Private Sacred Valley Day Tour

A private day tour is the easiest way to see the heart of the valley without negotiating taxis, timetables or crowds. Starting from your hotel in Urubamba or Ollantaytambo, a guide and driver take you through a loop of the area's headline sights: the fortress at Ollantaytambo, the circular terraces of Moray, the glittering salt pans of Salinas de Maras, the village of Maras and the weaving town of Chinchero. Because the group is just your own party, you can linger where you like, ask as many questions as you want and adapt the order to the weather. It runs for most of a day, and lunch is typically part of the plan. For travellers short on time or travelling with older relatives, it is a smooth and flexible option.

Expect a day of roughly nine to ten hours, with about five or six of those spent on site and the rest on the road. The tour starts in the morning, which is wise, since Ollantaytambo and Moray are far more pleasant before the tour buses arrive. Your guide explains how Inca engineers shaped the terraces, how the salt pans have been worked for generations and how the Chinchero weavers prepare and dye their wool.

Private groups can often reorder stops to dodge a passing shower or a crowd.Check what is covered before you go. Entry to several of these sites is through the Boleto Turistico or separate tickets, and the information on whether fees are included can differ between tour descriptions, so confirm the arrangement with the operator and carry some cash in soles in case you need it.

The Maras salt mines are not part of the partial Boleto circuit, so they usually need a separate ticket. Lunch is normally included, but tell the operator about any dietary needs ahead of time.The valley is wetter from November to March, with showers often arriving in the afternoon, so a private tour that starts early gives you the best of the clear mornings. Wear layers, comfortable shoes with grip and a hat, bring water and sunscreen, and take it slowly at altitude, since several sites sit above 3,000 metres.

If you want a deeper, less rushed experience, consider splitting the same loop over two half days with a rest in between, or adding the Machu Picchu train day on a separate date.A few ideas make the day even better. Ask your guide to begin at Ollantaytambo or Moray, whichever tends to be busiest on your date, and plan lunch at a quieter spot rather than a big tour restaurant.

If you enjoy photography, request a longer stop at the salt pans in the late morning, when the light is strong, and a gentle walk around Chinchero's church and market.

Bring a small day bag, a refillable bottle, a hat, and some small notes and coins for toilets and market purchases. If your hotel offers a packed breakfast for an early start, accept it, because a private schedule moves quickly once you are on the road. Finally, tip your guide and driver if they have looked after you well, as is customary, and agree on the finishing time in advance, so you do not miss a dinner reservation or an early train the next morning.

If a sight is closed or crowded, a good guide will suggest an alternative, so stay open to changes.