2-Day Sacred Valley Plus Machu Picchu

Join a 2-day guided tour that takes in the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, starting from Cusco. Guiding runs across both days, keeping the trip centred on the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu.

Overview

This two-day trip from Cusco pairs a full day in the Sacred Valley with a guided tour at Machu Picchu, run by Alpaca Expeditions with a local indigenous guide throughout. Day one covers the Inca sites and villages of the valley, including Pisaq, Urubamba and Ollantaytambo, plus a stop at a cultural and artisan center outside Cusco where you learn about llamas, alpacas and traditional weaving. Afterwards you take the Expedition tourist class train from Ollantaytambo to Machupicchu town, where the night is spent in a four-star hotel in Aguas Calientes.

Day two is the citadel itself. Roundtrip bus tickets between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu are covered, and the guide leads the tour of the archeological site. Because the Sacred Valley day already introduced the Inca history, the operator says the Machu Picchu visit is richer for it. The group is capped at ten people, with a minimum of two required to book.

It suits visitors based in Cusco who want the valley and the citadel handled in one package, with transport, train, bus, hotel and most meals arranged. One reviewer who travelled with a ten-year-old said nothing felt rushed despite how much the trip covers. Note that lunch and dinner on day two are not included, and neither is your Cusco hotel before or after the tour.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Pickup and Sacred Valley dayPrivate ground transportation carries the group from Cusco through the Sacred Valley, with roughly 6 hours at the valley's Inca sites and villages such as Pisaq, Urubamba and Ollantaytambo. Admission tickets are included.
2. Artisan center visitThe day also stops at a cultural and artisan center outside Cusco, covering llamas, alpacas and traditional weaving arts.
3. Train to Aguas CalientesYou board the Expedition tourist class train from Ollantaytambo to Machupicchu town, with roundtrip tickets included.
4. Overnight in Aguas CalientesThe night is spent at a four-star hotel in Aguas Calientes village. Lunch and dinner on day 1 are included, along with breakfast at the hotel on day 2.
5. Machu Picchu guided tourRoundtrip bus tickets between Aguas Calientes and the citadel are provided, followed by a roughly 2-hour guided tour of the archeological site with admission included. One reviewer mentioned a sunrise arrival over the site, timed by the guide to avoid the biggest crowds.
6. Return to CuscoAfter the tour you take the train back to Ollantaytambo and transfer onward to Cusco. Meals on day 2 are not included.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points worth knowing before you book this one.

• Pace and fitness. Reviewers repeatedly describe the pacing as balanced, with time for photos, activities and simply taking in the surroundings. One family travelling with a ten-year-old said nothing felt rushed despite how much ground the trip covers. Most travellers can participate, though the listing does not detail the walking involved at the sites.
• Group size. The tour runs with a maximum of ten travellers and requires at least two people per booking. Several reviewers praise the guides' knowledge and passion for Inca history and Peruvian culture.
• Meals. Lunch and dinner on day 1 and breakfast at the hotel on day 2 are included. You pay for your own lunch and dinner on day 2 in Aguas Calientes or Cusco. One reviewer called the included food delicious.
• Optional extras. A hiking permit for Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain costs extra, at the per-person fee listed on the booking page. One traveller took the Huayna Picchu hike as an add-on and enjoyed it. It is not part of the standard tour.
• Weather and timing. The experience requires good weather, and cancellations for poor conditions come with a different date or a full refund. One reviewer reported a train delay caused by an incident on the rail line, which the operator could not control.
• What to arrange. Your hotel in Cusco before and after the tour is not included, nor is personal travel and medical insurance. The Aguas Calientes hotel, train tickets and bus tickets are all handled by the operator, so the remaining arrangements on your side are your Cusco accommodation, day-two meals and insurance.

Common issues. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, and a minimum of two people per booking is required. Cancellations can occur if the minimum traveller number is not met or the weather is poor, in which case you are offered a different date or a full refund. The Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain permit is an extra per-person fee not covered by the tour price. One reviewer reported a train delay caused by an incident on the rail line, which was outside the operator's control.

Common Questions