The Archaeological Center of Chinchero is little known by travelers, however, it has interesting attractions. So, if you plan to visit Cusco and Machu Picchu on tour, you can not fail to include your visit to the Sacred Valley of the Incas and visit Chinchero.
In this article we want to explain the service that most of the authorized tours offer, you will also know what to know and everything you can do during the adventure.
Stay with us to discover how to enjoy the most of your visit to Peru through one of the best routes to Machu Picchu visiting Chinchero and Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
Let’s start.
Tour to the Archaeological Center of Chinchero
Chinchero hides unique corners that make it a necessary stop to learn more about the culture and tradition of Peru. If you visit it, we are sure you will get attached to its people and customs.
To begin with, you can go to Chinchero from Cusco by bus. Taking this alternative, you will find several tours; just focus on authorized agencies that will allow you to enjoy your trip to the fullest.
You will need at least one day to venture and live a unique experience in Chinchero and another day to know and enjoy Machu Picchu. In fact, some tours are dedicated to explore the Sacred Valley, stopping at Chinchero, Ollantaytambo and from there they take you by train to Machu Picchu.
If your trip includes visits to Chinchero, Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu, it is very likely to last at least two days and one night.
What to do during the first day?
Going into detail, we will exemplify how to manage your time to explore all that this region has to offer.
A properly managed travel itinerary can ensure a complete experience when visiting Chinchero and all that surrounds it. To begin with, let us recommend hotels located in the center of Cusco. While there are many good options, the ones mentioned above will assure you a first glimpse and experience with the local culture.
After a different night and depending on the tour you have booked, during the morning hours of the first day you will be picked up. This usually happens between 08:00 and 09:00 AM.
Your first stop in the Sacred Valley of the Incas will be Chinchero, where you can take for granted that your adventure has begun. Keep in mind that food should not be a concern since lunch will always be covered by a good agency.
If you are a lover of Inca history and its landscapes, knowing the history of the archaeological center of Chinchero is always interesting because it is a unique experience.
This imposing agricultural enclosure has up to 43 hectares that stand out for the beauty of the construction in its stairs, walls and beautiful terraces where various agricultural products were cultivated.
Inside was the palace where the Inca Tupac Yupanqui resided with his family, made with fine stonework, and on which years later was built the Church of Our Lady of Monserrat, according to some historians as a measure of cultural subjugation by the Spanish to the Inca people.
Archaeological center of Chinchero
Currently, this church is a great tourist attraction, since it has beautiful paintings on its walls that tell the history of the place, in addition to an atrium finely made of gold leaf.
And if you thought that the church of Chinchero is the only thing you can know here, we tell you that it is not so. There are many more things you are going to know about this beautiful place.
Why visit Chinchero?
Time stopped in Chinchero, that is one of the reasons to consider it an important stop. The traditions and Inca culture are still alive; the inhabitants are of Inca blood and the predominant language is Quechua (although as a second language, they speak Spanish).
Of course, in the beautiful town, you will see one of the most active, picturesque and popular markets in the area. There you can find food products and elaborate handicrafts, mostly made for the local women.
During your time in Chinchero, you will have the advantage of doing a varied number of activities with all your needs covered. You will be able to learn much more about the local traditions and culture through the traditional Andean textiles made in the village and of an undeniable quality in the finishes.
It is also a perfect place to take some pictures, especially of the women with their traditional costumes, landscapes and buildings.
Once this part of the tour is over, it is time to take the train to Aguas Calientes and its famous hot springs, which are only ten minutes away from the town. This is also the arrival point of the trains that go from Cusco to Machu Picchu.
What to do during the second day?
We know that everything experienced during the first day is enough to say that the visit has been worthwhile, but there is still more to do.
During the morning of the second day, it is common to get ready to leave by bus to Machu Picchu. Once there, it is time to visit one of the favorite destinations of most, the Inca Citadel. You would be surprised at the number of attractions you can find in the ruins, each with its own unique mysticism and peculiarity.
Normally, the bus to Machu Picchu and the entrance to the citadel are services that are included in the tour you have contracted.
Of course, you will be able to take spectacular pictures from the top of Huayna Picchu, visit the Sun Gate or the Intihuatana, among many other activities waiting for you. We particularly recommend a visit to the Temple of the Sun, a granite architecture where the highest deity of the Incas, the Sun God, was worshipped.
We can assure you that this will be your favorite part of the whole experience thanks to all the historical, cultural and amazing charm of the place. Once finished, you will be able to return to Cusco or any other destination with great satisfaction.
Do not hesitate and find out which is the ideal tour package for you and your companions at the time of this dream tour.
The wonderful land of Chinchero in Cusco
Knowing Wayna Picchu, Chinchero, Ollantaytambo and having the opportunity to travel to Machu Picchu are some of the things that thousands of visitors have been dedicated to do for years.
From ruins to Inca fortresses, to medicinal hot springs and beautiful camping with starry nights. Having the opportunity to see all that the Sacred Valley has to offer, including Chinchero, Ollantaytambo and then traveling to Machu Picchu is a dream experience that is within everyone’s reach.
