This is a fantastic half day tour to explore part of the Sacred Valley. You will see amazing views of the Urubamba mountain ranges, the Veronica Mountain and the green valleys of farms. On this half day trip, you will be able to learn about agriculture, textiles, and the history of the Incas.

We will pick you up from your hotel around 8 a.m. and head to the farming laboratory in Moray. This beautiful drive is about one hour and 20 minutes. On your drive, you will see the snow-capped peaks of the Andes, lush yellow fields of wheat, and some villages.

Finally, you will arrive at the fascinating display of terraces in Moray. Moray boasts three amphitheater-like terraces, made by the Incas. These terraces, which are carved deep into the earth, in the shape of a bowl, were thought to be used to determine the optimal conditions for growing crops.

When you are done exploring Moray, you will head about two miles, to the salt mines of Maras. This village is known as a former salt-producing center and is thought to date back to pre-Incan times. There are over 3,000 salt pools carved into the mountain. The salt mines are filled daily by a stream of water. This spectacular area is perfect if you wish to see something different than the Incan ruins.

The last stop on our tour is Chinchero, a small Andean Indian village located at 3,762 meters high on the windswept plains of Anta about 30 km from Cusco. There are beautiful views overlooking the Sacred Valley of the Incas, with the Cordillera Vilcabamba and the snow-capped peak of Salkantay dominating the western horizon. Chinchero is believed to be the mythical birthplace of the rainbow. Its major claim to tourism is its colorful Sunday market, which is much less tourist-orientated than the market at Pisac. This market is held every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday but if your trip isn’t on one of these days, they have a smaller textile center open daily. There, you can watch a demonstration on how to make beautiful, natural sweaters from Alpaca wool. Finally, you will get to visit the famous catholic roman church, which was built over the Inca palace.

Once you are done with the visit, we will head back to Cusco. You will return to Cusco around lunch time.

PACKING LIST

• Day pack
• Sun hat
• Sunscreen
• Reusable plastic/metal water container, or camel bags
• Camera and films
• Extra money for lunch, souvenirs, drinks and tips