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Before you travel · the question we get most the night before

Is the Sacred Valley worth it in one day? Yes, and here are three reasons and two cases where it is not

Yes, for most people: in one day you see up to five places (Chinchero, Maras, Moray, Ollantaytambo and Pisac) with a guide and lunch for US$29–32, in a valley lower than Cusco that also helps you acclimatize. It is not worth it if you have three or more free days and would rather sleep in the valley, or if what you want is hours of walking rather than visiting sites. You can decide today and leave tomorrow.
If you decide yes, today until 8 pm you book and tomorrow sales.—Is there space tomorrow?

Book for tomorrow: Express US$32 · Classic US$30 · is there space? · how to book

Three reasons why yes

DensityNo other day out of Cusco brings together so many different sites: a living textile center, salt pans, an Inca agricultural laboratory, a fortress-temple and a market. The Express covers them in 11–12 hours with 5 h 50 of visiting.
AltitudeThe valley sits between 2,790 and 3,300 m, below the 3,350 of Cusco (only Chinchero goes higher). It is the day that works best when you have just arrived.
A complete priceUS$29–32 covers pickup, transport, a certified guide in two languages and a buffet lunch. The entrance fees are separate, and we confirm them the night before.

Two cases where it is not

  • You have three or more free days. Then sleeping in Ollantaytambo or Pisac and moving slowly is a different experience; the one-day tour summarizes it, it does not replace it.
  • You want to hike. The tour visits sites with short walks; if you are after hiking, the valley has day routes that are not this.

And one nuance: if all you care about is Machu Picchu, the tour is still useful as acclimatizing and as a transfer to Ollantaytambo, but it is not essential.

What you miss in one day

Time. At Pisac you get an hour and a half (Classic) or 80 minutes (Express), at Ollantaytambo an hour, at Maras and Moray 45 minutes each. It is enough to see, to understand with the guide and to photograph; not to wander the streets of Ollantaytambo at dusk or go back to the Pisac market. If that matters to you, the version ending in Ollantaytambo lets you stay the night in the valley for US$1 less.

If yes, which one?

One day only and you want to see it allExpress, 5 places, US$32
You landed today, travel with children or prefer a calm paceClassic, Taray + 3 places, US$30
You carry on by train to Machu PicchuEnding in Ollantaytambo, US$31 or US$29
There are 8 or more of youPrivado, from US$90

Express or Classic, compared point by point →

Bookings for tomorrow: non-refundable; you can move the date if there is space, and we reschedule or refund if we cancel because of the weather.

Related pages

Express o ClassiccomparadosHow to book today for tomorrow3 pasosAltitude and sorocheif you landed today
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They are opposite days: the valley is culture, sites and low altitude; the mountain is a hike above 5,000 m and needs previous acclimatizing. Newly arrived, the valley; with days in Cusco and good legs, the mountain.

The city tour takes half an afternoon and climbs to Sacsayhuamán; the valley is a full day and lower down. With two days, both; with one, the valley.

Only Maras and Moray, on afternoon tours from street agencies. The whole valley needs the day.

Before, if you have just arrived: you acclimatize and the departures ending in Ollantaytambo leave you next to the train. More here.

More here →

Yes: the valley’s rain comes in the afternoon and passes, the sites are open and there are fewer people. The tour runs anyway; it is only called off for force majeure.

Yes: until 8 pm, Cusco time, you book for tomorrow at the same price. Check the space on WhatsApp.

Book until 8 pmfrom US$29
Is there space tomorrow?