This guide is continuously maintained and verified by our resident Andean mountain leaders, ensuring accurate permit guidance, altitude protocols, and route recommendations for travelers in Peru.
Chinchero is an Andean town about 30 km from Cusco, on the road to Urubamba and the Sacred Valley, at about 3,760 m (12,340 ft), some 360 m higher than Cusco. It was the royal estate of the Inca Túpac Inca Yupanqui, and its colonial church stands on the walls of his palace, above Inca terraces. Today it is best known for its weavers and its Sunday market. The Inca site is on the Cusco Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turístico).
Chinchero at a glance#
| Chinchero | |
|---|---|
| Location | Urubamba province, Cusco, on the road from Cusco to Urubamba |
| Distance from Cusco | About 30 km, some 35 minutes by car |
| Altitude | About 3,760 m (12,340 ft) |
| Known for | The Inca estate of Túpac Inca Yupanqui, the colonial church, weaving, the Sunday market |
| Ticket | Cusco Tourist Ticket: the full ticket or circuit III (S/ 70) |
| Open | Every day from 7:00 a.m. to the late afternoon |
Figures from the Ministry of Culture’s office in Cusco, MINCETUR and COSITUC, checked in November 2026. Sources give altitudes from 3,750 to 3,785 m.
History: the estate of Túpac Inca Yupanqui#
People of the Killke culture lived here before the Incas. In the late 15th century the Inca Túpac Inca Yupanqui, son of Pachacútec, made Chinchero his royal estate: a palace on the hill, terraces for farming below it and shrines carved in the limestone outcrops around the town. The best known of these carved rocks are Titiqaqa and Pumaqaqa. The Ministry of Culture links the palaces to the snow peaks the Incas held sacred, such as Salkantay and Verónica, which you can see from Chinchero on a clear day.
The colonial church#
The Spanish built the church of Nuestra Señora de la Natividad, first dedicated to Our Lady of Monserrat, in the early 17th century on the foundations of the Inca palace, on the main square. Inside, its walls are painted, and it keeps colonial paintings and altarpieces.
The market and the weavers#
Every Sunday, people from the villages around Chinchero bring their produce and crafts to the market on the main square, where barter is still part of the trade. There is also a handicraft market for visitors.
Chinchero is also one of the centres of Andean weaving. The Centre for Traditional Textiles of Cusco (CTTC), a non-profit founded in 1996 and led by the weaver Nilda Callañaupa, grew from a group of Chinchero women in the 1970s and now works with ten weaving communities. Its centre in Chinchero is open every day from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Its museum in Cusco, on Avenida El Sol, is free: see our guide to the best museums in Cusco.
A local legend calls Chinchero the birthplace of the rainbow. For the other markets of the region, see our guide to Cusco’s markets.
Around Chinchero#
- Lake Piuray, near the town, supplies about 40% of Cusco’s water.
- The Inca path to Urquillos leads down from Chinchero to the Urubamba river in the Sacred Valley. The Poq Poq waterfall is about 3.5 km, roughly an hour, along it.
- Maras and Moray, the salt pans and the circular Inca terraces, are a short drive away: see our guide to Maras and Moray.
The new Cusco airport at Chinchero#
The new international airport of Cusco is being built near Chinchero. In January 2026 the Ministry of Transport put the works at about 40% and expected the airport to open at the end of 2027 or early in 2028; in May 2026 the national audit office reported that the contractor wanted to move completion to December 2028. Until it opens, all flights land at the airport in Cusco.
How to visit Chinchero#
- Chinchero is on the main road from Cusco to Urubamba, about 35 minutes by car. Buses and shared vans between Cusco and Urubamba pass through the town.
- Visit on a Sunday morning for the market, or combine Chinchero with Maras and Moray on the way to the Sacred Valley.
- Buy the Cusco Tourist Ticket beforehand: the full ticket (S/ 130 for foreigners) or circuit III (S/ 70, 2 days), which also covers Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Moray. It is sold in Cusco at Avenida El Sol 103.
- Chinchero is higher than Cusco and it is cold out of the sun: bring a warm layer and walk slowly. Read our guide to Cusco’s elevation and altitude sickness.
Chinchero and the Sacred Valley#
Chinchero stands on the high plain above the Sacred Valley. Our Sacred Valley guide covers the whole valley, and our guides to Pisac and Ollantaytambo cover its two great Inca sites. To see the valley with a guide on the way to Machu Picchu, day 2 of our Cusco Classic Tour: 5 Days visits Pisac and its market before the train from Ollantaytambo.
Frequently asked questions#
Is Chinchero worth visiting?
Yes, if you are interested in weaving, markets or a quieter Inca site. It combines the Inca terraces of Túpac Inca Yupanqui, a painted colonial church and one of the best places in the region to see traditional weaving.
What day is the Chinchero market?
The traditional market is on Sunday, on the main square. There is also a handicraft market for visitors.
Do I need the Cusco Tourist Ticket for Chinchero?
Yes, for the Inca site. It is not sold in Chinchero, so buy it in Cusco: the full ticket or circuit III.
How high is Chinchero?
About 3,760 m (12,340 ft), some 360 m higher than Cusco.
Written by Joel Cárdenas Gonzales
Founder & CEOFounder and CEO of Southern Peru Explorers since 2009. Born in Cusco and trained as an official tour guide at Instituto Khipu. About the author
