Pisac Ruins & Market Tour from Cusco: What to See and Book
Pisac opens the eastern end of the Sacred Valley with two very different draws: a hilltop citadel of steep Inca terraces, temples and one of the largest ancient cemeteries in the Andes, and, in the town below, the valley's most famous craft market. Most "Pisac tour" trips from Cusco pair the ruins and the market before continuing to Ollantaytambo. Here is what each includes, when the market is at its best, and how the tours compare — alongside every Sacred Valley tour we compare.
About the Pisac Experience
Hilltop Inca terraces, temples and a cliffside cemetery
The Sacred Valley's best-known craft and textile market
Most Pisac tours also visit Moray, Maras and Ollantaytambo
Pisac ruins are covered by the Cusco tourist ticket
A buffet lunch in Urubamba on every tour here
Cancel up to 24 hours before for a full refund
Check Live Availability & Prices
Real-time dates and prices for the full-day Sacred Valley tour with Pisac, Moray and Ollantaytambo.
Which Pisac Tour Should You Book?
Pisac is rarely visited on its own from Cusco; it anchors a full Sacred Valley day. The tours that include it differ mainly in the other sites they add and the group size. Here is an honest read on the options.
- Best all-rounder — the full-day Chinchero, Moray, Ollantaytambo & Pisac tour (from $26, 4.8★): the most complete circuit, covering the market, the ruins and the western plateau sites in one day.
- Best value with the most reviews — the Sacred Valley & Salt Mines tour (from $25, 4.8★, 3,200+ reviews): the busiest and cheapest, pairing Pisac with Moray, Maras and Ollantaytambo.
- Best for flexible group size — the Sacred Valley classic (from $26, 4.7★): Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Maras and Moray with small-group or private options if you would rather not share.
Pisac Tours Compared
The full-day tours on this page that include Pisac's ruins and market. All include hotel pickup and a buffet lunch.
from $26 Full-Day Sacred Valley: Chinchero, Moray, Ollantaytambo & Pisac + Lunch
- Chinchero, Moray, Maras salt mines, Ollantaytambo and Pisac
- Buffet lunch included
- English and Spanish live guide
- Private group option available
from $25 Sacred Valley & Maras Salt Mines — Full Day with Buffet Lunch
- Moray terraces and the Maras salt mines in one day
- Pisac and Ollantaytambo archaeological sites
- Buffet lunch in Urubamba included
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
from $26 Sacred Valley Classic: Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Maras & Moray
- Moray, the salt mines, Ollantaytambo and Pisac
- Small-group or private group options
- English and Spanish live guide
- Hotel pickup and buffet lunch
Pisac Tours at a Glance
What You'll See at Pisac
Pisac has two halves. The Inca site crowns a ridge high above the modern town, reached by road on a tour; the market sits in the town square below. Guided tours usually give you time at both.
- The hilltop citadel — steep agricultural terraces fanning down the ridge, ceremonial baths and the Intihuatana temple complex
- The cliffside cemetery opposite the ruins, one of the largest known in the Inca world, honeycombed with tombs
- Long views down the Urubamba valley from the upper terraces
- The Pisac market — stalls of alpaca knitwear, textiles, ceramics and silver, plus a bakery known for its giant clay ovens
- Empanadas and fresh bread baked in the town's traditional adobe ovens
How a Pisac & Sacred Valley Day Flows
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07:30
Cusco hotel pickup
Your guide collects you from a central Cusco hotel and heads northeast toward Pisac, about an hour away.
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09:00
Pisac ruins
Explore the hilltop citadel, its terraces and the cliff cemetery, with time to walk a stretch of the terrace paths.
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10:30
Pisac market
Drop into the town for the craft market and the bakery, with about an hour to browse the stalls.
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12:30
Moray & Maras
Cross to the western plateau for the circular Moray terraces and the Maras salt mines.
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13:30
Buffet lunch in Urubamba
Lunch in the valley before the final site of the day.
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16:00
Ollantaytambo
The terraced fortress and living Inca town, with a drop-off option for the Machu Picchu train.
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18:30
Return to Cusco
Back in the city by early evening, unless you left the tour at Ollantaytambo.
Market Days, Tickets & What to Know
The Pisac market runs every day now, but its rhythm still matters, and, as with the rest of the valley, tour prices do not include the entrance tickets.
- Market days: open daily, but larger and more traditional on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday; Sunday is the busiest
- Boleto Turístico Circuit 3 (Sacred Valley): S/70, valid two days, covers Pisac ruins plus Ollantaytambo, Chinchero and Moray
- The Maras salt terraces, if your tour includes them, charge a separate community fee of around S/18 in cash
- Altitude: the Pisac ruins sit near 3,300 m; take the terrace climbs slowly, especially early in a trip
- Bring cash in soles for the market and the Maras fee, sun protection, and closed shoes for the ruins
Where Is Pisac?
Pisac Tour — FAQs
What is there to do in Pisac?
Pisac has two main draws. Above the town, the Inca citadel spreads across a ridge with steep agricultural terraces, ceremonial baths, the Intihuatana temple and a huge cliffside cemetery. In the town below, the Pisac market sells textiles, alpaca knitwear, ceramics and silver, and a bakery turns out bread and empanadas from giant clay ovens. Most tours from Cusco visit both.
What day is the Pisac market?
The Pisac market now runs every day, but it is largest and most traditional on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Sunday is the busiest and most atmospheric, though also the most crowded. If you are on a full-day Sacred Valley tour, you will usually get about an hour at the market whichever day you go.
How much does it cost to visit the Pisac ruins?
The Pisac ruins are covered by the Boleto Turístico (Cusco tourist ticket). The Circuit 3 (Sacred Valley) ticket costs S/70, is valid two days, and also covers Ollantaytambo, Chinchero and Moray. The full ten-day ticket is S/130. Guided tours generally do not include the ticket, so buy it separately or at the site gate.
How far is Pisac from Cusco?
Pisac is about 33 km northeast of Cusco, a drive of roughly one hour. It sits at the eastern entrance to the Sacred Valley, which is why most tours start there before working west toward Ollantaytambo. The valley floor around Pisac is lower than Cusco, which makes it a gentle first stop for altitude.
Can you visit Pisac without a tour?
Yes. Colectivos and taxis run from Cusco to Pisac town, and from there you can take a taxi up to the ruins or hike the terrace trail. But reaching the ruins, Moray and the Maras salt mines in one day is difficult without a car, which is why most travelers take a guided Sacred Valley tour that links them with transport, a guide and lunch.
What Travelers Say
Pisac was the perfect first stop. The ruins are huge and the cemetery in the cliff is fascinating, then the market right below is great for gifts. Our guide gave us plenty of time at both.
We did the full circuit — Pisac, Moray, the salt mines and Ollantaytambo — in one long but well-paced day. Great value, and the buffet lunch in Urubamba was excellent.
Go on a market day if you can. We visited on a Sunday and it was buzzing. Bring soles in cash, most stalls don't take cards.