Cusco: Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu 2-Day Guided Tour

Two days, three Inca sites, one local guide who knows the story

You spend day one moving through the Sacred Valley's main Inca sites (alpaca farm, Pisaq, Ollantaytambo) with a local guide explaining the culture and history as you go, then train to Aguas Calientes for the night. Day two is a full guided tour of Machu Picchu itself, with the option to add the Huayna Picchu hike, before training back and driving to Cusco. Everything is arranged: transport, entry fees, meals, hotel, and guide.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Sacred Valley tour and train to Aguas Calientes

• Pick up from hotel at 8am
• Visit Awanacancha Alpaca farm
• See traditional Inca animals and weaving
• Drive to Sacred Valley Lookout Point
• Visit Pisaq Inca Archaeological site
• Drive to Urubamba for lunch
• Visit Ollantaytambo Inca site
• Take train to Aguas Calientes
• Stay overnight in 3-star hotel

Day 2: Machu Picchu tour and return to Cusco

• Early breakfast in Aguas Calientes
• Bus to Machu Picchu site
• Guided tour of Machu Picchu Citadel
• Optional Huayna Picchu hike
• Return to Aguas Calientes
• Lunch in Aguas Calientes
• Train to Ollantaytambo
• Drive back to Cusco hotel

The experience

The pickup happens at 8am from your Cusco hotel, and you're already moving toward the mountains before most of the city wakes up. Your guide meets you with the day mapped out: first stop is the Awanacancha alpaca farm, where you'll see llamas, alpacas, and the traditional weaving that's been happening in these valleys for centuries. It's not a museum: people are actually working the looms, and if you want to buy alpaca wool, it's there. Then you drive up to El Mirador del Valle Sagrado, the lookout point where the whole Sacred Valley spreads below you, and you can see why the Incas built here.

From there it's on to Pisaq, the Inca site perched on top of the mountain. Your guide walks you through the terraces and temples, and because you've already spent the morning learning about how the Incas lived and worked, the ruins make more sense. You're not just looking at old stones. After Pisaq, you drive down into Urubamba for lunch, then head to Ollantaytambo, where the Temple of the Sun and the Temple of the 10 Niches are still standing after five centuries. By late afternoon, you're on the train to Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of Machu Picchu. You sleep in a 3-star hotel there, which means you're already in position for the next morning.

Day two starts early: breakfast at the hotel, then a 25-minute bus ride up through the cloud forest to Machu Picchu itself. Your guide gives you a full 2-hour tour of the citadel, and because you've spent the last day learning the context, you're not just hearing facts about terraces and temples. You're understanding how this place fit into the Inca world. If you've booked the Huayna Picchu hike separately ($75, needs advance booking), you do that after the guided tour. It's a steep climb but the views from the top are the kind you remember. Lunch is in Aguas Calientes, then you catch the train back to Ollantaytambo, where your driver picks you up and takes you back to Cusco, dropping you at your hotel by evening.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup in Cusco at 8am, private transport to the Awanacancha alpaca farm and through the Sacred Valley, entry fees to Pisaq and Ollantaytambo, lunch in Urubamba and dinner in Aguas Calientes on day one, a night in a 3-star hotel, an early breakfast on day two, the 25-minute bus ride to Machu Picchu, a full 2-hour guided tour with a local English-speaking guide, round-trip train tickets (Expeditions Tourist Class) between Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes, and return transport to your Cusco hotel by evening on day two.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

AgesAdult (18 to 75 years) · Child (3 to 17 years) · Under 3: can't be included in the booking

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Alpaca Expeditions

Is this one for you?This works well if you want to see Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley's main Inca sites without arranging separate transport, guides, or entry tickets. The two-day structure gives you time to understand the context before you reach the most famous site, and the local guide makes the difference between seeing ruins and understanding why they matter.

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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 (3 to 17 years). Under 3: they can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. No refund if you cancel.

How long is the Machu Picchu guided tour?

About 2 hours. If you book the Huayna Picchu hike separately, that's an additional climb after the main tour.

What's included in the price?

Round-trip bus to Machu Picchu, all entry fees, the 3-star hotel in Aguas Calientes, round-trip train (Expeditions Tourist Class), all private transport, lunch and dinner on day one, breakfast on day two, and a full guided tour with an English-speaking guide.

Do I need to book Huayna Picchu in advance?

Yes, it's $75 per person and needs to be booked ahead of time. It's optional and happens after the main Machu Picchu tour.

What time does the tour start?

Hotel pickup is at 8am on day one.

Is this tour suitable for people who aren't very fit?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Day one involves walking around Inca sites at altitude. Day two includes a 25-minute bus ride and a 2-hour guided walk at Machu Picchu.

What's the minimum group size?

A minimum of 2 people per booking is required.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the hotel on day one?

No. You're picked up from your Cusco hotel at 8am and dropped at your Aguas Calientes hotel that evening. On day two, you're picked up from the hotel for the bus to Machu Picchu.