Cusco & Machu Picchu: 2-Day Sacred Valley Tour with Overnight

Two Days, Four Archaeological Sites, One Night in the Mountains

You visit four major Inca sites across two days without arranging tickets, transport, or accommodation yourself. Day one covers the Sacred Valley's archaeological complexes and ends with an evening train ride to Machu Picchu town. Day two begins before dawn with a guided sunrise tour of Machu Picchu, then free time to explore the site and town before returning to Cusco by train. Book three months ahead for peak season travel.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Sacred Valley tour and train to Machupicchu

• Transfer from hotel at 7 am
• Visit Chinchero archaeological complex
• Visit Moray archaeological complex
• Visit Salineras archaeological complex
• Visit Ollantaytambo archaeological complex
• Buffet lunch in Urubamba
• Train to Machupicchu town
• Transfer to hotel in Machupicchu town
• Briefing about Machupicchu tour
• Overnight in Machupicchu town

Day 2: Machupicchu guided tour and return to Cusco

• Early transfer to bus station
• Bus to Machupicchu entrance
• Register and enter Machupicchu
• 2.5-hour guided tour of Machupicchu
• Return by bus to Machupicchu town
• Walk and lunch in Machupicchu town
• Short walk around Machupicchu town
• Train to Ollantaytambo
• Transfer to hotel in Cusco

The experience

"So we're taking the train tomorrow?" That's the question that keeps coming up the moment you book this 2-day Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu tour from Cusco. Yes, and it's the part that makes the whole thing work. Day one starts at 7am with hotel pickup, then a bus takes you through the Sacred Valley of the Incas to Chinchero, Moray, and the salt terraces at Salineras. Each site gets a guided walk, and the landscape between them is the kind of thing you don't quite believe until you're standing in it. Around midday there's a buffet lunch in Urubamba, then the tour ends at Ollantaytambo, where you board the train to Machu Picchu town. That train ride is the thing people mention first when they get back. It winds through cloud forest and river gorge for about three and a half hours, and there's no way to rush it or skip it, which is exactly why you see it properly.

You sleep in Machu Picchu town that night, which is the whole reason this tour exists. Most people hit the site mid-morning when the crowds are thick. This way you're on a bus heading up to the gates before sunrise on day two, and you get a 2.5-hour guided tour of the main sectors while the mist is still moving through the terraces. After that, you have the afternoon free: walk around the site again, eat lunch in town, take a short hike if you want. The return train leaves in late afternoon, and you're back in Cusco by evening. The Sacred Valley stops on day one and the early Machu Picchu access on day two are what separate this from the one-day rush, and both are included.

Logistics matter here. Machu Picchu tickets sell out months ahead during high season, so this tour requires booking at least three months in advance if you're going June through August, and one month if you're traveling in the shoulder seasons. The tour runs as a private guided experience in the Sacred Valley if there are at least two people in your group, or as a shared tour if you're traveling solo. The cost goes up for a single traveler, but the guide still speaks your language. Transport is handled: hotel pickup in Cusco, all buses, the train both ways, and the overnight accommodation in Machu Picchu town are included. Lunch on day one is part of it too.

What’s included

Your two days include hotel pickup in Cusco on day one, guided tours at Chinchero, Moray, Salineras, and Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley, a buffet lunch in Urubamba, roundtrip tourist train transport to and from Machu Picchu town, one night accommodation in Machu Picchu town, early-morning bus transport to Machu Picchu on day two, entry to both the Sacred Valley sites and Machu Picchu, and a 2.5-hour guided tour of Machu Picchu's main sectors at sunrise.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

AgesAdult (18 to 50 years) · Senior (51 to 70 years) · Youth (11 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 8 years) · Infant (1 to 3 years)

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 15 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Tours Perú Machu Picchu

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Machu Picchu at sunrise without the one-day scramble from Cusco, and don't want to arrange tickets, trains, or overnight lodging yourself. The overnight stay in town is what makes the early access and afternoon free time possible.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 17 years); Child (4 to 8 years); Infant (1 to 3 years).

How early do you start on the Machu Picchu day?

Very early. You're picked up from your hotel in Machu Picchu town and on a bus to the gates before sunrise so the guided tour happens in the morning when crowds are thinner.

Is the train ride included?

Yes, both ways. The train from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu town on day one and the return train on day two are included in the tour price.

What if I'm traveling alone?

The Sacred Valley portion becomes a shared tour instead of private, and the total cost increases. The Machu Picchu portion remains private if you book it that way, provided at least two people are in your group. Otherwise it's shared.

How much time do you spend at Machu Picchu?

The guided tour is 2.5 hours in the main sectors. After that, you have the afternoon free to walk the site again, hike, or explore Machu Picchu town before the evening train.

Is lunch included?

Yes, a buffet lunch in Urubamba on day one is included. You arrange your own meals in Machu Picchu town on day two.

When should I book this tour?

Book at least three months in advance if traveling June through August, and one month ahead for other seasons. Machu Picchu tickets are limited and sell out quickly during peak times.

What's included in the price?

Entry to Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley sites, one night accommodation in Machu Picchu town, all buses and transport, the roundtrip tourist train, lunch on day one, and a guided tour at each location.

Do I need to be very fit for this tour?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels, though it involves walking at high altitude and some uneven terrain at the archaeological sites. It's not recommended for people with spinal injuries or serious cardiovascular conditions.