The Sacred Valley of the Incas is one of the most important destinations in Cusco. The valley starts at the Inca ruins of Pisac, and it ends in Machu Picchu. It follows the course of the Urubamba river, also known as the Vilcanota river.
The Inca Empire managed to establish control over the Sacred Valley between the 10th and 14th centuries. The valley has a lower elevation and a warmer climate than the city of Cusco.
To increase the production of food in the Sacred Valley, the Incas built numerous terraces known as “andenes”. These structures can be found in almost all Inca ruins located in the Sacred Valley. The valley also housed numerous Inca royal states, such as Ollantaytambo.
During the Spanish conquest, the Sacred Valley served as the main battleground between Incas and Spanish armies. In 1537, Manco Inca defeated the Spanish in the battle of Ollantaytambo. However, he was forced to leave the area.
Nowadays, the Sacred Valley is still the main source of food for the city of Cusco. Countless farms can be found along the Urubamba river.
During this 2-day tour, you will explore the Sacred Valley of the Incas on the first day. On the second day, you will travel to the beautiful citadel of Machu Picchu, after spending a night in Aguas Calientes town.
We are one of the most trusted tour operators in Cusco, Peru. Our guides are experts in the history of the numerous Inca sites of the region. We also offer guided tours to Maras, Moray, and the Inca trail to Machu Picchu.
Cusco Hotel Transfer
07:00 am
On the first day, we will visit the archaeological sites of Pisac and Ollantaytambo. Then, we will take a train to Aguas Calientes, the entry point to Machu Picchu.
We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at 7:00 am. Then we will drive to the archaeological site of Pisac. Pisac is located on the east side of the Sacred Valley, at an altitude of 3300 m.s.a.l. (10826 f.a.s.l.).
Pisac was built in the XV century, during the reign of Inca Pachacutec. After the Spanish conquest, most of the buildings of Pisac were sacked and the original population escaped the area.
The Inca ruins of Pisac comprises numerous stone structures. These include the Acchapata terraces, the Pucaras, and the neighborhoods of Intiwatana, Tianayuc, K’alla Q’asa, Pisaq’a, and Qanchis Raqay.
After exploring Pisac, we will go to Urubamba town. Urubamba is located in the lowest and warmest section of the Sacred Valley. Here we will have a buffet lunch.
Afterwards, we will continue our journey to Ollantaytambo. Ollantaytambo was a ceremonial center and Inca royal state. It also served as a temporal capital for the Inca resistance during the Spanish conquest.
We will have a guided tour of Ollantaytambo, and then we will go to the nearby train station. There, we will take a train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes. The train trip takes around 1.5 hours.
Once we arrive in Aguas Calientes, our staff will transfer you to your hotel room, where you will spend the night. You will have time to explore the town and visit the hot springs on your own.
You will wake up early to have breakfast. Then, we will take a bus to Machu Picchu. After passing the security checkpoints, you will enter the incredible Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. We will be visiting the Main Temple, the Temple of the Three Windows, the Intihuatana, and much more. If you have booked a tour to the Huayna Picchu mountain, our staff will guide you to the respective entrance.
After visiting Machu Picchu, we will return to Aguas Calientes town. Here you will have free time to have lunch at a local restaurant. The price of the lunch is not included in the tour.
In the afternoon, we will board a train to Ollantaytambo. Once there, we will return to Cusco city. We will be arriving there around 9:00 pm.
