This two-day tour is absolutely calling my name. It combines two of the most iconic Peruvian experiences into one seamless, epic journey. I’m a firm believer that the journey is just as important as the destination, and this tour’s use of a private van to navigate the stunning Sacred Valley is a game-changer. It’s on my bucket list because it allows for an early start and private access to one of the world’s greatest wonders. I can’t wait to wake up before dawn in the charming town of Aguas Calientes (6,692 ft / 2,040 m), head straight up to the Machu Picchu (7,972 ft / 2,430 m) citadel, and see that magical sunrise over the ancient ruins.
This is the ultimate experience for anyone who wants to get their history fix and connect with the landscape and culture of the Andes. You’ll explore ancient religious sites, meet local artisans, and witness the incredible Inca agricultural terraces. What’s even more exciting is riding one of the most picturesque railways in the world, which zigzags across the country, following the path of the Urubamba River. It’s not just a tour; it’s a full-on sensory immersion into Peru’s vibrant heart.
The Sacred Valley is a vast valley, so visiting everything in one day is impossible. That’s why we offer two distinct options to explore it properly. Both options kick off at 7:00 a.m. with a pick-up from your hotel in Cusco (11,152 ft / 3,399 m). We’ll let you know which one we’ll be taking.
I’m so excited about this itinerary. We’ll start with a 15-minute drive to Manos de la Comunidad, where we’ll get up close with native camelids like llamas, alpacas, and vicuñas, and see guinea pigs in a textile center. We’ll spend about 40 minutes there. Next, we’ll drive about 30 minutes to the Taray viewpoint (10,958 ft / 3,340 m). The views of the Sacred Valley and the Urubamba River from here are simply breathtaking, and it’s the perfect spot for our guide to give us a brief introduction to the region’s history and culture.
After that, we’ll drive about 45 minutes to Pisac (9,650 ft / 2,941 m). I’m dying to explore the Pisac archaeological site for about an hour and 10 minutes, focusing on its most important areas. Then, it’s a quick 20-minute drive to Pisac town to check out the vibrant market for about 30 minutes. Following this, we’ll drive about 50 minutes to Urubamba (9,420 ft / 2,871 m) for lunch. The 40-minute lunch break sounds just right before we head off on a 30-minute drive to Ollantaytambo (9,160 ft / 2,792 m), arriving around 2:00 p.m. We’ll spend an hour exploring the Ollantaytambo Inca site before a short 5-minute drive to the train station. We’ll board the train to Aguas Calientes at 3:37 p.m. and arrive around 5:00 p.m., ready to check in to our hotel and have dinner.
This route calls my name for its otherworldly landscapes. We’ll start with a 50-minute drive to Chinchero (12,342 ft / 3,762 m) to visit a textile center for about an hour and 10 minutes. I can’t wait to see the traditional weaving techniques and the local animals. We’ll also get to explore the Inca archaeological site of Chinchero.
Then, we’ll continue our journey with a 40-minute drive to the Salt Mines of Maras (10,974 ft / 3,345 m), arriving around 10:00 a.m. I’m fascinated by the thought of exploring this unique site for 45 minutes, surrounded by its impressive salt terraces. After that, we’ll travel 35 minutes to Moray (11,483 ft / 3,500 m), an Inca site famous for its surreal circular agricultural terraces. We’ll spend 40 minutes learning about their historical and agricultural significance.
After our visit, we’ll drive about 40 minutes to Urubamba to enjoy lunch for 40 minutes. Following lunch, we’ll continue on a 30-minute drive to Ollantaytambo (9,160 ft / 2,792 m), arriving around 2:00 p.m. We’ll spend an hour exploring the Temple of the Sun, agricultural terraces, and water fountains. After the tour, we’ll drive 5 minutes to the train station to board the train to Aguas Calientes at 3:37 p.m., arriving around 5:00 p.m. to check in to our hotel for the night.
Note: The timings may change depending on how much time we spend at each location.
Day two is the main event: Machu Picchu! We’ll wake up early to catch one of the first buses up to the site to witness the sunrise over the ruins. Our guide will meet us at the hotel and take us to the bus station for the 30-minute ride up. Once inside, we’ll show our passport and ticket, and the guide will take us to the guardhouse for that iconic postcard picture. After a short historical introduction, we’ll spend about two hours exploring the highlights of Machu Picchu on Circuit 2, visiting the main gate, Sun Temple, Inca quarry, main plaza, Inca house, Sacred Rock, and the Temple of the Condor.
After the guided tour, you have the option to hike Huayna Picchu Mountain (8,923 ft / 2,720 m) if you’ve booked that separately. Finally, we’ll take a bus back to Aguas Calientes, where you’ll have about two hours to grab lunch and some souvenirs before catching the train back to Ollantaytambo. From there, a van will take us back to Cusco, with drop-off at your hotel around 7:30 p.m.
Additional Upgrades
| Service | Price (USD) | Note |
| Huayna Picchu Mountain | $65 | Must be booked in advance due to limited availability. |
| Machu Picchu Mountain | $65 | Must be booked in advance due to limited availability. |
| Vistadome One-Way | $35 | Upgrades your return train ticket. |
| Vistadome Round-Trip | $70 | Upgrades both your outbound and return train tickets. |
You’ll want to pack light but smart for this adventure.
A highly qualified professional with extensive experience in the art of guiding will lead your tour. They have years of dedication to nature walks, have medical certifications and an overflowing passion for leading people on unforgettable adventures.
We understand how essential a delicious hot meal is to revitalize and comfort your body after a challenging hike. Therefore, on each expedition with Ausangate Peru, you will find chefs with extensive experience in preparing meals during the hikes.
All our hiking trips offer a varied selection of delicious meals, rich in carbohydrates, proteins and essential fats. We have carefully selected foods that adapt perfectly to the natural environment.
Our experienced muleteers and their faithful horses are responsible for all our equipment and will always be available in the safe and comfortable camps, ready to receive us.
Machu Picchu is an ancient Inca city located high in the Peruvian Andes. It is famous for its impressive architecture and natural beauty.
Machu Picchu is located in the Cusco region of Peru, in the Andes mountain range. It is about 80 kilometers northwest of the city of Cusco.
The most common way to get to Machu Picchu is to take a train from the city of Cusco or the town of Ollantaytambo to the Aguas Calientes station, and then take a bus to the entrance of Machu Picchu.
The best time to visit Machu Picchu is during the dry season, which runs from May to October. The months of July and August are especially popular due to the pleasant weather.
It is not mandatory to have a guide to visit Machu Picchu, but it is highly recommended to hire one as they can provide valuable historical and cultural information about the site.
Most people spend at least half a day exploring Machu Picchu, but some visitors choose to stay a full day to fully enjoy the site.
Yes, you can climb Huayna Picchu mountain, which is located next to Machu Picchu, but you must obtain an additional ticket and there is a limit on visitors per day.
The cost of entry to Machu Picchu varies depending on nationality and age. Prices may change over time, so it’s important to check for updated rates before your visit.
It is advisable to purchase entrance tickets in advance, especially during peak season, as Machu Picchu has a daily visitor limit.
Yes, you can bring food and water to Machu Picchu, but you must follow the park rules and take your waste with you to keep the site clean.
Once you have chosen your travel date, the most important thing is to determine how to get there, choose a hotel and what activities to do during your stay. The options are many and we will help you make the best decision: Cuscoperu.com recommends that you wake up in Machu Picchu town and have breakfast at the hot water market and then go up to the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu; There are two options to get there.
The first thing you have to do is arrive in the city of Cusco by any of the known methods (see how to get to Cusco). Once there you can choose between one of the following options:
Recommended for those who want a little more adventure, it begins at KM 82 of the railway that goes from Cusco to Machu Picchu. This tour lasts 4 days and 3 nights, during which time one will be able to explore the ancient and enigmatic stone road or Inca trail. If you want to embark on this adventure, the first thing you have to do is reserve your entry ticket, which must be done at least 5 months in advance and the best way to do it is through travel agencies, which are in charge. to carry out all the corresponding procedures so that you can better enjoy your stay. Access to the Inca Trail is done in groups of no less than 10 people and accompanied by qualified guides who will help you in any event that may arise. There is also another shorter route with a duration of 2 days and 1 night, which begins at Km 104.
Another option to get to Machu Picchu is using the railways. For which, one must first purchase the train ticket one month in advance to ensure space, you can reserve it at the San Pedro train station or at the Poroy train station itself (SEE TRAIN RATES), the train part of the Poroy station , located 20 minutes from the city of Cusco, departures are also made from the Ollantaytambo station, the trip lasts approximately 4 hours, to the town of Aguas Calientes or Machu Picchu town. From Machu Picchu Pueblo or Aguas Calientes there are two ways to ascend to the citadel of Machu Picchu, the first is using the buses (see bus rate) on a 20-minute journey and the second is at a walking pace that lasts approximately 1 hour. and 30 min (No cost). You may also be interested in RATES FOR ENTRANCE TO MACHU PICCHU
Being the closest enclave to the Archaeological Park, Aguas Calientes is the place chosen to spend the night. Its hotel offer is quite wide. While there are some luxury hotels, the cheaper options are considerably inferior in terms of the infrastructure and service they offer. A good alternative is to spend the night in Ollantaytambo instead of Aguas Calientes. Many visitors arrive in Peru with the dream of going to Cusco and visiting Machu Picchu, many want to return the next day because time is short to tour the entire citadel. from Machu Picchu and it is recommended to wake up in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town) and in the morning go up to the tourist complex of Machu Picchu, there are hotels for different types of budget and cuscoperu.com recommends some. Machu Picchu has hotels of different types . categories, 1 to 5 stars, all provide quality services that will help make your stay as pleasant as possible.
When planning your trip to Machu Picchu, the first thing is to check if there is availability of entry to the citadel of Machu Picchu, the maximum number of people who can enter is 2,500 and you can purchase these tickets with your travel agency or directly at: www. .machupicchu.gob.pe
Craft market$
The craft market of Machu Picchu is one of the most important and beautiful in Peru for producing decorative, luxury and utilitarian items of very high quality . In creativity, design and presentation they have an expression of Inca, colonial and contemporary art, being surprising the exhibition-sale.
These are some suggestions of what you can do in Machu Picchu.
After visiting Machu Picchu, relax in the hot springs of the town of Aguas Calientes Located 800 meters from the town center. Bring your towel and bathing clothes as there are dressing rooms where you can change.
Climb Putucusi and appreciate the citadel of Machu Picchu in a different way.
Climb Huayna Picchu and live a more complete and wonderful experience. It is a climb to the mountain that accompanies Machu Picchu, although it contains important Inca constructions, its access is not easy. Access is done in two shifts from 7am to 9am and from 10am to noon. After this time no one can access this place, due to the inclement weather that produces dense fog that makes access to this place dangerous. Here one can see from platforms built on the edge of the cliff, the famous Inca chair, passages and tunnels, carved stones, vestiges of Inkarakay (a hanging fortress in the middle of the mountain) and enjoy a wonderful view that includes the citadel, the Vilcanota river , the Canyon and the Salcantay snow-capped mountain .
Visit the Manuel Chavez site museum Ballon .- This excellent museum gives an idea of the integration between nature and archeology that characterizes the sanctuary. It can be reached by following the signposted path along the paved road where the buses circulate, passing the “Puente Ruinas”, it is about a 30-minute walk from the town of “Aguas Calientes”. This museum houses objects including artifacts, construction tools, mirrors and needles. It also shows the way in which the stone quarry was worked for the construction of the citadel. It is in this place where the pieces returned by Yale University that Hiran Bingham took should be exhibited . Here one can observe an infinity of ornamental, medicinal and food plants typical of the place. We see abundant orchids that are one of the best kept treasures of the sanctuary, here there are more than 350 species among which the wakankis , the zapatito de reyna and the wiñay stand out. wayna .
5 (12 reviews)
5 (12 reviews)
5 (12 reviews)
5 (12 reviews)
5 (12 reviews)
5 (12 reviews)
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