13 Best Things to Do in Pisac, Peru: Ruins, Food, & More

The charming, small town of Pisac is one of my favorite places that I visited in the Sacred Valley. I loved Pisac’s restaurants and cute cafés, grid of cozy cobblestone streets, unexpected street art, and archaeological park.

It’s easy to get to Pisac from Cusco. You can either visit Pisac via a guided Sacred Valley tour or on your own.

With the Sacred Valley tours, you’ll quickly pass through Pisac on your way to Pisac Archaeological Park, but you won’t spend much time walking through the town or experiencing all the other things that Pisac has to offer. There are many things to do in Pisac, ranging from visiting historical or cultural centers to tasting local food and drinks.

This is why I recommend spending several nights in Pisac, instead of just doing a quick day trip from Cusco. And with this list of the top things to do in Pisac, you’ll see much more of the town and its surroundings than other tourists who just skim the surface.

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See Incan ruins in Pisac Archaeological Park

Pisac Archaeological Park or Parque Arqueológico Pisac is the main reason why people visit Pisac. The park contains many Incan ruins. This includes agricultural terraces, temples, tombs, houses, and watchtowers that offer insight into what Incan life was like.

You can visit Pisac Archaeological Park with a guided tour or on your own.

If you have the time and want to see the entire park, it’s best to do this on your own. This is what I did, and it was one of my favorite things that I did in the Sacred Valley. Since I stayed in Pisac for two nights, I entered the park from the entrance in town and mostly followed this trail to hike a loop through the park. While I lacked the information that a tour guide provides, I thought the trade-off was worth it.

By not going with a tour, I was able to explore the entire park at my own pace. I ended up spending about six hours in total, slowly taking in the views and making lots of stops for photos. If you don’t stop a lot though, it should only take you about four hours to walk the loop. I also saw a lot more of the park than the tour groups do, since tours only stop at the top of the park where the main ruins are.

However, if you’re short on time or prefer to have historical context as you explore the ruins, going with a guided tour is the best option.

Shop at Pisac Market

Aside from Pisac Archaeological Park, Pisac is also known for its markets. There are a couple of different ones scattered throughout the small town: Mercado de Artesanías, Nuevo Mercado Artesanal de Pisac, and a market at Plaza Constitucion.

These markets mostly sell artisanal goods that make for great souvenirs. If you plan on picking up something, make sure to haggle.

On Sundays, the market in Plaza Constitucion also brings in locals around the region who sell vegetables, fruits, and cheese.

Dine at Hacienda Sarapampa

Hacienda Sarapampa is a 12-minute drive from Pisac, making it an easy and quick trip to take. The family-owned farm offers a look into life on a working farm and information on local crops and Peruvian corn.

Visiting and dining at Hacienda Sarapampa is a must for any foodie. It’s a true farm-to-table culinary experience that lets you dine where your food was grown. You can choose between their four-course lunch or private seven-course lunch. Both include a tour of the hacienda with its owners. Make a reservation on their website here.

Explore the streets of Pisac

Although small, Pisac is full of character, and it feels very different from Cusco. The town is organized on a neat little grid with an ancient water drainage system running through the middle of its stone streets. Some of the buildings are decorated with colorful street art, and many have an assortment of plants outside.

Enjoy the tranquilness of Felipe Marin Moreno Botanic Garden

The Felipe Marin Moreno Botanic Garden is tucked away on one side of town, creating a quiet, lovely retreat from the busy Plaza Constitucion. Entry costs 10 soles (~$2.74 USD), which I think is fair given the small size of the garden. Inside, you’ll find colorful flowers, an assortment of cacti, and an interesting potato museum.

Take in the Sacred Valley from Mirador Taray

Mirador Taray is about an hour walk or nine-minute drive from Pisac and offers panoramic views of the Sacred Valley. The walk isn’t challenging, but it is uphill – you can follow this trail.

Tap into your spiritual side

When visiting Pisac, you’ll probably notice that there’s sort of a hippie vibe to the town. There’s an emphasis on wellness and spirituality. You’ll also find several vegan/vegetarian restaurants and places that offer meditation, yoga, and ayahuasca retreats.

Pisac is a great place to tap into your spiritual side through any of these activities. Although I only dined there, SolSeed has a lineup of many different events each week and an active community.

Spend time with native animals at Cochahuasi Animal Sanctuary

Animal lovers will have a fantastic time at Cochahuasi Animal Sanctuary, which is located just 18 minutes outside of Pisac. The sanctuary rescues wildlife animals from trafficking, the black market, and mistreatment. It currently houses 89 different species, including Andean condors, pumas, and vicuñas.

There are three ways to visit the sanctuary:

• Book a private tour that last about three hours.
• Buy an admission ticket on their website or on Tripadvisor for $10 USD.
• Book a guided group tour that includes pick-up and drop-off in Cusco on GetYourGuide for $34 USD.

Drink local craft beer at Cervecería del Valle Sagrado

Cervecería del Valle Sagrado has multiple taprooms throughout the Sacred Valley. Even if you’ve already visited the one in Cusco, the Pisac taproom is worth making a stop in. And if you haven’t tried Cervecería del Valle Sagrado, you should grab a drink here.

Unlike the Cusco restaurant, the one in Pisac has a large outdoor area that makes it an ideal place to spend a sunny day. The menu here is smaller than the one in Cusco, in terms of both food and drinks, but the quality is just as good.

Learn about wool and weaving at Awana Kancha

Awana Kancha is a 17-minute drive from Pisac and the only South American camelid theme park. If you haven’t visited an alpaca/llama farm or a textile center, Awana Kancha is a good place to learn about the different types of South American camelids and how wool is cleaned, dyed, spun, and woven into textiles. You can even get up close to the animals and feed them.

It’s free to visit, although you can tip and buy handmade clothes and souvenirs to support the park.

Learn about Pre-Incan civilizations at Museo Inkariy

A lot of the culture and history you’ll learn about while in Peru centers around the Incans. Although the Incans are the most well-known group that used to inhabit Peru, they weren’t the only ones.

There are some opportunities to learn about these other civilizations, and one of them is Museo Inkariy. The museum is a 37-minute drive out of Pisac and costs 45 soles (~$12.21 USD) for foreign visitors.

The museum is well done, with explanations in both English and Spanish. Throughout the various rooms, you’ll learn about eight civilizations, ending with the Incans. By seeing this progression, you can see how each civilization contributed to the next and their differences.

Enjoy the views over Plaza Constitucion

Since Plaza Constitucion is surrounded by restaurants, you can grab a drink or a bite to eat and enjoy views of the plaza below you.

La Placita de Písac has small blue balcony where you can enjoy their large, varied menu of smoothies, frappes, sandwiches, toasts, and main dishes. La Ruta also has a balcony and serves up excellent local dishes. ALTAR is a pretty pink restaurant with good coffee.

Explore the ruins at Juchuy Coscco

Juchuy Coscco or Huchuy Qosqo is a 48-minute drive from Pisac. If you’ve already done everything on this list that’s closer to Pisac, taking a half-day trip to Juchuy Coscco is a great idea.

The ruins here are overshadowed by the more popular ones in the Sacred Valley, so Juchuy Coscco doesn’t see a lot of visitors. There’s a good chance that you’ll be the only one there. Even better, there’s no entrance fee.

More resources for traveling Peru

• How to Get From Cusco to Pisac by Colectivo or Taxi
• 9 Best Pisac Restaurants, Cafes, & Breweries You Must Try
• How Many Days to Spend in Cusco
• 18 Best Restaurants in Cusco: Where and What to Eat
• How to Get to Ollantaytambo From Cusco
• Rainbow Mountain in Peru: Complete Travel Guide