The Living Heritage of the Andes
Step beyond the standard tourist trails and immerse yourself in the authentic, living heritage of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. This exclusive 9-hour private Sacred Valley tour seamlessly weaves together profound indigenous cultural encounters and monumental archaeological discoveries, offering a complete perspective of both ancient and contemporary Andean life.
Your private expedition begins high in the mountains above Pisaq with the indigenous Quechua community of Amaru, where you will witness ancestral alpaca weaving techniques, learn traditional high-altitude farming methods, and share a heartfelt, organic farm-to-table lunch with local families. As the day unfolds, you will descend into the vibrant Pisaq artisan market before exploring its clifftop Inca citadel. Finally, you will step back in time in the living Inca town of Ollantaytambo, where you are invited inside a continuously inhabited Incan home before climbing the colossal stone fortress that guarded the empire. Looking to also visit Chinchero, Maras, and Moray? Combine this journey with our Classic Sacred Valley Tour.
Expedition Highlights
Authentic Community Lunch
Experience genuine Andean hospitality. Share a hearty farm-to-table meal with the families of Amaru, prepared with organic ingredients harvested directly from their fields.
Pisaq Market & Citadel
Wander through the vibrant artisan market before ascending to the breathtaking Pisaq ruins, featuring a Sun Temple, ancient water ducts, and sweeping agricultural terraces.
A Living Inca Home
Step inside an original, continuously inhabited stone house in Ollantaytambo. Gain an intimate, rare insight into how towns were designed and utilized during the Incan period.
Ollantaytambo Fortress
Stand before the awe-inspiring monolithic pink granite temples of one of the last Incan strongholds, preserved since the Spanish conquest.
Expedition Route
Hover or tap the pulsing points to trace our immersive cultural journey from the high mountain communities to the valley's greatest fortresses.
Detailed Sacred Valley Itinerary
Culture, Weavers & Inca Stonework
Average Valley Altitude: 2,900 m / 9,514 ft · Duration: 9 Hours
1. Journey to the Mountains & Amaru
Your private chauffeur and historian guide will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco or the Sacred Valley in the morning. We drive through the scenic Urubamba Valley, ascending along mountain roads until we reach the traditional high-Andean community of Amaru.
2. Cultural Immersion & Farm-to-Table Lunch
In Amaru, you will experience a heartwarming cultural exchange with the local Quechua families. Participate in the ancestral process of harvesting natural plants to dye alpaca wool, observe master weavers using traditional backstrap looms, and learn about native potato cultivation. Following this immersion, share a freshly prepared farm-to-table lunch with the community—tasting organic Andean dishes grown in their own fields.
3. Pisaq Artisan Market & Citadel
After lunch, we descend to the colonial town of Pisaq to stroll through its colorful handicraft market—an ideal place to admire fine silverwork, ceramics, and textiles. Afterward, we drive up to the clifftop archaeological complex of Pisaq to explore its sweeping agricultural terraces, ceremonial water channels, and finely carved Intihuatana (Sun Temple).
4. The Living Inca Town of Ollantaytambo
Continuing along the Urubamba River through the fertile valley floor, we arrive at Ollantaytambo—the best-preserved example of Inca urban planning in Peru. Walk along original stone-paved canchas (courtyards) fed by rushing Inca water channels, and step inside a local family's traditional home to observe how ancestral architecture remains alive today.
5. The Imposing Ollantaytambo Fortress
To crown the afternoon, we explore the monumental Ollantaytambo archaeological site. Your private historian guide will decode the history of the Temple of the Sun—built from six colossal pink porphyry monoliths—and explain how Manco Inca's forces famously flooded the plains here to repel the Spanish conquistadors.
6. Private Return or Train Connection
After a day filled with cultural connections and archaeological wonders, your private chauffeur will escort you back to your hotel in Cusco or the Sacred Valley—or drop you off directly at the Ollantaytambo station to board your luxury train to Machu Picchu.
Inclusions & Prices
What's Included
- Private pick-up and drop-off at your hotel (Cusco or Sacred Valley).
- Private transportation in a comfortable SUV or luxury van.
- Professional English-speaking historian and cultural guide.
- Financial contribution and entrance fee to the Amaru indigenous community.
- Authentic farm-to-table lunch shared with the Amaru community families.
- Partial Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turístico) for Pisaq and Ollantaytambo ruins.
- Bottled water on board.
Not Included
- Optional textile or handicraft purchases at Amaru or Pisaq market.
- Gratuities for your guide and private driver (optional).
Essential Recommendations
- Respectful Photography: When visiting the Amaru community and the local Inca house in Ollantaytambo, please ask your guide before taking close-up portraits.
- Dietary Needs: If you have vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or allergy requirements for the community lunch, please inform us upon booking.
- Local Currency: Bring Peruvian Soles (PEN) in small denominations if you wish to purchase handmade textiles directly from the weavers.