Sacred Valley Tour from Urubamba 1-Day — Ollantaytambo, Maras, Moray, Chinchero
Designed exclusively for travelers already staying in Urubamba or the Sacred Valley. The smart way to experience the classic Sacred Valley sites — Ollantaytambo fortress + Moray Inca terraces + Maras Salt Mines + Chinchero ruins — without the 4-hour Cusco↔Urubamba transfer round trip. Gentle 09:00 AM pickup at your Urubamba hotel. Three drop-off options: Urubamba hotel, Cusco, or Ollantaytambo train station (direct continuation to Machu Picchu). Private tour from $35 USD per person (group of 10). Daily departures year-round.
If you’re staying in Urubamba — at one of the Sacred Valley’s premium hotels (Tambo del Inka, Inkaterra Hacienda, Sol y Luna, Aranwa) or elsewhere in the valley — there’s a frustrating problem with most Sacred Valley tours: they’re all designed for travelers based in Cusco. The standard route picks up in Cusco at 07:00-07:30 AM, drives 1.5-2 hours to the valley, runs the day, then drives 1.5-2 hours back to Cusco. If you’re already IN the Sacred Valley, that’s 3-4 hours of pointless transfer time — and you’d need to either drive yourself to Cusco the night before or join a tour that picks up at 06:00 AM near your valley hotel.
The Sacred Valley Tour from Urubamba is engineered specifically to solve this problem.
Five reasons travelers staying in Urubamba choose this tour:
1. No Cusco transfer required — pickup at your Urubamba hotel at 09:00 AM. This is the single biggest USP. You sleep in your premium Sacred Valley hotel, eat a leisurely breakfast, and start the tour at a civilized 09:00 AM directly from your hotel reception. Compare to standard Sacred Valley tours: they pick up at 07:00-07:30 AM in Cusco, meaning you’d need to leave your Urubamba hotel at 05:00 AM, drive to Cusco, then drive back to the valley — losing the entire morning to transfer logistics.
2. The smart 4-stop classic Sacred Valley circuit. We visit Ollantaytambo (the monumental Inca fortress and “living Inca city” — the only Sacred Valley town still inhabited on its original Inca street grid), Moray (the Inca agricultural amphitheater with 15°C microclimate differentials across its concentric terraces), Maras Salt Mines (the 4,500 cascading salt evaporation pools that have been operating continuously for 500+ years), and Chinchero (Inca terraces, colonial church on Inca foundations, traditional Quechua weaving community). Plus an optional add-on: hands-on weaving experience at Chinchero textile cooperative.
3. Three drop-off options — choose what fits your next step. This flexibility is unique in our Sacred Valley cluster:
4. Transparent pricing — Boleto Turístico NOT bundled. Unlike some operators that hide a 25-30% markup by bundling entrance fees, our tour keeps the Boleto Turístico separate. You pay S/70 (Boleto Parcial Circuit 3 — covers Ollantaytambo + Moray + Chinchero) plus S/20 at Maras Salt Mines, directly in Peruvian soles at the sites. Applicable discounts (ISIC student 50%, children under 10 50%, Andean Community promotional rate) apply directly. You save $15-30 USD per person vs operators that hide markups.
5. Private tour service — your group only. Not a shared group bus tour. Just your party, your guide, your right-sized vehicle. Private pricing scales by group size: $208 USD solo down to $35 USD per person at 10 travelers. Same comprehensive itinerary, customized pacing for your group. Lunch NOT included — your guide recommends excellent restaurants in the Urubamba area (elite gourmet at MIL Centro, traditional Andean, quick options) and adapts the timing to your group’s preferences. You eat where you want to eat.
From $35 USD per person (group of 10) · Full day from 09:00 AM · Private tour 1-10 travelers · Daily departures year-round · Pickup at your Urubamba hotel · 3 drop-off options.
QUICK FACTS BAR
Sacred Valley Tour from Urubamba: A convenient full-day experience starting in the heart of the Sacred Valley, perfect for travelers staying in Urubamba, Ollantaytambo, or nearby areas.
The Sacred Valley Tour from Urubamba 1-Day is a tour with a very specific identity: it’s designed for travelers who are already in the Sacred Valley, not coming from Cusco. This specific identity drives every operational decision — the gentle 09:00 AM start, the Urubamba hotel pickup, the route order (Ollantaytambo first), and the three flexible drop-off options.
(1) Premium hotel guests in Urubamba. Urubamba has some of the best hotels in all of Peru — Tambo del Inka (Luxury Collection), Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba, Sol y Luna Relais & Châteaux, Aranwa Sacred Valley, and others. Travelers paying premium prices for these hotels typically have wellness-focused stays (spa, gourmet dining, leisure). They don’t want to drive 4+ hours round-trip to Cusco for a Sacred Valley tour — they want a tour that comes to them.
(2) Travelers staying anywhere in the Sacred Valley. Beyond Urubamba town itself, this tour serves travelers in Yucay, Huayllabamba, Pisac village, and other Sacred Valley locations. Pickup is flexible to your specific accommodation.
(3) Pre-Machu Picchu travelers. The most logical Machu Picchu itinerary is: sleep in Urubamba → tour Sacred Valley → drop-off at Ollantaytambo train station → train to Machu Picchu. This eliminates Cusco backtracking entirely. Our Ollantaytambo train station drop-off option is engineered exactly for this scenario.
(4) Wellness and spa travelers. Urubamba is the wellness capital of Peru (premium spa hotels, yoga retreats, Andean wellness experiences). Travelers building wellness-focused itineraries often want one day of a cultural Sacred Valley experience without disrupting the slow-paced wellness rhythm. The gentle 09:00 AM start preserves morning leisure time.
(5) Photography enthusiasts who value softer morning light. Our 09:00 AM start arrives at Ollantaytambo around 10:00 AM — by which time the harsh dawn light has softened. Excellent for photography at all 4 sites without the early-morning grogginess of Cusco-based tours.
(6) Active families based in Sacred Valley. Families staying at Urubamba family-friendly hotels can do this tour as a single day activity. The gentle start works for kids (no 06:00 AM wake-up). Children under 10 get 50% discount on Boleto Turístico.
(7) Active seniors at lower altitudes. Urubamba at 2,870 m is significantly lower altitude than Cusco at 3,350 m — easier for travelers managing altitude. Tour spends most of the day below 3,300 m.
(8) Travelers continuing to Cusco after Urubamba stay. Our drop-off option includes Cusco — if you stayed in Urubamba 2-3 nights and now continue to Cusco, we drop you at your Cusco hotel at end of day with the Sacred Valley experience complete.
(9) Repeat Cusco visitors with Sacred Valley overnight. Travelers visiting Peru again often skip Cusco and stay directly in the Sacred Valley. This tour gives them an efficient Sacred Valley experience without unnecessary Cusco logistics.
| Feature | Sacred Valley from Urubamba (this tour) ✓ | Sacred Valley Full Day from Cusco | Super Sacred Valley from Cusco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pickup location | Urubamba hotel ✓ | Cusco hotel | Cusco hotel/airport |
| Pickup time | 09:00 AM (gentle) | 07:30 AM | 07:00 AM |
| Format | PRIVATE | Shared group | PRIVATE |
| Sites | 4 stops (Ollanta + Moray + Maras + Chinchero) | 5 stops (Taray + Pisac + Ollanta + Chinchero) | 6-7 stops (everything) |
| No Cusco transfer needed | ✅ EXCLUSIVE | ❌ Cusco round trip | ❌ Cusco round trip |
| Drop-off train station | ✅ Available | Available | Available |
| Drop-off back at your valley hotel | ✅ EXCLUSIVE | ❌ Returns to Cusco | ❌ Returns to Cusco |
| Lunch | NOT included | NOT included | INCLUDED |
| Tickets | NOT included | NOT included | INCLUDED |
| From | $35 USD | $33 USD | $76 USD |
Translation:
Why do we start at 09:00 AM from Urubamba (vs 07:00-07:30 AM from Cusco):
Pickup — Your Urubamba Hotel (09:00 AM)
Hotel pickup: your driver/guide arrives at your Urubamba hotel reception 5 minutes before 09:00 AM. Identified with Kondor Path Tours sign.
Pickup also available:
Mention your exact hotel at booking so we coordinate the optimal pickup time (we may adjust 09:00 AM slightly to optimize the route based on your specific hotel location).
Breakfast before pickup: standard hotel breakfast time works perfectly. Most Urubamba hotels serve breakfast 06:30-09:30 AM. Eat at your normal pace.
A 15-20 minute drive from Urubamba brings us to Ollantaytambo — typically the first stop because of its geographic proximity to Urubamba.
Strategic timing advantage: arriving at Ollantaytambo around 10:00-10:15 AM, after the early Cusco-based tour groups have already moved through. Less crowded experience.
What you’ll experience:
Before climbing to the fortress, we walk through the historic village center:
This is the only town in the Sacred Valley still inhabited on its original Inca street grid designed by emperor Pachacutec around 1450.
The site rises dramatically above the village. Some archaeologists rate Ollantaytambo as more impressive than Machu Picchu for its sheer scale and engineering ambition.
Key elements:
Historical context: site of one of the few Inca victories against the Spanish (1537, Manco Inca vs. Hernando Pizarro using flood tactics).
Climb pacing: your guide adjusts pace to group fitness. Travelers with limited mobility can stop at intermediate levels — the views are excellent from lower platforms too.
A 45-minute drive from Ollantaytambo (through scenic Sacred Valley landscape) brings us to Moray — the Inca agricultural amphitheater.
What you’ll experience:
The circular terraces:
The agricultural laboratory function:
Photography:
Boleto Turístico verification at entrance — your guide handles ticket logistics.
A 20-minute drive from Moray brings us to Maras — one of the most photographed sites in Peru.
What you’ll experience:
The Salineras complex:
Activities at Maras:
Photography note: the panoramic viewpoint offers the classic image of the Maras Salt Mines.
Lunch is NOT included, allowing you to choose according to your preferences.
Your guide recommends restaurants based on:
Recommended options:
🍽️ Gourmet restaurants (~US$25–50)
🥘 Traditional restaurants (~US$10–18)
🥗 Vegetarian and vegan options are widely available.
🍔 Quick lunch options are available for travelers wanting a shorter stop.
Your guide adapts the lunch stop to your group’s preferences. You pay the restaurant directly.
A 30-minute drive from Maras brings us to Chinchero, the highest point of the tour at 3,762 m.
What you’ll experience:
The Church of Chinchero was built directly on the foundations of the Inca palace of Tupac Yupanqui.
Inside you’ll find:
Photography is not allowed inside, but exterior photography is permitted.
The famous terraces offer panoramic views across the Sacred Valley.
This optional visit introduces the traditional weaving techniques of the Quechua communities.
Highlights:
This stop is optional. You may decide during booking or on the day of the tour.
Quechua-speaking guides are available upon request.
Option A — Return to your Urubamba hotel
Option B — Drop-off in Cusco
Option C — Ollantaytambo Train Station (Most Popular)
Please provide your train departure time when booking so we can coordinate the itinerary.
None
Easy
A light walks
5 to 25 minutes
Ollantaytambo: 2,851m (9,353 ft)
Inca Salt Flats: 3,385m (11,105 ft)
Chinchero Ruins: 3,800m (12,467 ft)
Transport
Guides
Other Included Services
Boleto Turístico — purchased directly in Peruvian soles
We intentionally do not bundle entrance fees. Most operators add a 25–30% markup by including them in the tour price. Buying tickets directly allows you to save money and receive any available discounts.
| Ticket | Cost (Soles) | Approx. USD | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boleto Turístico Parcial Circuit 3 | S/70 | ~US$19 | Ollantaytambo, Moray, Chinchero & Pisac |
| Boleto Turístico Integral | S/130 | ~US$35 | 16 archaeological sites (valid for 10 days) |
| Maras Salt Mines | S/20 | ~US$5 | Community entrance fee |
Total entrance fees: S/90 (~US$24) with the Partial Tourist Ticket.
Payment: your guide will assist you at each ticket office. Please bring S/100–150 in cash. The nearest ATMs are located in Urubamba near Plaza de Armas.
Available discounts:
Lunch — NOT Included
Enjoy complete flexibility by choosing the restaurant that best suits your preferences. Your guide will recommend excellent options based on your budget and dietary requirements.
You pay the restaurant directly.
Optional Chinchero Textile Experience: included as an optional cultural activity. Purchasing textiles is entirely optional.
Other items not included:
As a local tour operator, we believe in transparent pricing. Rather than hiding entrance fees inside the tour cost, we let you purchase them directly, saving you money.
Estimated total trip cost (group rate):
Typical bundled tours: US$100–140 per person.
You save approximately US$20–60 per person by booking directly with transparent pricing.
Ideal for:
Everything you need to know about our Sacred Valley Urubamba 1-Day Tour — the Urubamba-centric exploration of the Sacred Valley that uses the historic Inca capital of Urubamba as the geographic and cultural pivot of the day. Below are the most up-to-date answers for 2026, including why Urubamba is the heart of the valley, what makes this tour different from our other Sacred Valley options, the traditional Urubamba market visit, and how the Urubamba River shapes the entire experience.
The Sacred Valley Tour from Urubamba 1-Day is a full-day private tour designed specifically for travelers already staying in Urubamba or the Sacred Valley. Pickup is at your Urubamba hotel at 09:00 AM — a gentle start with no Cusco transfer required. The tour visits 4 main sites: Ollantaytambo fortress and living Inca city, Moray Inca agricultural amphitheater, Maras Salt Mines (4,500 cascading salt pools), and Chinchero ruins + colonial church (with optional traditional weaving experience).
3 drop-off options: your Urubamba hotel, Cusco, or Ollantaytambo train station (for travelers continuing to Machu Picchu). Boleto Turístico and lunch are NOT included — purchase tickets in soles directly at sites, lunch is a strategic stop with guide recommendations. From $35 USD per person (group of 10).
Travelers already staying in Urubamba or the Sacred Valley. Specifically:
If you’re staying in Cusco, this tour is NOT for you. Book our Sacred Valley Full Day Tour from Cusco instead.
Three reasons:
(1) You’re already in the Sacred Valley — no need for early morning Cusco transfer. The 09:00 AM start lets you have a leisurely breakfast at your Urubamba hotel.
(2) Strategic timing advantage: arriving at Ollantaytambo around 10:00-10:15 AM puts us after the early Cusco-based tour buses (which arrive at 09:00 AM). Less crowded experience at our first site.
(3) Photography light: late morning light at all sites (Ollantaytambo, Moray, Maras, Chinchero) is better than the harsh dawn light. More flattering for photography.
Pickup time is fixed at 09:00 AM, but we can adjust slightly (08:30 or 09:30) based on your specific hotel location and group preferences. Mention at booking.
Option A — Urubamba hotel (default):
Option B — Cusco:
Option C — Ollantaytambo train station (USP unique):
Mention your preferred drop-off at booking. No extra charge for any option.
Same valley, different starting point and routing.
Sacred Valley Full Day from Cusco ($33 USD shared group):
Sacred Valley from Urubamba ($35 USD private):
Key differences:
Geographic logic. Pisac is at the eastern end of the Sacred Valley (close to Cusco), while Ollantaytambo, Moray, Maras, and Chinchero are at the central/western end (close to Urubamba).
From Urubamba, Pisac is approximately 1 hour drive each way — adding 2 hours to the day for one site.
For a more efficient itinerary, we focus on the sites geographically close to Urubamba (Ollantaytambo, Moray, Maras, Chinchero) and skip Pisac.
If Pisac is important to you, two options:
No — Boleto Turístico is NOT included, intentionally for price transparency.
Most operators add 25-30% markup when bundling. You’d pay $26-30 USD for what should cost $19-24 USD.
You purchase at the sites in soles:
Only cash in Peruvian soles accepted. Bring S/100-150 to cover tickets + lunch + tips.
ATMs available in Urubamba (Plaza de Armas area) — withdraw before tour. No ATMs at the archaeological sites.
Discounts apply directly:
No — lunch is NOT included, but we make a strategic stop with your guide’s recommendations.
The Urubamba area has excellent dining:
Your guide adapts the lunch timing and location to your group’s preferences. You pay directly at the restaurant.
Urubamba area concentrates the best high-end Andean restaurants in Peru.
For elite/gourmet experiences:
For authentic traditional Andean cuisine:
For market food:
Your guide gives specific recommendations based on your group’s preferences (cuisine type, budget, dietary restrictions, time available).
Yes — this is one of our most popular itineraries.
The pattern:
Coordination requirements:
No additional cost for the train station drop-off.
Sacred Valley altitudes range from lower to higher:
The altitude profile is GENTLER than Cusco-based tours because:
Good acclimatization day. Travelers managing altitude in Cusco find Urubamba-based tours significantly easier.
Yes — ideal for arrival day in Sacred Valley if you’ve already adjusted to Cusco altitude before arriving in Urubamba.
Best pattern:
Not recommended same-day arrival from Lima because:
For same-day Lima arrival: rest in Urubamba day 1, do this tour day 2.
Yes — family-friendly tour. Recommended age: 5+ accompanied by guardian over 21.
Family-friendly elements:
Child discounts:
Important: children under 18 traveling without a parent require notarized parental consent letter.
Yes — one of our most senior-friendly Sacred Valley tours:
Mention any mobility concerns at booking — we adjust the visits accordingly.
Limited accessibility:
Accessible: Urubamba pickup (your hotel), Maras viewpoint, Moray rim view, Chinchero village center, Chinchero church entrance.
NOT accessible: Ollantaytambo fortress climb (200 stone steps), Maras Salt Mines descent (steep slippery path), Moray crater interior (steep descent), Chinchero upper Inca terraces.
Recommendation: for wheelchair travelers, this tour provides only partial value. Consider Accessible Peru Tours designed specifically for wheelchair users with 2 dedicated guides for lifting assistance.
Year-round operation with seasonal considerations:
Dry season (May-September) — BEST:
Shoulder seasons (April, October):
Rainy season (November-March):
Photography priority: May-September.
Primary languages: English and Spanish.
Quechua-speaking guides available on request (1 week advance notice). Valuable for:
Other languages on request (private tours — this tour IS private):
All guides certified by DIRCETUR (Peruvian Ministry of Tourism) with tourism degrees + Andean studies background.
Yes — and you should.
Maras pink salt is one of the most prized culinary ingredients of the Andes. The community sells direct from the salt mines at fair prices.
Common products:
Cash only — bring S/30-50 in soles for salt purchases.
Maras salt allowed through customs in most countries — verify your home country’s specific food import rules.
Recommended cash in Peruvian soles: S/120-200 ($32-55 USD) per person.
| Expense | Cost in soles |
|---|---|
| Boleto Turístico Parcial Circuit 3 | S/70 (~$19 USD) |
| Maras community fee | S/20 (~$5 USD) |
| Lunch (your choice, average) | S/50-80 |
| Tips for guide + driver | S/20-40 |
| Maras salt purchases (optional) | S/20-50 |
| Restroom fees | S/5-10 |
| Reserve cash | S/15-20 |
| Total recommended | S/200-300 |
ATM locations in Urubamba: Plaza de Armas has multiple ATMs (BCP, Scotiabank, Interbank). Withdraw before tour.
Cards accepted at restaurants: most accept Visa/Mastercard. Cash only at ticket offices and Maras community salt stalls.
Cancellations 72+ hours before departure: full refund.
Cancellations 24-72 hours before: 50% refund.
Cancellations within 24 hours: non-refundable, but can be rescheduled within 6 months at no extra cost (subject to availability).
Force majeure cancellations (extreme weather, strikes, road closures): full refund or free reschedule.
Rescheduling: free up to 24 hours before departure, subject to availability.
Train station drop-off scenario: if your train ticket changes, contact us 24 hours ahead — we typically adjust day timing without rescheduling the full tour.
PRIVATE TOUR pricing — based on group size.
| Persons | Price (p/p) | |
| 1 | $ 208.00 USD | |
| 2 | $ 117.00 USD | |
| 3 | $ 87.00 USD | |
| 4 | $ 68.00 USD | |
| 5 | $ 59.00 USD | |
| 6 | $ 51.00 USD | |
| 7 | $ 45.00 USD | |
| 8 | $ 41.00 USD | |
| 9 | $ 37.00 USD | |
| 10 | $ 35.00 USD |
Larger groups (+10 travelers): contact us for custom pricing — best rates and dedicated staff support.
What’s included in the price: tour + private transport (Urubamba pickup + 3 drop-off options) + bilingual guide + bottled water + oxygen kit.
Booking & payment:
Booking timeline:
Sample total cost (group of 10):
| Item | Cost per person |
|---|---|
| Tour price (private from Urubamba) | $35 USD |
| Boleto Turístico Parcial Circuit 3 | ~$19 USD |
| Maras community fee | ~$5 USD |
| Lunch (your choice, average) | ~$15 USD |
| Tips for guide + driver | ~$5–8 USD |
| Total per person | ~$79–82 USD |
Compare to bundled operators: typically $100–140 USD per person (35–65% markup). You save $20–60 USD per person by booking direct.
