Photo gallery
Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu tour photos
Tour overview
Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu tour at a glance
Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu is our most complete short trip: two days that cover the Inca heartland. When booking, choose your Day 1 route: Option 1 via Pisac, visiting its terraces and market, or Option 2 via Chinchero, visiting Chinchero, Moray and the Maras Salt Mines. Both routes include a buffet lunch in Urubamba and the Ollantaytambo fortress before the evening train to Aguas Calientes. On Day 2 your private guide takes you through Machu Picchu in the early morning. From US$ 489 per person (Sacred Valley day shared, Machu Picchu private), or fully private from US$ 699. *How it works:* Day 1 in the Sacred Valley is a shared small-group tour, and Day 2 at Machu Picchu is private, with your own guide. Prefer everything private? Choose the fully private option.
Our Cusco team checks the services, timings and availability for your dates and sends the options in a written quote.
Journey highlights
Highlights of the Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu tour
- Choose your Day 1 route when booking: Pisac or Chinchero, Moray and Maras Salt Mines
- Explore the Ollantaytambo fortress on either route
- Buffet lunch with Andean dishes in Urubamba
- Sleeping lower in the valley helps with the altitude
- Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu tickets all included
Interactive journey map
The train route to Machu Picchu
This interactive map shows the transfer and train section of this trip. Other visits and overnight stays are described in the itinerary. The line is schematic, not a GPS navigation track.
Ready in Cusco
- 01CuscoHotel pickup
- 02OllantaytamboBoard the tourist train
- 03Machu Picchu PuebloAlso known as Aguas Calientes
- 04Machu Picchu entranceBegin your guided visit
By private carCusco to Ollantaytambo through the Sacred Valley.
By trainOllantaytambo to Machu Picchu Pueblo beside the Urubamba River.
By shuttle busMachu Picchu Pueblo to the sanctuary entrance.
Return journeyReturn connections are confirmed in your quote.
Detailed itinerary
Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu tour itinerary: day by day
Times and services are indicative. Your final schedule is confirmed in your written quote.
Day 1 — Sacred Valley (shared tour)
Choose one of the following two routes when booking. Both include buffet lunch in Urubamba, a visit to Ollantaytambo and the evening train to Aguas Calientes. Pickup time is confirmed according to your chosen route.
Evening train and overnight stay — both options: In the evening you board the train at Ollantaytambo station to Aguas Calientes (1.5–2 h), where you check in at your hotel.
Day 2 — Machu Picchu (private visit)
Your private guide meets you at the hotel and you ride one of the first buses up to the citadel. The visit follows your circuit, usually the classic Circuit 2: the postcard viewpoint, the Temple of the Sun, the royal residences and the Intihuatana, with the history of Pachacútec's mountain estate. After the visit you have free time in Aguas Calientes, then the afternoon train back to Ollantaytambo and a transfer to your Cusco hotel.
What's included
What's included in the Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu tour
Included
- transport and guide in the Sacred Valley
- Cusco Tourist Ticket (valley sites)
- buffet lunch on Day 1
- round-trip train
- 1 night hotel with breakfast
- round-trip bus
- Machu Picchu ticket
- guide at Machu Picchu
- transfers
Not included
- dinner on Day 1
- lunch on Day 2
- mountain add-ons
- tips
Compare your options
Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu vs the 2-day tour
Both trips sleep in Aguas Calientes and visit Machu Picchu early on Day 2. The difference is Day 1. On the Machu Picchu 2-Day Tour, you drive through the valley around midday and go straight to the train. Here you spend the whole day in the Sacred Valley, with every entrance ticket included. Because the valley (about 2,900 m) and Aguas Calientes (2,040 m) are lower than Cusco (3,400 m), it is also the easiest way to start if you have just arrived. If you have four days, the Cusco & Machu Picchu 4-day package adds the Cusco city tour, Maras and Moray, and a night in the valley. Compare the sites in our Sacred Valley guide.
| MP 2 Days | SV & MP 2 Days | Cusco & MP 4 Days | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Drive and afternoon train | Choose Pisac or Chinchero route, lunch, Ollantaytambo, evening train | Cusco city tour | |
| Sacred Valley sites | — | Pisac or Chinchero, Moray and Maras Salt Mines; Ollantaytambo on both routes | Chinchero, Moray, Maras, Pisac or Ollantaytambo | |
| Valley night | — | — | Yes | |
| Meals | Breakfast | Breakfast, buffet lunch | Breakfasts, buffet lunch | |
| From | US$ 449 | US$ 489 | US$ 799 |
Optional extras
Ways to tailor this trip
- Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain +US$ 75
- Vistadome train +US$ 65
- Vistadome Observatory +US$ 145 (round trip)
- 3★ or 4★ hotel upgrade on request
Optional services are subject to availability. Mention your preferences in the booking form notes; your quote will list the selected extras and final total.
Plan with confidence
Duration, difficulty and price
Good to know
Good to know before you go
Entrance route
This tour uses Circuit 2, confirmed in your quote. See Machu Picchu circuits explained.
Planning guides
Planning guides
What to bring
What to pack
- Original passport
- Small overnight bag and daypack
- Layers: cool mornings, warm middays and cold evenings
- Rain jacket, sun hat, sunscreen and insect repellent
- Cash in soles for the market, dinner and tips
Carry the original passport used to book. Check your confirmed ticket and operator instructions for current baggage and site rules.
Frequently asked questions
Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu tour FAQs
Can I store my big luggage?
Yes. Your train ticket includes one backpack (max 8 kg) or one carry-on bag (max 12 kg), so we keep your main luggage safe in Cusco until you return.
Is this good for families?
Yes. It is our most recommended short trip for families and first-time visitors: the valley day has plenty to see, the pace adapts to children and older travelers, and you sleep lower than Cusco. If you have four days, the Cusco & Machu Picchu 4-day package is even more relaxed.
Can I start from the Sacred Valley instead of Cusco?
Yes. If you are staying in Urubamba or Ollantaytambo, we pick you up there.
Is the buffet lunch good for vegetarians?
Yes. The buffet always has vegetarian dishes. Tell us about allergies when you book.
Can I make this a 3-day trip?
Yes. Add Maras and Moray, an extra night in the valley, or a second Machu Picchu visit through the Custom page.
Is the whole tour private?
With the standard price, the Sacred Valley day is a shared small-group tour and the Machu Picchu visit on Day 2 is private, with your own guide. The fully private option (from US$ 699 per person for 2 travelers) makes every service private.
Which entrance tickets are included?
Entrance tickets for the Sacred Valley sites on your chosen Day 1 route, your Machu Picchu ticket (usually Circuit 2) and the round-trip bus. Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain can be added for US$ 75.
Can I choose the Sacred Valley route when booking?
Yes. Choose Option 1 via Pisac, with its terraces and market, or Option 2 via Chinchero, with visits to Chinchero, Moray and the Maras Salt Mines. Both options include buffet lunch in Urubamba and a visit to Ollantaytambo before the train to Aguas Calientes.
Tripadvisor reviews
What travelers say about the Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu tour
Reviews of Traveleez Peru SAC, the operator of Machu-Picchu.tours, on our Tripadvisor profile Machu Picchu by Traveleez.
★★★★★
Sacred Valley/Machu Picchu
“We did the two day sacred valley and Machu Picchu ticket and it was awesome.”
★★★★★
Excellent tours!
“Honestly, excellent tours and all the guides were super good.”
Translated from Spanish
★★★★★
A heartfelt homage to the Sacred Valley
“From start to finish, the tour was perfectly coordinated, deeply informative, and truly immersive.”
