VIP Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu 2-Day Tour

Family with children at the Machu Picchu viewpoint
Group of travelers sitting at the Machu Picchu viewpoint, waving in front of the citadel
Group of travelers at the Maras Salt Mines viewpoint
Group of travelers at the entrance to the Moray archaeological site
Guide explaining Moray to the travelers
DURATION 2 Days / 1 Night
DEPARTURE Hotel in Cusco - 3 blocks from Plaza de Armas of Cusc
GROUP SIZE 2-18 pax
MAX. ALTITUDE 3750 m.a.s.l.
DIFFICULTY Easy
Updated every 30 minutes

Machu Picchu ticket availability

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Source: official availability of the Ministry of Culture of Peru · last reading 24 Oct · 23:30 (Peru time)

The beginning of the journey

The 2-day VIP Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu tour combines the VIP Sacred Valley route (Chinchero, Moray, the Maras Salt Mines and Ollantaytambo, with a buffet lunch) with a visit to Machu Picchu the next day. You spend the night in Machu Picchu Pueblo (formerly Aguas Calientes) so you can go up to the citadel early, when there are fewer visitors.

VIP or Classic? The VIP covers Chinchero, Moray, the Maras Salt Mines and Ollantaytambo before the train. The Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu 2-day tour (Classic) visits Pisac, Urubamba and Ollantaytambo.

What you will experience

  • In Chinchero, an experience with the local community: ancient techniques for dyeing and weaving ponchos, scarves, chullos (Andean knitted hats) and gloves.
  • Moray and the Maras Salt Mines, with stops of 30 to 40 minutes at each site.
  • A buffet lunch in the Sacred Valley, with starters, main courses and regional desserts.
  • The train to Machu Picchu Pueblo along the Urubamba River: through its panoramic windows you can watch the highlands give way to the cloud forest (ceja de selva) and see the start of the Inca Trail at kilometer 82.
  • A night in Machu Picchu Pueblo, with the hot springs about a 15-minute walk away (entrance not included).
  • The bus ride of about 25 minutes along the Hiram Bingham road and the guided visit of Machu Picchu: the Guardian’s House, the Temple of the Sun, the Three Windows, the Intihuatana, the Acllahuasi, the Temple of the Condor and the water fountains.

Itinerary

We pick you up at your hotel in Cusco between 6:35 and 6:45 a.m.; we leave for the Sacred Valley at 7:00.

At 8:30, a crafts and textile demonstration with the community (about 30 minutes). At 9:00 we visit the archaeological site of Chinchero and its colonial church.

We visit the rings of Moray, an ancient Inca agricultural research center, and then the Maras Salt Mines, more than 3000 salt pools worked by local families.

We have lunch in the Sacred Valley: a buffet with vegetarian options and hot drinks.

We visit the archaeological site of Ollantaytambo. Then you take the 16:36 or 19:00 train, depending on your ticket, to Machu Picchu Pueblo (about 1 h 45 min). Our representative meets you at the station and takes you to the hotel; in the evening the guide explains the plan for the next day.

After breakfast you take the bus to Machu Picchu (about 25 minutes). Times depend on your entrance ticket; a typical day is: 5:00 breakfast, 5:30 bus and 6:00 entry. At the entrance you show your original passport or ID (DNI) and your ticket, and the guide takes you on a tour of about two hours through the main plaza, the ceremonial center, the temples and the terraces.

You take the bus down to Machu Picchu Pueblo and have the rest of the time free. The return train leaves around 14:30 (subject to availability) and arrives in Ollantaytambo around 16:00; from there we transfer you to Cusco, arriving around 18:00, three blocks from the Plaza de Armas.

What's included

  • Hotel pickup. Hotel pickups are between 6:35 and 6:45 a.m. Pickup time can be arranged.
  • Transportation from Cusco to Ollantaytambo train station and vice versa on the return.
  • Train tickets from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu Pueblo, round trip (Expedition or The Voyager, subject to availability). You can upgrade to another train class at an additional cost (see “Not included”).
  • 1 night of accommodation in Machu Picchu Pueblo.
  • 1 breakfast.
  • Buffet lunch. Enjoy a buffet meal in Urubamba.
    • The lunch includes options like spaghetti, white meat (crispy chicken, tenderloin, stew, trout fritters), red meat (lamb stew, tenderloin, pork fritters), quinoa fried rice, legumes, Andean potatoes, and either plain or vegetable rice (a Peruvian dish with vegetables). There are also two types of salads: cooked (carrot, broccoli) and raw (lettuce, cucumber, tomato, excellent vegetarian options). If you prefer soup, you can choose quinoa soup. For dessert, try mazamorra morada or arroz con leche (two of Peru’s most popular desserts), gelatin, or a peach stew. Hot drinks are also included: muña tea, coca tea, coffee.
  • Professional and experienced guide with a tourism license (Spanish, English, or Portuguese).
  • Bus service from Machu Picchu Pueblo to Machu Picchu (round trip).
  • Entry tickets to Machu Picchu (circuit 2 or 3, depending on availability).

We recommend that travelers book at least 3 months in advance to secure Route 2 of Machu Picchu, which allows a 2.5-hour visit to Machu Picchu, including the agricultural sector (where you can take some of the best photos) and the classic postcard photo from the Guardian’s House. Booking in advance also allows us to secure the train ticket with a better schedule and view.

  • This tour requires a General Tourist Ticket or a Partial Tourist Ticket to visit Pisac, Ollantaytambo, and Chinchero. For more information about Tourist Tickets, please see the ‘Recommended to Bring’ tab.

  • Partial Tourist Ticket
    • (S/. 70.00 Soles – Foreigners | S/. 40.00 Soles – Peruvians)
  • Entrance to the Maras Salt Mines
    • (S/ 20 for foreigners and S/ 15 for Peruvians, paid on site)
  • Access to Machu Picchu Mountain or Huayna Picchu Mountain
    • You must add $60.00 USD for foreigners, or $45.00 USD for Peruvians (subject to availability). If you would like a guide to accompany you to Machu Picchu Mountain or Huayna Picchu Mountain, please add an additional $60.00 USD per group of 1 to 10 people.

    • If you want to include Wayna Picchu Mountain, please check availability first, as spaces are limited.

  • Vistadome Train or 360° Train
    • ($45.00 USD per route).

    • The Vistadome train offers a comfortable and scenic journey to Machu Picchu, with large windows to enjoy the Andean landscape throughout the ride. It also includes snacks, drinks, and an onboard show featuring traditional dances, adding a cultural touch to the experience. On the other hand, Inca Rail’s 360° train is designed for an even more immersive visual experience, with larger panoramic windows and an open-air observatory car, perfect for taking photos and connecting with nature. This service also includes locally inspired snacks and an onboard entertainment system, making the journey modern, comfortable, and immersive.

  • Vistadome Observatory Train
    • ($100.00 USD per route).

    • PeruRail’s Vistadome Observatory goes a step further than the traditional Vistadome service by offering an exclusive observatory car with even wider windows, a glass roof, and an open-air terrace for unobstructed views of the landscape. On certain schedules, this service also features live Andean music and traditional dance performances, creating a more immersive and special experience for travelers seeking something unique on their way to Machu Picchu.

  • Entrance to the Hot Springs in Machu Picchu Pueblo
  • Breakfast, lunch or drinks (After visiting Machu Picchu, you may choose to have lunch in Machu Picchu Pueblo.)
  • Snacks
  • Tips (optional)

Recommended to bring

  • Tourist Ticket. To visit various cultural attractions in Cusco, you will need either a Partial Tourist Ticket or a General Tourist Ticket.

    • If you plan to visit most of the major tourist sites in Cusco during your stay, we recommend purchasing the General Tourist Ticket to save on entry costs and simplify your trip.

       

    • General Tourist Ticket: S/. 130.00 Soles – Foreigners | S/. 70.00 Soles – Peruvians. Includes entry to 16 tourist sites in Cusco, which are the Regional Historical Museum, Puca Pucara, Museum of Contemporary Art, Tambomachay, Museum of Popular Art, Pisac, Qorikancha Site Museum, Ollantaytambo, Qosqo Native Art Center, Chinchero, Pachacutec Inca Monument, Moray, Sacsayhuaman, Tipon, Q’enqo, and Pikillacta.
    • Partial Tourist Ticket: S/. 70.00 Soles – Foreigners | S/. 40.00 Soles – Peruvians. Grants 1-day entry to one attraction circuit. There are three circuits: Circuit I (Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Tambomachay, Puca Pucara), Circuit II (Regional Historical Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art, Museum of Popular Art, Qorikancha Site Museum, Qosqo Native Art Center, Pachacutec Inca Monument, Tipon Archaeological Park, Pikillacta Archaeological Park), Circuit III (Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, Moray).
  • Passport or ID (for Peruvians).

  • You will need identification documents to enter Machu Picchu

  • Camera
  • Sunscreen
  • Water bottle
  • Sunglasses
  • Windbreaker jacket
  • Long-sleeve shirt
  • Hiking or trekking shoes
  • From November to March: it is recommended to bring a rain poncho.
  • Appropriate clothing for a day trip
  • Peruvian Soles in cash

  • To purchase your Tourist Ticket and entry to the Maras Salt Mines, please bring Peruvian Soles in cash

Frequently asked questions

We will send you a quote: message us on WhatsApp or use the “Send inquiry” button on this page.

On day one, Chinchero, Moray, the Maras Salt Mines and Ollantaytambo, with a buffet lunch; on day two, Machu Picchu with a guide.

Hotel pickup, transport from Cusco to Ollantaytambo and back, the round-trip train (Expedition or The Voyager, subject to availability), 1 night of accommodation in Machu Picchu Pueblo, 1 breakfast, a buffet lunch, a professional guide (Spanish, English or Portuguese), the bus up to the citadel and back down, and Machu Picchu entrance tickets (circuit 2 or 3, subject to availability).

On day one we pick you up between 6:35 and 6:45 a.m. On day two you arrive in Cusco around 6:00 p.m., three blocks from the Plaza de Armas; the time depends on the trains.

Expedition or The Voyager, subject to availability. On the way there you leave Ollantaytambo at 16:36 or 19:00, depending on your ticket, and the ride takes about 1 h 45 min. You can upgrade to another train class at an additional cost (see “Not included”).

Because it lets you wake up early and be among the first to enter Machu Picchu the next day, when there are fewer visitors.

The Partial Cusco Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turístico Parcial: S/ 70 for foreigners and S/ 40 for Peruvians) or the General Tourist Ticket (S/ 130 and S/ 70), the entrance to the Maras Salt Mines (S/ 20 for foreigners and S/ 15 for Peruvians, paid on site) and, if you wish, Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (USD 60 for foreigners or USD 45 for Peruvians, plus USD 60 per group if you want the guide to go with you). The hot springs are not included either.

The VIP covers Chinchero, Moray, the Maras Salt Mines and Ollantaytambo on day one. The Classic visits Pisac, Urubamba and Ollantaytambo. Day two, Machu Picchu, is the same on both.

Your original passport or ID document (DNI for Peruvians): you show it together with your entrance ticket at the Machu Picchu checkpoint.

We recommend booking at least three months in advance to secure Route 2 at Machu Picchu and a better train schedule.

Groups of 2 to 18 people.

All payments are made online through WeTravel. You pay the deposit stated in your quote and the balance when you arrive in Cusco or on the agreed date. More details in Payment Methods and Policies.