Full day
Cusco – Pisac – Urubamba – Ollantaytambo – Chinchero – Cusco
Pickup and departure for the Sacred Valley: the Flamenco Travel team will pick you up in the morning at your hotel in central Cusco. We'll travel by tourist transportation to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, one of the most fertile valleys in southern Peru, watered by the Vilcanota River. On the way, your guide will tell you how important the valley was for farming in Inca times.
Pisac archaeological site: our first visit is the Pisac archaeological site, high on the mountain. It's famous for its Inca terraces, aqueducts and cemeteries, and you'll see how the Incas managed to farm steep slopes. From the top there's a sweeping view of the valley.
Pisac town and market: next we'll go down to Pisac town, known for its craft market selling textiles, pottery, silver jewelry and other local goods. Shopping is optional and fits into the time your guide sets.
Lunch in Urubamba: we'll continue to Urubamba, "the heart of the Sacred Valley," for a buffet lunch of traditional Peruvian dishes surrounded by Andean scenery.
Ollantaytambo: in the afternoon we'll visit Ollantaytambo, known as the last living Inca town. Its fortress was built at a strategic point to protect the valley. We'll climb its stairways and terraces among stone buildings, temples and water channels. Your Flamenco Travel guide will explain how it was built and the military and ceremonial role it played.
Chinchero: our last stop is Chinchero, a town with a long farming and weaving tradition. It still has Inca terraces, the remains of Túpac Inca Yupanqui's palace and the colonial church built on top of them. You'll learn about its Andean weaving tradition: alpaca fibers, natural dyes and weaving techniques.
Return to Cusco: when the visit ends, we'll head back and arrive in central Cusco around 6:30 p.m.
