Modern Pisac is a small town on the eastern end of the Sacred Valley. It’s sandwiched between the Urubamba River and the hills that lead up to the Pisac Archeological Site and ancient Inca city.

Most travelers only see the Inca ruins, but the town is definitely worth a couple hours. The artisan market is just uphill from the Plaza de Armas, leading to the trail to the ruins. This is a great market if you want to buy souvenirs with less pressure than in Cusco, though the selection is mostly the same.

If you’re hiking up to the ruins, stop in the market that sells food for snacks and perhaps a fresh fruit smoothie. The market is on the road to the ruins and behind it are the Felipe Marin Moreno botanical gardens, which are definitely worth a half hour or hour. The gardens have plenty of hummingbirds, but if you want to see lots of birds go to the Bearded Mountaineer Lodge just half an hour east of Pisac.