This 2-day tour combines the Sacred Valley's main archaeological sites with a train journey to Machu Picchu, designed for travelers who want to see both without multi-day trekking. On the first day, you travel by private vehicle through Pisac, where you can walk through the local market and visit the hillside ruins overlooking the valley. From there, the route continues to Moray, home to the circular agricultural terraces believed to have been used by the Incas for agricultural experimentation, and then to Maras, a small colonial town near the Salineras — thousands of hand-harvested salt pans that have been in use since pre-Hispanic times. The day continues to Ollantaytambo, both a living Quechua town and one of the few places where Inca urban planning survives largely intact, before boarding an evening train to Aguas Calientes.
On the second day, an early bus ride takes you up to Machu Picchu for a guided visit of approximately two hours, covering the main structures, terraces, and viewpoints within the citadel. Afterward, you have free time to explore independently or, for travelers who booked in advance, to climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (regulated entry, limited daily spots, additional fee). In the afternoon, you return by train to Ollantaytambo and by vehicle to Cusco.
This itinerary works well for travelers with limited time, those traveling with family, or anyone who prefers not to hike multiple days to reach Machu Picchu. All transportation, the archaeological sites in the Sacred Valley, and the train tickets are arranged in advance, and the tour runs as a private service starting from 2 travelers.
07:00 – Pickup from your hotel in Cusco
08:00 – Guided tour through the Sacred Valley:
Pisac (market and archaeological site)
Moray (circular agricultural terraces)
Maras (colonial town)
Salineras (salt pans)
Lunch in Urubamba (buffet, Restaurante Tunupa)
Ollantaytambo (archaeological site and living Inca town)
19:00 – Train to Aguas Calientes / Machu Picchu Pueblo (early train available if booked in advance)
21:00 – Transfer to your hotel, where our guide will meet you for a briefing
07:00 – Bus up to Machu Picchu
08:00 – Guided tour of Machu Picchu (2 hours)
10:00 – A shuttle bus down to Aguas Calientes
14:55 – Return train to Ollantaytambo
19:30 – Arrival in Ollantaytambo, followed by transportation to Cusco
Important note: If you prefer to return earlier, you can choose the 14:30 train and arrive in Cusco by approximately 18:00.
Your guide picks you up from your hotel in Cusco between 6:00 and 6:30 AM, with departure from the city at 7:00 AM sharp for the private Sacred Valley tour. You'll arrive in Pisac around 8:00 AM, where you'll walk through agricultural terraces built by the Incas and improved by local Quechua communities for crop cultivation. The archaeological park sits between 3,300 and 3,514 meters (10,826–11,528 feet) above sea level, depending on the sector visited. You'll also have time to explore Pisac's traditional craft market.
From there, you'll drive toward Urubamba and take the zigzag road into the Maras area, arriving at Moray between 10:30 and 11:00 AM. A guide will walk you through its circular terraces — believed to have been used by the Incas for agricultural experimentation. You'll then continue to Salineras, arriving around 11:30 AM to see the salt pans that have been hand-harvested since pre-Hispanic times and remain in use today.
Around 1:00 PM, you'll head back to Urubamba for lunch at Tunupa Restaurant, then continue on to Ollantaytambo, arriving at approximately 3:00 PM. There, you'll take a guided tour of the Ollantaytambo fortress, known as the "living Inca town," with time to explore on your own. Afterward, you'll walk down to the train station and board the 7:00 PM train to Aguas Calientes, arriving around 9:45 PM, where you'll spend the night.
Pick-up time in Aguas Calientes depends on the entry time printed on your Machu Picchu ticket — your guide will confirm this the night before, once your entry slot is set. Tickets booked well in advance usually get the best entry windows, between 6:00 AM and 10:00 AM. Last-minute bookings are typically assigned entry times between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM.
Once inside, the guided tour lasts 3 hours if your ticket is for Circuit 2, or 2 to 2.5 hours for Circuit 1 or Circuit 3. (See full circuit details at Machu Picchu Tickets.) If you've added Huayna Picchu, Machu Picchu Mountain, or another extra hike, plan for additional time before heading down.
After the guided visit, you'll take the shuttle bus back down to Aguas Calientes. Your return train time also depends on your entry ticket:
Early entry (6:00–10:00 AM): return train around 2:30 PM (Inca Rail) or 2:55 PM (PeruRail), arriving in Ollantaytambo in time to reach Cusco by approximately 7:30 PM.
Later entry (1:00–3:00 PM): return train at 6:30 PM, arriving in Ollantaytambo and then Cusco around 10:00 PM.
From Ollantaytambo, our driver will be waiting to transfer you back to Cusco, where the 2-Day Full Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu Tour ends at your hotel.
+51 84 226 547
+51 912 891 560
Av Tupac Amaru PP-10B, Santiago, Cusco, Peru 
info@salkantaytrekmachu.com
www.salkantaytrekmachu.com
