On this tour, embark on a visit to some of Peru’s most iconic sites like the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. Explore the Andean culture, the most beautiful and impressive ancient Inca ruins in the Sacred Valley of the Incas like Pisac, Moray, the Salt mines and Ollantaytambo on your way to Machu Picchu. The Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu 2 day tour offers you the beauty and history and is perfect for those with limited time but looking to explore the Sacred Valley of the Incas and Machu Picchu. Accompanied by a professional guide who speaks English.
Enjoy the world’s greatest travel destination, with the best local team, in a small group with private transport. On this tour, get to know the villages of The Sacred Valley of the Incas such as Pisac, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo.
You will be amazed by breathtaking and panoramic views of the Sacred Valley of the Incas and the most mystical place, Machu Picchu. All is arranged, you just need your hiking shoes and the desire to have the best trip ever.
4326 m.s.n.m
Up to 8
Group or private
Adventure
Challenging
2 days / 1 nights
Pick up from your hotel lobby at 7am. First, drive to a close-by farm. Here you have an opportunity to feed and pet different breeds of alpacas, llamas and vicuñas (a rare and national animal of Peru). See local women using wool, weave beautiful garments with different patterns. They have their natural dyeing process with all the organic material. Be sure to grab your certification if you purchase merchandise made with Vicuña wool.
Next stop at the Toray Mirador. From here the view of the valley below spreadout below are unbelieveable. See the lush vegetation and the peaceful Urubamba River as it passes gently through the valley below. Here is the perfect photo spot for photos with panoramic views and at this time of the morning the perfect lights.
From here travel to the Archeological site of Pisac. Discover the agricultural practices of the ancient Incas. See how they used the terracing to make use of the varying micro climates for farming. Also how they constructed their houses and warehouses at the top of the hill. See how valuable this region was to the Inca to provide food for the empire and does so today. Tour the biggest Inca cemetery with thousands of niches that inhabit the mountain of the site
We take a scenic drive through the valley, passing small rural town, with locals going about their normal day to day lives. Stop at the Sacred Valleys´ commercial town of Urubamba for our lunch. Enjoy a scrumptious buffet lunch, with an impressive spread. The food is in abundance, with a great selection for different dietary needs. (Lunch is not included).
After filling our bellies, head over to the Pre-Inca Salt Mines. As you approach the salt mines you will be met by thousands of salt pans spanning out in front of you. The locals have been mining salt for generations. They have full ownership and rights to these pans and have passed them from one generation to the next. The small stream at the top fills up all the salt pans and once the water evaporates, they cultivate the salt to be sold for profit. Any salt bought from the vendors at the mines, directly supports this small local community.
Next, we visit another set of Inca Ruins. The ruins of Moray are a great example of how advanced the Incas were for that period. Even though they did not build initial structure, they did however see the opportunity to use this as a natural ¨greenhouse¨. Each layer has different temperatures, they used these different micro-climates to test the optimum growing point of their crops. They brought in different samples of soil from the Empire to achieve maximum results. The sun also hit each level at different angles, making sun absorption different at every section, they also built an intricate irrigation system. The locals were still using this for farming until the 70s when the government reserved the site for tourism.
Head to the bustling town of Ollantaytambo, the gateway to Machu Picchu and the world-famous Inca trail. Watching over the town is the Archeological site of the same name. This is where the last and greatest battle was fought between the Incas and the Spanish Invaders. Even though, the Incas won this battle, they later retreated further into the jungle. The site has many boulders that had been carved, which had either been damaged from the war or a sign that this site was still incomplete at the time of the invasion. Your guide will give a comprehensive tour of this site and share all the important history associated with it.
Then at 7pm, take the train to Aguas Calientes where we will spend the night in our hotel, to ready ourselves for an exciting day ahead.
Bursting with excitement on your final surreal day, we take the 5.30am bus to the Machu Picchu archeological site, arriving in time for the sunrise, to tour this UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. On your 2 hours private tour, your guide will expertly direct you through the energetic ruins and its diverse main streets.
If you wish to indulge in a few of the following activities on your own, you can (not included in the price)
After exploring Machu Picchu, you will descend to Aguas Calientes. You can take in a leisurely lunch or explore Aguas Calientes handicraft market and board the Expedition train by 14:55pm for the return trip to Cusco. Disembark at the Ollantaytambo Train Station and then you will be driven back to your hotel in Cusco, arriving around 8:30pm.
The Expedition service is designed for traveller’s comfort, being able to share your experience with four passenger seats located opposite each other. Find a luggage compartment above the seats offered for that faithful backpacker. Andean music is played throughout the journey with panoramic windows, air conditioning and heating.
“The Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu tour is available on any date that is best for you, as long as we have a minimum of 2 passengers”
Small groups with English speaking guide of an average of 5 and not exceeding 8!
Please read the following information carefully; it will help you answer all of your questions about our services and the Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu tour
You will be welcomed at the airport in Cusco and taken to your hotel, please ensure that you inform us of your full flight details at least 14 days prior to your trek. Look out for our representative holding an orange board with INCA TRAIL HIKE at the arrivals terminal. It can be done on any date that is best suited to you!
It will take place the night before the trekking departure at 6pm in our office which is located at Garcilaso Street 210 , Office Nº:213 (2nd Floor) in the la CASA DEL ABUELO.
Of course! During the Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu tour your main luggage can be store at our office or at your hotel, both are free.
Unfortunately the answer is “No”. Once the tickets have been bought the government does not allow any changes, so we can’t change any departure date after the tickets has been bought. Tickets are also not transferable nor refundable.
If you cancel your Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu tour, the deposit is non-refundable!
Absolutely! Included in our packages is dropping you off at your hotel on the return from your trek or tour. If you have booked your hotel in the Sacred Valley, in towns like Ollantaytambo or Urubamba, we will drop you off there too!
If you spend the night at Ollantaytambo before the trek, we will pick you up from there as well.
If you’re happy with the services provided, a tip – though not compulsory – is appropriate. While it may not be customary to you, it’s of great significance for the people who will take care of you during the tour. It inspires excellent service and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many INCA TRAIL HIKE destinations. Of course you are free to tip as much as your budget will allow, depending on your perception on the quality of service and the length of your tour. Remember, a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.
Yes, we are a local sustainable & responsible tourism operator for that we incorporate the universal principles of tourism: protect the environment and benefit the local communities respecting their culture and religion. With this in mind, we have trained all our staff to know, understand and respect the local places and it´s people.
Planning Ahead
Traveling to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu region in the high season ( April, May June, July, August) requires months of advanced planning because services fill up quickly. It is a great idea to book in advance airfare, hotel reservations, tours, train tickets and entrance tickets if you go to Machu Picchu.
Packing List
1.-Clothing. The weather in the Sacred Valley changes quickly, so bring a lot of layers. Pack t-shirts and add warmth with long-sleeve clothing and a fleece jacket. Lightweight pants for trekking.
2.-Footwear. Comfortable hiking boots or athletic sneakers with good traction are ideal for walking up to and around the Inca archaeological complexes. Multi day hikes you will definitely want the boots for ankle support.
3.-Sun protection. Don’t forget your hat, glasses, and sunblock for sun protection.
4.-Day excursions. Bring a daypack with snug straps to carry your water, camera, and other personal belongings.
***Rainy season. During the rainy season months, pack a waterproof jacket or a travel size umbrella. Plastic ponchos are also available to buy in Cusco and the Sacred Valley.
Altitude Sickness
Altitude sickness is a common health concern for travelers planning a trip to the Sacred Valley region. Most visitors will only experience minor symptoms (shortness of breath, headache, nausea) as a result of the elevation. Take it easy the first couple days while you acclimatize and don’t overexert yourself. Towns in the Sacred Valley are actually lower in elevation than Cusco, so some travelers actually plan to spend their first few nights in the valley to reduce the onset of altitude sickness symptoms.
Money
Peruvian currency (called soles) is used to pay for taxi rides, small purchases, and tips for guides and porters. As of August 2024, $10 USD is roughly S/ 37 soles.
It’s good to carry around small bills and coins in the Sacred Valley because market vendors and small stores may not have adequate change to break larger notes.
You are more likely to get better exchange rates in Cusco than in small Sacred Valley towns. There are ATMs in Pisac, Urubamba, and Ollantaytambo that dispense both US dollars and local currency.
Luggage Restrictions for Train to Machu Picchu
If you are taking the train to Machu Picchu or doing a multi day trek, then you will likely need to store your heavy luggage at your hotel for this leg of the trip. Each train passenger is permitted one bag or backpack weighing up to 11lbs (5kg). Fortunately, all of our recommended hotels in the Sacred Valley and Cusco provide free luggage storage for their guests.
Definitely. You have to pass through the Sacred Valley to get to Machu Picchu from Cusco anyway, so it is absolutely worth it to explore since you will already be there. There are some incredible ruins in the Sacred Valley, like in Ollantaytambo, Moray, the Salt mines, Chinchero and Pisac.
We recommend having a full day or two full days in the Sacred Valley. While one full day is enough for standard touring, typically people, especially nature lovers, love their hotel so much that they usually wish they had more time to just relax and just enjoy the surroundings.
