Sacred Valley VIP with Machu Picchu 2 Days

On this day, we will pick you up from your hotel between 6:35 a.m. and 6:45 a.m. to begin our tour of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Located at an altitude of 2,790 meters above sea level, the Sacred Valley encompasses Chinchero, Moray, the Salt Mines, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo, and Pisac, each with its own archaeological sites built by various Incas. The valley is historically important as one of the main agricultural hubs, known for its fertile soil, which still produces some of the best corn.

Our first stop will be Chinchero, a town renowned for its traditional textile and ceramic arts. We will spend around 40 minutes here, visiting the colonial church, famous for its stunning 15th- and 17th-century paintings. Then we will head to Moray, an ancient agricultural research center where the Incas conducted altitude-based experiments. Following this, we will visit the Maras Salt Mines (Piscinas de Sal de Maras), which consist of over 3,000 salt ponds of various sizes, owned by local families who harvest and iodize the salt for market sale. We will spend about 30 minutes at both Moray and Maras.

Next, we will head to Urubamba, where we will enjoy a buffet lunch. Afterward, we will visit the Ollantaytambo archaeological site, a historic Inca site dating back to the 15th century. From here, we will take the train to Machu Picchu Pueblo, departing at the time specified on your ticket.

The train ride from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu Pueblo takes around two hours. Upon arrival, our representative will meet you at the station and transfer you to your hotel. In the evening, our local guide will meet with you to go over the itinerary for the next day.

Day 1 Itinerary Summary for the Sacred Valley with VIP Connection to Machu Picchu:

Departure from Cusco at 7:00 a.m.
8:30 a.m.: Crafts and textile demonstration in Chinchero (30 minutes).
9:00 a.m.: Visit to Chinchero archaeological site.
10:30 a.m.: Visit to Moray.
11:30 a.m.: Visit to the Salt Mines.
12:20 p.m.: Buffet lunch in the Sacred Valley.
2:00 p.m.: Visit to Ollantaytambo archaeological site.
3:00 p.m.: Board the train to Machu Picchu Pueblo (departure at 4:36 p.m. or 7:00 p.m., depending on your ticket). The journey takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes.

After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, our guide will meet us at the scheduled time for our entry to Machu Picchu. We’ll take a 25-minute bus ride uphill from Machu Picchu Pueblo to the Machu Picchu citadel.

Upon arriving at the main entrance of Machu Picchu, our guide will help you through the security checkpoint, where you’ll need to present your original passport or ID along with your entry ticket.

Next, we will take you on a guided tour of the citadel, lasting about two hours. During this tour, we will visit key Inca ruins, including the main square, ceremonial center, temple remains, agricultural terraces, and other important sites.

After exploring Machu Picchu, you’ll return by bus to Machu Picchu Pueblo. From there, you’ll board the train back to Ollantaytambo, where our representative will meet you and transfer you back to Cusco.

Day 2 Itinerary Summary for the Sacred Valley with VIP Connection to Machu Picchu:

5:00 a.m.: Breakfast at the hotel.
5:30 a.m.: Board the bus to Machu Picchu.
6:00 a.m.: Visit to Machu Picchu.
9:00 a.m.: Return to Machu Picchu Pueblo. Rest of the day is free.
2:30 p.m.: Train departure to Ollantaytambo (times subject to availability).
4:00 p.m.: Arrival in Ollantaytambo and departure to Cusco.
6:00 p.m.: Arrival in Cusco. The bus will drop you off three blocks from Plaza de Armas.