Discover Machu Picchu on a 2-day journey from Cusco, combining Andean landscapes, culture, and history. Travel by train to Aguas Calientes and enjoy some free time in the town before visiting Machu Picchu the following day. Explore the Inca citadel with a professional guide and discover its main temples and sectors while experiencing one of Peru’s most remarkable destinations. An ideal option for travelers who want to experience Machu Picchu at a more relaxed pace.
We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco around 7:00 a.m. and travel 30 minutes to an alpaca farm, where you will meet llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, and guanacos. Our guides will explain the differences and importance of these South American camelids in Andean culture. Then we will go to the Taray Viewpoint, an ideal spot to enjoy stunning views of the Sacred Valley and the Andes Mountains.
Afterward, we will visit the archaeological site of Pisac, located in the upper part of the town of the same name, where you can see impressive agricultural terraces adapted to the mountainside, ancient hillside tombs, temples, and aqueducts. Later, you will descend to the town to explore the colorful Pisac Market, where women from local communities sell their handmade products. It’s a great place to shop and experience Andean culture firsthand.
Our next stop is Urubamba, in the heart of the Sacred Valley, where you’ll enjoy a delicious buffet lunch prepared with fresh, local ingredients. You’ll have plenty of options to choose from, including meats and vegetables from the region.
After lunch, we’ll visit the mysterious circular terraces of Moray, considered an ancient Inca agricultural laboratory, and the Maras Salt Mines, where more than 3,000 salt ponds are still worked by local families using traditional Inca techniques.
To end the day, we’ll explore Ollantaytambo, an archaeological site with temples and terraces. We’ll also tour its town, with its narrow cobblestone streets and water channels that have been in use since Inca times. Dinner will be served at a local restaurant.
Around 7:00 p.m., you’ll board the Expedition train to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo), where you’ll spend the night in a comfortable hotel.
We’ll wake up early for the most anticipated day of the trip. After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll board one of the first buses to Machu Picchu. Upon arrival at the main gate, you’ll need to present your entrance tickets and original passport. Once inside, you’ll explore the best of Machu Picchu with our guides. The route and schedule depend on your booking time; we suggest booking in advance for better options.
Our guides will explain the history of Machu Picchu and take you through the terraces, temples, and enclosures of the citadel. The guided tour lasts between 2 and 3 hours. Afterward, you’ll have time to hike either Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain (you can only visit one per day, and the entrance fee and visit are not included). If you wish to add either of these mountains, advance booking is required.
This tour includes Circuit 2, the most comprehensive tour of Machu Picchu. If your chosen tour is sold out, we will arrange the best available alternative (Circuit 1 or 3). We recommend booking in advance, as tickets and schedules sell out quickly.
After Machu Picchu, you will take the bus back to Aguas Calientes, where you can have lunch at the restaurant of your choice on your own. In the afternoon, you will board the Expedition train back to Ollantaytambo. From there, our private van will transfer you to your hotel in Cusco, arriving at approximately 7:30 p.m.
