Overview
Sacred Valley and Short Inca Trail Adventure
Experience an itinerary that combines the historical and colorful tones of the Peruvian Andes with a short but exciting tour of Sacred Valley tour and Short Inca trail. For now, at Guiding Machu Picchu, we have perfectly designed a tour that lets you plunge into the history and beauty of Peru combining it with the adventure of a one day hike and private guided tour of Machu picchu. This tour was designed to cater to history lovers as well as outdoor enthusiasts.
What you’ll see on the Sacred Valley Tour & Short Inca Trail
Your tour starts at the Sacred Valley, which has cultural significance in Peruvian culture. The Sacred Valley tour and Short Inca trail is designed to cover the most important sites of the Valley such as the Moray, Maras (salt ponds) and the town of Ollantaytambo before guiding you along the Short Inca Trail.
During this journey there are splendid cloud forests and original stone steps, passing the beautiful complex of Wiñay Wayna before reaching the Sun Gate – Inti Punku, where you can see your first glance of Machu Picchu.
Itinerary Overview
Day 1: Cusco – Chinchero – Maras (Salt ponds) – Moray – Ollantaytambo
Morning: Starting from Cusco we travel into the Sacred Valley and our first stop is at the weaving centre of Chinchero to visit and enjoy the textiles and techniques of Indigenous Peruvians and craftsmen. We continue on to Maras salt ponds where we can appreciate the beauty of these traditional ponds which locals still farm today. Next up is Moray, the Incan agricultural lab, where you’ll learn more about their agricultural experimentation and techniques.
Afternoon: We drive for one hour to reach Ollantaytambo, a significant stronghold of the Inca’s, where you can opt to enjoy a lunch before exploring the Inca ruins there. Upon having a guided tour of the array of terraces and temples there, you can opt to enjoy dinner before retiring for the evening to our hotel in Ollantaytambo to spend the night.
Day 2: Ollantaytambo – Winay Wayna – Sun Gate (Inti Punku) – Machu picchu – Aguas Calientes
Morning: We take the early morning train at approximately 6am to the start of the Short Inca Trail at Km 104. We cross the Urubamba river before starting your hike through the cloud forests and over the trails used by the Incas in the past. We follow the Short Inca trail and its undulating route for about 3 hours past waterfalls and taking in the incredible views of the surrounding lush green valleys. We then reach Wiñay Wayna ruins which is a beautiful terrace complex that is up on a hilltop offering a spectacular viewpoint. We’ll pause here to enjoy lunch before continuing on our hike.
Afternoon: After enjoying a restful break and tasty box lunch to recharge our energy, we hike on for another hour and a half to reach the Sun Gate. Here we’ll rest to take some photos and to give you time to take in your first views of the famous Machu Picchu complex. We’ll then descend down for about 45 minutes through the complex, stopping at the best photo spot to ensure you get some great photos to take home. We then catch a bus down to Aguas Calientes town and we’ll head to the hotel.
Evening: After a rest and grabbing some refreshing showers, travellers can opt to enjoy a dinner in this charming riverside town before retiring for the night.
Day 3: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Ollantaytambo – Cusco
Morning: We take a bus back up to Machu Picchu to enjoy a private guided tour of this incredible archeological site. Our expert professional guides will share their deep knowledge of the Incan history and the purpose of each site highlight on your circuit route so you discover why it is considered one of the wonders of the ancient world.
Afternoon: After enjoying your approximately 2 hour guided tour, we catch a bus back down to Aguas Calientes where you will have time to enjoy lunch, if you choose to. We then catch a train back to Ollantaytambo before switching to bus transport for the last leg back to Cusco where you’ll be dropped off at your hotel in Cusco at approximately 7pm (traffic dependent).
Highlights of the Two-Day Sacred Valley Tour and Short Inca Trail
- Cultural Immersion: Discover the traditions, customs, and history of the ancient kingdom of the Incas and modern locals at the Sacred valley of the Incas.
- Breathtaking Scenery: Get to witness the beauty of the Andes, Sacred and Urubamba valleys, and the archaeological sites of Wiñay Wayna, Sun Gate and Machu Picchu complex.
- Accessibility: The Short Inca Trail gives travelers a chance to hike part of the ancient Inca trail without the challenges and camping required by the Classic 4D Inca trail option.
- First Glimpse of Machu Picchu: Reaching the Sun Gate after the spending a day trekking to take in the unforgettable views of Machu Picchu is a feeling that cannot be described and needs to be experienced.
- Expert Guides: We handpick only the best certified professional tour guides with years of experience who are bilingual as well to ensure our passengers get the very best experience. Our local Cusquenian guides are passionate about their region and will help in explaining the historical, cultural as well as natural aspects of the area.
Book Your Adventure Today!
Interested in a holiday that is a perfect combination of adventure with cultural and historical sightseeing? One tour that will provide travelers with all of those as well as natural beauty is the Sacred Valley Tour and Short Inca Trail with Guiding Machu Picchu. If you’re someone who likes to do it all, then this is for you; you have a rare chance to tour one of the most famous destinations in the world. Come and book with Guiding Machu Picchu today and start an amazing trip of a lifetime. We are here to help you every step of the way to make your Incan adventure a reality!
Itinerary
The Sacred Valley Tour departs from Cusco at 7:30 a.m. and includes stops at an alpaca farm, a local alpaca farm, and a lookout point. The first stop is Pisac, a village with a market and Inca ruins. The guide will explain the ruins and market, and you can explore them independently. The tour continues to Urubamba, where lunch is served. The final stop is Ollantaytambo, a famous temple designed to align with the sun’s cycle and showcase ancient technology. The tour ends at Ollantaytambo Village, where you will rest for the next day’s Inca Trail tour to Machu Picchu.
Walking distance: Van
Overnight accommodations: Hotel in Ollantaytambo (3 stars hotel)
Meals: Lunch
Your guide will pick you up from your hotel at 5:40 a.m. in Ollantaytambo village. We will travel by train from Ollantaytambo to the trailhead (called km 104). We will cross the bridge, which is over the Urubamba River, to the checkpoint, where you will show your passport and entrance fee for the Short Inca Trail. Once you pass the checkpoint, we will start to hike to the first archaeological site (Chachabamba).
This complex was considered the second gate to Machu Picchu. After climbing for approximately 3.5 hours, we will arrive at the fascinating Inca site of Wiay Wayna, where we will stop to eat our box lunch. In the afternoon, we will continue through the cloud forest towards the famous Inti Punku (sun gate), from where we have our first panoramic view of the marvellous Machu Picchu. Continuing the inca foot step until we reach another view point or classic view point from where you will take your afternoon sun set photos, the bus will take us to Aguas Calientes to spend the night in the hotel.
Walking distance: 12 km / 7.5 miles
Overnight accommodations: Hotel in Aguas Calientes (3 stars hotel)
Meals: Box lunch and dinner. Breakfast is not included.
After an early breakfast at 5:00 am in Aguas Calientes, we will board one of the first tourist buses to the Machu Picchu main entrance. You will have an early-morning, 2-hour guided tour of this spectacular and mystical site.
This guided tour includes hiking through the different sections of the city, such as the urban sector, the agriculture sector, and the religious zone. After the guided tour, you will have free time to explore the city by yourself, according to the time set by the tour guide.
Additionally, this free time can be used to climb Huayna Picchu Mountain (1 hour up) or Machu Picchu Mountain (2 hours up) to have the best panoramic view of the surrounding mountains. However, if you would like to do this, please book it in advance with us, as there are additional tickets that need to be purchased. Climbing to the top of either mountain.
At the designated time, you will take a bus back to Aguas Calientes, where you will have lunch and receive your train ticket(s) back to Ollantaytambo. From Ollantaytambo, we will transfer you back to your hotel in Cusco using our private transport.
Walking distance: None
Overnight accommodations: None
Meals: Breakfast
Included/Excluded
Included
- An English-speaking professional guide experienced in cultural tours and trekking
- Private and comfortable transportation with a professional driver
- Trek briefing with your guide
- Pick up at your hotel
- One night of accommodation in Ollantaytambo Village (3-star hotel).
- Train from Ollantaytambo to km 104.
- A private transportation service from Ollantaytambo to Cusco
- Expedition train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
- One-night accommodation in Aguas Calientes (3 stars) hot shower, bathroom, private room, and breakfast included.
- Bus ticket from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes on day 1 round-trip bus ticket from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu on day 2.
- Short Inca Trail Admission Tickets and Machu Picchu Fee
- Private guided tour of Machu Picchu.
- First-aid kit, including an emergency oxygen tank.
- One box lunch and dinner in Aguas Calientes Village
- All local taxes
- Entrance fees to the sites: Sacred Valley Tourist Ticket
- Lunch on the Sacred Valley tour
Excluded
- First-day breakfast (usually served in the hotel), last lunch at Machu Picchu
- Entrance to Wayna Picchu Mountain is $75 per person.
- Entrance to Machu Picchu Mountain is $75 per person.
- Vistadome Train to Cusco instead of Expedition Train: Please add US$57 per person (for the return to Cusco Poroy at 4:43 pm).
- Personal expenses.
- Tipping for the guide.
