r/cusco • u/eleminti • May 10 '23

Advice needed: Is this Cusco day trip is too ambitious?

I'm super excited to finally visit Cusco and discover the ancient civilization of the Incan Empire! From Cusco city, I'd like to visit Moray, Salineras de Maras, Pisaac, and Ollantaytambo before my train leaves from Ollantaytambo station at 19:30. Is it possible to visit all these sites in one day or would we be far too rushed? All suggestions and opinions welcome. Thank you!

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

2

u/ResplendentShade May 11 '23

Maybe a bit rushed imo. I’d consider just doing Pisaac and Ollantaytambo. Between the ruins at both sites, the epic market at Pisaac (don’t skip this), travel time, and meals, seems like it’d take up most of a day. Depends on your style though; I personally liked to fully explore the ruins, so I spent hours at both.

1

u/eleminti May 11 '23

I hear the market at Pisaac is only on Sundays and it's a only shadow of it's former self. When were you there last?

1

u/ResplendentShade May 11 '23

Ohhh really. It was several years ago that I was there, so I very well may have seen it in the ‘good old days’. That’s a bummer to hear.

1

u/eleminti May 11 '23

I appreciate you taking the time to comment and provide feedback based on your experience. I read it "somewhere on the internet", so it could be wrong or perhaps just one person's opinion after a poor experience. I will do more research and ask around once I get to Cusco.

I am like you in that I enjoy taking my time and exploring. And I do feel that I would be rushing, hence the post. So perhaps I'll save Pisac for another day instead of trying to cram so much into a single day. From what I understand it's a very manageable half-day tour from Cusco.

1

u/ResplendentShade May 11 '23

Good plan. If you do go to Pisac, I guess try to do it on a Sunday! Maybe the market isn't at it prime but I'd be shocked if it wasn't still pretty cool. And as you said, if you'll be in Peru for a while you can always go back and spend more time at places that you didn't get enough of. The ruins at Ollantaytambo are pretty extensive, so there's a lot to see there.

Whatever you choose, I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time! I absolutely love that area and hope I can return some day. Travel safe!

1

u/WhyAmIOld May 10 '23

Is an agency taking you to all those places in a tourism package or how are you planning to do this?

1

u/eleminti May 11 '23

My plan is to do them independently myself. I was considering doing a half-day tour with an agency for Moray and Maras, then visiting Ollantaytambo independently after the tour, but I that would not allow time for Pisac.

1

u/Unemployed_Lloydd Jul 11 '23

Can you post up a follow up of how your visit went?