Chinchero: loom, terraces and church at 3,762 m, at 07:40 or 16:45
The weaving town on the plateau. The Super Sacred Valley visits it first, in the 07:40 chill; the Traditional leaves it for last, at 16:45, on the way back to Cusco. Either way: a live textile demonstration, Inca terraces and a colonial church built on Inca walls.
Altitude
How high is Chinchero?
Chinchero is at 3,762 m, 412 m above Cusco: the highest of the tour's 7 stops.
The stops in the Super Sacred Valley's order (Chinchero → Maras → Moray → Urubamba → Ollantaytambo → Pisac) and the Taray viewpoint, visited only by the Traditional; the dashed line is Cusco, where you sleep. Altitude and altitude sickness →
What's there
Three things in a good hour
Textile demonstration
The weavers show the whole process: washing and spinning alpaca wool, plant and cochineal dyes, and the backstrap loom. It lasts about 30 minutes and ends in their shop; buying is optional and paid in soles.
Inca terraces
Agricultural terraces running down from the square towards the Urquillos valley, with fine stone walls. A short walk with steps, and views of the mountains when the sky is clear.
Colonial church
Built on Inca foundations in the village square. The contrast between the Inca wall below and the colonial church above sums up Chinchero's history in a single image. Its role in the Inca empire is told in our Sacred Valley history.
Photos
Chinchero, in four photos
Tap a photo to see it largeSuper Sacred Valley
07:40, the day's first stop
An hour after the 06:20 pickup the bus climbs to the plateau and Chinchero is the first thing you see, in low light and the chill of dawn. It's the tour's highest point and you visit it fresh. Then 30 minutes to the Maras Salt Mines and the rest of the day is downhill. Full itinerary →
Traditional Sacred Valley
16:45, the last stop before Cusco
The Traditional comes back from Ollantaytambo (1 h 30) and spends 1 hour in Chinchero in the afternoon light; at 17:45 it's 45 minutes to Cusco's historic centre. It's the Traditional's only stop above Cusco's altitude, after a day of acclimatising. Full itinerary →
Practical
Before you get off the bus
| Entrance | Boleto Turístico, separate from the tour price; paid in soles. Entrance fees by route → |
| Warm layer | Light layer: cold at 07:40 and cool at 16:45. You won't need it at midday in Urubamba. |
| Effort | Low: a short walk with steps. You'll feel the altitude more than the walking; take it slowly. |
| Shopping | Textiles straight from the weavers, in soles. It's the stop with the most time to shop at leisure. |
| Toilets and water | Next to the textile demonstration and in the village. |
| Who doesn't visit it | The Traditional ending in Ollantaytambo, which finishes at 15:30. Compare routes → |
A live textile demonstration (alpaca wool spinning, plant and cochineal dyes, the backstrap loom), Inca terraces and the colonial church built on Inca foundations. At 3,762 m, it's the tour's highest point.
The Super Sacred Valley at 07:40, as the first stop, staying 1 h 15. The Traditional at 16:45, as the last stop, for 1 hour. The Super's Ollantaytambo-ending version also visits at 07:40; the Traditional's doesn't visit it.
At 07:40, yes: it's the plateau, at 3,762 m, and the sun is still low. Bring a warm layer you can take off at midday in Urubamba. It cools down again at 16:45.
Chinchero is covered by the Boleto Turístico, which covers the archaeological sites on your route and is paid separately in soles. The textile demonstration is run by weavers' associations and usually ends in a shop; buying is optional.
Yes, directly from the weavers after the demonstration, in soles. It's the stop with the most time to do it at leisure.
No: the walk through the terraces and the church is short, with a few steps. You'll feel the altitude more than the effort; take it slowly and drink water.
Yes, next to the textile demonstration area and in the village. Bring small change in soles.
Chinchero tomorrow at 07:40 or 16:45
Choose your departure and get the exact pickup time for your Cusco accommodation tonight.