P
Pisac Ruins
A truly awesome site with relatively few tourists, this hilltop Inca citadel lies high above the village on a triangular plateau with a plunging gorge on…
©Francesco82Balestri/Shutterstock
Pisac
Welcome to the international airport for the cosmic traveler, according to one seasoned local. It’s not hard to succumb to the charms of sunny Pisac, a bustling and fast-growing colonial village at the base of a spectacular Inca fortress perched on a mountain spur. Its pull is universal and recent years have seen an influx of expats and New Age followers in search of an Andean Shangri-la. The local tourism industry has responded by catering to spiritual seekers, offering everything from yoga retreats and cleanses to guided hallucinogenic trips. Yet it's also worthwhile for mainstream travelers, with ruins, a fabulous market and weaving villages that should not be missed. Located just 20 miles (33km) northeast of Cuzco by a paved road, it’s the most convenient starting point to the Sacred Valley.
Explore Pisac
- PPisac Ruins
A truly awesome site with relatively few tourists, this hilltop Inca citadel lies high above the village on a triangular plateau with a plunging gorge on…
- MMercado de Artesania
Pisac is known far and wide for its market, by far the biggest and most touristy in the region. While there are still some local arts and crafts of note,…
- IIglesia de San Pedro Apostol
Traditionally dressed locals descend from the hills to attend mass in Quechua, including men in highland dress blowing horns, and varayocs (local…
- JJardín Botanico
A private enterprise with a huge courtyard full of beautiful specimens and a resident cat.
- HHorno Colonial San Francisco
Huge clay ovens for baking empanadas and other goodies are found in many nooks and crannies, particularly on Mariscál Castilla. But this is the town’s…
- AAmaru
If you are interested in textiles, it’s worth visiting this weaving community that’s a 40-minute trip by taxi from Pisac.
Top attractions
These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Pisac.
See
Pisac Ruins
A truly awesome site with relatively few tourists, this hilltop Inca citadel lies high above the village on a triangular plateau with a plunging gorge on…
See
Mercado de Artesania
Pisac is known far and wide for its market, by far the biggest and most touristy in the region. While there are still some local arts and crafts of note,…
See
Iglesia de San Pedro Apostol
Traditionally dressed locals descend from the hills to attend mass in Quechua, including men in highland dress blowing horns, and varayocs (local…
See
Jardín Botanico
A private enterprise with a huge courtyard full of beautiful specimens and a resident cat.
See
Horno Colonial San Francisco
Huge clay ovens for baking empanadas and other goodies are found in many nooks and crannies, particularly on Mariscál Castilla. But this is the town’s…
See
Amaru
If you are interested in textiles, it’s worth visiting this weaving community that’s a 40-minute trip by taxi from Pisac.
Guidebooks
Learn more about Pisac
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