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The Most Famous Hike in Peru & South America

City Tour and Pisac Full Day

1 Days & 0 Nights

1-Day Tour of Sacsayhuaman & Pisac – Inca Ruins, Sacred Valley & Artisan Market

This full-day tour combines the most important Inca sites near Cusco with the cultural charm of Pisac in the Sacred Valley. Visit Sacsayhuamán and explore nearby sites like Q’enqo, Puka Pukara, and Tambomachay.

Continue to Pisac to discover its impressive Inca ruins and traditional artisan market. A perfect experience to explore history, culture, and stunning landscapes in one day.

Itinerary

Day 1City Tour and Pisac Full Day

Cusco – Sacsayhuaman – Qenqo – Pucapucara – Tambomachay – Pisac

The tour begins with an 8:00 am pick-up from your hotel in Cusco in our private transport to the Sacsayhuaman archaeological site, located 15 minutes from the city. Upon arrival, you will be dazzled by its impressive Inca architecture that dominates the site. You will see carved stones weighing over 10 tons and measuring more than 2 meters in height, as well as llamas and natural forests. Our guide will explain the history of this impressive place.

Next, we will visit the Q'enqo archaeological site, which is very close to Sacsayhuaman. This site is famous for its history and function during the Inca era, as it was used for mummification. Our guide will tell you all the details of this magnificent place.
Afterward, we will head to Pucapucara, which means "red fortress" due to the pigmentation of its walls. Nearby is Tambomachay, our last archaeological site. After our guided tour of Tambomachay, we'll head northeast from Cusco to the town of Pisac, a 45-minute drive away.

Before arriving in Pisac, we'll make a brief stop at the Taray viewpoint, where we'll enjoy a classic view of the Urubamba Valley, with crops carpeting the mountains. We'll then continue to the Pisac archaeological site, one of the best-preserved Inca archaeological sites in the country. There, we'll explore the Sacred Temple Complex, built with exquisitely carved pink granite. We'll walk through one of the largest Inca cemeteries, with over 2,000 tombs, and admire the incredible agricultural terraces carved into the mountainside. We'll spend over an hour exploring this Inca city.

After our visit, we'll head to the colorful Pisac market, famous for being the largest market for pre-Columbian handicrafts and textiles in the Cusco region. In this vibrant Inca market, you'll experience a blend of colors, culture, and Inca tradition. You'll have plenty of opportunities to haggle, interact with local artisans, and purchase handmade souvenirs. After exploring the beautiful town of Pisac, we'll board our transportation to return to Cusco, concluding this exciting adventure with Meta Peru Travel.

Remember:

You can buy the tourist ticket at any archaeological site; remember to bring cash:
Don't forget to try the empanadas made in the old Inca ovens in the town of Pisac:

What does the City Tour and Pisac Full Day include?

What is included?

  • Pick up from your hotel.
  • Professional private guide
  • Private transportation to visit all the Inca sites.
  • First aid kit including emergency oxygen tank.

What is not included?

  • Tourist ticket of 130 soles (must be purchased to enter the archaeological sites).
  • Meals.
  • Trekking poles: 15 USD per pair per hike (you can rent them from us by prior arrangement at the time of booking)..

You can rent with us, request it in the briefing or at the time of making your reservation.

Recomendations

  • A light backpack of 30-50 liters to use throughout the hike.
  • A waterproof jacket or clothing, a rain poncho (US$2).
  • Trekking boots or good waterproof shoes,
  • A camera with batteries for the entire hike (batteries are consumed very quickly by the cold).
  • A hat, sunscreen and a re-hydrating cream for the skin, sunglasses.
  • Snacks: such as chocolates, cookies, dried fruits, raisins, etc.
  • Bottles of water.
  • Identity document, original passport. International student card (ISIC), if you have one.

FAQ – City Tour and Pisac Full Day

This tour combines the main highlights of Cusco city with a visit to Pisac Archaeological Park, offering both urban history and Inca ruins in one day.

Yes, unlike the classic city tour, this experience extends beyond Cusco to include Pisac, providing a broader view of Inca culture and landscapes.

It is ideal for travelers with limited time who want to explore both Cusco city and nearby archaeological sites in a single day.

The tour involves light to moderate walking, especially at Pisac, where you will explore terraces and viewpoints.

In many itineraries, you will also visit the traditional Pisac market, where you can see local crafts and Andean products.

Pisac is known for its impressive agricultural terraces, panoramic views, and its strategic location overlooking the Sacred Valley.

Yes, but it is recommended only if you feel comfortable with the altitude. Otherwise, consider doing it after acclimatizing.

Cusco city can be busy, but Pisac generally offers a more relaxed experience compared to more crowded sites like Machu Picchu.

The tour is operated with comfortable tourist vehicles suitable for city travel and short-distance routes.

This option saves time and offers better value by combining multiple highlights into one efficient itinerary.

👉 Book your City Tour and Pisac Full Day and experience the perfect combination of history, culture, and Andean landscapes.

What people say about us

Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verificada
Salkantay experience with Christian I fell ill right at the start of our Salkantay trip, but Christian was absolutely incredible. He made sure I got all the right medicine and went above and beyond to help me recover and get back into shape so that I could still enjoy the rest of the trek. Beyond that, Christian is genuinely one of the best guides you could ask for. He’s funny, incredibly helpful and full of great recommendations. Whatever questions we had, he seemed to know the answer, and if we needed something, he somehow made it happen. More than anything, it felt less like having a tour guide and more like travelling with an old friend who just happened to know everything about the area. He made the whole experience so much more enjoyable. Highly recommend Christian to anyone doing the Salkantay trek!
Publicado en Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
Patrick M profile picture
Patrick M
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verificada
More than a guide — a friend in Peru We were lucky to have the same guide, Cristian, for both our Sacred Valley tour and the Salkantay Trek, so we ended up spending quite a few days together. He really became a big part of our Peru trip. He knows so much about Inca history, Peruvian culture, the mountains, and local life, and we loved how naturally all of that came up in our conversations along the way. He was also very patient and always paid attention to how we were doing during the trek. On Salkantay, he even suggested adjusting our itinerary based on the weather conditions so we could have the best possible experience, which we really appreciated. He never rushed us, was happy to stop whenever we needed, and was just very easy and fun to be around. By the end of the trip, it honestly felt less like we had hired a guide and more like we had made a friend in Peru.
Publicado en Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
適亨 楊 profile picture
適亨 楊
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verificada
4d Salkantay trek and Sacred Valley day tour We were so lucky to have Cristian as our guide on our first trip to Cusco. He’s such a smart, thoughtful, and organized person. We did both the Sacred Valley tour and the Salkantay Trek with him. Whenever there was something to explain, he was incredibly knowledgeable, and during the trek he was also just a really fun person to talk to. He always paid attention to how everyone was feeling, made sure everyone was doing okay, and took care of what each person needed. I’m really happy that this trip to Peru gave us not only so many amazing memories, but also a wonderful new friend.
Publicado en Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
憶甄李 profile picture
憶甄李
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verificada
Esperienza perfetta Esperienza bellissima, Cristian la nostra guida ci ha ricoperto di attenzioni e ha fatto in modo che tutto fosse perfetto, e a parte questo è una persona adorabile con la quale è stato bellissimo condividere il cammino e che ci ha veramente aiutati a capire tante cose di questo paese meraviglioso e della sua società. Altamente raccomandato!
Publicado en Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
Tato3672 profile picture
Tato3672
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verificada
Great experience at MachuPicchu Great experience with guide Krystian doing the baby trail to MachuPicchu via Sun Gate. Capable and knowledgeable guide !
Publicado en Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
Koen D profile picture
Koen D
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verificada
Short Inca Trail review Cristian guided our family through the short version of the Inca Trail. The views were amazing and the hike made the whole experience even more unforgettable. Cristian provided us with interesting stories about the history of the Inca civilization and was very enthusiastic! A very friendly man who had a good feeling with the needs of the group. I highly recommand this trail and Maccu Pichu visit!
Publicado en Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
Lucas D profile picture
Lucas D
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verificada
Superleuk! Het was een supertof ervaring! De gids(Cristian) wist veel over de natuur en over de Machu Picchu. Hij kon ons interessante feitjes vertellen en dat maakte de hike en de belevenis nog toffer.
Publicado en Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
Arthur D profile picture
Arthur D
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verificada
Short-Inca trail review Mega leuke wandeltocht met geweldige uitzichten. Cristian, onze gids, legde alles op een leuke manier uit met interessante weetjes, wat de tocht nog leuker maakte.
Publicado en Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
Trek19589988553 profile picture
Trek19589988553
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verificada
Inca trail with Cristian and our family of 6 1 day inca trail with our guide who was very enthusiastic and motivated, giving lots of explanations and tips. Really an unforgettable experience!
Publicado en Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
Veronique profile picture
Veronique
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verificada
Short Inca Trail - Perfect experience! Christian was an amazing guide on our short Inca Trail trip. Everything was perfectly organized, he made sure we feel comfortable and shared a lot of interesting insights. Thanks again for this great day, which was the highlight of our vacation in Peru.
Publicado en Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
Ti_Carpenter profile picture
Ti_Carpenter

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