INFORMATION
OVERVIEW
The 2-day Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu tour combines the cultural richness of the Sacred Valley with the grandeur of Machu Picchu. It begins with a visit to key archaeological sites in the Sacred Valley, including Chinchero, Moray, Salineras, and Ollantaytambo, before taking a train to Aguas Calientes. There, you’ll spend the night at a local hotel. The next day, you’ll explore the majestic citadel of Machu Picchu with a guided tour and enjoy free time to take in the views and surroundings. This is an ideal option for those who wish to explore Inca history and landscapes in a compact itinerary.
👥 Recommended For:
Everyone, especially families with young children.
✨ Highlights:
- Chinchero
- Salineras
- Moray
- Ollantaytambo
- Machu Picchu
ITINERARY
The pick-up from your hotel will be between 6:20 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. Once the group is complete, we will head north. Our first stop will be in Chinchero, where we will observe the entire wool process, from washing to spinning beautiful textiles, in a picturesque village where we will also see agricultural terraces, the remains of the royal estate of Túpac Inca Yupanqui, and a beautiful colonial temple built on the foundations of an Inca building.
We will continue our tour to the Maras Salt Mines, where we will witness the natural salt extraction process that dates back to Inca times, after that, we will proceed to Moray where we will explore the natural depressions used as agricultural terraces for experimentation.
Our next stop will be in Urubamba, where we will enjoy a delicious buffet lunch. After lunch, we will proceed to the Ollantaytambo Fortress, built to protect the entrance to this part of the valley from possible invasions by jungle inhabitants.
In the afternoon, we will take the train to Aguas Calientes, the town located at the foot of the Machu Picchu citadel. We will spend the night in a hotel in Aguas Calientes.
Early in the morning, we will take the shuttle bus to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, the "Lost City of the Incas." This complex is considered a jewel of Inca architecture, featuring a complete settlement that includes different neighborhoods, plazas, alleyways, buildings, astronomical observatories, and terraces. Rediscovered on July 24, 1911, by American explorer Hiram Bingham, Machu Picchu offers a fascinating insight into Inca civilization. Our guided tour will provide detailed information about the history and significance of this sacred place, and you will have enough time to explore this magical site on your own.
For those who have pre-booked to climb Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain, you will do so during your designated time (1st group: 6 a.m. to 8 a.m., 2nd group: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.).
Later, we will take the shuttle bus back to Aguas Calientes, where you can enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Then, we will board the train to Ollantaytambo, where our transfer staff will pick you up and take you back to Cusco, dropping you off near the historic center.
INCLUSIONS
📦 What Is Included?
🏨 Accommodation
Last night’s accommodation in Aguas Calientes will be at a 2-star hotel. The hotel will be comfortable, clean, and safe, featuring Wi-Fi, a take-away breakfast, and a private bathroom with hot water. Upgrades to higher-quality hotels are available upon request.
🍽️ Meals
Dinner on Day 1 and breakfast on Day 2 are included.
We can accommodate dietary requirements such as vegetarian or vegan. Please inform us in advance of any specific preferences so we can make the necessary arrangements.
🚗 Transportation
- Pick-up from your hotel in Cusco.
- Machu Picchu shuttle bus (round trip).
- Train ticket (Round trip) from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo.
- Return transportation from Ollantaytambo to Cusco
👥 Local Guides & Team
- All our trekking guides have a minimum of 3 years of guiding experience and are certified.
- Guided visit to Machu Picchu with a professional guide fluent in English/Spanish.
📝 Tickets & Briefing
- Machu Picchu entrance ticket is included.
- Briefing: You will have a meeting with your guide at our office to review all the details of your tour. The briefing will take place between 17:00, 18:00 or 19:00 at our office in Cusco the day before departure.
❌ What Is Not Included?
🍴 Meals & Activities
- Meals: Lunch and breakfast on Day 1, as well as lunch and dinner on Day 2, are not included. You can visit local restaurants for these meals at your own expense.
- Touristic Entrance Ticket (Boleto turistico): The entrance ticket for the Inca ruins is not included (partial ticket: 70.00 Soles per person).
- Entrance to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain: You can choose to add a visit to one of these mountains to your itinerary for $60.00 per person. Please inform us in advance so we can check availability.
📝 Other
- Tips for your guides.
- National or international flights.
- Travel insurance.
- Other activities not mentioned in this itinerary.
FAQs
If you are a student, you may be eligible for a $20 USD discount. However, you must meet the Peruvian government requirements, as the discount is applied to the cost of your Machu Picchu ticket and is not something that we are able to negotiate.
To receive the discount, please send us a photo of both sides of your student card and another photo of your passport after booking. We can help you verify if all the requirements are met. Your student ID must be:
original student ID issued by the university, made of PVC material.
Include university information, personal student information, your photo, and an expiration date valid only for one year.
expiration date coincides with the year of your visit to Machu Picchu.
You will also need to bring your original student card with you on the day of your visit and verify it at the Machu Picchu checkpoint.
Please make sure your student card meets these requirements before applying for the discount.
The best way to prepare yourself for this trekking experience is easy: spend at least 2 to 3 days at a high-altitude place like Cusco, so your body gets used to the high altitude. If you have already been to a high altitude destination before arriving in Cusco, we still recommend you spend at least one full day in Cusco to rest, recuperate from your trip, and enjoy the beautiful views of the city before your trek.
Taking Care of Your Body
Additionally, taking good care of your body helps deal with the extra pressures that altitude creates. We recommend you to:
- Eat healthy food
- Drink lots of water
- Stay away from alcohol
Chewing coca leaves and drinking coca tea helps to alleviate any discomfort associated with the altitude.
The entrance ticket to Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain are additional add-ons that you can choose to purchase besides the Machu Picchu visit that is already included in this trek. You can visit one of these mountains after your Machu Picchu visit to see the Inca Citadel from the top.
Please send us an email asking about availability. Then, if available, you can select which mountain you would like to climb when you make your reservation online. Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain are an additional 60 USD.
What is Huayna Picchu Mountain?
Huayna Picchu Mountain is home to the Temple of the Moon and is the famous mountain peak seen behind the ruins in all the classic photos of Machu Picchu.
Huayna Picchu is an approximately 45-minute climb with more ruins at the top and offers an incredible view of the Machu Picchu ruins. The visit to Huayna Picchu takes approximately 2 hours.
What is Machu Picchu Mountain?
Machu Picchu Mountain is an additional hike within Machu Picchu that offers a much higher view of the ruins and overlooks the entire valley.
Machu Picchu Mountain is an additional 60 USD.
Adventure awaits you! We sent you a confirmation e-mail with more details about your trekking adventure.
The day before your departure at 17:00, 18:00 or 19:00, please stop by our office located at Portal Espinar Nro 163 to receive the informative briefing.
Our professional guide will tell you everything about your trek and clarify any last questions you may have.
We serve a variety of local superfoods and traditional Peruvian dishes including rice, chicken, beef, salad, potatoes, vegetables, delicious soups, and fruits. Everything will be freshly prepared by our local chef.
We cater to a lot of vegetarian travelers, and our cooks offer some great options for them to enjoy their meals. Additionally, we can accommodate all other types of dietary requests with adequate preparation and clear communication.
Previous hiking experience is recommended but not required. Our guides aretrained to support hikers of all fitness levels and experience, ensuring that no one is left behind.
Most importantly, make sure to acclimate yourself to the altitude before your trek.
Yes, you can leave extra luggage in our office free of charge. Just let us know if you have any fragile or technological items that require special care, and we’ll ensure they are handled appropriately.
The minimum group size is 4 people and the maximum group size is 15 people.
Please feel free to review our Terms & Conditions and let us know if you have any questions or requests regarding our cancellation policy, which is available on our website.
🧳 Personal Gear
👕 Clothing
☀️ Additional Items
