Sacred Valley & Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu-3 days

Itinerary

DAY 1: SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS (Pisac + Moray + Maras + Salt mines + Ollantaytambo) 

We will pick you up from your hotel at 7:30 am and head to the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

Our first stop is the Manos de la Comunidad, which has a variety of Camelids indigenous to Peru like the Llama, Alpaca, Guanacos and the Vicuna. The Vicuna produces very fine wool and can only be shorn every three years. Visit this farm to pet, feed and take pictures with the animals. In the center are local women dressed in traditional garments, made from the wool of these animals. As you exit, encounter a museum and souvenir shop. The workers are always ready to answer any questions, but you never feel pressured to buy anything.

Stop at the Mirador of Taray to enjoy a beautiful overhead view of the Urubamba Valley, which accents the surrounding mountains. Head to the Pisac archaeological site, see the biggest Inca cemetery with more than 2,000 tombs that line the mountain side. Learn more about the value of this site in terms of Agriculture. Explore the many Inca farming terraces, food storage warehouses at the top of the hill and the water channels for irrigation purposes.

Then, start driving to Urubamba for lunch, passing small farming towns like Coya and Calca before stopping at Urubamba for a delectable buffet lunch. The restaurant has an impressive spread of different foods and is vegan and vegetarian friendly. There is a variety of fresh vegetables, salads, protein dishes, desserts and tea and coffee. 

After lunch, we continue towards the colonial town of Maras, and the Pre-Inca salt mines. Enjoy this historical site, that continues to be the bread and butter for this small community. The salt stream above feeds the thousands of salt pans, once the water has evaporated the salt is collected and sold. The salt mines are one of the few left in the world that produce a natural pink salt and have not adopted any modern techniques for mass salt mining. The locals have full mining rights and all the salt sold on site belongs to the locals. A great place to grab a souvenir.

Next, visit Moray, which was an experimental farming site built in the form of an amphitheater, which each level has a different temperature to grow different types of crops. These terraces were carved before the Incas took control of the Sacred Valley and then used by the Incas to research optimal growing conditions for their crops. The Incas brought in different soil samples from other regions, to optimize their research. The locals were still using it for growing their crops, until the 1970s when it was preserved and protected for tourism.

Drive to Ollantaytambo to explore this quaint Inca village and the amazing Inca Ruins on the hilltop above. These ruins are where the Incas fought the last battle with the Spanish conquerors, before they had to retreat into the dense jungle. Most of the structures were unfortunately incomplete. There is a section with a number of boulders that were carved, but didn’t make it to their destination.

Finally, at around 5:30pm we head to our hotel to spend the night and prepare for the early historical, once in a lifetime hike we are about to embark on.

• 3* Accommodation: Andenes del Inca Hotel Ollantaytambo

DAY 2: OLLANTAYTAMBO – KM104 (Inca Trail Entrance) – WIÑAY HUAYNA – SUN GATE – MACHU PICCHU

Your guide will pick you up from your hotel at 5:30 am to go to the Ollantaytambo train station, which is very close, to take the 6:10 am Expedition train. From there we take the train to KM 104, the starting point of the Inca Trail. After crossing the Urubamba River on a picturesque foot bridge, show your passport at the checkpoint.

There we visit the first Inca site nearby.  At this point, we begin our 3-hour trek to Wiñay Wayna archaeological site (2,650/8,747ft) also known as Forever Young in Quechua.  The first hour and a half is a gentle hike upward. Along the way, we stop at several outlooks where you have an expansive view of the Urubamba River and pass through several microclimates, including a cloud forest. We are then challenged by a slightly steeper uphill trek and rewarded at the end with a beautiful waterfall.

Upon reaching Wiñay Wayna, rest, eat your gourmet box lunch and enjoy the dazzling views of this amazing site. Here at Wiñay Wayna we finally meet with the Classic Inca Trail. These amazing Inca ruins have a fascinating history and some parts are still hidden by the dense jungle.  Be sure to ask the guide to share about the history. 

After having our well-deserved rest, just one last one hour trek before reaching the Sun Gate (2,730m/9,00ft). We know we are close to the Sun Gate when we experience our last challenge with a final set of steep stairs carved directly into the bedrock by the Inca Trail.  Here we get the first glimpse of the mysterious Machu Picchu Citadel.  It is just an hour hike down the flat rock stairs to Machu Picchu. Be sure to have your camera ready and take all of the incredible views of Machu Picchu Citadel along the way.

Once you reach Machu Picchu, you will have time to take more photos from the viewing platforms above the site (Guard House). Where you can take the famous postcard pictures of Machu Picchu. You will arrive in the afternoon, as the archeological area starts to empty of tourists, which gives you the opportunity to take beautiful photos in the afternoon light with fewer people in your shots. Take your time to take in this magical experience before you take the bus down to Aguas Calientes to check into your hotel. Have a delicious dinner. Then you have time to walk around this picturesque little town, visit the hot springs or just go to your hotel to rest after such an exciting day.

• Meals: lunch & dinner
• Accommodation: Ferre Hotel
• Difficulty: Moderate

DAY 3: AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO

After an early breakfast at your hotel, get an early bus at 5:30am up to Machu Picchu just in time to witness the sunrise. It is a truly mystical site and not something you’ll want to miss! After enjoying the sunrise your guide will provide a tour of Machu Picchu, which takes around two hours. See many of the most important parts of Machu Picchu Citadel during your tour. 

When you have had your fill of the incredible views of Machu Picchu, a bus back down to Aguas Calientes will be waiting. Upon arriving at Aguas Calientes lunch is waiting with numerous restaurants to choose from (lunch not included). Depending on your train departure time, there may be some time for shopping, or sightseeing.

The Expedition train will take you back to Ollantaytambo at 2:55pm or 3:20pm, following the spectacular Urubamba River. Close to Aguas Calientes, the canyon is narrow and the river has many beautiful sections of whitewater. Back at Ollantaytambo, the driver will meet you at the exit from the train station to take you back to your hotel in Cusco in our private van. You can expect to arrive at your hotel about 7:00pm.

• Meals: breakfast

***IMPORTANT:

• ***This package will include the circuit #2 or #3, depending on the availability, the specific circuit will be confirmed at booking time!
• You can upgrade to the Vistadome Train for the same times, 2:55pm or 3:20pm, 4:22pm, or 4:43pm. The cost is $57 USD.
• Early trains can be organized by requested and it has to be done by booking time.
• The Huayna Picchu Mountain Hike depends on availability and let us know about it at booking time.