machu picchu howlanders
Pisac archaeological park entrance
boy climbing stairst at archaeological park pisac
Pisac handicraft market on the Machu Picchu circuit
Machu Picchu Ollantaytambo peru
View of Ollantaytambo village on the machu picchu tour
Streets of Ollantaytambo in machu picchu excursions
Famous train to cusco machu picchu
Blue train at Aguas Calientes Machu Picchu
river passing through the town of Aguas Calientes
Bus station of Aguas Calientes arrival to Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu guide and travelers
girl rising arms facing Machu Picchu
howlanders boy taking picture at Machu Picchu
boy howlanders walking through the ruins of Machu Picchu
white van Transfer from Ollantaytambo to Cusco
2 beds in Standard category hotel
Breakfast with view Standard category hotel
room Basic category hotel
Lobby Basic category hotel
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Machu Picchu and Sacred Valley 2-Day Tour

Guided tour to the Sacred Valley of the Incas and Machu Picchu with transportation by train

(64 reviews)

🚨 Tickets to Machu Picchu sell out fast! 🚨 Book in advance.

Cusco
2 days
Spanish and English
Starts: From your accommodation in Cuzco between 7:00 am and 7:30 am.
Ends: To your accommodation in Cuzco between 8:00 pm and 10:00 pm.
Flexible cancellation policy

Briefing

Discover all the secrets of Inca culture with our 2-day tour of the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu! This is the favorite panoramic train tour for travelers, perfect for exploring Machu Picchu while soaking in the stunning scenery of the Sacred Valley. You’ll visit Pisac, Urubamba, and the Ollantaytambo fortress, all with a professional guide sharing everything you need to know. Then, hop on the iconic train that will take you to Aguas Calientes, the little town that serves as the gateway to the Inca ruins.

The tour includes one night’s stay in Aguas Calientes, round-trip transportation from Cusco, entry to Machu Picchu, and meals as detailed in the itinerary.

✅ At Howlanders, we offer this tour with the best guides, convenient train schedules, and access to Machu Picchu (subject to availability), so you can have an unforgettable experience.

Tour details

Included

  • Machu Picchu entrance ticket (based on the option selected)
  • Machu Picchu guided tour
  • Bus Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu (roundtrip)
  • Accommodation and breakfast in Aguas Calientes (based on the option selected)
  • Ollantaytambo - Aguas Calientes Train in Selected Category (round trip)
  • Transfer Ollantaytambo - Cusco
  • Lunch in Urubamba
  • Sacred Valley guided tour

Not included

  • Tourist Ticket of Cusco (70 Soles = aprox. $20)
  • Dinner on the first day
  • Lunch on the second day

Important information

🎟️ The tour is available with or without a Machu Picchu entry ticket, depending on the option you select. If you choose the option with entry included, you’ll be assigned the best available time slot and type of ticket.

🚶🏻 If you book the tour without an entry ticket, the guided visit to Machu Picchu will only be included if there’s a group available that matches your time and route. Otherwise, a private guide will be offered at an additional cost.

You can upgrade your tour by adding any of these extras during the booking process:

  • 🚂 Upgrade to first-class train – Upgrade your train tickets to travel in panoramic cars with onboard service and entertainment.
  • 🙋 Upgrade to a private guided tour of Machu Picchu – Instead of joining a group tour, you will have a private guide just for you and your companions.

Cancellation policy

Should you cancel more than 15 days before the tour starts you will receive a 70% refund of the amount paid. If you cancel less than 15 days before the tour starts you will receive a 50% refund of the amount paid. After this time, or in case of a no-show, you will not be entitled to a refund.

Tour itinerary

PREVIOUS DAY Briefing - Cusco

Location: Your lodging in Cuzco

Briefing

The day before departure, your coordinator will visit you at your hotel or a place of your choice for the tour briefing. This is a short meeting where they will explain the important details of the Machu Picchu Sacred Valley tour, give you the pick-up time and location, and give you the train and entrance ticket to Machu Picchu.

Plaza de Armas in the city of Cusco

DAY 1 Cusco - Pisac - Urubamba - Ollantaytambo - Aguas Calientes

Group size in Sacred Valley tour: 16-18 travelers

Difficulty: Easy

7:30 am

Pick up in Cuzco

The first day of the tour begins with pick up at your hotel between 7:00 am and 7:30 am in the shuttle bus you’ll be sharing with the other travelers in the group.

Pisac Traditional Market

Following an hour's drive, we’ll arrive at the first stop in the Sacred Valley, the town of Pisac, known for its handcrafted goods. If you’d like to see more of the town, we recommend asking your guide about the Mercado de la Plaza or Mercado Tradicional de Pisac, just a few meters from the stop and well worth a visit.

Artisan shops in Pisac
10:00 am

The archaeological complex of Pisac

The tour continues at the archaeological complex of Pisac. Your guide will lead you through the site while explaining its history. After the guided tour you’ll have time to explore on your own. If you don’t have a tourist ticket for Cuzco don't worry, your guide will help you purchase it (it’s necessary to access the archaeological zone).

💬 Cuzco Tourist Ticket

The ticket to accessing the main Cuzco tourist sites has two types: the partial ticket, valid for two days, and provides access to the locations visited in the Sacred Valley. The second is the integral ticket, which is valid for ten days and provides access to most of the tourist sites in Cuzco and its surrounding areas.

Machu Picchu tour guide in Ollantaytambo
12:00 pm

Urubamba

Next stop: Urubamba, where you’ll enjoy a traditional meal in a top-rated restaurant.

Fortress of Ollantaytambo

After lunch, you’ll return to the shuttle bus that will take you to the final stop on this excursion through the Sacred Valley of the Incas: the remarkable fortress of Ollantaytambo.

Ollantaytambo Fortress in Sacred Valley

Free time in Ollantaytambo

After visiting the fortress, the shuttle bus will take you to the main square of Ollantaytambo, a 5-minute walk from the train station. At this point, your guide will head back to Cuzco and you’ll have the freedom to explore the lovely town until departing on your train to Aguas Calientes (based on the train ticket schedule).

Ollantaytambo on the Machu Picchu tour
7:00 pm

🚂 Aguas Calientes

Enjoy the iconic train ride to Vilcanota River Valley (an hour-and-a-half-long trip) offering spectacular views of the snow-capped mountains, the semi-tropical zone, and the high jungle area.

You’ll arrive at Aguas Calientes, where your host will be waiting to take you to your accommodation. They will give you the exact pick-up time for the next day, and you’ll have time to eat dinner in the village.

Train to Aguas Calientes

DAY 2 Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Cusco

Difficulty: easy

Breakfast in Aguas Calientes

Breakfast is served at the selected accommodation in Aguas Calientes and at the predetermined time, your guide will pick you up to take you to the bus stop.

👉 The exact time of pick-up at the hotel and departure of the bus will depend on your Machu Picchu entrance schedule, so we advise booking the tour in advance, so a more convenient entrance schedule and itinerary will be assigned. 

Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu Tour

Machu Picchu Visit

Once at Machu Picchu, you’ll take a guided tour following the itinerary on your assigned ticket, as there are different circuits. If you booked the tour without the entrance ticket, we cannot guarantee a spot on the shared guided tour. Also, if you’ve booked an additional area such as Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, that portion will not be guided.

If you have any questions about the circuits or entrance tickets to Machu Picchu, feel free to contact us.

Visit Machu Picchu

🚶Aguas Calientes

At the end of the tour, you get to choose when to hop on the bus back to Aguas Calientes. There are tons of restaurants there, so you can grab a bite to eat wherever you like!

After that, you'll catch the panoramic train to Ollantaytambo. Just a heads up, the train schedule depends on availability, but they'll fill you in on all the details during the meeting before the tour starts.

Aguas Calientes Town

🚐 Ollantaytambo - Cuzco

Upon arriving at Ollantaytambo, the train company's shuttle bus will take your group to their respective accommodations in Cusco. Arrival time is around 9:00 pm (depending on the train schedule). This is where your Machu Picchu Sacred Valley Tour ends. A truly unforgettable experience!

Ollantaytambo Train Station

What to bring to Machu Picchu and Sacred Valley 2-Day tour

Keep in mind that due to the high altitude, the weather can change a lot throughout the day. Mornings are usually cold, while the midday sun can be intense. If you're traveling between November and March, be prepared for the rainy season.

Leave part of your luggage at your accommodation in Cusco and take only what’s essential. The train has luggage restrictions, so it's best to travel light.

  • Small backpack for two days
  • Comfortable walking shoes
  • Swimsuit and towel (only if you plan to visit the hot springs in Aguas Calientes)
  • Layered clothing to adapt to changing weather:
    • First layer: lightweight short-sleeved T-shirt
    • Second layer: sweater or fleece
    • Outer layer: waterproof and windproof jacket
  • Passport (required to access Machu Picchu and board the train!)
  • Sunscreen
  • Insect repellent
  • Sunglasses
  • Personal medication and, if you think it’s necessary, altitude sickness pills

Where does the tour Machu Picchu and Sacred Valley 2-Day start

📍 The tour starts in Cuzco and includes a transfer from your accommodation if it is located in the historic center of the city. If the street where you are located is not accessible to the shuttle bus, a coordinator will accompany you from your accommodation to a location for pick-up. If your hotel is not located in the city center, the shuttle bus can’t deviate too much from its route and you will be given a convenient location for pick-up.

Questions & Answers

  • Which Machu Picchu ticket is included in my booking?

    If you booked the without ticket option, your reservation does not include a Machu Picchu entrance ticket.

    If you chose the with ticket option, your reservation will include a Machu Picchu entrance with the best available circuit and time slot at the moment of confirmation

  • Which is the best Machu Picchu ticket?

    There are several circuits available, each offering a different experience—so there's no single "best" ticket. We recommend checking out this article where we explain the differences between each type of Machu Picchu entrance.

  • What can I do if Machu Picchu tickets are sold out?

    There are two main alternatives:

    Book the 2-day Inca Trail tour or 4-day Inca Trail tour, which uses a different type of ticket.

    Try to get tickets through one of these two options:

    • Occasionally, a small batch of last-minute tickets is released.
    • In Aguas Calientes, a limited number of tickets may be available at the local ticket office. These often sell out days in advance during high season, and by the afternoon of the day before in low season.

    If you’re going this route, we recommend booking the 2-day Machu Picchu Tour without ticket, which is the only tour that gets you to Aguas Calientes early enough to try and purchase tickets on-site.

    Please note: These options involve some risk, and there’s a chance you may not be able to get a ticket—meaning you may not be able to visit Machu Picchu.

  • Can I book the tour without the Machu Picchu entrance ticket?

    Yes, you can book the tour without the entrance ticket. Just make sure to select that option during booking. If your chosen time and circuit includes a guided visit, it will be added to your reservation at no extra cost. Otherwise, we’ll offer you the option to add a private guided tour for an additional fee.

  • Will I be able to take the classic Machu Picchu photo?

    That depends on the ticket availability. At Howlanders, we’ll always try to book you the best possible circuit for that iconic photo, but due to limited ticket availability, we can’t guarantee it.

  • Can I customize the tour?

    Absolutely! You can personalize your experience by adjusting the duration, included services, and more. Just get in touch with us and we’ll help tailor it to your preferences.

  • When should I book the Machu Picchu tour?

    As early as possible! The most desirable tickets sell out quickly. You can either book the tour with the ticket included, or buy your own ticket directly from the official Machu Picchu website to lock in your preferred time and circuit, then book the tour without the ticket.

  • What is the first-class train upgrade?

    Part of the trip is done on a scenic tourist train that moves slowly to let you enjoy the landscape during the 1.5-hour journey. If you choose the first-class train upgrade, you’ll ride a more luxurious and panoramic train with roof windows, often featuring onboard entertainment and complimentary snacks.

  • What is the private guided tour upgrade at Machu Picchu?

    The standard guided tour of Machu Picchu is done in a shared group of around 15 people. If you’d prefer a more personalized experience, you can upgrade to a private guide during the booking process—this means you'll have a guide just for you.

  • Can I add access to extra areas like Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain?

    Yes, but tickets for these areas are extremely limited. That’s why they can’t be added during the regular booking process. If you're interested, please contact us after booking, or you can also purchase them directly through the official Machu Picchu ticket website.

  • Do you offer discounts for students, children, or other groups?

    Yes! We offer a $20 USD discount for students under 25 years old who have a valid student ID. Just contact us and request the discount after booking.

  • What accommodations are included with each option?

    The basic accommodation option includes hotels such as Peru Coca B&B. The standard accommodation option includes hotels like Hotel Susanna Inn or Rock Rivers.

  • What is the Cusco or Sacred Valley Tourist Ticket?

    This ticket grants access to many of the top tourist sites in and around Cusco, including Pisac and Ollantaytambo. You'll need it to enter those archaeological areas. We explain everything in this blog post about the Cusco Tourist Ticket.

  • Where can I read more about the Machu Picchu and Sacred Valley tour?

    Our team has written a detailed blog post sharing their firsthand experience on the Machu Picchu & Sacred Valley tour—you can check it out here.

  • Has this tour ever been canceled during the rainy season?

    No, the Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu tour is never canceled due to weather. The section between Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town) is done by train, not by road, which can sometimes be affected by landslides during the rainy season.

Machu Picchu and Sacred Valley 2-Day tour reviews with Howlanders

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