The Ultimate Inca Tour
The Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu tour is one of the travelers favorite tours in Cusco. You will be able to visit the outstanding sites of the Sacred Valley, Chinchero (a combination of Inca and colonial architecture), the ancient farming center of Moray, the Salt Mines of Maras, and Ollantaytambo’s beautiful town. The highlight of this two-day tour is Machu Picchu, with the train ride following the Urubamba River. You will live an experience of your lifetime with our 2 day cultural tour Machu Picchu Sacred valley.
- Overview
- Itinerary
- Inclusions
- Recommendations
- Faqs
- Pricing
- Enquire Now
Want to have the "grand tour" of Machu Picchu? Vidal Expeditions offers you to visit One of the Seven New Wonders of the World in just 2 days Sacred Valley of the Incas and Machu Picchu. This tour is a great option for you! We have guaranteed daily tours for all: single travelers and groups, with a maximum size of 8 people in the group. This is the best way to explore the land of the Incas. This tour starts and ends in Cusco and includes everything you need to have a lifetime experience during your journey in Peru.
Highlights: Moray, Salt Mines, Ollantaytambo and Machu PicchuConsiderations: Permit required
Season: Whole year
Max. Altitude: 3603masl /11820ft
Itinerary at a Glance
- Day01
Cusco - Chinchero- Moray-Ollantaytambo- Aguas Calientes
- Day02
Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu- Aguas Calientes - Cusco
Highlights of the Tour
- Explore the magical Moray, and ancient farming area with outstanding view of the Urubamba mountain range
- Be amazing with this incredible Salt Mines and capture fantastic photos
- Discover Machu Picchu accompanied by an expert local guide
- See the Royal Quarters, the Temple of the Three Windows, Sacred Sun Dial, and more points of interest
Cusco- Chinchero - Moray- Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes
Highlight of the day: Moray, Salt Mines and Ollantaytambo
We pick you up at your hotel at any location in Cusco city at 7 a.m. and drive for 40 minutes with your exclusive transportation and tour guide to Chinchero, where you’ll see llamas and alpacas, vicunas, and guanacos. Your guide will explain to you the main differences between these famous South American animals; you can visit the textile center to learn about the weaving process and how the locals get their natural colors; and you can shop as well. Then you will visit the famous Chinchero Archaeological site with a spectacular view of the Andes, Urubamba River, and the Sacred Valley’s farming lands on the Incas. You’ll then visit the terraces with impressive stone walls, agricultural terraces, and an irrigation system. After exploring with amazing views, you’ll drive to visit the Moray circular terraces, an inigmatic place where your tour guide will show you how the Incas used this place as faming laboratory. Continuing the tour, you will continue to the Salt Mines of Maras, the perfect place to discover how the natural Andean salt is processed, then go for 1 hour to Urubamba for lunch in a local restaurant with various local Peruvian dishes, using fresh products from the area.
The second part of the tour is driving to Ollantaytambo, "The Last Living Inca Citadel," named this way because the current city is built above the ancient Inca buildings. The locals here used the same foundations and the same doorways as the Inca buildings. They just made the second floor; even the water channels have run with water since the Incas. Ollantaytambo also has an impressive archeological site with temples, terraces, and storehouses, and we can find the heaviest Inca monolith transported from another mountain located 5 km away. After exploring the city, you’ll take the train to Aguas Calientes and spend the night in a hotel.
We pick you up at your hotel at any location in Cusco city at 7 a.m. and drive for 40 minutes with your exclusive transportation and tour guide to Chinchero, where you’ll see llamas and alpacas, vicunas, and guanacos. Your guide will explain to you the main differences between these famous South American animals; you can visit the textile center to learn about the weaving process and how the locals get their natural colors; and you can shop as well. Then you will visit the famous Chinchero Archaeological site with a spectacular view of the Andes, Urubamba River, and the Sacred Valley’s farming lands on the Incas. You’ll then visit the terraces with impressive stone walls, agricultural terraces, and an irrigation system. After exploring with amazing views, you’ll drive to visit the Moray circular terraces, an inigmatic place where your tour guide will show you how the Incas used this place as faming laboratory. Continuing the tour, you will continue to the Salt Mines of Maras, the perfect place to discover how the natural Andean salt is processed, then go for 1 hour to Urubamba for lunch in a local restaurant with various local Peruvian dishes, using fresh products from the area.
The second part of the tour is driving to Ollantaytambo, "The Last Living Inca Citadel," named this way because the current city is built above the ancient Inca buildings. The locals here used the same foundations and the same doorways as the Inca buildings. They just made the second floor; even the water channels have run with water since the Incas. Ollantaytambo also has an impressive archeological site with temples, terraces, and storehouses, and we can find the heaviest Inca monolith transported from another mountain located 5 km away. After exploring the city, you’ll take the train to Aguas Calientes and spend the night in a hotel.
Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu- Aguas Calientes - Cusco
Highlight of the day: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu- Aguas Calientes - Cusco
Wake up early in your hotel, have breakfast, and you’ll take the first buses up to Machu Picchu. Upon arrival, you need to show an original passport at the checkpoint to enter the citadel.
Your tour guide will take you on a short hike first to the view point, where you can capture the famous sunrise at Machu Picchu with incredible views. Then there will be a guided tour for about 3 hours, visiting the most remarkable terraces, storehouses, temples, and palaces, and some free time to explore on your own or take the extra hikes to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (montaña). These additional hikes are optional and not included in the tour.
After exploring Machu Picchu, you’ll take the bus down to Aguas Calientes, have lunch (not included), and take the train back to Ollantaytambo, then our bus back to Cusco. The arrival time is around 6.30 pm back at your hotel.
Wake up early in your hotel, have breakfast, and you’ll take the first buses up to Machu Picchu. Upon arrival, you need to show an original passport at the checkpoint to enter the citadel.
Your tour guide will take you on a short hike first to the view point, where you can capture the famous sunrise at Machu Picchu with incredible views. Then there will be a guided tour for about 3 hours, visiting the most remarkable terraces, storehouses, temples, and palaces, and some free time to explore on your own or take the extra hikes to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (montaña). These additional hikes are optional and not included in the tour.
After exploring Machu Picchu, you’ll take the bus down to Aguas Calientes, have lunch (not included), and take the train back to Ollantaytambo, then our bus back to Cusco. The arrival time is around 6.30 pm back at your hotel.
At Vidal Expeditions, we are transparent and provide specific details of what is included and excluded from our tours. We know this is very important so that you know exactly what to bring and don’t miss anything. We provide this information to ensure that you have an incredible experience during your tour.
WE INCLUDE
Vidal Expeditions Team Provide
Pre-departure briefing
Once you book the tour with us, you will get a notification about the pre-departure briefing, where you will meet with your cultural guide and the tour group in our office the night before your Machu Picchu tour departure. During this briefing, you will receive important details about the tour.
Professional Cultural Guide
All our tour guides have a great reputation for customer service. Our tour guides have graduated with a tourism career from the National University San Antonio Abad of Cusco. They have also studied English at a private language institute. Through their patience, responsibility, knowledge, passion for adventure, and pride in having been born in the land of the Incas, we ensure our tour guides provide an excellent experience for you when you explore Machu Picchu.
Entrance Fees
Once we receive your details and the deposit for your tour, we will purchase all the necessary tickets for you to explore Machu Picchu on a specific date.
Meals
Meals
We include a buffet lunch on the Sacred Valley tour, dinner in Aguas Calientes, and breakfast at the hotel on the second day.
Transportations
Private Transport
We included all the transportation during your tour. We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco and take you to each tour. The bus will return once you are done with Machu Picchu and drop you off at your hotel in Cusco.
Equipment
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Medical First Aid Kit
All tour guides at Vidal Expeditions are very well trained in first aid. They received training courses every six months on how to assist someone who is in an emergency situation. Also, they are trained on how to supply balloon oxygen if someone requires it.
WE NOT INCLUDED
Water bottle
Every customer needs water during this tour. We will stop in a shop where you can purchase some water bottles and snacks.
Travel Insurance
We recommend buying travel insurance before leaving your country in case something happens during your visit to Peru.
Tips for our team
Tips are not included. Tipping the team is usual on any excursion in Cusco, and although we pay good salaries to our entire team, tips are welcome as a token of your appreciation for the team's hard work.
At Vidal Expeditions, we focus on making your trip an unforgettable experience, and we want to provide all the details you need to know before leaving your country and starting your life experience in Peru.
What you need to pack? Important- Passport
- Good daypack (the smaller, the better)
- Water storage: Water reservoir like Camelback is encouraged - but enough for at least 2-3 liters.
- Comfortable hiking pant
- Rain jacket and pant
INSIDE YOUR DAYPACKS:
A daypack can be any size for hiking, but we always say the smaller, the better. If it is larger, try to make it as light as possible.
- Rain gear
- Sun hat
- Sunscreen
- Camera
- Water bottle
- Bug spray
- Hand sanitizer
- Toilet paper and small plastic bag for waste
- Extra Money for Souvenirs, Drinks & Tips
- Personal medication or Own first aid kit
- Snacks (Chocolate, energizing bars, caramels, etc.)
PREPARING FOR YOUR DAY TOUR!
Here some frequently asked question about our day tours in CuscoBOOKING SYSTEM
At Vidal Expeditions, we try to make the booking system as easy as possible for you. Once you decide to do some of our day tours, we will send you a booking form where you need to complete all the required details that we need to book your tickets. We also need a previous deposit of 50% of the price per person. As soon as you pay it, we immediately book a spot for this tour. Once we are done with it, we will send you your invoice and a confirmation form that all the booking processes have been satisfactorily set up.
IS VIDAL EXPEDITIONS TEAM CONTACTING US BEFORE FLYING TO PERU?
Yes, our work policy is to be in contact with our customers as long as necessary to inform them of all the details and changes that could occur after they have confirmed the reservation. Please check your email constantly, and if you have any issues, let us know so we can solve them as soon as possible.
WHERE TO STAY IN CUSCO?
Cusco is a big enough city to find different categories of hotels, from 2 stars to 5 stars. There are also Airbnb places where you can stay without any problem. Cusco streets are narrow, especially near the main square, and some streets are pedestrian with some stairs. We will send you a notification for the pick-up if it is not possible to access them with our car and arrange another place to pick you up and drop you off. Also, a night before your tour, you will meet with your tour guide, who will tell you all the details about the tour. If you want some recommendations, please ask the Vidal Expeditions sales team.
ALONG THE TOUR
IS THERE BATHROOM OR PUBLIC TOILETS ALONG THE TOUR?
Yes, our car will stop in some places where you can use the restroom (toilets). Also, in the restaurants, you will find these. If you need them in an emergency, just let your tour guide know to stop in the nearest bathroom.
HOW CHALLENGING IS THE TOUR?
Well, our day tour is particularly not very challenging, but our tour of Rainbow Mountain and Humantay Lake are challenging, especially for people who do not have experience hiking or climbing on the mountains. We recommend training with some exercises a few times per week to avoid problems, and it is also recommendable to spend a few days in Cusco to acclimatize to the altitude because part of the segments along this tour are located over 3500 m (10859 ft).
WHAT HAPPEN IF I GOT ALTITUDE SICKNESS?
No worries, our guide and team are professionals, and they know how to solve this kind of problem. Your guide will have a first aid kit with some medications for these and an oxygen balloon in case you need it. Also, during our trips to Rainbow Mountain and Humantay Lake, there will be an extra emergency horse to take you to the best place where you can recover. Our team always has radio.
DO YOU NEED HIKING BOOTS?
Definitely, it is always recommended to wear light hiking boots if possible. However, for our traditional day tours, where you do not need to hike for hours, you can go with sneakers. On the Rainbow Mountain and Humantay Lake tours, you need ones with ankle support, which are extra helpful, especially for the inexperienced hiker. Because you will be climbing and going down slippery stairs, some of which could be muddy, uneven, and at varying heights, the extra support helps prevent twisting your ankles.
SHOULD I USE WALKING STICKS?
Yes. Walking sticks are always helpful to trekkers, especially if is raining along the trek. Using walking sticks can help take the pressure off your knees while doing some portion of the trek. Plus they will help you get up the mountain as well.
WHERE DO I STORE MY LUGGAGE?
In case you have extra luggage that you do not need to bring to the trail, all the hotels in Cusco have storage where you can leave your luggage completely free. If you change hotels after the trek, we have storage available in the Vidal Expeditions office. Get more information from our office team.
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT AS FAR AS WEATHER
The weather in Cusco and parts of the Andes is unpredictable, even if the weather forecast says it’s sunny. We can’t trust it. It is an impossible question for us to answer. Historically, April through September is the dry season; November through February is the rainy season; and March and October are bridge months—a mixture of both. But the clouds have not followed these rules in the last few years. Prepare for sun and rain, no matter when you come. As far as temperatures go, that is consistent throughout the year. Mornings and evenings are always cold. Make sure to bring a fleece jacket for the mornings and a down jacket for the evenings. Once the sun is up, you should be comfortable hiking in short sleeves. Long pants (for yoga or hiking) are encouraged to protect against the mosquitoes, which can be a nuisance in some parts of the trail.
From: USD 380.00 per person
USD 370.00: from 4 people to more
* Upgrade your returning train to Vistadome service (With a larger windows and more comfortable seats) $60US per person
Thank you for your interest in having an adventure travel experience in Peru curated by Vidal Expeditions. Please take a moment to complete our short form, so one our friendly Adventure Consultants could provide you all the information for your trip of a lifetime in Peru.
Our Pledge | Your privacy is respected and protected. Vidal Expeditions will never share, sell, or make public any of your personal contact information to third parties.
2 days 1 Nights
Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu
What's it like
Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu 2 Days Map
WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT?
At Vidal Expeditions we offer the best service for all our customers and here is what makes us different than others.
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Small groups: Along our excursion group size is a capped at 8 people. This guarantees that you will enjoy every step of our excursion
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Hotel: During our excursion to Machu Picchu, we offer a 3 stars hotel stay for the last night. This ensures you are well rested and ready to explore Machu Picchu.
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Bus to Machu Picchu: To enjoy Machu Picchu, we provide a round trip ticket on the bus from Aguas Calientes to the main entrance of the archaeological site.
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Local Tour guides: Our team consists of 100% local tour guides, who have expert knowledge in our ancient culture.
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Best Camping Equipment: We have the state-of-the-art camping equipment for our excursion. The equipment is thoroughly cleaned and sanitized before and after every excursion.
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Best Trekking team: At Vidal Expeditions we focus to create the best experience during our excursions. Our team that consists of tour guides, cooks, porters, horse drivers are handpicked. We train our team to offer you the best service. We take care of our team by providing them with good equipment and paying them fairly.
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