"Incredible experience!! Beautiful landscape and beautiful people. We were lucky to be guided by Vladimir, who with his lovely personality and amazing knowledge made this trip a great learning experience."
Photos: Marvin The Paranoid, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (source); Tydence Davis, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (source); tomislav medak, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (source)
Sacred Valley Classic & Machu Picchu 2 Days
The trip in one paragraph
Two days, two sides of the Inca heartland. Day one follows the Sacred Valley downriver: the terraces of Pisac, a buffet lunch in Urubamba and the stone fortress of Ollantaytambo, where you board the train. Day two is Machu Picchu, early, with a licensed guide. It is the package for travelers with a short window who still want the valley, not only the citadel. If the valley does not interest you, the 2-day Machu Picchu train tour is simpler. If you would rather see Moray and the Maras salt pans, the VIP route through Chinchero, Moray and Maras covers the other half of the valley.
Day 1 route through the valley
Pickup between 7:30 and 8:00 a.m. Pisac comes first, with its farming terraces stacked up the mountain and a market in town. Lunch is in Urubamba. In the afternoon you climb the terraces of Ollantaytambo, a town whose Inca street grid is still lived in, and take the late train to Aguas Calientes.
Night in Aguas Calientes
You arrive in the evening with time for dinner on your own. The early night pays off: the bus to the citadel leaves from a five-minute walk away.
Day 2 in the citadel
Two to three hours on Circuit 2 with your guide, lunch in town, then the Vistadome back to Ollantaytambo and the van to Cusco.
Choose your comfort level
Every tier has the same guides, trains, tickets and meals. The tier sets only your hotel in Aguas Calientes: Basic (2-star) from US$627, Essential (3-star) US$646, Comfort (4-star) US$652, Comfort Plus (premium 4-star) US$751 and Signature (5-star) US$976. Prices are per person in a double room. Solo travelers pay a single-room supplement, included in the quote.
Pick your arrival date
Pick the day you leave Cusco for the Sacred Valley. The tour runs every day the railway and the site are open.
Send the free quote form with your date and passport details. We check tickets, trains and hotels and reply with what is available. June to August sells out first: book 30 to 45 days ahead.
Day by day
Open a day to see the hours, the altitude and where you sleep. Times are the ones our guides actually keep.
Day1
Cusco, Pisac, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo, Aguas Calientes
Night in Aguas Calientes at 6,690 ft (2,040 m), high point 12,270 ft (3,740 m) on the drive from Cusco
Your big suitcase stays in storage in Cusco. Bring one small bag for the night, since the train limits luggage.
The road climbs out of Cusco and drops into the valley. At Pisac your guide walks you along the terraces and explains how the Incas moved water across the slope. Expect steps and a few steep sections.
Included. Andean dishes, trout, soups and salads. Eat well, because dinner is on your own in Aguas Calientes.
The terraces rise steeply above the plaza, and the stone of the upper temple was hauled from a quarry across the river. From the upper terraces you see the town grid laid out below.
Expedition class, about 1 hour 40 minutes. Our staff meets you at the station and walks you to the hotel.
Day2
Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo, Cusco
Back in Cusco for the night (hotel not included), high point 7,970 ft (2,430 m) at Machu Picchu
About 25 minutes on the Consettur bus. Your guide sets the time to your entry slot and checks passports before you go.
Two to three hours past the upper viewpoint, the temples and the main plaza. If you booked Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, you climb after the tour.
Not included. Collect your bag from the hotel.
Roof windows for the ride up the valley, then about two hours by road. You reach your Cusco hotel in the evening.
Where you go
The route runs downriver along the Urubamba from Pisac to Ollantaytambo, then the rails take over where the road ends.
Route: Cusco · Pisac · Urubamba · Ollantaytambo · Aguas Calientes · Machu Picchu.
What is included
Included
- Cusco Tourist Ticket, partialCovers the Sacred Valley sites on day 1.
- Machu Picchu entrance, Circuit 2Bought under your passport name.
- 1 night in Aguas CalientesHotel category by tier.
- 2 mealsBuffet lunch on day 1, breakfast on day 2.
- TrainsExpedition from Ollantaytambo on day 1, Vistadome back on day 2.
- TransportSacred Valley vehicle, station transfers, Consettur bus up and down, van back to Cusco.
- Luggage storage in CuscoYour main suitcase is kept in Cusco at no extra cost.
- Licensed guides and supportBilingual guides both days, briefing, first-aid kit with emergency oxygen.
Not included
- Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu MountainOptional, US$75 per person for either one, booked in advance.
- Meals not listedBreakfast on day 1, dinner in Aguas Calientes, lunch on day 2.
- Hotel in CuscoNights before and after are not included.
- Tips and insuranceTips are optional. Travel insurance recommended.
- Costs from events outside our controlLandslides, weather, road closures, strikes.
Good to know
Travelers on this itinerary
Sacred Lake Titikaka is new; these are public Tripadvisor reviews of Viajes Cusco Perú, the family agency that operates every package on this site.
Reviews shown: Viajes Cusco Perú travelers (sample of public Tripadvisor reviews, read Sep 30, 2026).
"All the tours I did (Machu, Humantay Lake, Rainbow Mountain, Sacred Valley) were spectacular!!! From picking me up at the hotel (always punctual and attentive, notifying about everything!) to the guides I had who were also excellent."
"I came to this agency by recommendation and, after traveling with them on two occasions, I can say that it was an excellent decision. I must highlight the professionalism of the guides, who made every tour very interesting and safe."
Still have questions?
Everything we get asked about this package before people book.
Can you do the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu in 2 days?
Yes, and this package is built for it. Day one covers Pisac, Urubamba and Ollantaytambo and ends on the train. Day two is Machu Picchu in the morning and Cusco by evening. The trick is boarding the train in the valley instead of going back to Cusco first.
Where do you sleep between the two days?
In Aguas Calientes, the town at the foot of Machu Picchu, at 6,690 ft (2,040 m). Your tier sets the hotel: 2-star in Basic up to 5-star in Signature. Being there the night before means a short bus ride to the gate instead of a four-hour trip.
Which Sacred Valley sites are included?
Pisac archaeological park with its terraces, a stop in Urubamba for the buffet lunch and the Ollantaytambo fortress. Entry is covered by the partial Cusco Tourist Ticket in the price. Chinchero, Moray and Maras are on the VIP route instead.
How does this differ from the Sacred Valley VIP package?
Same Machu Picchu day, different valley day. Classic goes east to west through Pisac and Ollantaytambo. VIP goes over the high plateau through Chinchero, Moray and the Maras salt pans before Ollantaytambo. Pick Classic for Inca terraces, VIP for the salt pans.
Is the Machu Picchu ticket included?
Yes, Circuit 2, bought in your passport name. For how slots and circuits work, read our guide on Machu Picchu tickets.
Is the pace hard for older travelers?
Day one has more stairs than people expect, mostly at Pisac and Ollantaytambo. Most travelers in their sixties and seventies manage at a steady pace, and the guide waits. Anyone with heart or lung conditions should ask a doctor about altitude first.
What happens with my big suitcase?
We store it in Cusco for free. Take a small overnight bag to Aguas Calientes, within the PeruRail limit of 8 kg for a backpack or 12 kg for a carry-on.
How far ahead should I book?
For June to August, 30 to 45 days ahead. Other months, two to three weeks. If you want Huayna Picchu, book two to three months out.
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