Chinchero: looms, terraces and the highest point of the day
- Altitude
- 3,762 m
- Compared with Cusco
- +412 m above Cusco
- Entrance
- Boleto Turístico
- Visited by
- 3 of the 4 versions
- Time on site
- depends on the version (see table)
The weaving
The visit centers on weaving. Local artisans show how alpaca wool is spun, how colors come from local plants and cochineal, and how a piece is made on a backstrap loom, the kind tensioned with the weaver’s own body.
Two eras in one wall
Around the square, Inca terraces step down the hillside and the colonial church rises on Inca stone foundations. It’s one of the stops where you best see how the two eras were layered.
What time do you reach Chinchero?
It depends on the plan: + Maras & Moray starts the day here and the Traditional leaves it for the afternoon. These are reference times; traffic or weather may shift them by a few minutes.
| Version | You arrive | Visit | Place on the route | Previous leg | Next |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Sacred ValleyReturning to Cusco | 16:45 | 1 h visit | Last stop | 1 h 30 to Chinchero | 45 min back |
| Sacred Valley + Maras & MorayReturning to Cusco | 07:40 | 1 h 15 visit | First stop | 1 h from Cusco to Chinchero | 30 min to Maras |
| Sacred Valley + Maras & MorayEnding in Ollantaytambo | 07:40 | 1 h 15 visit | First stop | 1 h from Cusco to Chinchero | 30 min to Maras |
| Traditional Sacred ValleyEnding in Ollantaytambo | Doesn’t stop at Chinchero | ||||
For your visit
- Keep a warm layer handy: you’re 412 m above Cusco and it’s the highest stop of the day.
- On + Maras & Moray you arrive at 07:40, in the cold morning air; on the Traditional, at 16:45, as the sun goes down.
- The Boleto Turístico can be added when you pay for the tour on WeTravel; your guide hands it to you that day.
Versions that stop at Chinchero
Frequently asked questions
How high is Chinchero?
At 3,762 m above sea level, the highest point of the tour and about 412 m above Cusco.
What is there to see in Chinchero?
A demonstration of spinning, natural dyeing and backstrap-loom weaving, the Inca terraces and the colonial church built on Inca foundations.
Which tour version stops at Chinchero?
Both + Maras & Moray versions, as the first stop, and the Traditional returning to Cusco, as the last. The Traditional ending in Ollantaytambo doesn’t visit it.
Do I need a ticket for Chinchero?
Yes, the Cusco Boleto Turístico, which isn’t included in the tour price and can be added when you pay.