Sacred Valley & Maras-Moray Salt Mines VIP
Explore ancient agricultural laboratories, cliffside salt pans, and imposing Incan citadels.
Sacred Valley & Maras-Moray Salt Mines VIP
Explore ancient agricultural laboratories, cliffside salt pans, and imposing Incan citadels.
For accommodations in Cusco's historic center with vehicle access, our tourist transport arrives as close as legally permitted. Due to Cusco's colonial pedestrian alleys, if your hotel is on a narrow stone walkway, we wait at the nearest corner (usually 1/2 to 1 block away). We coordinate with you via WhatsApp/phone in advance, and our assistant welcomes you at the vehicle.
Lodging outside the center? If your hotel or Airbnb is outside the historic center perimeter, meeting is coordinated at a central landmark (such as Plaza Regocijo).
Need dedicated walking escort right to your door or pickup outside the historic center? Select Boutique Private in the booking card above.
Experience overview
The Sacred Valley VIP tour combines the premier archaeological complexes outside Cusco into a paced single-day circuit. Includes an artisanal Andean buffet lunch in Urubamba with locally harvested ingredients, private tourist transport, and a licensed guide detailing hydraulic engineering and terrace microclimates across Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Moray, and Maras.
Altitude & Acclimatization Profile
Effective O₂ at 3,500m
Ideal for arrival day
+591 ft vertical gain
Physiological Altitude Curve & Biomes
Select any day or milestone on the interactive graph to view its atmospheric altitude, effective oxygen pressure, and terrain biome.
Cusco
Peak Altitude
3,399 m
Effective O₂ Level
~68% vs sea-level
Crisp alpine air. Requires deliberate pacing and active hydration.· Departure
Detailed day-by-day itinerary (1D)
- Day 13,500 m(11,480 ft)
Cusco – Pisac – Maras Salt Mines – Moray – Ollantaytambo – Cusco
Depart at 8:00 AM toward Pisac. Explore the dramatic cliffside ruins and bustling artisan market. Continue along the Urubamba River to enjoy a delicious Andean buffet lunch with fresh valley produce. In the afternoon, visit Moray’s enigmatic sunken agricultural amphitheaters and the thousands of active salt ponds at Maras. Conclude with an inspiring guided ascent of Ollantaytambo’s Temple of the Sun before returning to Cusco by 6:30 PM (or dropping off at Ollantaytambo train station if heading to Machu Picchu).
Key highlights
Meals: Gourmet Andean Buffet Lunch
What's Included & Excluded
What is Included
100% Pre-PaidPre-paid services verified & delivered on route
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Cusco
- Comfortable air-conditioned tourist transport
- Professional licensed English-speaking guide
- Full Andean buffet lunch in Urubamba (vegetarian options available)
- Drop-off at Ollantaytambo train station option (for those traveling to Machu Picchu)
What is Not Included
Out-of-PocketPersonal expenses & discretionary gratuities
- Cusco Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turístico): S/ 70 partial or S/ 130 full
- Entrance ticket to Maras Salt Mines: S/ 20 cash per person
- Gratuities for guide and driver
Field Realities & Pocket Cash
Real ground notes from our team in CuscoIdeal Traveler Fit
Who enjoys this route mostFirst-time visitors, cultural enthusiasts, and travelers looking to acclimatize gracefully while discovering agricultural terraces, salt pans, and stone citadels.
Relaxed scenic drive punctuated by 45–60 minute walking circuits along agricultural terraces.
Radical Honesty: Who This is NOT For
We prefer honesty over unsuitable bookings- ✕Travelers wearing slippery-soled fashion shoes or high heels (Písac and Ollantaytambo have steep stone ruins).
- ✕Anyone who wants to stay on the bus all day—experiencing the Sacred Valley requires walking up through ancient terraces.
- ✕Travelers seeking high-decibel party spots; the Sacred Valley is peaceful, agrarian, and quiet.
Route Pocket Expenses (Carry Cash Soles in Daypack)
Mandatory checkpoint fees, community tickets & coin-operated restrooms
Cusco Tourist Ticket (BTC)
Cash only at first checkpoint for Písac & Moray.
Maras Salt Mines Entry
Community entry fee to salt pans in cash Soles.
Route Restrooms
Carry 1 and 2 Sol coins for village stops.
Luggage & Transit Rule: If connecting directly to the Aguas Calientes train from Ollantaytambo in the afternoon, bring your 5 kg train daypack in the minivan. It stays safely locked inside during archaeological visits.
What to pack for this journey
Tested on the trail by our team in CuscoEssential Terrain & Practical Ground Notes
- •This is one of the best acclimatization days in Peru, spending most hours between 9,100 and 10,500 ft.
- •If you are taking an evening train to Machu Picchu, we can securely transfer your luggage in the tour bus and drop you at Ollantaytambo station at 4:30 PM!
Real Traveler Reviews & Experiences
Independent traveler feedback verified on TripAdvisor and Google Maps.
“Amazing tour operator with incredible coordinators, collegiate guides, and mountain chefs! Did half a dozen treks and day tours around Cusco and loved all of them. Very reliable, highly recommend!”
“Incredible guidance through the Incan agricultural laboratories and the ancient cliffside salt pans. The team explained the history with real passion and took care of all entrance tickets without making us stand in long lines. Honest local operators who truly care about travelers!”
“Working with Daspe Travel was completely seamless. From our early morning hotel pickup in Cusco to the Vistadome train tickets and citadel entrance, our guide was exceptionally punctual, knowledgeable, and full of positive energy. Zero stress, everything was flawlessly organized.”
Frequently asked questions
Have custom requests?
Dietary accommodations, hotel upgrades or a slower photography pace? Speak directly with our local Cusco specialists.