Is this a private tour or a group tour?

You can choose either. We offer small group departures and a fully private tour with your own local guide.

Are train tickets included?

Yes. Your train to Aguas Calientes, the return train ride, and the entrance to Machu Picchu are all included.

Can I climb Huayna Picchu?

Yes, as an optional add on. Permits are limited and sell out fast, so book early.

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts and ends at your hotel in Cusco, near the Plaza de Armas. Pickup and drop off are part of the package.

Is the 2-day Inca Trail part of this trip?

No. This machu picchu and sacred valley tour uses the train. If you prefer to hike, ask us about the 2-day Inca Trail option instead.

Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu Tour

Overview

Two days. Ywo of the most famous places in Peru. One unforgettable trip.

This Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu tour packs the best of the Andes into a short, comfortable journey. The tour starts in Cusco. You weave through the villages and ruins of the Sacred Valley.

You sleep in the cloud forest town of Aguas Calientes. The next morning you walk into Machu Picchu.

We are a local team based in Cusco. Our tours are run in small groups. We know the families, the trails, and the quiet corners that most visitors miss.

Why Travel with Planet Odysseys

You travel with people who live here. Our guides grew up in these valleys. They share the real history and culture behind each site, not just the dates on a sign.

Groups stay small. That means more time at each archaeological site and fewer crowds around you. Want it just for your family or friends? Ask about our private tour option.

We handle the hard parts too. Train tickets, the entrance to Machu Picchu, transport, and your hotel are all arranged for you. You simply show up and enjoy the ride.

This is a 2 day tour of Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. It blends gentle walks, rich culture, and one of the great wonders of the world.

Tour Highlights

✓ Walk through Machu Picchu at first light. Your guided tour of Machu Picchu starts early, before the crowds fill the site.
✓ See the salt pans of Maras. Thousands of white pools step down the mountain. Local families still harvest them by hand.
✓ Stand inside the Moray terraces. These circular ruins were an Inca farming lab. They are one of the most curious archaeological sites in the valley.
✓ Meet the weavers of Chinchero. Watch wool spun and dyed by hand. It is a real look at living Andean history and culture.
✓ Ride the train into the cloud forest. The scenic train ride to Aguas Calientes follows the river through changing scenery.
✓ Travel with a local guide. Small groups, honest stories, and a team that lives and works in Cusco.

What to Expect

Some trips try to do too much. This one keeps it simple. You get the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu in two well planned days.

The Sacred Valley sits between Cusco and Machu Picchu. The Inca chose it for good reason. The soil is rich. The river runs through it. The mountains shelter it. Today the valley is dotted with weaving villages, salt pans, and ruins that still leave people speechless.

Machu Picchu needs no introduction. It is the reason most travelers come to Peru. Set high on a ridge above the cloud forest, the site has stood for over five hundred years. Walking through it with a private guide brings the history and culture to life.

This Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu tour links the two in a smooth, easy flow. Day one you explore the valley. You ride the train into the cloud forest by evening. Day two you stand inside Machu Picchu at first light. Then you return to Cusco with a camera full of photos and a head full of stories.

It suits first time visitors and return travelers alike. It works for couples, families, and small groups of friends. If you want it just for your own party, our private tour option is always open.

Tour Itinerary

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Early Start in Cusco

Your guide meets you at your hotel in the morning. We leave the Plaza de Armas behind and head into the Sacred Valley. The drive itself is beautiful. Snowcapped peaks rise on both sides as the road climbs.

Chinchero, the Weaving Village

Our first stop is Chinchero. This high Andean village is popular for its weavers and its colonial church. Local women show you how they spin and dye wool by hand.

You see the colors come from plants, minerals, and even insects. It is a warm, honest look at living Andean traditions.

Maras Salt Mines

Next we visit the salt pans of Maras. Thousands of small pools step down the mountainside. Families have harvested salt here since Inca times. The white terraces against the red earth make for stunning photos.

Moray, the Inca Laboratory

Then we will reach Moray. These deep circular terraces look like a giant amphitheater. The Inca used them to test crops at different temperatures.

It is one of the most curious archaeological sites in the region. Your tour guide explains how this clever farming worked.

Lunch in Urubamba

By midday you will be hungry. We stop in Urubamba for a relaxed lunch. The valley floor here is green and calm. It is the perfect place to rest before the afternoon.

Ollantaytambo and the Train

In the afternoon we explore Ollantaytambo. This living Inca town still uses its original streets and water channels. The towering fortress above it is one of the finest in Peru. You climb the terraces and take in the view.

From the Ollantaytambo train station you board your train to Aguas Calientes. The train ride follows the Urubamba River into the cloud forest. The scenery shifts from dry mountains to lush green slopes.

Once you have arrived in Aguas Calientes, we check you into your hotel. Dinner and a good rest follow. Tomorrow is the big day.

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