Visiting: Chinchero · Moray · Maras Salt Mines · Ollantaytambo · Aguas Calientes · Machu Picchu
Overview
The Machu Picchu + Sacred Valley 2-Day Tour is the most complete way to see the highlights of the Cusco region in two days. Day one is a full guided tour of the Sacred Valley — the weaving town of Chinchero, the circular terraces of Moray, the dazzling Maras salt mines and the fortress of Ollantaytambo — ending with a scenic train to Aguas Calientes.
Day two is dedicated to Machu Picchu: an early bus up the mountain and a 2.5-hour guided tour of the citadel, with the option to climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain. You then return by train and private transfer to Cusco. It's a rich, well-paced itinerary that combines living Andean culture, Inca engineering and the world's most famous citadel.
📅 Book early. Machu Picchu uses timed-entry tickets on fixed circuits, sold only by the Peruvian government in limited daily numbers. We secure the best available circuit at booking — reserve ahead, especially in high season (May–September).
Day by Day
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1
Sacred Valley: Chinchero · Moray · Maras · Ollantaytambo → Aguas Calientes
Hotel pick-up in Cusco is around 7:00 am, followed by a scenic ~45-minute drive into the Sacred Valley of the Incas. First stop is the highland town of Chinchero, where your guide walks you through an Inca temple and a colonial church built on Inca stone walls, and a local family shows you the ancient art of Andean weaving with natural dyes. You continue to the mysterious circular terraces of Moray — an Inca agricultural laboratory of concentric platforms, each ring its own microclimate.
A short drive brings you to the Maras salt mines, over 3,000 salt pools cascading down the mountainside in whites and pinks. After a buffet lunch of Peruvian and Andean cuisine in Urubamba, you tour Ollantaytambo, the largest and best-preserved Inca complex in the valley and one of the few places the Incas resisted the Spanish. Late afternoon you board the scenic train (~3:30 / 4:30 pm) for the 1.5-hour ride through the cloud forest to Aguas Calientes, check into your lodge, and meet your Machu Picchu guide at 7:30 pm for the pre-tour briefing.
Good to know: The afternoon train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes is one of the most spectacular rides in South America, winding through cloud forest past towering peaks and rushing rivers.
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2
Machu Picchu → Aguas Calientes → Cusco
Rise early and, after breakfast around 5:00 am, board the official bus that climbs the switchbacks up the mountain, reaching the Machu Picchu citadel for the 6:00 am opening — the great privilege of an overnight stay, with soft morning light, drifting mist and the crowds yet to arrive. Weather permitting, witness sunrise over the citadel as the first light hits the terraces and Huayna Picchu emerges from the clouds.
Your certified guide then leads a 2.5-hour tour of the citadel — the Temple of the Sun, the Intihuatana stone, the Temple of the Three Windows and the agricultural terraces — followed by free time to explore at your own pace (with optional Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, booked in advance). Descend by bus to Aguas Calientes for lunch, board the return scenic train (~2:30 / 3:20 pm) along the Urubamba River to Ollantaytambo, where a private car returns you to your Cusco hotel by about 6:30 pm.
Good to know: Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain tickets must be booked in advance — daily capacity is strictly limited, so reserve them at the time of your tour to avoid disappointment.
What You'll See in the Sacred Valley
Day one visits four of the Sacred Valley's most iconic sites, each with its own character:
- Chinchero — a traditional Andean town famous for its weavers, Inca terraces and a colonial church built on Inca foundations.
- Moray — concentric circular terraces the Incas used as an agricultural laboratory, each ring a different microclimate.
- Maras Salt Mines — thousands of dazzling salt pools terraced into the hillside, harvested by hand since Inca times.
- Ollantaytambo — a living Inca town and great fortress, and the gateway station for the train to Machu Picchu.
Which Machu Picchu Circuit Will I Visit?
Machu Picchu is visited on fixed circuits, and tickets are sold only by the Peruvian government in limited daily numbers. When you book, we buy the best circuit available for your date, prioritising the classic routes:
- Circuit 2 (Classic) — our first choice: the classic postcard viewpoint plus a complete tour of the citadel, temples and terraces. Book ~4 months ahead in high season, as it sells out first.
- Circuit 1 (Panoramic) — the upper terraces and the classic viewpoint, with the best wide photos, but without entering the urban sector.
- Circuit 3 (Royalty) — the lower part of the citadel and the royal sector; a good alternative when Circuits 1 and 2 are sold out.
- Optional add-ons — Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain can be added (separate ticket and circuit, subject to availability).
Circuits and entry times are set by the government and cannot be changed once issued. We always aim for Circuit 2 first and confirm your exact circuit before travel.
Tour at a Glance
| Duration | 2 days / 1 night |
| Highest point | Chinchero — ~3,762 m |
| Getting there | Private car (Sacred Valley) + train |
| Difficulty | Moderate — walking at several sites |
| Machu Picchu | 2.5 h guided tour (usually Circuit 2) |
| Overnight | 1 night hotel in Aguas Calientes |
| Meals | 1 breakfast + 1 buffet lunch |
| Group size | Max 14 travelers · daily departures |
What's Included
Tap any item to see the full details.
Included
Not included
Prices — 2026 Season
All-inclusive group service with a night in Aguas Calientes. Machu Picchu entrance pricing is set by the government, so the rate depends on your traveller category. Citizens of the CAN Community (Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador) pay a reduced official entrance rate.
| Category | Adult | Student (under 25) | Child (8–17) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | $410 | $390 | $390 |
| CAN Community | $370 | $350 | $350 |
Prices per person, group service, return by train. The student rate requires a valid physical university student ID (under 25). A $180 deposit per person confirms your booking and secures your tickets, train and hotel.
Optional Add-ons
- Huayna Picchu Mountain climb$60
- Machu Picchu Mountain climb$60
- Vistadome panoramic train upgrade (return)$45
What to Pack
Day one is spent at higher Sacred Valley sites (up to ~3,760 m), day two in the warmer cloud forest, so pack light layers in a small daypack:
- Always with you: original passport (and physical student ID if you booked the student rate), your tickets (we provide them), and some cash in soles.
- Clothing: layers and a warm jacket for the Sacred Valley, a waterproof jacket or poncho, comfortable walking shoes, a sun hat and sunglasses.
- Extras: high-SPF sunscreen, insect repellent, a refillable water bottle, snacks, and a camera or phone.
How to Book
Book online or in person at our Cusco office (Portal Nuevo 270, Plaza Regocijo). A $180 deposit per person secures your Machu Picchu, train and hotel; the balance is due at least 24 h before the tour. Because of high demand and limited daily entries, please book at least 30 days in advance (more in high season).
- Check availability for your travel date.
- Choose traveller categories (adult / student / child) and any extras.
- Fill in each traveller's details exactly as in their passport (tickets are nominative).
- Pay the $180 deposit or full amount — you receive confirmation and our team follows up by WhatsApp.
Deposit: a non-refundable $180 deposit per person is used to buy your Machu Picchu entrance, train and hotel immediately.
Tickets: issued by the Peruvian government and the train company for a fixed date, time and circuit — non-refundable, non-transferable and non-modifiable.
Cancellation: the deposit is non-refundable. If you paid in full and cancel, the balance beyond the deposit is refundable; already-issued tickets remain valid for their original date.
Date changes: possible only if availability exists, and require buying new tickets and a new deposit.
Hotel change: you may request a hotel change up to one day before travel, with advance notice. Full terms are confirmed at checkout.
Frequently Asked Questions
Day 1 is a full guided tour of the Sacred Valley (Chinchero, Moray, Maras salt mines and Ollantaytambo) with a buffet lunch, then the train to Aguas Calientes and a hotel night. Day 2 is a guided tour of Machu Picchu, then the return to Cusco by train and private car.
It's a moderate, sightseeing-paced tour — no trekking. You'll walk and climb some stairs at each Sacred Valley site and around Machu Picchu, at altitudes up to about 3,760 m on day 1, so a basic level of fitness and a day or two acclimatising in Cusco beforehand help.
Yes. The day-1 buffet lunch in Urubamba and the entrance fees to Chinchero, Moray, the Maras salt mines and Ollantaytambo are all included, along with your Machu Picchu ticket. Day-1 breakfast and dinner and the day-2 lunch are not included.
We always request Circuit 2 (the classic route with the postcard viewpoint and a full tour of the citadel). If it's sold out for your date, we book the best available alternative (Circuit 1 or 3). For Circuit 2 in high season, book around 4 months ahead.
At least 30 days ahead, as daily Machu Picchu entries and trains sell out. For the classic Circuit 2, or for travel in high season (May–September), we recommend booking 3–4 months in advance.
The Sacred Valley sits at a lower altitude than Cusco, so spending day 1 there helps you acclimatise before Machu Picchu. It also packs the region's best Inca sites and the citadel into one well-organised two-day trip — ideal if your time is limited.
