Explore the Inca culture in small groups with private transfer
From your accommodation located in the center of Cusco between 7:00 and 8:00 a.m.
To your accommodation in Cusco between 8:00 and 10:00 p.m. (Depends on train schedule)
The Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu tour is one of the travelers’ favourite. It is one of the best options to reach Machu Picchu because during the journey to the World Heritage Site, you’ll be able to visit the different areas of the Sacred Valley: the market, the archaeological site of Pisac and the fortress of Ollantaytambo. Once in Ollantaytambo you’ll take the train to Machu Picchu Town (Aguas Calientes).
The second day is dedicated to visit Machu Picchu, there is a guided tour of two hours and free time to explore the citadel. After the visit, you can choose which bus you want to take to return to Machu Picchu Town (Aguas Calientes) for lunch and take the train back to Ollantaytambo. Once there, a transfer will be waiting for you to take you to Cusco.
It is a guided tour where you’ll have free time during some parts to explore by yourself. It is undoubtedly the most complete tour to discover the Inca culture and its legacy which still endures today.
You can find out what these two days will look like in detail below:
The day before the tour departure, the guide will visit you at your hotel or the place you indicate for the tour briefing. A small meeting will be held where you will be explained all the details of the tour, tell you the exact time of pick up and give you your train tickets and to Machu Picchu tickets.
On the day the tour begins, you will be picked up at your hotel at approximately 7:30 a.m. in a 15-seat minibus.
After about an hour on the road, we will arrive at the first stop of the Sacred Valley, the Pisac handicraft shops. If you want to visit another part of the village, we recommend that you ask the guide for directions to the market square. It’s located just a few meters from the stop and is certainly worth a visit.
The tour continues to the archaeological complex of Pisac. The guide will give you some historical explanations and you will be able to explore it on your own. If you do not have the tourist ticket of Cuzco do not worry, the guide will help you to buy it, since it is necessary to be able to access the archaeological zone.
You will continue on to Urubamba, where you will enjoy a traditional buffet lunch in a restaurant located in a typical construction of the area. At the end of the meal, you will return with your group in the minibus that will take you to the last stop of the Sacred Valley of the Incas: the incredible fortress of Ollantaytambo.
You will have a guided tour and at the end, the minibus will bring you to the central square of Ollantaytambo, located 5 minutes by walk from the train station. At this point, the guide will return to Cusco and you will have free time to have a drink until the departure of your train, Expedition/Voyager category. This category offers the schedule that best suits the tour.
You will travel in this iconic train for an hour and a half, crossing the Vilcanota River valley, which offers spectacular views of the snow-capped mountains, the semi-tropical zone and the high jungle area. In addition, a small snack is served for you to enjoy the journey. When you arrive in Aguas Calientes they will be waiting for you to accompany you to your accommodation, they will indicate the exact time of pick up for the next day and you will have time to have dinner in town and rest.
This day you will have to get up early to access Machu Picchu early. You will have breakfast at the accommodation and at the appointed time the guide will pick you up to walk with the rest of the group to the bus stop.
Normally, the wait for the bus that will take you to the Inca Citadel is 20 minutes. The exact time of the pick up from your hotel and the bus depends on the time of entry to the Machu Picchu, so we advise you to book early, to enter in the first shifts.
When you reach Machu Picchu you will begin the two hours guided tour. In the beginning, you will have more time to enjoy the place and take photographs, as it is the best location because it is accessed from the top. The guided tour continues through the different areas of the citadel and the guide explains in detail everything that is known about Machu Picchu and the Inca culture.
At the end of the guided tour, the guide bids farewell to the group and you will have free time to walk around the citadel and explore it on your own, until you decide to take the bus down to Machu Picchu town (Aguas Calientes). Once there, you can eat at one of the many restaurants on your own and then take the train to Ollantaytambo (train schedules are subject to availability). When you arrive at Ollantaytambo station, the driver will be waiting to take you to Cusco, where you will arrive at approximately 8:30 p.m.
If you have selected the extra night in Aguas Calientes, you can enjoy the afternoon in the village, taking the train the next day.
The tour starts in Cusco and includes pick up from your accommodation, as long as it is located in the historic centre of Cusco. If the street is not accessible for the minibus, the coordinator will accompany you from your accommodation to the pick-up point. If your hotel is not centrally located, the minibus cannot deviate too much from its pick-up route and you will be offered a pick-up point as close as possible to your accommodation.