From Cusco to the Sacred Valley: 40 minutes to Taray, 1 hour to Chinchero
Two roads enter the valley. The eastern one drops via Taray to Pisac; the western one climbs to Chinchero and comes down via Maras and Moray to Urubamba. The tour uses one or the other depending on the route, and both end in Ollantaytambo before returning.
The two roads into the valley
From the east on the Traditional, from the west on the Super
East: Cusco → Taray → Pisac
It's the way in for the Traditional Sacred Valley. 40 minutes to the Taray viewpoint (2,972 m in the village of Pisac, below), a 15-minute stop and 50 more to the Pisac archaeological site (3,300 m). From there, 1 hour to lunch in Urubamba.
West: Cusco → Chinchero → Maras → Moray
It's the way in for the Super Sacred Valley. 1 hour to Chinchero (3,762 m, the day's highest point), 30 minutes to the Maras Salt Mines (3,385 m), 15 to Moray (3,500 m) and 40 down to Urubamba (2,871 m).
Both routes coincide from lunch onwards: Urubamba → Ollantaytambo takes 1 h 10. After that, the Traditional returns via Chinchero (1 h 30 + 45 min to Cusco) and the Super via Pisac (1 h 50 + 40 min to Cusco).
Leg by leg
Travel times we use to plan the day
Usual times; Cusco traffic can add minutesUrubamba → Ollantaytambo (1 h 10) is the only leg both routes share. The Super also adds 10 min by bus to Pisac village before the return.
Three ways to get there
Shared tour, private tour or on your own
Shared tour
Pickup at your accommodation in the centre at 06:20 or 07:20, a guide in English and Spanish, buffet lunch and transfers between all sites. Groups of 17–18 at most. Four departures; it ends in Cusco's historic centre or in Ollantaytambo.
Private tour
Vehicle and guide just for your group, on any route and at your pace: US$140 per person for 2, US$120 for 3 to 4, US$100 for 5 to 7 and US$90 for 8 to 12, with lunch at 14 Inkas included.
Taxi or public transport
There's service to Pisac, Urubamba and Ollantaytambo, but not directly to Maras or Moray, and transfers between sites, entrance fees and lunch are up to you. It works if you have two or more days for the valley; with only one, the tour makes better use of the hours.
Towards Machu Picchu
The valley on the way to the train
Ollantaytambo station is a few minutes' walk from where the tour ends. The Super Sacred Valley and Traditional ending in Ollantaytambo versions end there at 15:30, cost US$1 less than the return ones and leave you with your luggage in time for the 16:36 Inca Rail or the 19:00 Peru Rail to Aguas Calientes; never book one earlier than 16:36.
Back to Cusco
Where the day ends
The return departures drop the group at a point in Cusco's historic centre at 18:30 (Traditional) or 19:00 (Super Sacred Valley), not at each hotel door. From the centre, most accommodation is a few minutes away on foot or by taxi. We go into detail on the page about departure times and pickup.
It depends on the road in: 40 minutes to the Taray viewpoint and 50 more to Pisac on the eastern road; 1 hour to Chinchero on the western one. Ollantaytambo is about 2 and a half hours away without stopping on the way.
It picks you up at your hotel, Airbnb or a meeting point in Cusco's historic centre, at 06:20 (Super Sacred Valley) or 07:20 (Traditional). The exact time arrives on WhatsApp the night before.
Yes, there's public transport and taxis to Pisac, Urubamba and Ollantaytambo, but you'll have to sort out transfers between sites, entrance fees and lunch separately, and Maras and Moray have no direct public transport. The tour links all five sites in a single day with guide and lunch included.
The Traditional comes down from the east: Taray and Pisac, returning via Chinchero. The Super Sacred Valley first climbs to Chinchero from the west, passes Maras and Moray and drops to Urubamba.
By train from Ollantaytambo station. The two departures ending in Ollantaytambo finish at 15:30, a few minutes' walk from the station, in time for the 16:36 Inca Rail or the 19:00 Peru Rail; never a train earlier than 16:36.
At a point in the historic centre, at 18:30 (Traditional) or 19:00 (Super Sacred Valley). We don't drop each traveller at their hotel; from the centre you walk or take a taxi.
Yes: a private tour, on any of the routes, from US$90 per person with lunch at 14 Inkas. It's quoted on WhatsApp.
We pick you up in central Cusco
At 06:20 or 07:20, with the exact time confirmed on WhatsApp the night before.