Sacred Valley Tour Review: Pisac, Ollantaytambo, & Chinchero

Visiting the Sacred Valley in Peru is, in a way, stepping back in history, is that not so? I mean, you get these incredible Inca sites and super pretty views that really give you a feel for how important this area actually was. Lots of folks do the classic tour covering Pisac, Ollantaytambo, and Chinchero, and very, very understandably, so, right? I took that plunge myself, so let’s chat about what it’s actually like. Was it something spectacular? Were there bits I could have possibly skipped? Permit me to share every single tidbit, with you. That seems fair, does it not?

First Stop: Pisac’s Market and Ruins

Pisac is normally where many Sacred Valley trips get going, so I’ll start there. The Pisac Market is this genuinely buzzing place, like your senses are pretty much assaulted with colors and sounds, is that how you’d put it? You’ve got heaps of stalls absolutely piled high with textiles, jewelry, and all manner of souvenirs that I might add. It’s a decent spot to, like, haggle for crafts, if that’s something you are into at any rate. And you are supporting local artisans while you’re at it, and all. As a matter of fact, the market feels much, much bigger on Sundays, and even then, so bear that in mind, almost.

The ruins towering above Pisac are quite something too. You take a winding bus ride up and up and it definitely delivers views of the entire valley that will take your breath away just a bit. There’s intricate stonework and agricultural terraces that prove exactly how ridiculously skillful the Incas happened to be with their building. So much history right there staring at you, really. You could easily lose yourself wandering around here and gawking at what they’ve done for a good couple of hours, probably. Get a local guide here because their insight brings those old rocks to life with super captivating tales, alright?

Ollantaytambo: A Living Inca Town

Next, we’ve got Ollantaytambo, a town which I feel has far more to offer. What’s interesting, is that Ollantaytambo has the honor of being a community still inhabited since Inca times, like, that’s seriously wild. This place feels so much more authentic than Pisac, very understandably, really. The ruins here are quite impressive. The fortress that overlooks the town saw some heavy fighting during the Spanish conquest, which is actually a bit startling to grasp. Very big stones hauled to the top of the mountain there for construction, so it gives you a real idea of what they’d put into defense. It’s all terribly inspiring.

Strolling the pretty narrow streets of Ollantaytambo gave me such a great feel for how the Incas constructed their cities, so you know? Unlike other sites, very very little reconstruction had to occur in the Ollantaytambo ruin area. In a way, there is a palpable connection there. Many houses still have these Inca-built foundations. Very clearly, it’s worth taking things easy, for example. Spend extra time in this delightful area, because the feeling is very different here. It’s almost dreamlike. Don’t you think?

Chinchero: Weaving and Wonders

Chinchero tends to be the last stop, right? Chinchero’s claim to fame is, to start, the gorgeous weaving community there, actually. Demonstrations are incredibly typical when you go, so prepare to see how they take alpaca wool and turn it into vivid textiles using plant dyes, is that how you would characterize it, too? It really can be very informative.

Chinchero holds ruins, and like all the others they’re spectacular, that you can explore to your heart’s content. I should add that Chinchero, for one, features the church planted right on top of Inca foundations. While arguably beautiful, you might get a vague impression that this bold act symbolizes the whole story of colonialism within the Andes, or somewhere along those lines. A little on the nose perhaps. Think about what you want out of a trip to Chinchero, because, honestly, that place is often missed by visitors, nearly.

Tour Options and Recommendations

You could do the Sacred Valley in so many ways. There are, actually, loads of guided tours starting in Cusco, just a little ways away. Most cover just about everything above, and as well, many bundle it with a visit to Machu Picchu. So look around to ensure that you grab one which hits all that you fancy. Private tours allow you to customize the stops a little bit. What you get to spend at each site does genuinely rely on whatever you personally might care to get up to.

Doing it independently really does take some extra work, still, this means grabbing buses and sorting entries on your own. I feel if you’re the sort who likes moving at their own pace, this just might be your method of travel to any degree. Regardless, don’t be surprised that pre-booking those entry tickets to ruin locations will truly prove sensible. It doesn’t hurt, clearly. What seems worth bearing in mind is acclimatizing in Cusco ahead of kicking off in the Sacred Valley at all, for one. And I am serious, mind. High altitude isn’t a joke, and doing this can seriously stop altitude sickness ruining your enjoyment. Don’t leave water bottles back at the hotel. This seems fairly obvious, anyway.

Is the Sacred Valley Tour Worth It?

Bottom line? Oh yes! This tour, while I may have seemed a bit hesitant with certain areas, truly is a superb method of drinking in exactly what is in the history and magnificence from Peru’s Sacred Valley. If you see Pisac’s market and ruins, exploring ancient streets and gigantic fortresses when you get into Ollantaytambo, or actually seeing exactly how cloth will get woven by hand within Chinchero…Every stop shows what life within the Inca Empire looked like, pretty much. Now you can learn things face to face. I do believe, in a manner, that even I was not entirely equipped with an anticipatory response of the scale that Peru gave me! Do you concur, a little? That the sensation will actually stick along with you following the journey for decades, you may notice.

Pisac: A fun, buzzing marketplace and those incredible ruins which feature gorgeous views!
Ollantaytambo: Just an ancient, alive-and-well town presenting a glimpse back over old Inca ways of life.
Chinchero: Weaving traditions, attractive vistas. And just plenty, lots of photograph chances!
Advice: Permit altitude-adjustment ahead of arrival, actually. And get any ruins entries pre-booked.

So that pretty much sums things up about my journey throughout this great Valley within Peru, by the way. It turned out as memorable; just, well, very amazing too!

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