PERÚ
3 Day Essential Cusco, Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu Tour
Tour Overview
This highly efficient three day itinerary covers the essential archaeological sites of the Cusco region, guiding you from the high altitude Andean plains down to the dense cloud forests of the Machu Picchu Sanctuary. Over 72 hours, the landscape shifts dramatically. You begin at 11,152 feet (3,399 meters) in Cusco, surrounded by rolling brown hills and massive stone structures, before descending into the Urubamba river valley, where green agricultural terraces dominate the terrain.
Designed for travelers short on time including couples, small families, and professionals seeking a streamlined cultural trip this route maximizes sightseeing without feeling rushed. The physical difficulty rating is easy to moderate. The most significant challenge is the altitude. To counter this, Montavia Travel specifically structures Day 1 as an easy afternoon walking tour, allowing your body to adapt before tackling the stairs of Pisac and Machu Picchu on subsequent days.
Booking directly with Montavia Travel guarantees superior pacing and logistical precision. Generic tours often crowd the major viewpoints simultaneously. Our local experts time departures to spread out the crowds, utilize private transport for rapid transit across the Sacred Valley, and proactively secure the highest value official entry circuits (prioritizing Circuit 2) for the citadel well in advance.
The most reliable time to travel this route is during the dry season, running from May to October. During these months, you can expect clear blue skies, minimal rain disruption on the train tracks, and firm, dry stone pathways throughout the archaeological zones. While December through March brings heavier rains, the mountains turn intensely green, and tourist numbers drop significantly, offering a quieter experience for those prepared for wet weather.
- Acclimate with a Cusco Tour Walk the historic streets of the Inca capital, stopping at the Qoricancha sun temple and massive stone ruins of Sacsayhuaman to build your high-altitude tolerance at a comfortable pace.
- Explore the Full Sacred Valley Observe traditional Andean farming techniques at the Pisac terraces, the circular depressions of Moray, and the striking white evaporation pools at the Maras Salt Mines before riding the train to Aguas Calientes.
- Navigate Machu Picchu with Experts Tour the world-famous Inca citadel alongside a specialist Montavia Travel guide who secures the best available circuits and shares factual insights about the terraces, stone temples, and surrounding cloud forest peaks.
- Travel on the Expedition Train Ride through the Urubamba River gorge aboard the comfortable Expedition train, maximizing your sightseeing hours as the dry Andean landscape transitions directly into lush high jungle terrain.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrive in Cusco and Tour the Inca Capital
Your trip begins with a morning arrival in Cusco, where a Montavia Travel representative will be waiting at Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport to drive you directly to your downtown hotel. Because the city sits at over 11,000 feet, we schedule a completely open morning for you to drink coca tea, rest, and adjust to the thinner air.At exactly 1:00 PM, your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby to start the half day city tour. We begin on foot, walking toward Qoricancha.
Historically the religious center of the Inca civilization, this site features perfectly fitted stone walls that later served as the foundation for the Santo Domingo Convent. By 2:30 PM, a private van will take you just outside the city limits to Sacsayhuaman. Here, you will spend an hour observing limestone blocks weighing up to 100 tons, arranged in zig-zag patterns offering clear views over Cusco's red rooftops.The afternoon concludes with short visits to three nearby sites: the carved rock channels of Qenqo, the military outpost of Puca Pucara, and the ancient water sources of Tambomachay. You will return to your hotel by 5:30 PM. The evening is yours to eat dinner independently at a local restaurant near the Plaza de Armas and turn in early.
Day 2 - Traverse the Sacred Valley and Ride the Train
Following breakfast at your hotel, your guide and driver will pick you up at 7:00 AM to beat the heavier traffic leaving the city. The first stop at 8:00 AM is a local camelid center. Here, you can stand just feet away from native llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, and guanacos while learning how local weavers process their wool. A brief stop at the Taray viewpoint follows, offering sweeping views of the Urubamba River cutting through steep green mountains.By 9:30 AM, you will arrive at the Pisac archaeological site.
Your guide will walk you through the upper farming terraces and stone residences, explaining how the Incas adapted agriculture to the steep mountain slopes. Afterward, we descend into Pisac town for a 30-minute stop at the artisan market, a great place to find raw textiles and ceramics. At 1:00 PM, we stop in the town of Urubamba for an included buffet lunch featuring local ingredients like quinoa and native potatoes.The afternoon focuses on two unique agricultural sites.
At 2:30 PM, you will view Moray, a series of deep, circular terraces utilized by the Incas as an agricultural testing ground. By 3:45 PM, we move to the Maras Salt Mines, where thousands of bright white, hillside evaporation pools are still actively harvested by local families. At 5:00 PM, we reach Ollantaytambo, a town still utilizing its original Inca street grid and water channels. After an included dinner near the station at 6:30 PM, you will board the 7:04 PM Expedition train. The two hour ride follows the river down into the cloud forest, arriving in Aguas Calientes around 8:45 PM, where we will check you into your hotel for the night.
Day 3 - Navigate Machu Picchu and Return to Cusco
Your day starts early with a 5:30 AM hotel breakfast, allowing you to catch one of the first shuttle buses up the Hiram Bingham highway. The ride takes 30 minutes, zigzagging up the steep mountain face. By 6:30 AM, you will arrive at the entry gates of the Machu Picchu Sanctuary. You must present your original physical passport alongside your pre secured entry ticket to pass the checkpoints.Once inside, your Montavia Travel guide will lead a two hour comprehensive tour based on your specific circuit.
We prioritize securing Circuit 2, which grants access to the upper platforms for classic photographs, as well as the lower urban sector, the Main Temple, and the agricultural terraces. Your guide will provide factual explanations of the stonework, the alignment of the windows with the solstices, and the rapid abandonment of the site by the Incas. If you arranged permits for Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain months in advance, you will begin your unguided hike immediately following the main circuit.By 10:30 AM, you will board the shuttle back down to Aguas Calientes. You will have free time until 1:00 PM to explore the small town and purchase lunch independently at a café of your choice. At 2:30 PM, you will board the return Expedition train back to Ollantaytambo. Upon arriving at the station at 4:15 PM, our private driver will be waiting to transfer you directly back to Cusco. Expect to arrive at your hotel around 7:30 PM, concluding your journey through the Inca empire.
- Professional English / Spanish speaking guides specialized in Andean history.
- Briefing session prior to the start of the tour.
- One night in a comfortable hotel in downtown Cusco.
- One night in a hotel in Aguas Calientes.
- Two morning breakfasts provided by your hotels.
- Half day guided walking and driving tour of Cusco.
- Full day guided transport through the Sacred Valley, including Maras and Moray.
- One buffet lunch and one dinner provided on Day 2.
- All regional tourist tickets and entrance fees for the listed sites.
- Official Machu Picchu entry ticket (securing the best available official circuit).
- Round trip shuttle bus tickets connecting Aguas Calientes and the Machu Picchu gates.
- Round trip PeruRail Expedition train tickets (Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and back).
- Private van transfer from the Ollantaytambo train station back to your Cusco hotel.
- Domestic flights between Lima and Cusco.
- Gratuities for guides and drivers.
- Travel and medical insurance.
- Entrance permits for Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain hikes.
- Dinner on any night, and lunch in Aguas Calientes on Day 3
- Personal hiking gear, trekking poles, or horse rentals at Humantay and Rainbow Mountain.
The Cusco city tour officially begins at 1:00 PM. We recommend scheduling your arriving flight for the early morning so you have several hours to rest at your hotel before the tour starts.
Cusco is located at 11,152 feet (3,399 meters), meaning mild altitude symptoms like shortness of breath or lightheadedness are common on the first day. This itinerary mitigates the risk by keeping Day 1 relaxed and dropping to lower elevations in the Sacred Valley (9,400 feet) and Machu Picchu (7,970 feet) on days two and three.
We require booking at least 60 to 90 days in advance. The Ministry of Culture strictly limits daily visitor numbers for Machu Picchu, and prime tickets—specifically for Circuit 2—frequently sell out two to three months ahead of time.
Montavia Travel always attempts to secure Circuit 2, as it provides the most comprehensive walking route through the upper terraces and the main urban sector. If Circuit 2 is sold out, we will secure the best official alternative, typically Circuit 1 or Circuit 3, depending on exact availability.
Your hotel provides breakfast on Day 2 and Day 3. We also include a buffet lunch in Urubamba and dinner in Ollantaytambo on Day 2. All other meals, including lunch on Day 3 in Aguas Calientes, are purchased independently.
Yes, you can add the Huayna Picchu hike to Day 3. However, permits are extremely limited and must be requested at the time of booking. Adding this hike will change your required entry circuit and slightly alter your morning schedule.
This tour includes round-trip tickets on the Expedition train operated by PeruRail. This train features comfortable forward-facing seats and large windows for viewing the passing river and mountains. Upgrades to the Vistadome train are available upon request.
Yes. You are legally required to present your original physical passport—the exact same one used to book your permit—at the main checkpoint. Digital copies or driver's licenses will not be accepted by government officials.
You will leave your primary luggage in the secure storage room of your Cusco hotel on the morning of Day 2. Train regulations prohibit large suitcases, so you will only bring a small overnight backpack (up to 8 kg / 17 lbs) to Aguas Calientes.
You can chat with us and store your bags without any fees.
From
$ 620 US
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