The town we now know as Písac was built by Viceroy Toledo in the 1570s, the original Inca Písac having been destroyed by Francisco Pizzaro and the Spanish conquerors in the early 1530s. Many tourists are drawn in by Písac’s bustling market, by far the biggest and most visited in the region, a place where haggling is expected to score colorful hand-made traditional crafts. While the market is officially held every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, it has become so popular that it usually takes over the Plaza de Armas and surrounding streets every day of the week. To avoid the worst of the crowds, it is best visited on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday. While walking around the market, visitors might notice huge clay ovens tucked away in various spots, the most authentic of which is a colonial oven dating back to the 1830s. The ovens are used for making castillos de cuyes (literally, miniature castles for guinea pigs) as well as for baking empanadas, which make a great snack to keep you going while wandering from stall to stall. For those in search of some peace and quiet after the hustle and bustle of the market, a visit to the local and beautiful botanical gardens may be in order. Písac’s visitors tend to fall in love with its sunny charms, and find it to be the most convenient starting point for visits into the Sacred Valley.

Travelling through the Urubamba Valley, starting at the town of Pisac, enables tourists to visit an archaeological area in the highest mountain areas. Here there are many different buildings, plazas, temples, pools and other structures, all built between the 10th and 11th centuries AD. Inca architecture continues to stun admirers with the technique used to build its enormous walls, palaces and turrets with stone blocks, all done without any type of cement or adhesive. The Intihuatana solar observatory receives the greatest admiration. Fine quality stone carved into the shape of many hands forming a semi-circle. The terraces that encircle the mountain are impressive due to the location varying from 3,000-3,450 masl (9,843 - 11,319 fasl). There are 14 different styles of broad terraces. To manage their water supply, the Incas carried out engineering works creating many channels that travel the length of the terraces, and, despite the height of construction, they even included decorative fountains. Pisac is one of the few archaeological zones with two open tunnels cut into the hills, one which heads north for 15 meters (49 feet) and another 3 meter (10 feet) tunnel that leads to the summit.

Urubamba is a town in the Sacred Valley region of southeastern Peru. A busy transportation hub, it sits on the Urubamba River, surrounded by rugged mountains. The town is a jumping-off point for the Maras Salt Mines, hundreds of hillside salt pools dating back to Inca times. Nearby, Moray is an Inca archaeological site defined by concentric terraces. We will stop here for lunch

Ollantaytambo is a lovely village that preserves the designs of Inca buildings located at an altitude of 9160 feet in the province of Urubamba. Among this place's most impressive attractions are the ceremonial temple in worship of water and a fortress that guarded the entrance to the valley to repel any invasions. The temple has a set of terraces lying one atop the other which visitors scale via a steep stairway. The fortress is a stone colossus that was built between two mountains to protect the valley. The area also holds the Temple of Inti (the sun god), Incamisana, the baths of the Ñustas (princesses), the Cachiccata funerary towers, and a group of tiered and very steep terraces on the side of a hill. Ollantaytambo also contains the mountain called Pinculluna or Tunupa, which holds the vestiges of Inca architectural structures which seem to have been a storehouse for various foodstuffs. Ollantaytambo is also a meeting place for nearby communities, such as the Huayruros de Willoc, who can be recognized by their red and black ponchos and hats. From Ollantaytambo, we will be taking the train to Aguas Calientes

On reaching Aguas Calientes town, our representative will be picking you up from the train station and will escort you to the hotel.

How far in advance should I book tickets to Machu Picchu? To secure your spot at Machu Picchu, we recommend purchasing tickets online 2 to 3 months in advance. This will allow you to choose the date and time that best suit your plans, avoiding any last-minute issues. Tickets sell out quickly, so if you plan to buy them directly in Cusco, you risk not being able to get them. Booking recommendations based on the tour option: Machu Picchu + Mountain, Machu Picchu + Classic Postcard, Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu, Machu Picchu + Lower Temples: Book 2 to 3 months in advance. Machu Picchu Classic Route, Machu Picchu Classic Route (Lower Terrace): Book 3 to 4 months in advance. Machu Picchu + Inca Bridge Temples, Machu Picchu + Temple of the Moon, Machu Picchu + Inti Punku: Book 1 to 2 months in advance. Machu Picchu + Huchuy Picchu: Book 3 months in advance.