Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu 2-Day Tour
- 2 Days
- 1 Night
- Easy
- Cultural
- Machu Picchu
- Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu
Spend a day among the Inca sites and towns of the Sacred Valley, take the evening train from Ollantaytambo and explore Machu Picchu the next morning with a local guide.
Trip facts
- Duration 2 Days / 1 Night
- Difficulty Easy
- Max altitude 3,400 m / 11,155 ft
- Best season Year-round (driest April to October)
- Accommodation Hotel in Aguas Calientes (1 night)
- Transportation Private van, train and bus
- Guide Local guide in the valley and at Machu Picchu
Overview
The Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu fit together naturally, and this trip follows the same route the river does. You spend the first day in the valley of the Urubamba River, visiting Inca sites and Andean towns, and finish in Ollantaytambo, where the train to Machu Picchu leaves. There’s no need to go back to Cusco in between: you board the train that evening, sleep in Aguas Calientes and visit Machu Picchu the next morning.
The order also makes sense for your body. The valley floor sits around 2,800 to 2,900 m (9,200 to 9,500 ft), several hundred meters lower than Cusco, and Aguas Calientes is lower still. For many travelers, especially in the first days of a trip, a couple of nights below Cusco makes the altitude much easier to handle.
The valley day usually combines a few of its best-known places. Pisac is known for its steep agricultural terraces and a busy market town. Ollantaytambo is a living Inca town, with stone streets still laid out on the original plan, below a hillside of temples and terraces. On some programs, the high plateau around Chinchero, Moray or the Maras salt pans replaces part of this route. We confirm the final stops, their order and the timing with your program, since they depend on your train and the season. Our Sacred Valley page describes the valley’s towns and sites in more detail.
On day two you ride the early bus to the citadel for a guided visit on your ticket’s circuit, with the option of adding Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain. The afternoon train and a road transfer bring you back to Cusco. If you’d rather skip the valley and keep day one simple, our Machu Picchu 2-day tour goes straight to the train.
Highlights
- Spend a full day in the Sacred Valley before heading to Machu Picchu
- Visit Inca terraces, temples and Andean towns with a local guide
- Board the train in Ollantaytambo without going back to Cusco
- Sleep in Aguas Calientes and explore Machu Picchu the next morning
- Two nights below Cusco’s altitude, which helps early in a trip
- Option to add Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (separate tickets)
Itinerary
Day 1:
Sacred Valley and train to Aguas Calientes
A guided day in the Sacred Valley, ending in Ollantaytambo for the train to Aguas Calientes.We pick you up at your hotel in Cusco in the morning and drive down into the Sacred Valley. The day usually combines two or three of its key places: the terraces and market town of Pisac, a lunch stop around Urubamba, and the Inca town and temple hill of Ollantaytambo, where your guide explains how the site was built and why it mattered to the Inca state. Depending on your program, the high plateau around Chinchero can also be part of the route.
In the late afternoon you board the train at Ollantaytambo station. The ride follows the Urubamba River into a deepening canyon and reaches Aguas Calientes in the evening. After checking in at your hotel, we confirm the plan for the morning: bus time, entry time and meeting point with your guide.
- Starts
- Cusco
- Ends
- Aguas Calientes
- Accommodation
- Hotel in Aguas Calientes
Stops and their order depend on your train time and the season, and are confirmed with your program.
Day 2:
Machu Picchu and return to Cusco
An early bus to the citadel, a guided visit on your ticket’s circuit and the afternoon train back.After breakfast you take the bus up the switchback road to the entrance, about 25 to 30 minutes. Your guide leads you along the circuit on your ticket, from the farming terraces to the temples and residential areas, and explains what the site tells us about Inca planning and engineering. Most guided visits last two to three hours, and there’s time for photos from the viewpoints your route passes.
If you booked Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, you start the climb at the time on that ticket. Afterward you ride the bus back to Aguas Calientes for lunch, then take the afternoon train to Ollantaytambo and a road transfer to your hotel in Cusco, arriving in the evening.
- Starts
- Aguas Calientes
- Ends
- Cusco
Large bags, food, walking sticks and tripods aren’t allowed inside Machu Picchu.
What’s Included
Included
- Local guide for the Sacred Valley day and the Machu Picchu visit
- Transportation in the Sacred Valley and road transfers from and to your hotel in Cusco
- Train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and back (service class confirmed with your booking)
- Round-trip shuttle bus between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu
- Machu Picchu entry ticket for your date, entry time and circuit
- One night in a hotel in Aguas Calientes (category confirmed with your quote)
Not included
- Entry to the Sacred Valley sites, unless shown in your quote
- Meals, unless shown in your confirmed itinerary
- Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain tickets (optional, limited availability)
- Travel insurance
- Tips for your guides and driver
The valley stops, site tickets, train, hotel and every inclusion are confirmed in writing with your quote.
What to Bring
Documents
- Original passport, for the train and Machu Picchu
- Cash in Peruvian soles for markets, snacks and site tickets if they aren’t included
Clothing
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip for stone steps
- Layers: mornings are cool in the valley, middays can be warm and sunny
- Rain jacket or poncho
Gear
- A small overnight bag: leave your main luggage in Cusco
- Small daypack under 40 × 35 × 20 cm (16 × 14 × 8 in) for Machu Picchu
- Reusable water bottle
Health & personal
- Sunscreen, sun hat and sunglasses: the sun is strong at this altitude
- Insect repellent for Aguas Calientes
Food, Lodging & Transport
Food & meals
Most Sacred Valley days include a lunch stop, often around Urubamba, where several restaurants serve Andean and Peruvian food with valley views. Whether lunch and the hotel breakfast are included is confirmed in your quote. Dinner in Aguas Calientes is easy to find, and food isn’t allowed inside Machu Picchu, so eat before the bus up.
Accommodation
You spend one night in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo), at the foot of the mountain. We book a hotel that fits your budget and confirm its name and category with your quote. Arriving on the evening train, you’ll have time for dinner and a good night’s sleep before the morning visit.
If you’d prefer to spend an extra night in the Sacred Valley itself, before or after this trip, we can build that in.
Transportation
On day one you travel by road through the valley with your guide, stopping at each site. The day ends at Ollantaytambo station, where you board the train to Aguas Calientes. On day two you take the shuttle bus up to Machu Picchu and back down, then the afternoon train to Ollantaytambo and a road transfer to Cusco.
Luggage on the trains is limited, so bring a small overnight bag. We can arrange for your main luggage to stay at your Cusco hotel.
Difficulty & Altitude
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Highest point
- 3,400 m / 11,155 ftCusco (the valley floor is lower, about 2,800–2,900 m)
Fitness
This is an easy trip with a fair amount of walking. At Pisac and Ollantaytambo, the terraces are reached by stone steps, and some visits include short, steep sections; at Machu Picchu you’ll walk for two to three hours on paths and stairs. You can always go at your own pace, and your guide will point out where to take it slowly.
Altitude
The Sacred Valley floor lies around 2,800 to 2,900 m (9,200 to 9,500 ft), lower than Cusco at about 3,400 m (11,150 ft). The upper terraces at Pisac are higher than the valley floor, and if your program includes Chinchero on the plateau, you’ll reach about 3,760 m (12,340 ft) for a short visit.
Aguas Calientes (about 2,040 m) and Machu Picchu (about 2,430 m) are lower again, so this trip is a gentle way to spend your first days in the Andes.
Permits, Tickets & Rules
- Sacred Valley sites. Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero and Moray are covered by the Cusco Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turístico del Cusco), sold in person by the regional tourism committee. A partial ticket covers the Sacred Valley sites; we’ll tell you whether it’s included in your quote.
- Machu Picchu tickets are for a set date, time and circuit. Daily capacity is limited, and each ticket is issued in the traveler’s name and passport number.
- Mountains. Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain need their own tickets, with fewer daily spaces.
- Site rules at Machu Picchu. Large backpacks, food, walking sticks, tripods, umbrellas and drones aren’t allowed inside.
Traveling with Family
This is one of the best Machu Picchu trips for families. The valley day has variety: terraces to climb, a market, a real Inca town and a train ride at the end. Sleeping lower than Cusco also helps children adjust to the altitude.
Stone steps and uneven paths are part of every site, and strollers aren’t allowed at Machu Picchu. Tell us your children’s ages and we’ll adjust the valley stops and the pace so the day doesn’t get too long.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a good trip for acclimatization?
Yes. The Sacred Valley and Aguas Calientes are both lower than Cusco, so you spend most of the two days below the city’s altitude. Many travelers do this trip right after arriving in Cusco for that reason.
Which Sacred Valley sites will we visit?
Most programs include Ollantaytambo, since the train leaves from there, together with Pisac or the plateau around Chinchero and Moray. We confirm the final stops with your program, based on your train time and interests.
Do I need a ticket for the Sacred Valley sites?
Yes. Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero and Moray are covered by the Cusco Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turístico). We’ll tell you whether it’s included in your quote or bought separately.
Do we go back to Cusco after the first day?
No. The day ends in Ollantaytambo, where you take the train straight to Aguas Calientes. That’s what makes this route efficient.
What happens to my luggage?
Bring a small overnight bag and leave your main luggage at your hotel in Cusco. Luggage on the trains is limited.
Is it suitable for families?
Very much so. The valley day has plenty of variety for children, and the lower altitude helps. We can adjust the stops and the pace to your children’s ages.
Can we spend more time in the valley?
Yes. We can add a night in the Sacred Valley before or after, or pair this trip with our full-day Sacred Valley tour to see more of the valley.
Route
Route map coming soon
Route at a glance
- Cusco, about 3,400 m (11,150 ft)
- Sacred Valley sites (confirmed with your program)
- Ollantaytambo, about 2,790 m (9,150 ft)
- Train to Aguas Calientes, about 2,040 m (6,690 ft), overnight
- Machu Picchu, about 2,430 m (7,970 ft)
- Train and road back to Cusco
Day one follows the Urubamba River through the Sacred Valley to Ollantaytambo; the train continues downriver to Aguas Calientes. A route map is being prepared.
Tour Video
Our video for this tour is coming soon. Until then, we’re happy to answer your questions on WhatsApp or by email.
Travel Tips for This Trip
Why DSL Adventures
Planned by a Local Team in Cusco
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Based in Cusco
Your trip is planned by people who live here and know the region’s seasons, roads and trails.
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Local Guides
Guides from the region who know the trails, the history and the communities along the way.
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Direct Communication
One conversation with the team organizing your trip, from your first question to your last day.
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Personalized Planning
Dates, pace and details shaped around your group.
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Visual Storytelling
Photos and stories from our routes help you picture each day before you go.
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Plan your trip
Let’s Plan Your Trip Together
Tell us your dates, who’s traveling and what you’d like to see. Our team in Cusco will reply with availability, ideas and clear next steps.