Is it Worth Visiting the Inca Ruins of Pisac?
Is it Worth Visiting the Inca Ruins of Pisac?
Each year, tourists visit Peru’s Machu Picchu, as it is one of the world’s most impressive ancient ruins. But often, these tourists fail to see some of the other impressive ruins in Peru and the Sacred Valley of the Incas. One of those places is the Inca Ruins of Pisac, and after visiting them, I must say that the Inca Ruins of Pisac are worth visiting.
I visited the Inca Ruins of Pisac as part of a two-day tour of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. This page only highlights my time spent at Pisac. To see all of the highlights of my tour of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, please click HERE.
Is it Worth Visiting the Inca Ruins of Pisac? - Table of Contents
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How Much Does it Cost to Enter Pisac?
Prior to arriving at the Inca Ruins of Pisac, we made a brief stop to buy tickets. Since I was on a tour, I had already received my tickets the night before. The entrance cost of Pisac was S/. 70 ($18).
About the Inca Ruins of Pisac
When we arrived at Pisac, my first question was, what is there to see at the Inca Ruins of Pisac? I knew very little about the ruins and was excited to learn about the Incas who lived here. Alberto, our guide, had us sit under an overhang and talked about the Incas and Pisac for around 20 minutes.
One of the first things he told us was how the Incas buried their dead. The Incas believed that the body was made up of two parts, the Earth and the heavens. When an Inca died, their body would return to the Earth, and their soul would go into the heavens where they would be reincarnated. The Incas mummified their dead by placing them in the fetal position. They would then put the mummified corpse into a burial hole in the mountains.
When the Spanish arrived, they robbed the burial holes as many of the mummies had gold and silver jewelry with them. The leftover bones were thrown into the river. Alberto explained that you could occasionally find a bone or two if you have a zoom on your camera. I zoomed in but did not see any bones.
Terrace Farming at Pisac
One of the highlights was the explanation of how they farmed. The Incas created terraces in the Andes to allow them to farmland that would otherwise be unfarmable. To build each terrace, the process included laying layers of stones, gravel, and sand before covering each terrace with soil.
I found this fascinating as I teach about terrace farming in my Global Studies class.
Food Storage at Pisac
As we climbed towards the main part of the ruins, Alberto explained that the buildings closest to the edge were used for food storage. This location allowed them proper ventilation from the winds of the Andes Mountains and kept the food from spoiling.
The Best View at Pisac
One of the main attractions of Pisac is the view from the top of the ruins. The viewpoint provides a panoramic view of the area and a great view of the terraces. The walk up to the viewpoint was strenuous as Pisac is located at over 10,000 feet in elevation.
Alberto explained that the viewpoint served as an Inca lookout for enemies. The viewpoint is still used today by local rangers who are stationed there at night. The purpose of the rangers is to make sure that no one tries to go looking for gold or silver in the ancient burial holes.
Tours of Pisac, Machu Picchu, and the Sacred Valley of the Incas
Below are some tours and packages for visiting the Sacred Valley, Pisac, and Machu Picchu. I tried to pick tours of all levels, from the two-week trek on the Inca Trail to a cheaper one-day visit to Machu Picchu.
Please note that as an affiliate of Viator, I will receive a small commission if you book using one of the links below. This commission is at no additional cost to you. Viator works with various tour agencies, and booking one of these packages does not ensure that you will be booked with Crossover Peru.
Prices are accurate as of November 2023.
 Ultimate Machu Picchu: Trek the Salkantay trail to Machu Picchu - $1,950.00 ULTIMATE MACHU PICCHU |
 4 day Inca Jungle trek to Machu Picchu - Cycling, Water Rafting, Zipline - $897.44 Explore and experience the best of the Inca Jungle on your way to Machu Picchu with this exclusive 4-day adventure trip that combines Trekking, Mountain Biking, Rafting and Zipline before reaching Machu Picchu, the highlight of the trip. This tour is considered by some as even better than the Inca Trail because of all the additional activities you will do along the way as you hike through beautiful landscapes and cross rivers. |
 2-Day Trip Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu by Train - $1000.00 Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu by train 2 days 1 night, is an perfect itinerary highly recommended, Avoid spending the whole day rushing around. This 2 day tour will let you climb Huayna Picchu Mountain and enjoy Machu Picchu. Begins and finishes at your hotel in Cuzco. |
 Day Tour To Machu Picchu From Cusco - $349.67 -We pick up from all the hotels in Cusco and Sacred Valley |
 Machu Picchu By Car (2 Days) - $173.08 We offer a unique and authentic experience. We a fully locally owned tour operating company with years of experience. We are determined to make our customer's experience a memorable one. |
 2 Days Direct Train to Machu Picchu via Ollantaytambo - $418.67 This 2 Days Direct Train to Machu Picchu allows you to get a direct connection to Aguas Calientes from Cusco. You will have a three hour relaxing train ride with a no rush departure option from Cusco. You may choose a late morning pickup, noon or early afternoon. Your final destination is Aguas Calientes where you will spend your first and only night before visiting Machu Picchu the following day. Be one of the first to visit the spectacular Machu Picchu citadel and take in the spectacular views. |
 2 Days - Sacred Valley + Machu Picchu (PRIVATE TOUR) - $427.00 The Sacred Valley of the Incas is the most popular route in Peru. Since it was a crucial area for the Inca empire and that functioned as an agricultural, spiritual and political center. During the tour we will appreciate beautiful landscapes and Inca and Pre-Inca archaeological sites, in the afternoon we will take the train from ollantaytambo to aguas calientes. Note: if you are already in the city of Cusco it is recommended to make this tour of the Sacred Valley of the Incas to contribute to its acclimatization since it is at a lower altitude. VISITS: Pisaq, Ollantaytambo, Urubamba Machu Picchu AVAILABILITY: Every day TOUR DURATION: 8:30 am to 6:30 pm. FREQUENCY: All year |
 Machu Picchu By Train From Poroy (1 Day) - $400.00 For many visitors to Peru and even South America, a visit to the Inca city of Machu Picchu is the long-anticipated highpoint of their trip. In a spectacular location, it’s the best-known archaeological site on the continent. This awe-inspiring ancient city was never revealed to the conquering Spaniards and was virtually forgotten until the early part of the 20th century. |
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