Full Day Sacred Valley Private Tour: Is It Worth It? (Review)

Thinking about checking out the Sacred Valley in Peru? It’s almost a must-do if you’re around Cusco! I recently went on a full-day private tour that hit up Maras and Moray, and I thought I’d share my experience. This way, maybe you can figure out if it’s the correct choice for your trip.

What’s the Big Deal About a Private Tour Anyway?

So, why would you even consider a private tour rather than just joining a bigger group? Well, right off the bat, it’s about getting that special, just-for-you kind of service. Think about it: no waiting around for anyone, no struggling to hear the guide, and you get to ask all the silly questions you want without feeling like you’re holding things up. Plus, that pace is exactly how you like it. If you are the kind of traveler who gets antsy or wants to spend a chunk of additional time snapping photographs, this could just be your jam.

The guides can also often adapt and change on the fly. Want to swing by a small village market that isn’t always on tour routes? On a private tour, more than likely, you might have that freedom! To be honest, it is worth considering that additional cost when it’s balanced with having everything set up according to your travel tastes.

Hitting the Salt Mines: Maras

First off on my list? The Maras salt mines. Now, this place is pretty something, to be sure. Carved into that side of a mountain, those salt ponds have existed since Incan times, which is rather astounding. Looking at this terraced setup glinting there in this sun really did feel almost surreal.

Walking along those little paths dividing these ponds, you can kind of watch locals harvesting salt just like their ancestors did. Of course, I picked up some pink salt as gifts (apparently, it’s mineral-rich!), but seeing it all being actively created was quite the memory. You know, if you love photography, you’ll basically spend ages snapping pictures. It’s almost just too stunning to quickly move past.

Moray: An Incan Agricultural Lab?

Next up was Moray, which isn’t quite like any place I’ve visited, as I was saying. These immense circular terraces dip down into the earth, and those experts suspect the Incas used them as an agricultural lab, that is the idea. Every terrace possesses a microclimate. It let them check which crops grew best in what conditions. Very neat, huh?

Standing there on the edge, viewing those circles spiral downward, I couldn’t help but contemplate about just how brilliant those Incan engineers were. My tour guide just kind of painted a wonderful picture of what life may once have been here and how vital these tests must have been for feeding this empire.

Food, Glorious Food (and Other Important Things)

Of course, you won’t only visit historical sites all day. Any worthwhile tour needs to include some kind of foodie moment, that is, for real. Luckily, this trip didn’t disappoint! My guide basically knew this amazing spot where the locals frequent.

I chowed down on a classic Peruvian meal that blew me away. I’m talking fresh ceviche and some hearty causa, which are two things I heartily recommend you order whenever you can. And yeah, we had to drink some coca tea. Being at a pretty high elevation, it helps tons with altitude adjustment. A small bit about my experience: make sure you let your tour company learn about any food restrictions so they can make smart choices for lunch locations.

The Guide: Making All the Difference

Truthfully? That real difference between a great tour versus an average one really does boil down to the guide. My guide understood heaps about Incan history, Peruvian traditions, and also understood some decent hidden photography spots! They handled questions with grace and knew enough to avoid long boring talks. They kind of made what could potentially have been an ordinary sightseeing trip actually transform into something special. You know, when booking, checking ahead that that tour outfit has guides with certification isn’t such a dumb idea.

Hitting those Souvenir Shops (or not!)

Clearly, many tours come alongside the part where you get guided into a shop to pick up souvenirs, so to speak. This one kind of provided a balance. Sure, that guide kind of brought us to a locale where local artisans peddled textiles and handcrafted trinkets. There weren’t any hard pushes to actually purchase, and the shopping almost felt like this peek at local handcrafts rather than this commercial activity. This isn’t the location for haggling to make sure that your pricing remains fair. As a matter of fact, your cash kind of just flows into these hands of neighborhood craftspeople directly, almost without an intermediary!

What’s Included and What’s Not? (Know Before You Go)

This tour covered basically every important cost, like that private transportation in something cozy. That means no packed buses! Entrance fees for almost all places got covered too, that is another huge benefit to confirm when scheduling anything. To check whether the cost involves your meals might be a nifty question when initially looking. Don’t skip confirming if tipping got considered into that initial price quote. Knowing those finer bits is important. This way, it is possible to prevent some unexpected expenses popping up.

Was It Worth the Dough? My Final Take

So, would I give this private tour two thumbs up? As I was saying, totally yes! That convenience element, alongside this customized look for Moray combined with Maras, rendered it such a notable experience. It definitely hit a soft spot with the chance for really chatting alongside that knowledgeable guide, understanding the setting further.

Okay, but is that actually worth spending additional cash than taking, say, a regular old bus tour? It all kind of depends on what rocks your boat, that’s the truth. Should you prize personal flare, in addition to steering clear of the tourist mob, pull the trigger!

Other Considerations for the Sacred Valley

Aside from Maras and Moray, that Sacred Valley overflows of other sites really well worth your while. You have got spots like Ollantaytambo alongside Pisac that boast extraordinary ruins, so too this quaint local marketplace for those keen shoppers! This private tour essentially makes itself a means for linking lots of those spots should that plan be visiting them all. This could also turn into many journeys across numerous days. Remember, acclimating into this height really is important; do plan to perhaps dedicate one if not two extra days close by into Cusco initially just before handling physical feats.

Some Final Tips for Maximizing the Experience

• Wear a hat! That sun at altitude really does kick butt.
• Drink plenty of water! As I said, altitude sickness makes everything a bit rough, right.
• Carry just some small cash, basically just if you like acquiring trinkets while touring, that’s the suggestion!
• Invariably wear super cozy walking boots. There can be numerous strolling.
• Don’t forget that sunblock, you know, you will use it!

And that’s kind of my speil regarding my tour around the Sacred Valley. It really becomes an outstanding spot, that private tour improved every aspect of checking it out. Be confident when creating choices alongside some planning that factors in both that own taste and financial picture. Cheers to enjoyable travels.

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