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

Two Days in the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu from Cusco

You're picked up from your Cusco hotel and spend day one moving through the Sacred Valley's three main sites (weaving workshops, salt mines, and Ollantaytambo Fortress) before taking the train to Aguas Calientes. Day two starts before dawn with a guided tour of Machu Picchu at sunrise, followed by free time to explore or climb the mountain, then the train and drive back to Cusco. Hotel pickup, all transport, meals, entrance fees and one night's hostel stay are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Sacred Valley and Ollantaytambo visit

• Pick up from hotels at 6:30 am
• Visit Chinchero church and plaza
• Tour Maras Moray and Salineras
• Enjoy lunch buffet in Urubamba Valley
• Visit Ollantaytambo Fortress and Temple of the Sun
• Take train to Aguas Calientes
• Check in at accommodation
• Briefing for Machu Picchu visit
• Free time in Aguas Calientes town

Day 2: Machu Picchu guided tour

• Wake up around 4:30 am
• Take bus to Machu Picchu at 5:30 am
• Enter Machu Picchu at 6:00 am
• Private guided tour of Machu Picchu for 2 hours
• Optional climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain
• Free time at Machu Picchu
• Return to Aguas Calientes
• Train back to Ollantaytambo
• Transfer to Cusco city

The experience

So you're thinking about doing the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu in one trip without spending a week on it? This is the way most people actually do it. You get picked up from your Cusco hotel at 6:30 am on day one, and by that evening you're in Aguas Calientes looking at the mountain you're about to climb. The first day moves through three archaeological zones: Chinchero with its colonial plaza and church, then Maras and Moray where you see the Inca salt mines still in use and those massive circular terraces carved into the earth. Lunch is a buffet in the Urubamba Valley, and then you're at Ollantaytambo Fortress: the Temple of the Sun there is 3.5 meters of precisely cut stone that held during the Inca civil war. From there you take the train to Aguas Calientes, where your guide briefs you on what's coming tomorrow and you either rest or soak in the thermal waters if you're not too tired.

The second morning starts at 4:30 am. No getting around that. You're on the bus at 5:30 am heading up to Machu Picchu, and if the timing works you catch the sunrise over the citadel just as your guide is walking you through the entrance around 6:00 am. The guided portion is two hours, which is enough to understand the layout and the main structures without feeling rushed. After that you're free to climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain if you've booked one of those, or just wander the terraces and temples on your own. The train back to Ollantaytambo leaves at a set time (you need to be at the station 30 minutes early), and then your assistant picks you up and drives you back to Cusco, dropping you at San Francisco Plaza.

The group stays small, capped at 15 people, which means you're not shuffling through Machu Picchu in a crowd of 200. You get a professional guide who speaks English or Spanish, and the hostel overnight in Aguas Calientes is included so you're not paying extra for accommodation. Everything that usually costs separately (the train, the bus up the mountain, the entrance fees, breakfast, lunch) is already in the price, which takes the guesswork out of budgeting.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup from Cusco.
• ground transportation to Ollantaytambo.
• entrance fees to Chinchero, Maras, Moray, and Ollantaytambo.
• lunch buffet in Urubamba Valley.
• round-trip train Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes.
• one night hostel accommodation in Aguas Calientes.
• breakfast on day two.
• bus transport from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu and back.
• two-hour guided tour of Machu Picchu at sunrise.
• professional English or Spanish-speaking guide.
• return transport to Cusco.

Options for this experience

2 options

Guide in English or Spanish08:30

Guide in English or Spanish08:00

You pick the guide language when booking. Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00 and 08:30Last departure this season: 31 Dec

AgesAdult (18 to 87 years) · Child (5 to 17 years) · Under 5: can't be included in the booking

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “the tour starts in Cusco”

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Conde Travel

Is this one for you?Right for travelers who want to see both the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu without arranging separate transport, hotels and guides: the fixed itinerary and included train mean you move through four major sites in two days without negotiating logistics at each stop.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 17 years). Under 5: they can't be included in the booking.

What time does the tour start from Cusco?

Hotel pickup begins at 6:30 am on day one.

Is the train to Machu Picchu included?

Yes, the round-trip train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes is included.

How many people are in the group?

Groups are limited to a maximum of 15 travelers.

What's included in the price?

Hotel pickup, ground transport, train, one night hostel stay, all entrance fees, meals (breakfast and lunch), bus to and from Machu Picchu, and a professional guide in English or Spanish.

Do I need to book the mountain climbs in advance?

Yes, Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain are optional and must be reserved separately when you book the tour.

What time do we arrive at Machu Picchu?

The bus reaches the citadel around 6:00 am, timed to catch the sunrise.

Is vegetarian food available?

Yes, vegetarian options are available if you request them at the time of booking.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends at San Francisco Plaza in Cusco on day two, after the return train and drive from Aguas Calientes.