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Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Urubamba, and Maras are also known as Peru’s Sacred Valley. Collectively they make up one of the most grandiose and breathtaking landscapes in all of Peru. You’ll definitely want to spend some time here. But they can also be expensive destinations if you don’t know where to look.
Here are all the best things to see in the Sacred Valley on a budget.
Your Budget-Friendly Guide to the Sacred Valley
We spent $60 per day in Peru as a couple. And that’s with some major splurges thrown in. Like a one-night stay at Peru’s most luxurious sky hotel (Skylodge Adventure Suites) but I’ll get to that later. The Sacred Valley is more than doable on a tight budget. But first…
What is the Sacred Valley?
Before visiting Peru I was very confused about what exactly the Sacred Valley was. So, let me make it simple for you. The Sacred Valley is a collection of small towns just outside of Cusco that sits in what the Inca people considered a “sacred valley”. The towns you’ll definitely want to add to your Peru Itinerary are Ollantaytambo, Pisac, and Maras.
When To Visit: Although April-October boasts the sunniest days there really isn’t a bad time to visit the Sacred Valley. Unlike some of Peru’s hiking regions, you’ll be able to enjoy the scenery even on a cloudy day.
Getting to the Sacred Valley From Cusco
Learn the word “collectivo”. This is essentially a form of local transport like a bus but in the form of a mini-van. It leaves when full and doesn’t operate on any particular time schedule. But there are so many they are coming and going in Cusco every 20-minutes.
They cost around 5-6 soles or $1.25-$1.50 from Cusco to each city in the Sacred Valley.
Head to Calle Puputi in Cusco to find the departing buses. Taxi drivers will know where to take you.
Don’t bother with the day trips from Cusco. They are overpriced. Some travelers will suggest making Cusco your home base & then taking an organized day trip to Ollantaytambo, Moray & Maras, and Pisac separately. This is a waste of valuable time & money. And the Sacred Valley is just too pretty to not stay overnight.
Ollantaytambo
Peru’s prettiest tourist village. Seriously, it won an award from the United Nations. And pretty it is. Cobblestone streets, alleys, stairs, walls, buildings, — really it’s just all cobblestone. Golden statues, picturesque town squares, blooming flowers overflowing from rooftops, and a river running straight through town make it a tourist favorite.
But with those tourists comes change. Tourist infrastructure let’s call it. I recommend spending one day and night in Ollantaytambo to take in the ambiance indulge in some excellent Pisco Sours at Apu Veronicas and have a cozy night at Inka Khawarina Tambo Lodge. Also, have a walk up the mountain to the Ollantaytambo Ruins and Pinkuylluna while you’re at it.
For lunch, be sure to hit some of the menu del dia at the main town square. You can get a full meal for 10-15 soles.
Ollantaytambo is absolutely rammed with people in the mornings. This is because it is the gateway (for the non-hikers) to Machu Picchu. This is another reason it’s better to stay overnight.
Planning on Visiting Machu Picchu? Don’t take the train to Aqua Calientes. You should be hiking the Inca Trail. I’ve got 10,000 reasons why. But read this post and I promise you’ll be inspired.
What is the Deal with the Tourist Boleto?
Peru loves tickets. They have tickets and receipts for everything. I even got a receipt when I paid for toilet paper at some public restrooms. This particular ticket is a necessary evil. The Peruvian government decided instead of selling tickets to ruins and attractions separately they would bundle them and charge a much higher price. The price for the Sacred Valley sites is $21 or 70 soles per person.
If it were up to me I would only visit the Pisac archeological site. But alas, you MUST pay for all of them. Which means, I guess I’m going to them all.
This is different from the Saqsaywaman tourist boleto which is also 70 soles. Personally, I would skip visiting those ruins. Although Saqsaywaman is quite impressive and has views of the city, I think that you can get a good enough look from outside and find city views on your walk back to Cusco. It’s just too much to pay unless you’re REALLY into Incan history.
Moray & Maras
Moray is yet another archeological site included in your tourist boleto. Maras is a small nothing town with an incredibly photogenic natural salt mine worth a visit- Salineras de Maras. I say small nothing town fondly. I love a town with few attractions because it gives a true window into the life of locals.
Moray is an archeological site and was once an Incan laboratory where they tested different crops in different soil and climates created by the terraces. It’s impressive to view from above.
Salineras de Maras on the other hand is a still-functioning salt mine. It costs 10 soles to visit (it’s not included in the ticket). A natural flowing saltwater river fills the pools and then as the water evaporates salt is harvested.
I recommend visiting both.
How to See Moray Archeological site & Salineras de Maras?
This calls for a day trip via taxi from Ollantaytambo. We paid 110 soles for a 4-hour taxi adventure from Ollantaytambo main square to both Moray and Salineras de Maras.
Conceivably, you could hop in a collectivo to Maras and grab a taxi to both sites from there (supposedly for 80 soles + collectivo fare) but for two people that comes out to nearly the same as what we paid directly from Ollantaytambo.
Pisac
This is my favorite town in the sacred valley for several reasons. It’s affordable. It still feels like a Peruvian town- not a town for tourists. It has lots of street food and great local food in general. It also had my favorite of the Sacred Valley ruins by far.
Here’s what I recommend doing in Pisac.
First, things first. The ruins. These are the most impressive ruins included in the Sacred Valley tourist boleto. So impressive in fact, I even included them in my list of “must-do hikes in Peru”. I recommend you start your day early with a taxi to the top of the ruins. Unfortunately, this is gonna cost you 25 soles. But then you can leisurely walk the trail down through the more secluded ruins all the way back to town on your own. It’s about 3 miles, but all downhill. & you’ll get some great views of the city.
From there, I recommend indulging in some street food- particularly the tasty cheese sandwiches and quinoa porridge they serve in the morning. Ulrick’s Cafe is a great cafe/breakfast option with cozy seating. Pisac also has a huge market although in comparison to other Peruvian markets this one is nothing to write home about. At night the small town comes alive. Stop in for some soup with it seems like everyone else in Pisac at the Caldo de Gallina shop on the main street.
Where to Stay: Intihuatana Hostel
It’s nothing extravagant but the beds are clean, it’s filled with all kinds of characters who seem to be staying for months on end, and there are tons of communal spaces including a work-out room and a Netflix den. & did I mention beds are $3 per person?
Luxury Splurge: Skylodge Adventure Suites
If you’re looking to completely throw your budget out the window for an epic adventurous sleeping situation…look no further. For $300-$500 per night, you can sleep in a titanium pod hanging 1,000 feet over the Sacred Valley. But first, you have to climb to it.
& I mean literally climb.
Then following a delicious meal, a bottle of wine, and a rest in a transparent bubble in the sky you’ll get to zipline your way back to the base of the mountain. We did it. & I can honestly say it was one of our favorite (and most terrifying) accommodations in the world. I maybe wouldn’t recommend this to people who are afraid of heights.
Budget Alternative: For only $70, you can participate in the climb and zipline without the overnight stay in the bubble.
Let Us Plan Your Trip: Our Full Peru Itinerary
Now that you have mastered our guide to the Sacred Valley be sure to check out our full Peruvian Itinerary.
The Sacred Valley was one of my favorite areas in Peru and historically it’s one of the most important. A visit to these three towns doesn’t have to break the bank. Let me know in the comments if you found a way to visit the Sacred Valley for even cheaper!
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