Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu Train Drop-Off: Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Small Group

See Pisac market colors, meet llamas, walk Ollantaytambo stones, catch Machu Picchu train

You’ll start your Sacred Valley day trip from Cusco feeding llamas at an animal sanctuary before exploring ancient Pisac ruins and wandering through its vibrant market. Enjoy a local lunch in Urubamba, then climb Ollantaytambo fortress with a small group before catching your train straight to Machu Picchu, no backtracking needed.

Step-by-step itinerary

Sacred Valley tour and train drop-off

• Have breakfast at your hotel
• Pickup from your Cusco hotel
• Visit animal rescue center
• Stop at Taray Viewpoint
• Explore Pisac Archaeological park
• Visit Pisac Market
• Drive scenic route to Urubamba
• Enjoy buffet lunch in Urubamba
• Visit Ollantaytambo Archaeological park
• End tour at Ollantaytambo train station

The experience

I didn’t expect to be laughing with a llama before 9am, but that’s how our Sacred Valley tour from Cusco started. Our guide Rosa showed up right on time at the hotel (she somehow remembered everyone’s name by the second stop), and we were off: winding out of Cusco as the city slowly woke up. The animal rescue center was our first real pause. There was this sweet smell of hay and something else (maybe alpaca wool?), and I swear one of the llamas tried to eat my scarf. Rosa said it means good luck if they like you. Not sure if she was joking.

The drive down into the valley was quieter than I expected. Even the chatter faded when we reached Taray Viewpoint. The light was sharp and cold on the terraces below. Someone next to me whispered “wow” but honestly it felt too wide for words. At Pisac ruins, Rosa traced her finger over a stone wall and told us about Inca engineering. I couldn’t help running my own hand along it after her. It’s rougher than it looks in photos. We wandered through the Pisac market after that. I bought a woven bracelet from a woman who smiled but barely spoke Spanish (Quechua mostly). The colors there are almost loud enough to hear.

Lunch in Urubamba was buffet style. Nothing fancy but I still think about that quinoa soup. Maybe because it was warm and we’d all gotten a bit sunburned by then (I forgot sunscreen again). Ollantaytambo came last, its stones towering above us and kids playing soccer just outside the walls like nothing historic was happening behind them. Rosa explained how people still live here in houses older than most countries. It’s wild.

If you’re heading to Machu Picchu after, they’ll drop you right at the Ollantaytambo train station with your luggage safe and sound (ours made it no problem). Some folks peeled off for their train while others headed back to Cusco: the day just kind of split there, which felt fitting somehow.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup from Cusco or Airbnb, comfortable transport with secure luggage storage if needed, entry to an animal rescue center where you’ll meet llamas and alpacas, guided walks through Pisac ruins and market plus Ollantaytambo fortress with an English-speaking guide (small group only), one bottle of water each, buffet lunch in Urubamba, and you can choose to end at Ollantaytambo train station for your onward journey to Machu Picchu or return to Cusco by evening.

Options for this experience

4 options

Pisac and Ollantaytambo Route (Standard, without lunch)Guide in English or Spanish · 07:30Small group tour service with a maximum of 10 travelers per guide for a comfortable, personal experience. Duration: 9 hours, starting with pickup in Cusco and finishing at Ollantaytambo Train Station by 3:30 PM for afternoon trains, or returning to Cusco. Guided tour of Pisac and Ollantaytambo. Ideal for flexible travelers; admission tickets and meals are not included. Pickup is included.

Sacred Valley CulturalGuide in English or Spanish · 07:30Maras Salt Mines and Moray: Chinchero Weaving Center, Moray Archaeological Park, Maras Salt Mines and Ollantaytambo Archaeological Park. Small group of 8 to 12 people. Duration: 9 hours. Sacred Valley cultural minivan or minibus, with transport arranged according to group size. Ollantaytambo train station: the itinerary ends so you can catch any train from 3:37 PM onwards, continuing your trip to Machu Picchu. Pickup is included.

Pisac and Ollantaytambo Route with buffet lunchGuide in English or Spanish · 07:30Premium small group tour with a maximum of 10 travelers per guide for a comfortable, personal experience. Duration: 9 hours, starting with pickup in Cusco and finishing at Ollantaytambo Train Station by 3:30/4:30 PM for afternoon trains, or returning to Cusco. Lunch: a freshly prepared, traditional 3-course sit-down lunch at a top local restaurant. Pisac and Ollantaytambo Route: explore the massive agricultural terraces of Pisac, browse the artisan textile market, and tour the Ollantaytambo fortress. Pickup is included.

Pisac and Ollantaytambo Route (includes all admission tickets and lunch)Guide in English or Spanish · 07:30Small group tour service with a maximum of 10 travelers per guide for a comfortable, personal experience. Duration: 9 hours, starting with pickup in Cusco and finishing at Ollantaytambo Train Station by 3:30 PM for afternoon trains, or returning to Cusco. Lunch: a freshly prepared, traditional 3-course sit-down lunch at a top local restaurant. All-inclusive Pisac and Ollantaytambo: includes all official admission tickets (Cusco Tourist Ticket) plus full guided tours of both sites. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (18 to 85 years) · Youth (10 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 9 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 17 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availableInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Machupicchu Latin America

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (10 to 17 years); Child (4 to 9 years); Infant (under 4).

Is hotel pickup included for this Sacred Valley tour?

Yes, pickup from your Cusco hotel or Airbnb is included in the morning.

Can I bring my luggage if I'm taking the train to Machu Picchu?

Yes, secure luggage storage is provided on board so you can continue directly to Ollantaytambo station for your train.

What sites are visited during this Sacred Valley day trip?

You’ll visit an animal rescue center, Taray Viewpoint, Pisac ruins and market, have lunch in Urubamba, then explore Ollantaytambo fortress.

How many people are in each group?

This is a small-group tour with a maximum of 10 travelers per group.

Is lunch included during the tour?

Yes, a buffet lunch in Urubamba is included as part of your day trip experience.

Can I end my tour at Ollantaytambo train station for Machu Picchu?

Absolutely, you can finish at Ollantaytambo station in time for trains from 15:37 onwards to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo).