The private Maras, Moray and Chinchero tour from the Sacred Valley is the easiest way to leave the valley and reach Cusco. Instead of a direct taxi, we pick you up at your hotel in Ollantaytambo or Urubamba, visit the Maras Salt Mines, the circular terraces of Moray and the village of Chinchero, and drop you off at your hotel in Cusco. All in a private vehicle, with your luggage on board and at your own pace.
Who is this tour for?
- If you’re staying in the Sacred Valley and heading to Cusco: turn your Sacred Valley–Cusco transfer into half a day of sightseeing.
- If you’re coming back from Machu Picchu: if you took the train back to Ollantaytambo and slept in the valley, do this route on your way to Cusco.
- If you’re traveling as a family or small group: the price is per vehicle, not per person. For 3 or 4 travelers it costs less than a tour and a transfer separately.
- If you want to go at your own pace: no group to wait for and no rigid schedule.
Why choose it over a direct transfer?
A direct transfer from the Sacred Valley to Cusco takes between 1 h 30 min (Urubamba) and 2 hours (Ollantaytambo). With this tour you add about 4 hours and see three of the most photographed sites in the Sacred Valley, without going back to Cusco and then out again to Maras and Moray.
- Save a day: no need to book a separate Maras and Moray tour from Cusco.
- Save on transport: the Valley → Cusco transfer is already included.
- Your luggage comes with you: no need to store it anywhere.
- Acclimatize gradually: go from 2,792 m (Ollantaytambo) or 2,871 m (Urubamba) to 3,762 m (Chinchero) before reaching Cusco (3,399 m).
Entrance tickets: Tourist Ticket and Maras Salt Mines
Entrance fees are not included. Bring about S/ 90 per person in cash:
- Partial Tourist Ticket – Sacred Valley Circuit (approx. S/ 70 for foreigners): covers Moray and Chinchero, plus Pisac and Ollantaytambo. It’s valid for 2 days: if you used it the day before at Pisac or Ollantaytambo, it still works for this tour.
- Maras Salt Mines (approx. S/ 20): separate entrance, managed by the Maras community.
Related tours
- Moray and Maras Salt Mines tour: the shared version departing from Cusco.
- Super Sacred Valley: Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Maras, Moray and Chinchero in one day.
- Sacred Valley of the Incas tour: the classic with Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Chinchero.
Itinerary
Private route that starts at your hotel in Ollantaytambo or Urubamba, in the Sacred Valley, visits the Maras Salt Mines, the circular terraces of Moray and the village of Chinchero, and ends at your hotel in Cusco. Your luggage travels with you all day.
Pick-up at your hotel in Ollantaytambo or Urubamba
We pick you up at your hotel in Ollantaytambo, Urubamba or elsewhere in the Sacred Valley at the arranged time. Load your luggage into the vehicle: it travels with you to your hotel in Cusco. From Urubamba it's about 30 minutes up to the Maras plateau (about 45 minutes from Ollantaytambo).
Maras Salt Mines (40 min)
More than 3,000 salt pools terraced into the mountainside, fed by a saltwater spring used since before the Incas. Families from the Maras community still harvest the salt by hand. The viewpoint offers one of the best photos of your trip, and you can buy pink salt directly from the producers.
Moray archaeological site (40 min)
About 30 minutes from Maras are the concentric circular terraces of Moray (~3,500 m). There is a difference of several degrees between the top terrace and the bottom, creating different microclimates. The most accepted theory is that the Incas used Moray as an agricultural laboratory.
Chinchero (40 min)
About 40 minutes later we reach Chinchero (3,762 m), the highest point of the day: an Andean village with cobblestone streets, a 17th-century colonial church built on top of Inca Túpac Yupanqui's palace, Inca terraces overlooking the Urubamba range, and weaving workshops where local women show natural dyeing with plants and cochineal.
Arrival at your hotel in Cusco
After about 50 minutes we reach Cusco and drop you off at your hotel. On pedestrian-only streets in the historic center, we drop you at the closest point the vehicle can reach.
Important notes
- Approximate duration: 6 hours from Urubamba (6 h 30 min from Ollantaytambo). Times may vary with traffic and weather.
- Private service with a bilingual driver (English/Spanish). Licensed guide optional, ask us.
- Entrance fees not included: Partial Tourist Ticket (approx. S/ 70) and Maras Salt Mines (approx. S/ 20). Bring cash in soles.
- Tell us when booking how many suitcases you have so we assign the right vehicle.
- Altitude: between 2,792 m (Ollantaytambo) and 3,762 m (Chinchero).
What's included
- Hotel pick-up in Ollantaytambo or Urubamba (Sacred Valley).
- Private transportation in a Jeep/SUV for the whole route.
- Bilingual driver English – Spanish.
- Luggage on board to Cusco.
- Drop-off at your hotel in Cusco.
Exclusions
- Partial Tourist Ticket for Moray and Chinchero (approx. S/ 70 for foreigners).
- Maras Salt Mines entrance (approx. S/ 20).
- Tour guide (optional, ask for a quote).
- Meals and drinks.
- Tips.
- Personal expenses and services not mentioned.
Remember these tips to better enjoy your trip, always carry with you:
- Bring your passport or ID (requested at ticket checkpoints).
- Bring cash in soles for entrance fees, Maras salt, textiles and tips.
- Tell us when booking how many suitcases you have.
- Layered clothing: Chinchero can be cold and windy.
- Rain jacket or poncho from November to March.
- Sunscreen, hat and sunglasses.
- Comfortable shoes for terraces and cobblestone streets.
- Water and a snack for the road.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the tour start?
At your hotel in Ollantaytambo or Urubamba. If you're staying in Yucay, Huaran or elsewhere in the Sacred Valley, contact us to arrange pick-up.
Where does the tour end?
At your hotel in Cusco. If it's on a pedestrian-only street in the historic center, we drop you at the closest point the vehicle can reach.
Can I bring my luggage?
Yes. The vehicle is private and your luggage travels with you the whole way, so you don't need a separate transfer to Cusco.
Is the price per person or per group?
Per group: $90 USD per vehicle for up to 4 people. For larger groups, message us on WhatsApp.
Does the price include entrance fees?
No. The price covers private transportation and the driver. Entrance fees are paid separately in cash (soles): the Partial Tourist Ticket (approx. S/ 70) for Moray and Chinchero, and the Maras Salt Mines entrance (approx. S/ 20).
Is a guide included?
The service includes a bilingual driver. If you'd like detailed historical explanations at each site, we can add a licensed tour guide. Ask us for a quote.
Can I do the route in reverse, from Cusco to the Sacred Valley?
Yes. Message us on WhatsApp and we'll arrange the private version from Cusco to the Sacred Valley, ending in Urubamba or Ollantaytambo.
Is it a difficult tour?
No. It's an easy tour with short walks at each stop. The main challenge is the altitude in Chinchero (3,762 m), which is higher than Cusco.
Reviews
No reviews yet for this tour. Be the first to review!
