Apart from Machu Picchu, there are amazing Andean towns and breathtaking views which you can enjoy in a full day out of Cusco. Especially relevant are the following options that Private Lima Tours with Sara presents here for 4 wonderful day trips from Cusco :

1. PISAC

This town is a must to visit. Pisac,in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, was their main area of maize production. Maize was of utmost importance for them since it served to produce “chicha”, an essential beverage in their religious rituals and festivities.

What to visit:

• First of all, an archaeological complex of Inca ruins, from which you can admire the magnificent agricultural terraces called “andenes” built by the Incas to grow maize, potatoes, kiwicha, and quinoa.
• Another must is the traditional market, to be visited preferably on Sundays.  Peasants wearing their traditional customs and selling their products will be one of your most colorful experience in the Andes. The market functions in the same place since the Spanish built the square in the XVI century.

How to arrive:

• Take a group tour from any of the tourist agencies located in the Main Square of Cusco.
• If you want to travel like a local, go to Calle Puputi (Puputi St) and take a van which costs around US$ 3 at the exchange rate. They keep on leaving as soon as the van is full which may take 15 minutes. The trip to Pisac takes about 45 minutes. If you prefer to go in taxi, it will cost you about 50 Soles, more or less US$ 15. Through the whole journey you will enjoy the indescribable beauty of the valley. We recommend you to go first to the ruins to avoid the crowds of visitors. Since there is no public bus from Pisac, a taxi will take you for Soles 25. Then go back to the town, visit the market, have lunch there and explore the old narrow streets around the plaza.

Where to eat:

Private Lima Tours with Sara recommends Mullu Café, located in the main square. Vegetarian options.  $$ – $$$

2050 mts a.s.l. (6730 ft)

2. OLLANTAYTAMBO

Because most travelers just pass through Ollantayambo on their way to Machu Picchu, they miss the chance to visit one of the most stunning spots in Cusco.

What to visit:

• Seems like Ollantaytambo was the military center of the Inca Empire according to the historians. As a result they built here impressive fortresses, squares and terraces with colossal stone blocks.
• The picturesque town of Ollantaytambo which consists of fifteen blocks with cobbled streets where villagers live in ancient houses dating back to the Inca times.

How to arrive: 

• Take a tour from any of the tourist agencies located in the Main Square of Cusco
• If you want to travel like a local, go to Calle Pavitos and take a minivan which takes about 2 hours to Ollantaytambo for about U$ 4 at the exchange. Same way take a van back to Cusco.

Where to eat:

Private Lima Tours with Sara recommends El albergue, located at the train station. Vegetarian options   $$ – $$$

2792 mts a.s.l. (9160 ft)

3. CHINCHERO, MARAS AND MORAY

These three astounding places in the Sacred Valley can be visited all together in one day.

• Chinchero

While in Chinchero be sure to visit the local weavers. These ladies demonstrate how they produce the different colors to dye the wool they spin and weave. Also this is the place where you can buy finely woven alpaca products. Furthermore it is  said that in the XV century Chinchero was the resort place of Inca Tupac Yupanqui. The beautiful colonial church which the Spanish built in the plaza in 1607 was most probably built over his palace. From the church down the hill you can admire the Inca stone walls and terraces.
Height: 3762 mts (12342 ft) Note that it is higher than Cusco.

• Moray

This is an archeological site consisting of huge circular terraces, which are believed to have been used by the Incas as agricultural laboratory. This belief lies in the fact that the difference in temperature between the top and the bottom of the depression can reach 15 degrees C (27 F) which recreates different eco climates. Thus, at the bottom they cultivated coca. In the middle, grains such as maize and quinoa. And potatoes at the top.
Height: 3500 mts a.s.l. (11500 ft)

• Maras

Maras is well known for its salt mines which have been in use for thousand years. It has around 5000 wells of 5 square meters each. The famous Pink Salt of Maras is obtained by the evaporation of water which filters from a salad river running under the wells which is believed to originate in an ocean trapped underground since the time the earth was covered by the oceans. A good purchase is this salt which has a concentration of iron and other minerals good for health.  Height: 3028 mts a.s.l. (9934 ft)

How to arrive:

Take a tour from any of the tourist agencies located in the Main Square of Cusco. They usually visit these three places together in one day.

Where to eat:

Private Lima Tours with Sara recommends Merienda in Chinchero . It is in Calle Albergue, 100 mts from the local market. Vegetarian options.  $$ – $$

ENTRANCE TICKETS 

For these recommended four day trips from Cusco you first have to buy in Cusco a tour pass called BOLETO TURISTICO GENERAL, valid for 10 days and which allows you to visit 14 touristic attractions among archaeological sites, monuments and museums including all the mentioned above, except Maras and Machu Picchu.
Price in Soles: 130.00 Students: 70.00 Children up to 9 years old: Free

Where to buy:
COSITUC: Galerías Turísticas, Av. Sol N° 103 (Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 5:30 pm Saturdays 8:30 am – 12:30 pm
OFEC: Calle Garcilaso (Monday to Saturdays 8:00 am to 5:00 pm – Sundays 8:00 to 8:00 pm)

This ticket does not include Maras which you pay at the entrance S/. 7 (around US$ 2) cash and only in Soles.

4. THE RAINBOW MOUNTAIN

The “Montaña de 7 colores” is one of the National Geographic´s 100 Places of a Lifetime. The amazing colors are the result of the rich amount of mineralsin the mountain, such as copper sulphates and iron dioxides. It is about 3 and half hours from Cusco. The trek starts at 4650 mts (15250 ft). Then you climb up to 5200 mt (17000 ft) from where you can appreciate the beauty of the mountain and take photos.  Because of the high altitude Private Lima Tours with Sara strongly recommends acclimatizing yourself for some days in Cusco prior to make this excursion since it´s a very tough hike.

In case of interest in a tour to the Rainbow Mountain, contact us here.

Finally, for your time in Lima don´t forget to check our Full Day Private Lima Tours.