Login
Facebook
YouTube
WhatsApp
Twitter
Tucked in the heart of the Sacred Valley, Pisac offers a vibrant mix of archaeology, tradition, and highland beauty. Whether you’re hiking Inca trails or watching artisans work with centuries-old techniques, things to do in Pisac Peru, connect you directly with Andean life. From Sunday markets filled with colourful stalls to peaceful botanical gardens and weaving villages nearby, Pisac invites you to slow down and experience more than just a quick stop. Local food, ceremonial festivals, and highland trails give every corner of this town something to explore.
Top 10 Things To Do In Pisac Peru
From Inca ruins to community-led experiences, these are the most enriching and memorable things to do in Pisac Peru, during your visit.
1. Explore The Pisac Archaeological Site And The Intihuatana Temple
Photo: Tydence Davis / Wikimedia Commons
One of the most rewarding things to do in Pisac, Peru, is to explore the massive Pisac Archaeological Site, where you’ll find one of the most important Inca complexes in the Sacred Valley. The uphill path starts right from town and climbs past agricultural terraces, narrow staircases, and stone gates until you reach the ceremonial zone. The ruins are spread out across different sectors, but the highlight is the Intihuatana, a carved ritual stone thought to have been used to track the sun during the solstices. You can stand right where Inca priests once performed astronomical observations.
Location: Mountainside above Pisac town
Nearby Attractions: Kanchis Racay ceremonial centre, Pisaqa residential complex, Qallaqasa lookout fortress
2. Shop For Ceramics And Silver At Pisac Market
Photo: flowcomm / Wikimedia Commons
You’re not just browsing when you walk through the Sunday market. The entire Plaza Constitución turns into a working display of Pisac’s crafts. Quechua sellers line the square with tables full of handwoven fabrics, silver earrings and rings, clay dishes stacked in rows, and wooden flutes laid out beside them. You’ll see families selling herbs wrapped in leaves, women embroidering fabric as they sit, and artists painting wooden masks on the spot. Prices are negotiable, but fair rates support the artisans directly. You can sample local snacks like choclo con queso or buy fresh fruit from woven baskets.
Location: Plaza Constitución, central Pisac
Nearby Attractions: Iglesia San Pedro Apóstol, municipal building murals, Ñawi Gallery
3. Walk The Full Pisac Ruins Trail From Town To The Mountain Top
Photo: Dennis G. Jarvis / Wikimedia Commons
Taking on the full uphill trail to the ruins is one of the most physically rewarding things to see in Pisac Peru. Rather than entering through the upper parking area like most tourists, you begin at the base of town near the small bridge and ascend slowly along narrow stone paths carved into the hillside. Along the way, you’ll pass broken stone channels, intact Inca terraces, and a narrow tunnel cut through rock. The trail connects Pisaqa, Intihuatana, Qallaqasa, and Kinchiracay, offering a complete experience of the site’s design and overlooked details.
Location: Trail entrance near Calle Pardo bridge
Nearby Attractions: Inca water channels, tunnel passage, valley viewpoint above Pisaqa
4. Attend A Traditional Mass At Iglesia San Pedro, Followed By A Procession
Photo: PoolPs / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
If you’re in town on a Sunday morning, join the local crowd outside Iglesia San Pedro Apóstol, the colonial church facing Pisac’s main square. Around 9:00 AM, a small procession begins with parishioners in traditional dress carrying saint statues, playing brass instruments, and walking the narrow streets. The Adobe church features a wooden altar still used weekly. You’re welcome to step inside quietly and watch a ceremony that blends Catholic mass with older Andean customs. Many gather outside near the door. When it ends, people spill into the plaza to chat, shop, or grab breakfast from nearby food carts.
Location: Plaza Constitución
Nearby Attractions: Colonial sundial, Calle Bolognesi food stalls, Pisac handicraft corridor
5. Stroll Through The Felipe Marín Moreno Botanic Garden For Andean Flora
Photo: Gigi Visacri / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only
If you’re wondering what to do in Pisac Peru that’s quiet and reflective, visit the Felipe Marín Moreno Botanic Garden. Just off the main road near the river, it hides behind a modest gate that many walk past unnoticed. Inside, stone paths wind through native plants like medicinal herbs, flowering cacti, and healing trees, each labeled with Quechua names and traditional uses. Shaded benches and the sound of the nearby river create a peaceful atmosphere. Founded by a local plant specialist, the garden also features small exhibitions with dried plants and seed samples that highlight Pisac’s botanical heritage.
Location: Calle Grau, along the Urubamba riverbank
Nearby Attractions: Cafetería Ñawi Garden Café, Pisac Artisan Cooperative, riverside path to the suspension bridge
6. Join A Natural Dyeing And Weaving Demonstration In Amaru Village
Photo: Quang Nguyen Vinh / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
If you’re interested in learning how traditional textiles are made, the highland village of Amaru, just a short drive from town, families open their homes to show you how they spin, dye, and weave wool using methods passed down through generations. You’ll sit in a shaded courtyard as your host explains how natural dyes are made from crushed plants, flowers, and even insects. They’ll show you how alpaca wool is cleaned, twisted into thread, and coloured in pots over open fires. Weaving is done on ground looms, often set up right next to where you sit.
Location: Amaru village, Pisac District (25 minutes from town)
Nearby Attractions: Parque de la Papa visitor huts, Amaru mirador, llama grazing trails
7. Explore The Living Potato Biodiversity Museum At Parque De La Papa
Photo: Couleur / Pixabay / Image For Representation Only
Among the most educational things is to spend a day at Parque de la Papa, where farming is treated as heritage. This community-run conservation zone sits in the highlands above Amaru and is home to more than 1,300 native potato varieties. Instead of walking through indoor exhibits, you’re taken through the fields themselves. Farmers explain how each type is grown, why some are saved only for rituals, and how seeds are preserved using traditional knowledge. You’ll see how they rotate crops, manage soil, and deal with shifting weather, all based on local observation, not machines.
Location: Highlands of Pisac District (via Amaru and Chawaytiri)
Nearby Attractions: Traditional homes of Chawaytiri, native seed banks, and Andean terrace gardens
8. Take A Pottery Or Painting Workshop In A Local Pisac Studio
Photo: KoolShooters / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
Joining a creative workshop is one of the most personal things to do in Pisac, Peru, especially if you want to connect with the town’s artisan culture beyond browsing shops. Local studios near Calle Arequipa and Calle Pardo offer half-day sessions where you can sit down with ceramicists or painters who’ve been practising their craft for decades. In pottery workshops, you’ll start with raw clay, learning how to shape and smooth small bowls or decorative pieces using basic hand tools. For painting, many artists guide you in creating your version of traditional Andean scenes using natural pigments and brushes made from local fibres.
Location: Calle Arequipa and nearby alleys
Nearby Attractions: Pisac Cultural Centre, El Altiplano artisan shop, Santa Lucia café
9. Celebrate Inti Raymi Or The Virgin Del Carmen During Local Festivals
Photo: Mauro Lima / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only
If your trip aligns with one of the town’s major events, joining in the celebrations is among the most unforgettable experiences. The Inti Raymi festival, held in June, honours the winter solstice and the Inca sun god with costumed dances, music, and symbolic offerings. Another major event is the Fiesta de la Virgen del Carmen, in July, where townspeople wear elaborate masks and perform street dances that blend Catholic and Andean themes. Both festivals centre around Plaza Constitución and the surrounding streets, turning Pisac into a stage for tradition. Locals begin making costumes days before the event, and brass bands can be heard practising along the smaller streets.
Location: Plaza Constitución and church courtyard
Nearby Attractions: Festival food stalls, dance parade assembly lanes, live folk music stage
10. Stop At Mirador Taray For A Panoramic View Of Pisac And The Sacred Valley
Photo: Victor Sobrado / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only
When you’re driving in from Cusco, pull over just before reaching Pisac at the bend near Taray. This hillside spot gives you a wide, open view of the valley with fields laid out beside the Urubamba River, stone terraces climbing the slopes, and the ruins visible above the town. It’s not marked, but you’ll recognise it by the cars already stopped. It’s not a formal lookout with barriers or signage; you simply pull over near the bend in the road and step onto the hillside. The elevation gives you a clear look at Pisac’s layout, the ruins perched on the ridge, and the fields that stretch toward Lamay.
Location: 5 minutes before Pisac on the road from Cusco
Nearby Attractions: Cactus Ridge Trail, roadside vendor kiosks, and Andean textile photo spot
Pisac offers access to archaeological trails, highland farming communities, local craft studios, and year-round cultural events. All these things to do in Pisac Peru, are easily reached on foot or with short transport from the town centre. Including Pisac in your Sacred Valley itinerary lets you experience traditional farming, religion, and trade firsthand. For an authentic adventure beyond quick stops, plan your visit and book your trip with TripXL.
Cover Photo: Unukorno / Wikimedia Commons
