- 7 Days & 6 Nigths
- Up to 12
From:
View Itinerary
MARAS, MORAY AND MACHU PICCHU 2 DAYS
The Treasures of Southern Peru: Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu Embark on a unique adventure to discover the Incas’ fascinating history and delight in Cusco’s most breathtaking landscapes. Discover the treasures of the Sacred Valley, visitin…
Duration
2 Days & 1 Nigths
Group Size
Up to 12
Distance
-
Difficulty
Easy
Departures
Daily departures
Ideal For
For Everyone
THE EXPERIENCE
MARAS, MORAY AND MACHU PICCHU 2 DAYS
MACHU PICCHU TOURS · Cusco, Peru
The Treasures of Southern Peru: Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu
Embark on a unique adventure to discover the Incas’ fascinating history and delight in Cusco’s most breathtaking landscapes. Discover the treasures of the Sacred Valley, visiting the must-see places of Chinchero, Moray, the Maras Salt Mines, and Urubamba. Then, board the train in Ollantaytambo and let yourself be amazed by the legendary citadel of Machu Picchu, one of the most majestic sites in the world. Accompanied by your expert guide, you will feel the energy that emanates from this sacred place. When you return to Cusco, you will be filled with unforgettable memories of a true experience.
Itinerary
Day-by-day information for this experience.
Day 01: Cusco | Chinchero - Moray - Maras Salt Mines - Urubamba - Ollantaytambo - Aguas Calientes
Immerse yourself in the culture and history of the Inca’s Sacred Valley
This morning, we will pick you up early from your hotel and head to the beautiful town of Chinchero (3,762 m / 12,343 ft), where you will find amazing Inca constructions and a textile art demonstration. Then, we will continue to the impressive archaeological site of Moray (3,385 m / 11,106 ft), consisting of a series of circular terraces that are believed to have been used for experimental agriculture and for studying the growth of different crops at different altitudes.
We will continue to the famous Maras Salt Mines, a collection of over 3,000 pools that have been used since pre-Hispanic times to extract salt from naturally flowing saltwater in the area. This salt has a pinkish hue and is known for its healing properties and delicious taste. It’s a great gift for someone back home and perfect for cooking.
Next, we will head to Urubamba to enjoy a buffet lunch with different traditional dishes of your choice. After a well-deserved break, we will go to Ollantaytambo to board the train that will take us to Aguas Calientes.
Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, you will head to your hotel to rest, or, if you prefer, you can stroll around the small town before dinner. It’s also a good idea to enjoy the thermal medicinal baths with the same name as the town. Tonight, we recommend sleeping early as tomorrow you will explore the impressive Inca citadel of Machu Picchu.
DAY FACTS
- MEALS: Buffet Lunch and Dinner
- ACCOMMODATION: Hotel
- MINIMUM ELEVATION: 2,040 m / 6,693 ft
- HIGHEST ELEVATION: 3,762 m / 12,342 ft
- ACCOMMODATION ELEVATION: 2,040 m / 6,693 ft
Day 02: Aguas Calientes | Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu - Ollantaytambo - Cusco
Explore the enigmatic trails of Machu Picchu and uncover its secrets
The day you’ve been eagerly waiting for has finally arrived. Today, you’ll be able to explore the magical and mysterious streets of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu. To ensure a unique experience and avoid crowds of tourists, you’ll start your tour early in the morning. You’ll board a bus that will take you about 25 minutes to the entrance of the Inca citadel.
Upon arrival, you’ll immerse yourself in the vibrations and impressive view of one of the World’s New Seven Wonders. For about two hours, you’ll explore the most critical places on a guided tour and feel the powerful energy emanating from this sacred place. If you have an additional entrance ticket, you can climb the imposing Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain to enjoy a fantastic panoramic view of the entire complex.
After your great visit, you’ll return to Aguas Calientes, where you’ll have free time to have lunch at the restaurant of your choice and stroll around this beautiful town before boarding the train back to Ollantaytambo at sunset. Remember to be there half an hour before departure time.
From Ollantaytambo, our private transport will be waiting for you to take you back to your hotel in Cusco, where you can rest and remember your experience in Machu Picchu.
DAY FACTS
- MEALS: Breakfast
- DIFFICULTY: Easy
- ACTIVITY DURATION: 2-3 hours exploring Machu Picchu
- MACHU PICCHU CITADEL ELEVATION: 2,430 m / 7,972 ft
- OPTIONAL MOUNTAINS: Moderate to Challenging
- MACHU PICCHU MOUNTAIN ELEVATION: 3,000 m / 9,843 ft (3-4 hours)
- HUAYNA PICCHU MOUNTAIN ELEVATION: 2,720 m / 8,924 ft (2 hours)
- HUCHUY PICCHU MOUNTAIN ELEVATION: 2,497 m / 8,192 ft (1.5 hours)
Inclusions
Services included and excluded from the trip.
¿What Is Included?
Permits & Entrance Tickets
Entry to Maras Salt Mines
Machu Picchu Circuit 2 offers the most complete and popular route through the citadel, making it the most requested. Although included in this experience, availability is limited, so we strongly recommend booking at least three months in advance.
If Circuit 2 is unavailable, we will arrange Circuit 3-B, which explores the lower area of the citadel, including the urban sector and key ceremonial sites. If this is also sold out, Circuit 1-B will be arranged, covering mainly the upper panoramic area with the iconic postcard viewpoint.
High Quality Service & Safety
Pre-departure Briefing
Experienced Tour Guide
Our official tour guides speak English and Spanish and are professionally trained and certified. We choose them for their experience, responsibility, unbridled passion for exploring, and pride in sharing our culture and history. In every experience, they will keep you safe and comfortable so you can enjoy your time worry-free!
Medical Kit or First AID Kit
All Salkantay Trekking guides have specialized first aid training and attend mandatory training sessions every February. Your guide will always carry a first aid kit and oxygen to handle basic emergencies (altitude sickness, diarrhea, cuts, scrapes, etc.). If needed, we will evacuate you from the trail as quickly as possible and ensure you arrive at a clinic for treatment.
24/7 Customer Service
We have telephone service available 24 hours/day for ease of communication with Salkantay Trekking leading up to your tour.
Accommodation
Hotel in Aguas Calientes
You will spend one night in a comfortable hotel in Aguas Calientes, including luggage storage while you visit Machu Picchu. Accommodation is in double, twin, and triple rooms.
Meals
- Day 1: Buffet Lunch in the Sacred Valley and Dinner in Aguas Calientes.
- Day 2: Breakfast at the hotel
Transportation
Transfers
- Day 1: We will pick you up at your hotel to explore the Sacred Valley, before heading to Ollantaytambo station, where you will take the train to Aguas Calientes.
- Day 2: Transfer from Ollantaytambo train station to your hotel in Cusco.
Train Tickets
- Day 1: From Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (Expedition Train).
- Day 2: From Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo (Expedition Train).
Round-Trip Bus Ticket Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED?
Boleto Turistico or Cusco Tourist Ticket
This ticket is required to access many of the most popular attractions in Cusco and the Sacred Valley, including archaeological sites and museums (Applies to Day 1).
- From PEN 70.00 (US$ 20.00) to PEN 130.00 (US$ 40.00) per person.
Huayna Picchu Mountain
You can climb the famous mountain you always see in the photos behind the archaeological site of Machu Picchu. It’s 45 minutes uphill, and coming back down can be scary if you fear heights. You can take this excursion once your guided tour to Machu Picchu ends. The permit must be issued at least one month in advance due to high demand. Consider that there could be changes to protect your integrity, mainly due to weather conditions.
- The ticket for Huayna Picchu Mountain has an extra cost of US$ 60.00 per person.
Machu Picchu Mountain
Machu Picchu Mountain is another of the mountains that surround the archaeological site of Machu Picchu. It offers less steep, wider, and visually less frightening trails than Huayna Picchu, and it takes 1.5 hours to reach the top. This walk requires an entrance ticket which we can secure for you if we have time in advance.
- The ticket for Machu Picchu Mountain has an extra cost of US$ 60.00 per person.
Day 1: Breakfast
Day 2: Lunch in Aguas Calientes and Dinner in Cusco
Travel Insurance
Tips for our staff
Tipping is usual on any excursion to Peru. Although we pay good salaries to our team, something extra is always welcome.
Additional costs or delays beyond our control
Landslides, bad weather conditions, itinerary modifications due to a safety concern, illness, pandemic, government policy changes, political instability, strikes, acts of God, etc.
Before You Go
Practical information to help you prepare for the journey.
We want to make your trip to Peru as memorable and as carefree as possible. In this section, you’ll find the answers to all the questions you have about traveling with Salkantay Trekking in one place. Please read the following information carefully – it will help you with any questions about our services.
Pre-departure Briefing
The evening before your trip, our staff will contact you to provide full instructions on the tour (between 6 to 8 p.m., by phone call and Whatsapp). Please make sure you are available at that time. If not, please contact us by email or phone to schedule a different time or visit the Salkantay Trekking Office.
Trek Balance Payment (in Cusco)
The tour has to be paid in full at most 2 days before your departure. Otherwise, your reservation will not be confirmed. It would be greatly appreciated if you pay the tour balance (US dollars or Peruvian soles) at our office in Cusco. You can withdraw money from several ATMs located in the historical center. We also accept payments by CARD or PAYPAL online, but please note this is subject to a 5% fee (charged by Niubiz and PayPal). We do not accept bank checks or traveler’s checks as payment methods.
Can I store my luggage at your office?
Of course! During the trip, you can store your main luggage for free at our office (arrange it with us on the briefing day or by email). You can also safely keep any equipment you won’t need for the tour in your hotel. Almost every hotel offers this service. Please do not leave valuable items in your bags; put them in the hotel safe and ask for an itemized receipt (in the unlikely case of theft, many insurance companies require that you have a copy of the receipt). For extra peace of mind, place items like credit cards inside a sealed and signed envelope.
Pick up of guests
All pickups are within Cusco City. Please also note:
- We recommend booking a hotel in the historic center for its convenient location.
- The pickup time is confirmed the day before the tour.
- Due to traffic, the pickup time may vary between 30 and 45 minutes.
- Cusco is an old city; thus, it has many narrow cobbled streets. Some hotels and Airbnbs may be located on streets without access to cars or on long, steep slopes, making it difficult to transport luggage. For such reasons, we strongly advise you to book accommodation with good access.
Return to Cusco
Returning from Machu Picchu requires quite a bit of logistics, but don’t worry. Everything is included in your tour!
- In Machu Picchu, you’ll board a bus that’ll take you for 25 minutes to the small city of Aguas Calientes. The buses are boarded according to arrival.
- In Aguas Calientes, you’ll board a train to Ollantaytambo (or Poroy). Your guide will give you the train tickets where the boarding time will be shown. Make sure you’re on the platform 30 minutes early. The train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo takes 1:45 hours.
- Once you arrive at the station, our representative, identified with the Salkantay Trekking clothing, will be waiting to transfer you to Cusco or directly to your hotel. The trip from Ollantaytambo to Cusco takes 1:30 hours.
- In Cusco, depending on your hotel’s location, we’ll take you to a smaller car from our company (Hyundai H1) to transfer you faster to your hotel.
Group Tours
Group tours are made up of different people with varying physical conditions and ages. By agreeing to be part of a group tour, you acknowledge that some people may be faster or slower than you. Therefore, each person can go at their own pace on the route.
In some cases, a group may want to modify the tour; however, the guide will be the one who decides, after consulting with all participants, whether such changes are possible.
Strikes and demonstrations
Strikes and demonstrations are usually common in Peru, which may interrupt some of our tours. Roads and train tracks can be blocked or taken over. However, we will try to keep your trip as originally planned, even if it means leaving the night before the scheduled date.
In case of changes or cancellations, our operations department will coordinate everything with you. Your safety is our highest priority, and we will make our decisions to protect it.
Lost objects
Please pay attention to where you leave your belongings and remember to take everything once you leave a place or a transport. You’re the only one responsible for your objects during the tour.
Packing List
Recommended items for a comfortable and well-prepared trip.
- Valid Passport
- Extra money (recommended soles)
- Personal medication
- Water bottle or CamelBak – (optional water purifying pills)aa
- Sunblock: factor 70 or more
- Insect repellent
- Personal Care Products
- Light footwear or sandals
- Trekking pants (*)
- Trekking socks
- Shorts
- Waterproof gaiter
- Long sleeve t-shirts
- Warm jacket
- Waterproof jacket
- Raincoat or rain poncho
- Sun hat to protect neck and face
- Neck gaiter or buff
- Sunglasses with UV protection
- Medium trekking backpack (15 - 25 liter)
- Camera and charger
- Power bank
- Snacks: Energy bars, chocolate, candies, dried fruits, etc.
- Bathing suit
- Towel
Pricing
Rates and important commercial information for this tour.
Starting From
US$ 500
per person
Frequently Asked Questions
General travel information for Inja Expeditions guests.
Booking with Inja Expeditions is simple. First, choose the tour or trekking experience you are interested in and send us your travel details, preferred date and number of passengers. Our team will confirm availability and provide the corresponding booking instructions. Once the required deposit or payment has been received, we will send you a confirmation with the details of your reservation. We recommend checking all passenger information carefully after receiving your confirmation.
For multi-day treks, the briefing allows you to meet your guide and review the most important details before departure. We will explain the itinerary, weather conditions, recommended equipment, pickup time, luggage arrangements and any specific considerations for your route. It is also a good opportunity to ask last-minute questions and make sure you are fully prepared for the experience.
For selected multi-day programs, luggage storage can be coordinated before departure. Travelers normally take only the items required for the trek and leave their main luggage securely stored until they return. Please confirm this service with our team before your departure, as arrangements may vary depending on the itinerary.
Water arrangements depend on the specific itinerary. For many multi-day treks, travelers should begin the first day with their own drinking water and additional safe water is provided or made available during the route. Your trip briefing will explain exactly how water is managed on your chosen trek. We strongly recommend carrying a reusable water bottle or hydration system.
Yes. We recommend carrying some Peruvian soles in cash, especially on trekking routes and in remote areas where cards may not be accepted. You may need cash for snacks, drinks, optional activities, local services, hot springs, tips or unexpected transportation. The amount you need will depend on the length and type of your trip.
Tips are completely optional and should reflect your satisfaction with the service you receive. If you feel your guide, cook, muleteers or support team provided excellent service, a gratuity is always appreciated. There is no mandatory amount, and our team can provide general guidance during the pre-trip briefing if you wish.
Group size depends on the tour, season and number of confirmed travelers. Inja Expeditions aims to keep groups comfortable so guides can provide personal attention and travelers can enjoy the experience without feeling part of an excessively large group. The expected group size can be confirmed before you book.
For trekking programs, you should carry a small daypack with the personal items you need during the day, such as water, sunscreen, rain protection, a warm layer, camera and snacks. Depending on the trek, Inja Expeditions may also provide or coordinate a duffel bag for additional belongings transported by the support team. Weight limits vary by route and will be explained before departure.
Electricity and internet access vary considerably between routes and campsites. Some accommodations or camps may offer charging points and limited Wi-Fi, sometimes for an additional fee, while remote sections may have no connectivity at all. We recommend bringing a fully charged power bank and downloading any important information before leaving Cusco.
A group tour allows you to share the experience with other travelers who have booked the same departure, making it a social and generally more economical option. A private tour is reserved exclusively for you and your companions, allowing greater flexibility with pace, attention from the guide and certain logistical details. Private tours are especially suitable for couples, families and groups of friends looking for a more personalized experience.
Bathroom and shower facilities depend on the route and the type of accommodation used each night. Some campsites provide basic bathroom facilities, while certain locations may offer hot showers for an additional local fee. On routes that include a hotel night, standard bathroom and shower facilities will normally be available. Please review your specific itinerary for exact details.
On certain trekking routes, especially Salkantay and Ausangate, horses may be available for assistance on specific sections of the trail. Availability depends on location, weather and local operators, so this service cannot always be guaranteed at every point of the trek. If you are concerned about your fitness or altitude, please let us know before departure so we can explain the available options.
Why you'll love it
Tour Highlights
Enjoy stunning panoramic views of the Peruvian Andes as you delve into the mysterious archaeological sites of the region.
Walk through the most important places of the Sacred Valley of the Incas and discover its history.
Explore ancient Inca trails and appreciate their impressive architecture.
Learn about the traditions and customs of the local communities.
Uncover the secrets of the mystical Machu Picchu, one of the Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
KEEP EXPLORING
View all tours
You May Also Like
Travel Associations & Certifications
