Cusco & Machu Picchu: Sacred Valley, Pisac & 2-Day Train Tour

Two days from Cusco to Machu Picchu, with the Sacred Valley in between

You get picked up from your Cusco hotel, spend day one seeing Pisac ruins and market, Ollantaytambo fortress, and eating a buffet lunch of regional dishes, then take a train to Aguas Calientes where you sleep. Day two is a sunrise guided tour of Machu Picchu, time to explore on your own, and a train back to Cusco by evening. All transport, meals, entry tickets, and the professional guide are included. You just need to confirm your hotel and passport details after booking.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Sacred Valley tour and train to Machu Picchu

• Pick up from hotel in Cusco
• Visit Pisac ruins and textile market
• Tour Ollantaytambo Inca site
• Buffet lunch in Urubamba
• Train from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu
• Check in at hotel in Aguas Calientes

Day 2: Machu Picchu guided tour and return

• Bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
• 2.5-hour guided Machu Picchu tour
• Optional Machu Picchu Mountain hike
• Bus back to Aguas Calientes
• Train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
• Bus from Ollantaytambo to Cusco main plaza

The experience

Our guide, Marco, was waiting outside the hotel at 7:15 in the morning with a thermos of coffee and a folder of maps. He asked where we were from, made a joke about the altitude that I didn't quite catch, and then we were moving through Cusco toward Taray, the lookout point where you can see the whole Sacred Valley spread out below you like a relief map. The valley itself is what stays with you first, not Machu Picchu yet, but the terraces and the river and the way the light changes as you drop down into it. Marco pointed out which ruins were ceremonial, which were military, which were just where people lived, and it mattered because you stopped seeing it as a postcard and started seeing it as a place where decisions got made.

Day one moves through three sites. Pisac comes first: the ruins sit high above the market, and you walk through both. The market is still working, still loud, still selling potatoes and woven blankets to locals, not just to tourists, which changes how it feels. Then Ollantaytambo, the fortress that guards the valley entrance, where the stonework is so precise you can't fit a knife blade between the blocks. By mid-afternoon you're in Urubamba eating buffet-style Peruvian food (ceviche, lomo saltado, quinoa soup), and then the train leaves Ollantaytambo at either 4:36pm or 7pm depending on availability. The train itself is the transition. You watch the valley narrow into a canyon, the river get louder, the air get warmer. By the time you reach Aguas Calientes, the town at the base, it's dark and you're staying at a 3-star hotel with breakfast included, a private room, a private bathroom. Most people sleep better than they expect.

Day two starts early. A bus takes you up to the Machu Picchu entrance. The road has switchbacks and the bus driver knows every one. You get entry tickets for the morning shift and a 2.5-hour guided tour at sunrise, which is when the site actually looks like the photographs. Marco walked us through the Temple of the Sun, the agricultural terraces, the water channels, explained what each section was for. After the tour ends around noon, you can stay on your own: hike to the Sun Gate, hike to the Inca Bridge, or add the Machu Picchu Mountain hike for $25 extra if there's space. Most people take an hour or two alone, sit somewhere quiet, then head back down. The return train leaves Aguas Calientes in the afternoon, gets you to Ollantaytambo by evening, and a driver meets you there to drive back to Cusco's main plaza.

The whole thing is two nights away from Cusco, three trains, four archaeological sites, one market, one meal that tastes like the region actually cooks. You need to email your hotel address, passport number, and any hotel upgrades right after booking. That's the one piece of admin that matters. If you want to add a mountain hike, ask then too, because availability fills up fast.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in Cusco at 7:15am.
• guided tour of the Sacred Valley including Taray lookout, Pisac ruins, Pisac textile market, and Ollantaytambo fortress.
• buffet-style Peruvian lunch in Urubamba.
• train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (Voyager or Expedition class).
• one night accommodation in a 3-star hotel in Aguas Calientes with private room, private bathroom, and breakfast.
• bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu entrance and back.
• entry tickets to Machu Picchu Citadel.
• 2.5-hour sunrise guided tour of Machu Picchu with professional English or Spanish-speaking guide.
• return train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo.
• pickup from Ollantaytambo station and drop-off at Cusco's Plaza San Francisco.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (3 to 17 years) · Infant (under 3)

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.

Prices and times updated 17 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by MachuPicchu.Center

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley without arranging trains, entry tickets, hotels, and timing yourself: the fixed two-day schedule and included transport handle all of that, leaving you to focus on the sites.

Traveler reviews

4.89★★★★★★★★★★

18 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 17 years); Infant (under 3).

What time does the tour start from Cusco?

Pickup from your hotel is around 7:15am on day one.

Is the train to Machu Picchu included?

Yes, both the outbound train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and the return train are included. The outbound train departs at either 4:36pm or 7pm depending on availability.

What happens if I want to hike Machu Picchu Mountain or Huaynapicchu?

Either hike costs $25 extra per person and must be requested when you book. Machu Picchu Mountain hike starts at 9am. Huaynapicchu at 10am. Both depend on availability.

Is breakfast included on day two?

Yes, breakfast is included at your hotel in Aguas Calientes on the morning of day two.

Can I upgrade my hotel in Aguas Calientes?

Yes, the tour includes a 3-star hotel (Vista Machu Picchu or Andean Terra), but you can request an upgrade or book your own hotel when you email after booking.

How long is the guided tour at Machu Picchu?

The sunrise guided tour lasts 2.5 hours. After it ends, you're free to stay and explore on your own.

What do I need to provide after booking?

Email the operator your hotel address in Cusco (or your Airbnb host's phone number), passport number, date of birth, country of passport issue, your email, and cell phone number. Also let them know if you want hotel upgrades or mountain hike tickets.

What's included in the meal on day one?

A buffet-style lunch of Peruvian cuisine served in Urubamba, featuring dishes like ceviche, lomo saltado, and quinoa soup.

Do I need to be fit for this tour?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. The main activity is walking around archaeological sites at altitude. The pace is guided and you control how much extra hiking you do.

What if I'm traveling with an infant?

Infants are required to sit on an adult's lap during transport.