'''Pisac''' (or '''Pisaq''' in Quechua-spelling) is a small town about 35 km from Cuzco. Pisac is most of all famous for its Sunday market, but also for some ruins dating from about the same time as Machu Picchu. Pisac lives at a very different pace than nearby Cuzco. There is something very harmonious about the whole place, a harmony that evades explanation.
Get in
From Cuzco there are frequent busses leaving at Av. Tullumayo 207 (S/ 2.20).
Get around
The town is small enough for walking. Taxis are available for a ride to the ruins.
See
Spread out on the mountains above the town are the '''Inca ruins of Pisac'''. There is a large agricultural section with terraces and several ruins. Allow for at least a couple of hours to visit. You can take an exhausting climb up there or take a taxi up to the site (s/. 10). Admission is by boleto turistico.
Do
Although very small, it is worth putting several hours to a whole Sunday aside for the Pisac market. People are coming down from the highlands with their products, including some very fresh food, raw materials, tomatoes, rice, potatoes. It is worth sitting down with the locals for a lunch eating just that, along with trout clearly just pulled from the river. It costs about 5 soles, but is a meal to remember.
The Virgin del Carmen festival is in July, and includes colorful costumed dancers and a parade. There are few foreign tourists, and it's definitely worth a day trip via bus from Cusco if you like a little culture and history. As usual, beware of skilled pick-pockets.
Buy
Furthermore, there are bazaars along the streets of Pisac, if you want to buy local handcrafts, it is worth checking them out here.
Eat
Sit down with the locals and try some of the typical food of the region at one of '''the food stands at the market'''.
Drink
Sleep
Get out
On the way to Pisac from Ollantaytambo or as a day excursion from the city, visit Moray (Peru), the agricultural laboratory of the Incas.