gentle climate, this journey takes you to the most visually stunning and historically significant sites the region has to offer. You will witness the brilliant engineering of the Incas and their deep connection to the earth, from mystical agricultural laboratories to vibrant salt pans carved into the mountainside.
With an expert private guide revealing the secrets of Maras, Moray, and the monumental fortress of Ollantaytambo, this tour is a profound immersion into a culture that continues to thrive in the Andes today.
- Private pick-up & drop-off (Cusco or Valley)
- Visit the striking Maras Salt Mines
- Explore the Moray circular terraces
- Tour the Ollantaytambo Living Inca City
- Delicious Andean Lunch Included
- Dedicated Expert English-Speaking Guide
Complete Itinerary
Sacred Valley: Maras, Moray & Ollantaytambo
Average Altitude: 2,800 m. (9,186 ft.)
The White Geometric Pools of Maras
Your private driver will pick you up at your hotel to begin the descent into the Sacred Valley. Our first stop is the Andean town of Maras, where you will appreciate its characteristic narrow streets, historic adobe buildings, and colonial churches.
Slightly away from the town, hidden in a mountain gorge, lie the spectacular Maras Salt Mines. Comprised of thousands of small geometric pools, you will learn the ancient, pre-Inca process of collecting salt, discover the different varieties produced here, and understand their unique beneficial properties.
The Agricultural Laboratory of Moray
We continue our scenic drive to the fascinating archaeological site of Moray. Known as the Inca's agricultural laboratory, this site features enormous circular terraces carved deep into the earth.
Your guide will explain how the Incas used this unique structure to create different microclimates, allowing them to carry out sophisticated agricultural experiments and acclimatize crops from the jungle and coast to the high altitude of the Andes. Following this exploration, we will stop to enjoy a well-deserved, delicious local lunch.
Ollantaytambo: The Living Inca City
After lunch, we journey to Ollantaytambo, home to one of the largest and most impressive archaeological complexes in the area. This monumental fortress served as both a religious center and a strategic military stronghold.
You will be able to appreciate the town's trademark stone streets—still too narrow for modern cars—its original adobe buildings, and functioning water channels. It is often referred to as the last living Incan town. After fully exploring the monuments, your private driver will safely return you to your hotel.
Tour Pricing
Experience the Sacred Valley with total privacy and flexibility.
- Private Transport & Driver
- Expert English-Speaking Guide
- All Entrance Tickets Included
- Visit Maras, Moray & Ollantaytambo
- Lunch Included
What's Included
- Pick-up and drop-off from your hotel (in Cusco or the Sacred Valley).
- Comfortable Private Transportation.
- Professional Private English-Speaking Guide.
- Entrance fees to the Maras Salt Mines.
- Cusco Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turístico) covering Moray and Ollantaytambo.
- One high-quality Lunch during the tour.
- 24/7 Travel Assistance.
Not Included
- Additional snacks or alcoholic beverages.
- Gratuities / Tips for guides and drivers (voluntary).
- Travel Insurance.
