Extended Sacred Valley Tour & Machu Picchu – 2 Days

One of the most frequent questions we get asked is, “I have two days in Cusco, what do I NEED to see?” The answer is the Sacred Valley (Ollantaytambo and Pisac in particular) and Machu Picchu. However, the Maras Salt Mines and Moray archeological site are close behind. Now, we have developed this tour that allows you to visit Maras, Moray, Pisac, Ollantaytambo, and Machu Picchu and as a bonus the Ccochahuasi Animal Sanctuary … in two days. This tour packs an incredible amount of beauty and history into a short time frame.

Machu Picchu is considered a masterpiece of architecture and engineering. Its unique architectural features and landscape contribute to a veil of mystery woven around much of the literature published about the site. The magic and mystery of Machu Picchu is internationally recognized and it has been on the List of World Heritage Sites of UNESCO since 1983 as part of a cultural and ecological site known as the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu.

We will pick you up at your hotel around 7 a.m. and our first stop is the Ccochahuasi Animal Sanctuary. This organization is dedicated to rescuing and looking after animals that have suffered mistreatment from former owners or poachers and illegal hunters who commercialize protected species. Many of the animals they shelter are endangered. One of the species at risk of extinction is the Andean Condor. The sanctuary has a dedicated program for this amazing bird, where they encourage their reproduction and later release the young Condors.

After our visit, we are off to Pisac to see our first Inca ruins on tour. At Pisac, you can see magnificent Inca remains. The ancient architecture and engineering of the Inca temples are breathtaking and will sweep you off your feet. Our guided tour of Pisac lasts about 2 hours. Then we will head back to the town of Pisac to visit the most colorful and traditional local market in the Cusco region and where you can buy traditional textiles at low prices. After seeing the market, our sightseeing continues as we drive along the beautiful Sacred Valley. This is an excellent time to enjoy the deluxe box lunch we provide for the tour.

Located near the town of Urubamba, we find the Moray Inca Site and the Maras Salt Mines. The Moray Inca site is a fascinating display of terraces It boasts three amphitheater-like terraces. These terraces, which are carved deep into the earth in a bowl shape, were thought to be used to determine the optimal conditions for growing crops. When we finish exploring Moray, we will head to the salt mines of Maras. This village is known as a former salt-producing center that dates back all the way to colonial times. The salt mines were used by the Incas and continue to be used to this day. There are over 3000 salt pools carved into the mountainside, being filled daily by a little stream of water. The area is amazing and beautiful.

Back on the road, it is an approximately 30-minute drive to get to the last Inca ruins on our tour, known as Ollantaytambo (Inca palace). This ruin was built with pink granite rocks and is another impressive example of Inca craftsmanship. Here you can see the second biggest rock from the Inca times (90 tons), which was used as part of the Temple of the Sun. We will have a guided tour of the site.

We will have dinner at a fantastic restaurant in Ollantaytambo featuring authentic Peruvian cuisine.

After dinner, we will go to the train station. We will take the train to Aguas Calientes. During the trip you will see many glaciers and snow-capped peaks, lush green valleys, and Incan farming terraces on both sides of the valley. Upon arrival to Aguas Calientes, you will check into your hotel room and relax before your exciting visit to Machu Picchu the next day.

It is necessary to get up very early to take the bus to Machu Picchu to arrive around 6 in the morning; if you are lucky with the weather, you can see the sunrise. We can also see Machu Picchu almost without people; once in Machu Picchu, we have the guided tour for 2 hours, and then you have free time to explore Machu Picchu on your own. After visiting Machu Picchu, we return to Aguas Calientes for lunch before taking the train back to Ollantaytambo, and from Ollantaytambo, we will transfer you back to Cusco.

You can add the extra tickets to climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain if you wish.

• Briefing at the Hotel.
• Pick up from hotel in Cusco.
• Private round-trip transportation.
• English / Quechua / Spanish professional Guide speak.
• Deluxe box lunch on day 1
• Dinner on night one in Ollantaytambo
• First aid kit.
• Bus Round Trip (Aguas Calientes – Machupicchu – Aguas Calientes).
• Entrance fee to Machu Picchu (Huayna Picchu US$ 80 extra).
• 1-night accommodation in Aguas Calientes (twin bedroom with private bathroom and hot shower).
• Visit Machupicchu on the last day (2 hours guided tour to explore the whole incan sites).
• Tourist Expeditions Train ticket from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (round trip).

• Tourist ticket for entrance to Sacred Valley archeological sites (US $21 per person)
• Entrance fee for Maras salt mines (10 soles / US $3 per person)
• Entrance to Cochahuasi (20 soles / US $7 per person)
• Breakfast on day 1
• Lunch on day 2
• Tips (optional).

• Original Passport.
• Original Student Card (if you book as a student).
• A travel insurance card is essential.
• Sun hat.
• Sun protection cream.
• Waterproof jacket/rain poncho.
• Cash – sufficient for snacks, tips, and souvenirs.
• Water.
• Your own special medicines you may need, paracetamol, second skin blisters, etc.
• Bathers/swimsuit (if you think swimming in the hot springs).

We also offer a special service only for you or your group, you have the power to choose the size of your group and the date of departure, we will never add other people since it will be organized only for you.

Our Extended Sacred Valley Tour & Machu Picchu – 2 Days private service, includes additional items such as:

Additional Inclusions:

• Private Transport just for you.
• Hotel 3 Stars (At Aguas Calientes Town).
• Tourist Ticket for archeological sites.
• Entrance to climb Huaynapicchu Mountain.
• Vistadome Train (First Class train back from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo).
• Private Van from Ollantaytambo to Cusco.
• Bus Round Trip (Aguas Calientes – Machupicchu – Aguas Calientes).
• Lunch in Urubamba & Machupicchu or Aguas Calientes.
• Tour Guide to explore Machupicchu and Huaynapicchu all day. And of course, we pay a little more to our Staff and Guide.

Our prices for the Extended Sacred Valley Tour & Machu Picchu – 2 Days are reasonable and are in different packages with the prices that are handled in the city of Cusco, and discounts will apply automatically for groups of over 5 people when booking this tour together at the same time.
We are a local tour operator that never shares service with any other company in Cusco, most agencies in Cusco share their service to save operating costs with poor quality. We guarantee to make the trip even if there are only 02 people in your group.
Our booking process is simple and you can secure your trip with only a 30% deposit and pay the rest at the destination.

We want your vacation to Peru to be as enjoyable and stress-free as possible. This section contains answers to any inquiries regarding going with Huaynas Expeditions. Please read the following information; it will assist you if you have any queries regarding our services.