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

Two Days, Two Worlds: Machu Picchu & the Sacred Valley from Cusco

You get hotel pickup in Cusco at 7am, a full day exploring Chincheros, Moray and Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley with a professional guide, an overnight in Aguas Calientes, an early-morning visit to Machu Picchu with a 2-hour guided tour, and the train ride back to Cusco. All entry fees, transport and the guide are included; lunch on day one you arrange yourself. Book at least a week ahead to secure your return train time.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Sacred Valley tour and train to Aguas Calientes

• Pick up from hotel at 7:00 am
• Travel by bus to Sacred Valley
• Visit Chinchero terraces and market
• Visit Moray archaeological site
• Visit Salineras salt mines
• Lunch stop in Urubamba (not included)
• Visit Ollantaytambo Inca city
• Take train to Aguas Calientes
• Overnight in Aguas Calientes

Day 2 — Machu Picchu visit and return to Cusco

• Take early bus to Machu Picchu
• Guided tour of Machu Picchu (2 hours)
• Return to Aguas Calientes
• Take train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
• Bus transfer from Ollantaytambo to Cusco

The Experience

You're standing in Cusco with a free weekend and no idea how to actually get to Machu Picchu without spending three days arranging trains, hotels and guides separately. This 2-day Machu Picchu tour handles all of that — pickup at 7am on day one, and you're back in your hotel by evening on day two (or late night, depending on train availability). The first day moves through the Sacred Valley: Chincheros with its Andean terraces and market, then Moray's circular agricultural terraces, and finally Ollantaytambo, the fortress city where Inca stonework still stands without mortar. You'll ride the train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes in the afternoon, two hours along the Vilcanota river, and sleep at the base of the mountain.

Day two starts before dawn — the bus leaves around 5:30am for the short ride up to Machu Picchu's gate. The site opens at 6am under a new regulation, and your guide walks you through the main structures for two hours. The entrance ticket is timed, valid only for that first morning slot, so you're not fighting crowds or trying to stretch a single ticket across the whole day. After that, you head back down to Aguas Calientes, catch the train back toward Cusco, and arrive somewhere between 7pm and 1:30am depending on when your train departs — book far in advance (two months minimum) and you'll likely get the 2:30pm train arriving at 7pm; book closer to the date and the company will assign you a later slot and email you the details.

The guide is a professional English or Spanish speaker who knows both the Sacred Valley sites and Machu Picchu itself. Lunch on day one is in Urubamba and is not included, so you choose where to eat and what to spend. Everything else — the hotel in Aguas Calientes, transport from Cusco to Ollantaytambo, the train both ways, all entry tickets, and the guide — is already paid for. Groups stay small enough that you're not herded through in a crowd of fifty, and the pace is set by the itinerary, not by how fast people walk.

What’s included

• Hotel accommodation in Aguas Calientes.
• professional English or Spanish tour guide for Machu Picchu and Sacred Valley sites.
• round-trip bus transport between Cusco and Ollantaytambo.
• round-trip train tickets from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes.
• entrance ticket for Sacred Valley attractions (Chincheros, Moray, Ollantaytambo).
• entrance ticket for Machu Picchu with timed morning entry.
• lunch in Urubamba on day one.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availableNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Andean Great Treks

Is this one for you?Right for travelers who want to see both Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley in one trip without arranging transport, hotels and tickets separately — the fixed itinerary and included guide mean you're not spending the first day figuring out logistics.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

3 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What time does the tour start and end?

Pickup from your Cusco hotel is at 7am on day one. Day two you return to Cusco between 7pm (if you book 2+ months ahead) and 1:30am (if you book closer to the date), depending on available train schedules.

Is lunch included?

Lunch on day one in Urubamba is not included; you choose where to eat. All other meals and overnight accommodation in Aguas Calientes are your own arrangement.

What's the difference between booking early and booking last-minute?

Book at least two months in advance and the company secures the 2:30pm return train, arriving in Cusco at 7pm. Book one week or less before departure and you'll be assigned a later train (7pm, 8pm, or 9:30pm departure), arriving between 11pm and 1:30am.

Do I need a passport?

Yes. Your passport number, expiry date and country are required at booking. Bring a valid passport on the day of travel.

Is this suitable for children?

Children are welcome if accompanied by an adult. Infants can sit on an adult's lap, or specialized infant seats are available.

Can I request a vegetarian meal?

Yes. Advise the company at the time of booking if you need a vegetarian option.

How long is the Machu Picchu visit?

Your guide shows you the main structures for 2 hours. You're free to explore on your own after that, but your entrance ticket is valid only for the morning slot (6am to 12pm).

What's included in the price?

Hotel in Aguas Calientes, professional English or Spanish guide, bus transport from Cusco to Ollantaytambo and back, train tickets both ways, entry to Sacred Valley attractions, entry to Machu Picchu, and lunch on day one in Urubamba.