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Inside-Peru Home - Peru
Attractions - Pisac Peru
Pisac Peru - Pisac Ruins and Pisac Market
Traditional Shopping and Ancient History
Pisac, Peru is a small, quaint town nestled in the Sacred
Valley featuring such attractions as its popular market and extensive
Inca ruins.
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Departing from Cusco on a Sacred
Valley tour, you'll travel for an hour before your first stop in Pisac,
Peru.
You'll admire the countryside
and its lush green terraces along the way to Pisac, Peru.
The two main points of
interest in the Pisac Peru (Pisaq) area are:
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While the highlights of the Sacred Valley on the whole promise a
relaxing
day for visitors, the town of Pisac, Peru continues to grow in
popularity
mainly as a
result of its traditional market and its historic Inca ruins.

Town of Pisac,
Sacred Valley, Peru |
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Pisac Market
Recognized for its diversity and considerable size, the Pisac market
draws countless tourists to this town each week.
Every Sunday, a
sizable area of the town is converted into a bustling market filled
with unique handicrafts, ceramic souvenirs, jewelry, instruments, and traditional
wear, including alpaca clothing.

Market in the
Village of Pisac Peru - the Sacred Valley, South America |
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Natives dressed in
traditional clothes can also be seen bargaining in the Quechua
language, seeking to trade their goods for similar items.
Bargaining is
very common when purchasing in the Pisac market, although tourists
should
keep in mind that prices will be similar to those in artisanal centers
in Cusco.
For a better deal, buy various items from one vendor.
If you
are unable to visit the traditional Pisac market on a Sunday, smaller
markets
can also be found on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Tourists traveling on the Sacred Valley tour will be allowed about 25-30
minutes of the tour time to browse around the Pisac market.
The market offers a great opportunity for photos with colorful crafts
and textiles and plenty of local people in their daily environment to
add interest to your pictures of Pisac, Peru.

Pisac Market with
Traditional Wool Blanket Souvenirs, Pisac, Peru |
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For those who want more than the brief visit offered by Sacred Valley
tours,
local buses to Pisac leave Cusco each day.
Taking the bus provides a cost-effective
way of visiting the town and market (approximately 5 soles or $2 per
person).
Another more pricey option would be to rent a private car for the day,
complete with taxi driver. This can be arranged through tourist
agencies in Cusco and will cost anywhere from 150-200 soles
(approximately $57-$75).
If you hire a van and driver/guide, you may be able split the cost with
7 or more people and come out ahead.
Book
your tour of Pisac Market and Pisac Ruins now - as low as $13.00 USD.
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Costumed Dancers at the Fiesta De
La Virgen Del Carmen, Pisac, Peru |
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Pisac Ruins
The Pisac ruins are one of the richest forms of Inca
architecture in the
valley second only to Machu Picchu.
At 11,200 feet of altitude (1,700 feet above the valley), the Pisac
ruins are quite impressive. The Inca architecture is especially
stunning for those who have only heard of the ruins at Machu Picchu;
these and other ruins in the Sacred Valley could easily stand out on
their own anywhere in the world.
The majority of tourists visit the Pisac ruins as part of the
Sacred
Valley tour (approximately 60-90 minutes of visiting), but it is
also possible to arrive at the ruins by a private rented car or hiking
up the
hillside.
Residence - Pisac, Peru Ruins - Sacred
Valley
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In order to enter the Inca ruins at Pisac, Peru, all tourists will need to purchase a boleto turistico (tourist ticket).
This boleto can be purchased in Cusco (Cuzco) or at the security checkpoint outside the Pisac ruins.
At this point, security officials will stop each tour bus/person and ask to see this ticket.
NOTE: It is not possible to
just wait and pay a fee to enter the ruins; you can
only enter with the boleto
turistico!
Once inside the Inca ruins, many tourists are left breathless by the
Sun
Temple, which is similar to the Sun Temple found at Machu Picchu.
Also
called Intihuatana, the Sun Temple at the Pisac ruins consists of an
oval wall that
encloses a ceremonial stone. This stone, possibly an altar, is best
seen from directly above rather than from the side (as in the photo as
shown here).

Temple of the Sun - Pisac, Peru Ruins -
Sacred Valley
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Additionally, water ducts made of solid rock speak to the importance of
having a reliable water supply for agriculture.
A rim of terraces,
steps, residences, and crevices complete the remarkable citadel, which
is believed to have been constructed for military, political, and
religious reasons.
Terraces Near Ruins - Pisac, Peru -
Sacred
Valley, Peru
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In addition, a short walk upward from the ruins is
an ancient cemetery, in which tombs are still visible.
Studies are
currently investigating whether this cemetery could possibly be the
largest graveyard of the Inca
Empire.
Steps Leading Up to Ruins - Pisac -
Sacred Valley, Peru
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Thus, with the majority of
construction still in great condition, the Pisac ruins are undoubtedly
a true marvel overlooking the Sacred Valley and Urubamba River.
~ Contributed by Inside-Peru's Associate Writer Michelle Dinos
Sacred Valley - Pisac
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From Cusco (Cuzco) - Sacred Valley Tour
With an ideal climate and millions of opportunities to take amazing
photos, this is a day trip that you cannot miss from Cuzco. Pass
through the villages of Pisaq (Pisaq), Calca, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo
and Chinchero to see ancient Inca archaeological sites and indigenous
marketplaces with...
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Discover the best of Cusco (Cuzco)
Go to
Peru Attractions from Pisac Peru
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