If you have one free day in Cusco, choose the valley based on what you most want to see. The Sacred Valley brings together Inca terraces, towns and scenery along the Vilcanota River. In the South Valley, you can compare Tipón’s canals, the Wari city of Pikillaqta and the art of Andahuaylillas church on the same outing.
Where the routes go
From Cusco. About 91 km via Pisac and Urubamba to Ollantaytambo and 50 km via Tipón and Pikillaqta to Andahuaylillas. These are approximate one-way distances through the mapped stops. Allow for local access, time at each site and the return drive.
What to do at each stop
Sacred Valley
South Valley
Andahuaylillas · Szacsa82 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Display crop
Compare the two valleys
| Category | Sacred Valley | South Valley |
|---|---|---|
| What to see | Inca terraces and buildings at Pisac and Ollantaytambo. | Terraces and canals at Tipón, Wari urban planning at Pikillaqta and colonial art at Andahuaylillas. |
| Getting around | Covering both ends takes time on the road. Pisac’s archaeological park is a separate drive from town. | The three stops follow the corridor southeast of Cusco. Tipón requires a turn off the main road. |
| On foot | Allow for slopes and stairs at the archaeological sites. | Expect terraces and steps at Tipón, paths between walls at Pikillaqta and a stop in Andahuaylillas’s main square. |
What to see on each route
Sacred Valley
Leave time for both Pisac’s archaeological park and the town. If you continue to Ollantaytambo, you can take a break in Urubamba before visiting the terraces. If you are catching a train from Ollantaytambo, plan your visit around your departure time.
Guide to visiting Pisac
South Valley
Start in Tipón and look at how the channels carry water through the terraces. In Pikillaqta, pay attention to the layout of the lanes between the enclosures. In Andahuaylillas, the square and the Church of San Pedro Apóstol shift the focus to colonial art.
Guide to visiting the South ValleyChoose based on your plans
- You have a few hours. Pick one main stop. Choose Pisac for the terraces and town, or Tipón if you want to spend your visit exploring its canals and terraces.
- You have a full day. Choose Pisac and Ollantaytambo if Inca architecture is your priority. Choose Tipón, Pikillaqta and Andahuaylillas if you want to see how architecture changed over time.
- You are continuing from Ollantaytambo. The Sacred Valley takes you in that direction. Leave time to reach the station and drop a stop if your schedule is tight.
