If you want to have a short holiday in Peru, we highly recommend a 2-day Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu tour from Cusco. From exploring the architectural wonders at Machu Picchu to meandering through the beautiful landscapes of Sacred Valley, this tour has it all. Unlike most of our other tours, this journey requires little to no hiking, making it perfect for just about anyone.
While you can take on an intense 5-day Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu, this 2-day tour is convenient, quick, and covers all the major sites of Sacred Valley along the way. So, if you don’t have that many days to explore Cusco City and its surroundings, this will be the perfect guided tour for you.
If you’re looking for more reasons to join this Sacred Valley-Machu Picchu tour, there are plenty to pick from. From taking a deep dive into the region’s culture to learning about the ancient farming practices, you won’t be short of an authentic expedition. Pair that with mindblowing archeological sites, breathtaking mountains, sweeping drives near the Vilcanota River, and local markets, and you’re in for an unforgettable Peruvian vacation.
Without further ado, let’s dive into all the details you’ll want to know about this tour before booking a trip like no other.
2-Day Machu Picchu and Sacred Valley Tour From Cusco Details
You’ll find all the essential details about this tour down below, from your Sacred Valley Peru tour itinerary to what this trip includes and excludes.
Highlights of Our Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu Trip Package
Type of Tour: Culture, History, Journey by car and train.
Good For: Travellers who want to explore Sacred Valley and visit Machu Picchu Inca site by train and car.
Difficulty: Low
Consideration: AVAILABLE ALL YEAR.
Useful Information About Our Sacred Valley Tours
- Your safety is our top priority.
- It’s a great tour for anybody who wants to conveniently visit Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley.
- You’ll visit several archeological sites in the Sacred Valley and explore the towns of Pisaq and Ollantaytambo.
- There are loads of scenic photo opportunities throughout the tour.
- Your belongings will be safely transported via our private vehicle and then by train.
- Enjoy an amazing sunrise of Machu Picchu early on day 2.
- Observe and admire the flowers and birds at Machu Picchu.
- This tour requires no hiking but will require some walking (mainly when exploring archeological sites).
- You must be prepared for a lot of mosquitoes in The Lost City of The Incas (Machu Picchu).
- You’ll see just about everything that the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu have to offer in just two days.
- Sleep in a lovely 3-star or higher hotel on night one at Aguas Calientes.
- We are a local tour company with a focus on using natural and/or renewable resources.
- Sustainable responsibility is one of our primary beliefs, ensuring we don’t tamper or destroy the sites we visit.
- Briefing with your Sparrow Explorer agent will take place in our office or your hotel the night before.
Our 2-Day Sacred Valley Machu Picchu Tour Itinerary
Here’s a deep dive into what you can expect during your Machu Picchu and Sacred Valley tour.
Day 1: Cusco — Pisac — Olantaytambo — Aguas Calientes
Starting at around 08:00, we will pick you up from your hotel and begin our drive to Pisac.
Along the way, we’ll make a couple of stops, including a visit to some textile shops, where you’ll learn about the traditional weaving techniques and color uses. You’ll also get the chance to purchase some of these textiles as a souvenir of your trip. We’ll also stop at a farm just outside of Cusco City, where you take photos and feed the llamas, alpacas, guanacos, and vicuñas.
That’s not all you’ll enjoy during the trip to Pisaq, though, as sweeping vistas will be a mainstay throughout the drive. We’ll stop at one of the scenic viewpoints where snow-capped mountains and farming lands in the distance create the perfect backdrop for some epic photos.
After a few more miles of driving, we’ll stop at the first Inca ruins along this tour, the magnificent Pisac Archeological Park. The ancient architecture and engineering of the Inca temples are breathtaking. Our tour guide will explain this amazing place for around two hours before we visit the town itself, where we can find a local market. The market is a great opportunity to dig into authentic Peruvian cuisine, pick up some souvenirs, and meet the indigenous people of the area.
After exploring Pisac, we’ll hit the road again and head to Urubamba, you’ll have the chance to enjoy a delicious lunch (not included) at one of the local restaurants. We’ll give you some great recommendations on where to eat and what to try.
From Urubamba, it’s just 25 minutes to the day’s last Inca ruins, known as Ollantaytambo Archeological Park (Inka Fortress). These ruins were built with pink granite rocks, with some of them weighing around 100 tons (mainly the pieces used to construct the Temple of the Sun). It’s a truly magnificent site, and our tour guide will explain all the puzzling aspects of the archeological site to you in great detail.
After your tour, you have extra time to walk around and explore this Inca town before tucking into dinner at any one of the local restaurants. In the evening, we will head to the train station, which is a 10-minute walk from the main plaza of Ollantaytambo. The train will depart at 19:00 to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town), offering a scenic two-hour journey.
When you arrive in Aguas Calientes (2,000 m / 6,000 ft above sea level), our tour guide will meet you just outside the train station. We’ll then take you to your hotel (usually the Inti Punku Hotel or something similar).
Day 2: Aguas Calientes — Machu Picchu — Cusco City
We’ll wake up very early in the morning on day two so we can catch the sunrise in Machu Picchu (if the weather allows). We’ll start with breakfast at the hotel and then head to the bus that will take us to the Machu Picchu Archaeological Site. After getting into Machu Picchu we’re going to take you to the best spot for the sunrise, where amazing and unforgettable photo opportunities await.
Afterward, you’ll go on a two-hour guided tour of Machu Picchu. Your guide will provide all the expert insights into how the city was made and maintained as well as what it meant for the Incan people.
You’ll also have some personal time to explore Machu Picchu by yourself. Before doing so, your tour guide will give you your bus tickets and explain where and when you need to meet with them in Aguas Calientes.
The personal time to explore the site is great. It offers you the chance to admire the architecture in closer detail, snap some more memorable photos, and just soak up all there is to see at Machu Picchu.
After catching the bus back to Aguas Calientes and meeting your guide, you’ll then be presented with your train tickets, which will take you all the way back to Cusco. There is no need to worry to about your belongings, as we will personally porter them back to your hotel in Cusco.
Note: If you’d like to have the chance to climb up to Huayna Picchu Mountain, the trek takes around 50 minutes to reach the summit. From here, you can see Machu Picchu from a whole new perspective. If you want to hike to this mountain, please let us know in advance, as we will need to organize hiking permits (an additional 20 US$ per person).
What Is Included in Your Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu Tour
- Professional Tour Guides: All of our tour guides went to a university and can speak fluent English, Spanish, and Quechua. Most importantly, all our tour guides are local people who grew up in the Andes and have a deep understanding of the ancient Incan knowledge, which they are ready to share with you. They are also funny, lighthearted, and professional, ensuring you have a happy and safe experience. If your tour group is over 12 people, we will include an additional assistant to help answer questions and organize the trip.
- Permits: After receiving your deposit and information about you, our staff will organize your permits for visiting the archeological sites. These permits are for specific dates, and your name has to be the same as your passport details. This will include the entrance fee for Machu Picchu.
- Briefing: The day before we start your tour, you need to come to our office, or we can meet you at your hotel to give you all the information that you will need. This briefing will include what you can expect from the itinerary, what you should bring, and will offer an opportunity for you to answer any questions you may have.
- Transportation: All transportation costs are included in the tour package. We will pick you up from your hotel and drop you off back at your hotel in Cusco. All transportation will be done via private vehicle (from Cusco to Ollantaytambo), train (Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and Aguas Calientes to Cusco), and a short bus trip to and from Machu Picchu.
- Guided Tours: Throughout the tour, your tour guide will go in-depth into the culture and history of the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. This trip will also include a guided tour of Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo, and Pisac.
- Equipment: Sparrow Explorer has the best equipment that you need for your tour to ensure a comfortable and safe trip.
- Food: During our hiking tours, our personal chef prepares healthy and organic food and will cater to any dietary requirements. As this tour has little to no hiking involved, our personal chef will not come with us. That said, this two-day tour will include one breakfast (at the hotel), snacks during the drive, and one dinner (at a restaurant in Urubamba). VEGETARIAN FOOD IS OPTIONAL WITHOUT EXTRA COST!
- Accommodation: Your one-night stay in Aguas Calientes will be included in the trip costs. This will include a stay at a three-star hotel, such as Inti Punku Hotel or something similar.
- First Aid Kit: Your safety is one of our top priorities. As such, we will have a first aid kit present throughout the tour. The first aid kit will also include an oxygen tank and mask in case you struggle with altitude sickness at any point during the tour.
- Extras: During your briefing, we provide you with a checklist of all the extras you may need during the tour. We’d recommend assessing the list provided and packing accordingly, as the list caters to the tour itself.
What Is Excluded From Your Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu Tour
- Daypacks: Using the checklist we provide, It is best to bring a personal daypack for the hike. It doesn’t have to be bigger than a small to medium daypack. Our porters will help carry and transport your backpack throughout the tour. For your backpack, we would recommend packing water, sunscreen, a sunhat, a few warm layers, a camera, personal snacks, headlamps, a poncho, and any other items you may deem necessary for the trip.
- Packing list: we suggest you bring warm layers for the nights, two T-shirts, and two pairs of pants pants. We’d also recommend bringing a waterproof jacket or poncho, as the weather can change quickly in the Andes. Lastly, don’t forget some comfortable walking shoes or hiking boots and sandals.
- Extra Snacks: You can bring your snacks with you or get them during the trip.
- Meals: The tour will include some meals, but not all. The meals not included in the cost are the first breakfast (day one), Lunches, and the last dinner (day two).
- Entrance Tickets: The tour costs won’t include the entrance fees for the Inca Sites visited in the Sacred Valley. These can only be purchased in person on the day you visit.
- Tips: Tips are not included in the tour price, but the entire team will be very appreciative of any gratuities.
- Huayna Picchu: This is the name of one mountain next to Machu Picchu, where you can soak up some fantastic scenery. If you’d like the chance to take on this hour-long hike, please let us know in advance, as we will need to organize the hiking permits, which are limited (an additional 20 US$ per person). Alternatively, instead of hiking up Huayna Picchu, you can still visit the Inca Bridge, which also has nice views of Macchu Picchu.
Helpful Information for Your Machu Picchu and Sacred Valley Tour
Before you go ahead and book your tour, here are a few more things to bear in mind.
Altitude Sickness
It’s common to start wondering about altitude sickness when planning a trip to Peru, especially in Cusco. However, it’s easy to see the signs of altitude sickness.
Headaches, tiredness, dizziness, nausea, tingling, loss of appetite, trouble sleeping, and vomiting are all common symptoms of altitude sickness. If you suffer from one of these symptoms, please contact our company or a doctor for assistance.
It’s worth noting, though, that altitude sickness is usually temporary, and staying hydrated with water and coca tea will help a lot. However, some of our customers prefer pills, in which case we suggest you have acetazolamide or dexamethasone and come to Cusco a few days before you intend on taking this tour.
Training for the Inca Trail can also be done by staying in high-altitude regions of Peru for a couple of days before the trek. You can also spend a few days in Cusco drinking plenty of water and coca tea.
Weather
In general, the Andes’ weather is unpredictable, so we suggest being prepared for anything. This is why having waterproof clothes will be a big help, as it can be sunny one minute and rainy the next.
First Aid Kit
All of our mountain guides have their first aid kits and a lot of training in first aid in the mountains. Every year, they receive classes from doctors on how to treat the most frequent problems, such as diarrhea, cuts, headaches, scrapes, etc.
They will also have an oxygen tank to help you feel much better should you need it. You’re more than welcome to bring your own first aid kit for the trek.
Travel Insurance
It is always a good idea to have travel insurance during your travels. Our tour doesn’t include travel insurance, so we highly recommend getting insurance before you leave for Peru. This will come in handy if you have any serious illness or if something happens while you’re on holiday.
If you don’t have travel insurance, this is also fine, and you are still more than welcome to book this tour.
Environmental Impact
This company is a travel agency that protects our environment. We’re a sustainable company that uses biodegradable packaging for meals. We also consider the leave-no-trace principles during our tours as a way to help reduce the effects of global warming and ensure everyone protects our home (planet Earth).
Community
Most important for us is our amazing team. As we are a local company, the families and communities of our team feel proud of everyone involved at Sparrow Explorer. By sharing the culture and knowledge of our ancestors, everyone who joins our tours can better understand our traditions, behaviors, and customs.
By doing this, we can help protect everything left by our ancestors, as we believe in “Love just the things that you know.” This way, in our own small way, we can help preserve the amazing Inca culture for generations to come.
