Machu Picchu & Sacred Valley Tour (2 Days)

Your enthralling two-day tour begins with an early morning pickup from your hotel in Cusco. We’ll embark on a 45-minute drive to Chinchero, a charming town known as the home of Andean textile weavers. Here, you’ll visit Inca ruins nestled on a hilltop, including a whitewashed church built upon the remains of an Inca Royal Palace. The ancient farming terraces and water channels, meticulously constructed during the Inca Civilization, remain intact. We’ll also visit an Andean textile center to learn about the traditional wool processing from scratch, offering a great opportunity to purchase unique souvenirs.

Our next stop is the town of Maras, home to the ancient Salt Mines, which have been in operation since pre-Inca times. Witness salt farmers practicing the traditional solar evaporation method, filling natural spring waters into salt puddles and manually scraping out the distinctive pinkish Maras Salt.

Next, we visit Moray, a remarkable archaeological site in the Sacred Valley that served as an agricultural laboratory for the Incas. Explore its unique circular farming terraces, resembling an amphitheater, which created over 20 microclimates for experimenting with various crops.

We’ll then have a brief stop in Urubamba for a delicious buffet lunch at a local restaurant. Afterward, we drive to Ollantaytambo, often called the ‘living Inca town.’ Nestled between two peaks, this town maintains its authenticity with Inca-built water channels still in use today. You’ll receive a detailed tour of the Inca complex, the site of an infamous battle against the Spanish in 1531. After the tour, we transfer you to the train station to board a scenic two-hour journey through the Andes to Machu Picchu Pueblo, also known as Aguas Calientes. Upon arrival, you’ll check into your en-suite hotel room for the night.

Rise early for an exciting start to your day. We’ll take a 25-minute bus ride uphill to the entrance of Machu Picchu. Your tour guide will assist with entry, verifying your original passport against your ticket. Once inside the citadel, you’ll witness the golden rays of the sun illuminating the walls of the lost Inca city, creating an unforgettable spectacle.

Your two-hour guided tour of Machu Picchu begins with a detailed introduction to this magnificent site. You’ll explore the main square, the intricate remains of the royal quarters, and other significant Inca structures, gaining a profound understanding of its history and purpose. After the guided tour, you’ll have some free time to explore the citadel at your own pace or simply soak in the incredible panoramic views. Later, we will take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes. From there, you will board the train back to Ollantaytambo or Poroy (depending on train tickets), where our team will be waiting to transfer you by vehicle back to your hotel in Cusco, concluding your memorable Machu Picchu & Sacred Valley adventure.