These are the absolute highlights! If you want to see the most important places from the Inca Empire and relax in luxury in the most scenic part of the Sacred Valley, this is the perfect tour package! In only three days you will see the most sacred archeological sites of the Sacred Valley and visit the fabled Machu Picchu!
Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu Tour – ITINERARY
Day 1: Chinchero – Maras – Moray – Relaxation and Spa treatment in nature
We will pick you up at your hotel in Cusco at 7:30am, with our private van and head towards the Sacred Valley of the Incas. You begin your visit at the village of Chinchero. Whereby you will find an adobe colonial church in the main plaza, dating from the early seventeenth century. It was built upon the foundations of an Inca temple or palace and is a marvelous example of the marriage of Inca and Spanish architecture. The ceiling and walls are covered in beautiful floral and religious designs. In addition, you will discover Inca archeological ruins and agricultural terraces, which are attributed to Inca Tupac Yupanqui who possibly used Chinchero as a kind of country resort.
Our second stop is the Salt Mines, called Salineras in Spanish, close to the colonial town of Maras. Hundreds of saltpans decorate the hillside and have been used for salt extraction since before the Inca era. A natural spring at the top of the valley discharges a small stream of water heavily laden with salt, which is diverted into saltpans and evaporated to produce a high quality salt. This is one of the few places in the world where you can find naturally pink salt!
Third, we visit the stunning Inca site of Moray also known as “The Greenhouses of the Incas.” Different levels of terraces are carved into a huge bowl, part of which was further excavated by the Incas. The terraces have varied microclimates depending on how deep into the basin they are placed. It is believed they were used by the Incas to research hybridization and the optimal conditions for their crops.
You will have lunch and spend the night at the spectacular Veronica View Hotel with the snowy peak of Veronica right in front of you. Enjoy exquisite cuisine, the spa, massages, the swimming pool and relaxing gardens full of native flowers and wildlife.
- Accommodation: Veronica View Hotel
- Meals: Breakfast
Day 2: Ollantaytambo – Machu Picchu
In the morning we drive you to the Ollantaytambo train station for your trip to Machu Picchu! Take the Vistadome train departing at 7:05 or the Expedition train departing at 6:10.
Travel in style with all of the comfort of Peru Rail through the Andes, leading into deep valleys as you follow the sacred Vilcanota River. As you approach Machu Picchu and get closer to the amazon jungle, you will pass through lush jungle. Look across the river to see layers of handmade Inca farming terraces, some of which are still farmed by local Quechua people in the same way their Inca ancestors did. As you approach Aguas Calientes, look up to see the astonishing Wiñay Wayna, perched on the canyon wall as if floating high above the river.
Your guide will meet you at the train station in Aguas Calientes and transfer you to Machu Picchu on the shuttle bus. Get 2.5 hours guided tour about the history of Machu Picchu. On your private tour, your guide will walk you through the rediscovery of these enigmatic ruins.
After your tour, descend by bus to Aguas Calientes with time for a leisurely lunch and a visit to the local flea markets or hot springs.
Your return journey is from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo, the gateway between the Sacred Valley of the Incas and Machu Picchu, a journey lasting just under 2 hours. Departing at 16:22 you arrive in Ollantaytambo at 18:10. On arrival, you will be transported by private van to Veronica View. You will get there just in time for an extraordinary experience dining in luxury at the hotel restaurant.
***Please note it is not possible to climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu with this time schedule.
- Accommodation: Veronica View Hotel
- Meal included: Breakfast
DAY 3: Ollantaytambo – Pisac – Cusco
We begin your last day in the Sacred Valley at Ollantaytambo, exploring the archeological site for about an hour. You will learn about the incredible architecture of the Sun Temple, admire the water fountains, the Intihuatana and the carefully engineered storehouses.
Onward, we drive to the archeological site of Pisac, where you can see an immense Inca cemetery with more than 2000 tombs. You will learn about the incredible farming terraces carved into the mountain. We will spend about 1.5 hours here, exploring the ancient Inca city. These ruins are quite extensive and you will see many examples of original Inca architecture. Then we head down to the colorful market of Pisac, which we visit for about 20 minutes.
We end the day by taking you to your hotel in Cusco, arriving around 2pm.
