Day 1 Cusco – Pisac – Urubamba – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes

Cusco elevation: 3400 masl Machupicchu Elevation: 2430 masl Group size: 15 travelers during the Sacred Valley tour Difficulty: easy The Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu tour is one of the travelers’ favourite. It is one of the best options to reach Machu Picchu because during the journey to the World Heritage Site, you’ll be able to visit the different areas of the Sacred Valley: the market, the archaeological site of Pisac and the fortress of Ollantaytambo. Once in Ollantaytambo you’ll take the train to Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes).

The second day is dedicated to Machu Picchu, there is a guided tour of two hours and free time to explore the citadel, after the visit you can choose which bus you want to take to return to Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes) for lunch and take the train back to Ollantaytambo, where a private transport will be waiting for you to bring you back to your accommodation in Cusco. It is a guided tour where you’ll have free time during some parts to explore by yourself.

It is undoubtedly the most complete tour to discover the Inca culture and its legacy which still endures today.8 : 00 AM The day before the departure of the tour, your guide will visit you either at your hotel or at the location you’ll indicate him to carry out the briefing of the tour, a small meeting in which he will explain to you all the details of the tour, he will indicate you the exact time of pick up the next day and he will give you the train tickets as well as the tickets to access Machu Picchu. On the day the tour begins, you will be picked up at your hotel at approximately 7:30 a.m. in a 15-seat minibus to begin the route through the Sacred Valley.After about an hour of walking we will arrive at the first stop, the Pisac handicraft shops.

If you want to visit another part of the village, we recommend that you ask the guide for directions to the market square, which is just a few meters from the stop and is certainly worth a visit.The tour continues to the archaeological complex of Pisac, the guide will give you some historical explanations and you will be able to explore it on your own. If you do not have your tourist ticket to Cusco, the guide will help you buy it before entering the archaeological zone, as it is necessary to be able to access it.You will continue on to Urubamba, where you will enjoy a traditional buffet lunch in a restaurant located in a typical construction of the area.

At the end of the meal, you will return with your group in the minibus that will take you to the last stop of the Sacred Valley of the Incas: the incredible fortress of Ollantaytambo. You will have a guided tour and at the end, the minibus will bring you to the central square of Ollantaytambo, located 5 minutes by walk from the train station. At this point the guide will return to Cusco and you will have free time to have a drink until the departure of your train, Expedition/Voyager category.

This category offers the schedule that best suits the tour.7:00 pm You will travel in this iconic train for an hour and a half, crossing the valley of the Vilcanota River, which offers spectacular views of the snow-capped mountains, the semi-tropical zone and the high jungle area. In addition, a small snack is served for you to enjoy the journey. When you arrive in Aguas Calientes people will be waiting for you to accompany you to your accommodation, they will tell you the exact time of pick-up for the next day and you will have time to have dinner in the village and rest.

Day 2 Aguas Calientes

This day you will have to get up early to access Machu Picchu early, you will have breakfast at the accommodation and at the appointed time the guide will pick you up to walk with the rest of the group to the bus stop, normally the wait for the bus that will take you to the Inca Citadel is 20 minutes (the exact time of the pick up from your hotel and the bus depends on the time of entry to the Machu Picchu, so we advise you to book early, to enter in the first shifts).

When you reach Machu Picchu you will begin the two hours guided tour, at the beginning you will have more time to enjoy the place and take photographs, as it is the best location because it is accessed from the top. The guided tour continues through the different areas of the citadel and the guide explains in detail everything that is known about Machu Picchu and the Inca culture.

At the end of the guided tour, the guide bids farewell to the group and you will have free time to walk around the citadel and explore it on your own, until you decide to take the bus down to Machu Picchu town (Aguas Calientes), where you can eat at one of the many restaurants on your own and then take the train to Ollantaytambo (train schedules are subject to availability). When you arrive at Ollantaytambo station the driver will be waiting to take you to your accommodation in Cusco, where you will arrive at approximately 8:30 p.m.