Tour overview
This tour combines Cusco's two unmissable highlights in a single trip: the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. On day one you explore the valley by private or small-group transport, with a guide, a buffet lunch and plenty of time at each stop. Instead of heading back to Cusco, you board the train in Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, the town at the foot of Machu Picchu. That saves you hours on the road, so you arrive at the citadel well rested the next morning. Magone Viajes takes care of your transfers, tickets, train, hotel and guides, so you can enjoy every moment in comfort.
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Best time to travel April to October (dry season)
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Maximum altitude About 3,760 m / 12,340 ft (Chinchero)
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Physical difficulty Easy to moderate (short walks and stairs at the archaeological sites)
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Minimum number of passengers 2 adults
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Maximum number of passengers 10 adults in the VIP group
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Booking lead time 3 to 6 weeks in advance
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Permits Cusco Tourist Ticket (for Chinchero, Moray and Ollantaytambo), Maras salt mines entrance and Machu Picchu ticket, all arranged by Magone Viajes
Highlights
- The Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu in 2 days, connected by train from Ollantaytambo.
- Route: Chinchero, Moray, the Maras salt mines, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo, Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu.
- VIP service in a small or private group, with a buffet lunch in the valley.
- A night in Aguas Calientes and a guided tour of Machu Picchu.
- Perfect if you want to see Cusco's essentials at a relaxed pace, without trekking.
- Price on request per person, with train, hotel and Machu Picchu entrance included.
Itinerary
Day 1: Cusco – Sacred Valley – Aguas Calientes
We pick you up from your hotel at around 7:00 a.m. in private or VIP transport, depending on the program. Pack a small bag for the trip, since luggage on the train is limited.
Chinchero
We visit this Andean town, its colonial church built on Inca walls and a weaving center where you'll see wool dyed and woven using traditional techniques.
Moray
We explore the concentric circular terraces the Incas are believed to have used as an agricultural laboratory.
Maras salt mines
We walk among thousands of salt pools that have been worked since before the Incas and are still in use today.
Buffet lunch in Urubamba
You'll enjoy a buffet of Andean and international dishes at a country-style restaurant in the valley.
Ollantaytambo
We explore the Inca fortress and the town, one of the few that still keeps its original Inca layout.
Train to Aguas Calientes
In the late afternoon you take the train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes. The class, Expedition, Voyager or Vistadome, depends on the program. Overnight at your hotel.
Day 2: Machu Picchu visit
Early in the morning you take the Consettur bus up to the citadel for a guided tour of about 2 to 3 hours along your assigned circuit.
Free time in Aguas Calientes
You head back down to town for lunch on your own and time to explore.
Return to Cusco
In the afternoon you take the train to Ollantaytambo, followed by a transfer to your Cusco hotel, arriving around 8:00 to 10:00 p.m.
Tips
- Spend at least one day acclimatizing in Cusco before the tour.
- Bring your original passport. You'll need it for the train and at Machu Picchu.
- Carry-on luggage on the train is limited to about 5 kg (11 lb), so leave your big suitcase at your Cusco hotel.
- Dress in layers and pack sunscreen, a hat, insect repellent and a light rain jacket.
- Carry some cash in soles for handicrafts, restrooms and small purchases.
- If you'd like to climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, ask when you book.
What's included
Included
- Pickup from your Cusco hotel and private or VIP transport through the Sacred Valley, depending on the program.
- Professional Magone Viajes guide in the valley and at Machu Picchu.
- Cusco Tourist Ticket, partial or full depending on the program, and Maras salt mines entrance.
- Buffet lunch in Urubamba.
- Round-trip train between Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes, in the class of the program.
- One night at a hotel in Aguas Calientes, in the category of the program, with breakfast.
- Round-trip Consettur bus to Machu Picchu.
- Machu Picchu entrance ticket.
- Return transfer to your Cusco hotel.
Not included
- Breakfast on day one.
- Lunch on day two and dinners.
- Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain tickets.
- Upgrades to higher-class trains such as the 360° or Hiram Bingham.
- Tips.
- Travel insurance.
- Any services not listed in this program.
Frequently asked questions
What makes this tour VIP?
You travel in a small or private group, with a buffet lunch included, more time at each stop and a direct train connection from the valley, with no backtracking to Cusco.
Why not go back to Cusco on day one?
Ollantaytambo is on the way to Machu Picchu. Catching the train there saves you about 4 hours on the road and lets you enter the citadel early.
What do I do with my luggage?
Leave it at your Cusco hotel and travel with just a small backpack.
Will the altitude affect me?
The highest point is Chinchero, at about 3,760 m (12,340 ft). The rest of the valley and Machu Picchu are lower than Cusco, which makes this a great tour for acclimatizing.
Is it suitable for kids and older travelers?
Yes. It isn't very demanding, though there are stairs at Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu.
Can I do it in one day?
Yes. Magone Viajes also offers the full-day VIP Sacred Valley tour and the Machu Picchu train tour as separate trips.
