Full-Day Tour: Cusco – Chinchero (Andean Textile Center) – Salt Mines of Maras – Incan agricultural lab called Moray – Ollantaytambo Incan site – Urubamba for Lunch – Pisac ruins & Market
Super Sacred Valley Day Tour or Sacred Valley VIP Tour, begins with an early morning pick-up at 6:45 a.m. from your accommodation in Cusco to drive toward the high mountain village of Chinchero (Western side of the Sacred Valley). CHINCHERO — is a small village with beautiful views of the Sacred Valley and famous for its weaving and spectacularly sited at high altitude (3,800 mt./12,200 ft.). In this charming village, you will see adobe homes, narrow cobbled streets, and people in traditional Peruvian dress. At Chinchero, we will also visit a town that has retained many traditions, resulting in exceptional handicrafts and woven goods (we will be witness to a live demonstration of handmade souvenirs and the use of simple instruments and natural dyes). Besides, we´ll visit the ruins of Chinchero and then, we continue driving to the lookout of Raqchi to take in the view of the Urubamba Valley. This part of the valley is filled with crops that dress the mountains like carpets.
We will then continue our trip to Incan agricultural lab known MORAY — is an archaeological site located to the northwest of Cuzco on a high plateau at about 3,500 mt. (11,500 ft) and just west of the village of Maras. This Inca site contains unusual Inca ruins, mostly consisting of several terraced circular depressions, the largest of which is approximately 30 m (98 ft) deep. As with many other Inca sites, it also has an irrigation system. Here, our guide will transmit you the history of this impressive Inca ruins on the mountain top. After learning how Quechua people cleverly designed a drainage system at the bottom of the terraces in order to avoid flooding during the rainy season. Afterwards, we drive down to SALT MINES OF MARAS — at this amazing site, you can see the pans fed by saline spring water that was built on steep terraces along one side of a narrow valley. The water is sent throughout the pans by a network of channels where the water slowly evaporates leaving the salt behind. Salt has been collected from Maras since Pre-Incan times and it is thought that a collective of salt ‘miners’ has maintained the terraces and channels for hundreds of years. We then follow the route to URUBAMBA — The charming town enveloped by tall Andean peaks in the heart of the Sacred Valley to reach OLLANTAYTAMBO — is a quaint town of Inca foundation with remarkable water channels, stone streets, colorfully dressed native people and the great Sun Temple on the hilltop. We then go to Urubamba town for our Buffet Lunch.
To finish off, we will head to Pisac drive along the Urubamba River… Our final stop is THE INCA RUINS OF PISAC and THE MARKET. Once there, you will explore the Pisac archaeological park and learn about the powerful Inca Empire. Then we back on road to down to the Pisac town´s traditional market for a brief exposure to all local artisans and their colorful merchandise. After our full day Sacred Valley tour service will end at your hotel in Cusco.
WHAT YOU NEED TO TAKE?
- Sun hat.
- Sun protection cream (factor 35 recommended).
- Waterproof jacket/rain poncho.
- Water
- Camera and films.
Very Important Note:
All sites in the Sacred Valley require a tourist ticket. Our Super Sacred Valley Tour – 1 Day only requires a partial tourist ticket as explained below:
The Partial Tourist Ticket is PEN 70.00 Soles (about $23 USD per person) and it is valid for 2 consecutive days. With this ticket, you may access to the following sites Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Moray, and Chinchero.
If you are interested in visiting other sites in the Cusco, we recommend you to buy the General Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turistico General), at a cost of PEN 130.00 Soles (about $42 USD per person), and valid for 10 days with access to 14 different locations including Cusco and Sacred Valley historical sites.
Kids under 10 Years old do NOT pay any entrance fee.
Why runas expeditions?
RUNAS EXPEDITIONS is an experienced travel company, we are experts doing tours and you are our motivation; to show you our culture; You will have your best adventure and experience ever in PERU. We will work together to do your trip, hiking through the Andes to reach MACHUPICCHU or any other tours.
Peru is one of the countries that has so many things to do as an adventure, so we offer you the best experiences ever in your lifetime. Whatever is your tour you will have the best adventures. All our tours are only and strictly operated by RUNAS EXPEDITIONS with our professional staff. we are located and based in Cusco, working more than 10 years in the tourism industry, we believe that we are in advance than any others tour companies because we really practice and educate the people to protect the environment and we really help to local people with giving jobs, and giving donations to the local children. And we really care about our employees guides, chefs, porters, horsemen and all our staff. Runas Expeditions contributes to the Peruviangovernment with 19%taxes on all sales (overseas companies are exempt from paying this so do not contribute to the Peruvian economy in this aspect).
All our tour guides are from university who speak English; they are very professional with a lot knowledgeable and a lot passion to their work.
Do i need to be fit?
Well all the treks Inca trail, Salkantay Trek, Lares Trek, Ausangate trek or whatever trek are moderately difficult, at least you need to train like go running, gym, hike a little bit or do any exercise. On the trail you will have enough time do anything, if you are hiking slow on the way that’s not problem take your time enjoy yourself because our tour guides will be ready to help at any times.
Please when you will be going high altitudes, go slowly and steady and drink a lot water and of course drink the magical coca tea.
How long in advance should I book for the Inca trail?
Well all the treks Inca trail, Salkantay Trek, Lares Trek, Ausangate trek or whatever trek are moderately difficult, at least you need to train like go running, gym, hike a little bit or do any exercise. On the trail you will have enough time do anything, if you are hiking slow on the way that’s not problem take your time enjoy yourself because our tour guides will be ready to help at any times.
Please when you will be going high altitudes, go slowly and steady and drink a lot water and of course drink the magical coca tea.
How can I proceed to book a reservation for the Inca trail?
Sending your main Departure date and back up date:
You must provide us a main date and a backup date. By providing us with a main date and a backup date for your trek classic Inca Trail, you automatically authorize Runas Expeditions to use either of these dates for your reservation. Runas Expeditions within the next 24 hours, we will send you an electronic receipt confirming your trek has been officially booked and also to confirm the exact departure date of your trek. And will be required to make a deposit of 20% or 200$ USA of the total price of the Inca Trail. If you want more information just follow the website or contact us.
How can I proceed to book a reservation for the Inca trail?
Sending your main Departure date and back up date:
You must provide us a main date and a backup date. By providing us with a main date and a backup date for your trek classic Inca Trail, you automatically authorize Runas Expeditions to use either of these dates for your reservation. Runas Expeditions within the next 24 hours, we will send you an electronic receipt confirming your trek has been officially booked and also to confirm the exact departure date of your trek. And will be required to make a deposit of 20% or 200$ USA of the total price of the Inca Trail. If you want more information just follow the website or contact us.
How can I proceed to book a reservation for the altervative treks?
The same as the Inca Trail, sending your departure date and backup date:
You must provide us a main date and a backup date. By providing us with a main date and a backup date for your trek classic, you automatically authorize Runas Expeditions to use either of these dates for your reservation. Runas Expeditions within the next 24 hours, we will send you an electronic receipt confirming your trek has been officially booked and also to confirm the exact departure date of your trek and also you have to do a deposited of 200$ usa or 20% of the total price of the trip.
How many days in advance is recommended to be in Cusco? How far in advance must one check in at the royal adventura office to guarantee the reservation?
All the hiker from any treks, we high recommended to be in Cusco 2 or 3 days before doing the trek in order to acclimatize with high elevation. The last details about your trek (to pay the remaining balance) should be at the Runas Expeditions office at least two days prior to departure
Do i need to send a deposit and how much do i need to deposit?
Yes, you do. We use your deposit “Non- refundable’’ to pay official fees when making your official reservation. For example, we need to pay tourist and porters entrance fees and taxes (19%). We also use it to secure chefs, porters and horses for our different treks.
You have to deposit US$200 per person for Inca Trail and US$200 per person for alternative trek or us $200 for any tours.
US$265 per person for Inca Trail + WaynaPicchu or for the Alternative trek + WaynaPicchu.
Please confirm if you want to climb WaynaPicchu as it needs to be booked well in advance too; this is US$65.00 per person there are 2 time sessions: 7 to 8am or 10 to 11am this also needs to be specified although you need to be flexible to either time.
NOTE: The client will assume all transaction fees.
Can i book group service or private?
When you book as Group Service, you will meet people from different nationalities, different ages, and different culture minds, while you are hiking you don’t have to wait for the last one but you will wait at lunch place and camping site because you will share the same food, the same sleeping tents etc.
When you book as Private Service, you will definitely have exclusive service with more details and surprise to you. You will travel just yourself not with other people to share thing, it will selected just two people for honeymooners, for family or a group of friends and normally the groups are small but they could be a big group.
And also we included one way transportation from the airport to your hotel + sleeping bag.
Is there a meeting before the trek or any tours?
Of course there will be a meeting at Runas Expeditions office before doing any tours, where you will meet your tour guide, the rest of your group, and be provided with a clear information about your trek or any tours.
Can i rent equiment from Runas expeditions?
Yes, You can. Here you can rent sleeping bag, sleeping tens, trekking poles, inflammable matrass or air mattresses but we don’t rent hiking boots, rain jackets or other personal clothing.
Can i rent an extra porter and how much will they carry for me?
Runas Expeditions, you don’t have to pay for extra porter, we included in all our tour extra porter to carry 7 kilos per person (duffle bag), so we are the only tour company who provide this. You will carry just a small daypack.
Thank you for your interest in having an adventure travel experience in Peru curated by Runas Expeditons. Please take a moment to complete our short form, so one our friendly Adventure Consultants could provide you all the information for your trip of a lifetime in Peru.
