The Ultimate Inca Tour to Machu Picchu
Embark on an unforgettable journey in the Peruvian highlands with our 2-Day Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu tour, discover stunning nature surrounded by towering snow-capped mountains, learn the local culture by exploring some of the most fascinating archaeological sites, and be amazed by the beautiful landscapes during the train ride along the Urubamba Valley to Machu Picchu one of the UNESCO world heritage site.
This tour is suited for those who want to experience the incredible perspectives of Cusco without needing to hike. It is perfect for families with kids, couples, and solo travelers, where you will learn about the traditional lifestyle of the locals, farming techniques, religion, and their language.
- Overview
- Itinerary
- Inclusions
- Recommendations
- Faqs
- Pricing
- Enquire Now
This exclusive Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu tour, designed by Machu Picchu by Locals Company, begins in Cusco and takes you to explore some of the most outstanding places in the Sacred Valley of the Incas: Chinchero, a place where you can see an Inca Palace and Colonial Church, which are well preserved; Moray, the most stunning farming terraces in the Sacred Valley; the salt mines of Moray, still used by the locals to extract salt; and Ollantaytambo, one of the most incredible Inca buildings.
On day two, explore the iconic Machu Picchu early in the morning before the crowds arrive, have incredible views of the sunrise, and visit the different temples that hide mysteries and surprise everyone with their architecture.
Highlights: Moray, Salt Mines, Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu
Considerations: Permit required
Season: Whole year
Max. Altitude: 3603masl /11820ft
Itinerary at a Glance
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Day01
Cusco - Chinchero- Moray-Ollantaytambo- Aguas Calientes
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Day02
Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu- Aguas Calientes - Cusco
Cusco- Chinchero - Moray- Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes
Highlight of the day: Moray, Salt Mines and Ollantaytambo
We pick you up at your hotel at any location in Cusco city at 7 a.m. and drive for 40 minutes with your exclusive transportation and tour guide to Chinchero, where you’ll see llamas and alpacas, vicunas, and guanacos. Your guide will explain to you the main differences between these famous South American animals; you can visit the textile center to learn about the weaving process and how the locals get their natural colors; and you can shop as well.
Then you will visit the famous Chinchero Archaeological site with a spectacular view of the Andes, Urubamba River, and the Sacred Valley’s farming lands on the Incas. You’ll then visit the terraces with impressive stone walls, agricultural terraces, and an irrigation system. After exploring with amazing views, you’ll drive to visit the Moray circular terraces, an inigmatic place where your tour guide will show you how the Incas used this place as faming laboratory. Continuing the tour, you will continue to the Salt Mines of Maras, the perfect place to discover how the natural Andean salt is processed, then go for 1 hour to Urubamba for lunch in a local restaurant with various local Peruvian dishes, using fresh products from the area.
The second part of the tour is driving to Ollantaytambo , “The Last Living Inca Citadel,” named this way because the current city is built above the ancient Inca buildings. The locals here used the same foundations and the same doorways as the Inca buildings. They just made the second floor; even the water channels have run with water since the Incas. Ollantaytambo also has an impressive archeological site with temples, terraces, and storehouses, and we can find the heaviest Inca monolith transported from another mountain located 5 km away. After exploring the city, you’ll take the train to Aguas Calientes and spend the night in a hotel.
Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu- Aguas Calientes - Cusco
Highlight of the day: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu- Aguas Calientes – Cusco
Wake up early in your hotel, have breakfast, and you’ll take the first buses up to Machu Picchu. Upon arrival, you need to show an original passport at the checkpoint to enter the citadel.
Your tour guide will take you on a short hike first to the view point, where you can capture the famous sunrise at Machu Picchu with incredible views. Then there will be a guided tour for about 3 hours, visiting the most remarkable terraces, storehouses, temples, and palaces, and some free time to explore on your own or take the extra hikes to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (montaña). These additional hikes are optional and not included in the tour.
After exploring Machu Picchu, you’ll take the bus down to Aguas Calientes, have lunch (not included), and take the train back to Ollantaytambo, then our bus back to Cusco. The arrival time is around 6.30 pm back at your hotel.
At Machu Picchu by Locals we are transparent and provide the specific details of what is included and excluded in our Machu Picchu day tour. We know this is very important so that you know what exactly to bring and you don’t miss anything. We provide this information to ensure that you have an incredible experience during your tour.
WE INCLUDE
Machu Picchu by Locals Team Provide
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Pre-departure briefing
Once you book the tour with us, you will get a notification about the pre-departure briefing, where you will meet with your cultural guide and the tour group in our office the night before your Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu tour departure. During this briefing, you will receive important details of the tour.
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Professional Cultural Guide
All our tour guides have a great reputation in customer service. Our tour guides have graduated with tourism career from National University San Antonio Abad of Cusco. They have also studied English in a private language institute. Through their patience, responsibility, knowledge, passion for adventure and proud to have been born in the land of the Incas, we ensure our tour guides provide an excellent experience for you when you explore Machu Picchu.
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Entrance Fees
Once we receive your details and the deposit for your tour, we purchase all the necessary tickets for you to explore Machu Picchu, it will be for a specific date.
Hotel
During this Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu tour we will provide you a night of accommodation in Aguas Calientes town
Meals
Lunch on the first day is included at the restaurant in Urubamba, also a dinner on the first night, our representative will take to our restaurant where you can enjoy the delicious dinner
Transportations
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Private Transport
We included all the transportations during your tour, we will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco and take you to the train stataion, the bus returning once you done with the Machu Picchu, the bus will drop off you at your hotel in Cusco.
Equipment
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Medical First Aid Kit
All tour guides of Machu Picchu by Locals are very well trained in First aid. They received training courses every 6 months how to assist to someone who is in an emergency situation. Also, they are trained how to supply a balloon oxygen in the case if someone requires it.
WE NOT INCLUDED
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Water bottle
Every customer need water during this tour, we will stop in a shop where you can purchase some water bottles and snacks
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Meals
You will be available to take some breakfast or snacks and lunch in Aguas Calientes town, your tour guide will recommend a good restaurant
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Travel Insurance
We recommend to buy a travel insurance before to leave your country in case something happen along your visit to Peru.
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Tips for our team
Tips are not included. Tipping the team is usual on any excursion in Cusco, although we pay good salaries to our entire team, tips are welcome as a token of your appreciation for the team hard work.
SACRED VALLEY AND MACHU PICCHU TOUR INFORMATION
At Machu Picchu by Locals we focus to make your trip an unforgettable experience and we want to provide all details which you need to know before to leave your country and start your life experience in Peru.
What you need to pack? Important
- Passport
- Good day backpack (the smaller, the better)
- Water storage: Water reservoir like Camelback is encouraged – but enough for at least 2-3 liters.
- Comfortable hiking pant
- Rain jacket and pant
INSIDE YOUR DAYPACKS:
Daypack can be any size for hiking, but we always say the smaller, the better. If it is larger try to bring it as lighter as possible.
- Rain gear
- Sun hat
- Sunscreen
- Camera
- Water bottle
- Bug spray
- Hand sanitizer
- Toilet paper and small plastic bag for waste
- Extra Money for Souvenirs, Drinks & Tips
- Personal medication or Own first aid kit
- Snacks (Chocolate, energizing bars, caramels, etc.)
SACRED VALLEY AND MACHU PICCHU TOUR PACKING LIST!
Here some frequently asked question about our day tours in Cusco
BOOKING SYSTEM
At Machu Picchu by Locals, we do the best of us to booking system works as easy as possible for you, once you decided to do some of our day tours, we will send to you a booking form where you need to complete all the required detail which we need to book your tickets, we need a previous deposit of 50% of the price per person. Once as soon as you paid it, we immediately book a spot for this tour once we have done with it, we will send you your invoice and confirmation form that all the booking process has set up satisfactorily.
IS MACHU PICCHU by LOCALS TEAM CONTACTING US BEFORE FLYING TO PERU?
Yes, our work policy is to be in contact with our customers as long as necessary to inform them of all the details and changes that could occur after have confirmed the reservation, please you ask to check constantly your e-mail, also if you have some issue let us know to solve as soon as possible.
WHERE TO STAY IN CUSCO?
Cusco is a big city enough to find different categories of hotels from 2 stars to 5 stars also there are Airbnb places where you can stay without any problem. Cusco streets are narrow especially near to the main square and some streets are pedestrian with some stairs, we will send you a notify for the pick up if is not possible the access with our car and arrange another place to pick you up and drop off also a night before your tour you will meet with your tour guide who will tell you all the details about the tour. In case you want some recommendations please ask to Machu Picchu by Locals sales team.
ALONG THE TOUR
IS THERE BATHROOM OR PUBLIC TOILETS ALONG THE TOUR?
Yes, our car will stop in some places where you can use the restroom (toilets) also in the restaurants you will find these, if you will need it as emergency just let your tour guide knows to stop in the nearest bathroom.
HOW CHALLENGING IS THE TOUR?
Well along our day tour is particularly not very challenging however our tour of Rainbow mountain and Humantay lake are challenging specially for people who does not has experience hiking/climbing on the mountains, we recommend to training with some exercises a few times per week to don’t have problem, also is recommendable to spend a few days in Cusco to acclimatize to the altitude because part of the segment along this tour are located over 2430m/7972ft
WHAT HAPPEN IF I GOT ALTITUDE SICKNESS?
No worry, our guide and team are professional and they know how to solve this kind of problem, your guide will have a first aid kit all the time with some medications for these and oxygen balloon in case you need it. Also, during our Rainbow mountain and Humantay lake will be there an extra emergency horse to take you to the best place where you can recovery. Our team always has radio.
DO YOU NEED HIKING BOOTS?
Definitely, it is always recommendable to wear a light hiking boots if possible. However, for our traditional day tours where does not need to hike for hours you can go with a sneakers. The Rainbow mountain and Humantay lake tour you need ones with ankle support are extra helpful, especially for the inexperienced hiker. Because you will be climbing and going down on slippery stairs and some of them could be muddy, now uneven and at varying heights, the extra support helps from twisting your ankles.
SHOULD I USE WALKING STICKS?
Yes. Walking sticks are always helpful to trekkers, especially if is raining along the trek. Using walking sticks can help take the pressure off your knees while doing some portion of the trek. Plus they will help you get up the mountain as well.
WHERE DO I STORE MY LUGGAGE?
In case you have extra luggage which you not need to bring to the trail all the hotels in Cusco has storage where you can leave your luggage completely free, if you will change your hotel after the trek we have available our storage in Machu Picchu by Locals office, get more info with from our office team.
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT AS FAR AS WEATHER
The weather in Cusco regions and part of the Andes is unpredictable even if the weather forecast says it’s sunny we can’t trust in it. It is an impossible question for us to answer. Historically April through September is the dry season, November through February is the rainy season and March and October and bridge months – a mixture of both. But the clouds have not followed these rules in the last few years. Prepare for sun and rain no matter when you come. As far as temperatures go, that is consistent throughout the year. Mornings and evenings are always cold. Make sure to bring a fleece jacket for the mornings and a down jacket for the evenings. Once the sun is up you should be comfortable hiking in short sleeves. Long pants (yoga or hiking) are encouraged to help from the mosquitos which can be a nuisance in some part of the trail.
From: USD 380.00 per person
USD 380.00: from 4 people to more
* Options to upgrade your returning train to Vistadome service (with larger windows and more comfortable seat) $60US per person
Thank you for your interest in having an adventure travel experience in Peru curated by Machu Picchu by Locals. Please take a moment to complete our short form, so one our friendly Adventure Consultants could provide you all the information for your trip of a lifetime in Peru.
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2 Days & 1 Nights
Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu Tour
What's it like!!
Map of Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu Tour
WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT?
At Machu Picchu by Locals we offer the best service for all our customers and here is what makes us different than others.
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Small groups: Along our excursion group size is a capped at 8 people. This guarantees that you will enjoy every step of our excursion
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Hotel: During our excursion to Machu Picchu, we offer a private hostel stay for the last night. This ensures you are well rested and ready to explore Machu Picchu.
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Local Tour guides: Our team consists of 100% local tour guides, who have expert knowledge in our ancient culture.
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Best Camping Equipment: We have the state-of-the-art camping equipment for our excursion. The equipment is thoroughly cleaned and sanitized before and after every excursion.
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Best Trekking team: At Machu Picchu by Locals we focus to create the best experience during our excursions. Our team that consists of tour guides, cooks, porters, horse drivers are handpicked. We train our team to offer you the best service. We take care of our team by providing them with good equipment and paying them fairly.
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