Most visitors stay in the city of Cusco on their visit to Machu Picchu. From there they begin their tours throughout the southern Andean region of Peru. However, there is also a considerable number of visitors who choose the warm villages of the Sacred Valley of the Incas as their starting point for their trip to Machu Picchu. The towns in this tourist area of Cusco have more benevolent climates, lower altitudes and greener landscapes, far from the city. Learn how to organize the dreamed trip to Machu Picchu through the visit from the Sacred Valley.

• The Sacred Valley of the Incas
• The trip to Machu Picchu from the Sacred Valley
• Entrance fees and trains to Machu Picchu
• Price of the trip to Machu Picchu from the Sacred Valley of the Incas
• Questions and answers: Travel to Machu Picchu from the Sacred Valley

Incredible scenery of the Sacred Valley

The trip to Machu Picchu departing from Cusco city
The city of Cusco has the largest number of tourist hotels, so most visitors stay there. From there they leave for their different excursions: City Tour Cusco, Sacred Valley tour, 7 Colors Mountain tour, Humantay Lagoon tour and, of course, the tour to Machu Picchu. The traditional trip to the Inca citadel begins with the bus route from Cusco to Ollantaytambo. There you board the tourist train to the town of Aguas Calientes (so called because of its proximity to the Inca archaeological site). Then the final stretch is made by bus to the gate of the archaeological site. In addition, there are other options such as the alternative trip by bus to Hidroeléctrica -and the final stretch on foot to Aguas Calientes-. Or the famous 4-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, which can only be done by hiring a tour through an authorized tourist agency. Anyway, from Cusco you can find most of the transportation services and tour agencies to the different tourist attractions of Cusco, including Machu Picchu. The Sacred Valley of the Incas also has an important offer of hotels, tourist agencies and tourist transportation. However, it is necessary to better organize the trip to Machu Picchu: schedules, availability, hotels, etc.

The Sacred Valley of the Incas

The Sacred Valley of the Incas is a geographical area of great history and natural beauty located a few kilometers east of the city of Cusco. Most of its territory belongs to the provinces of Calca and Urubamba, with famous Inca towns such as: Pisac, Chinchero, Maras, Urubamba, Calca, Lares, Ollantaytambo, Yucay, Lamay and more.

In Inca times, important citadels were built where the immense agricultural terraces and terraces stood out. The soil of the Sacred Valley was fertile for the cultivation of different agricultural products, mainly corn, oca, potatoes, quinoa and more. The Inca cities were home to common settlers and Inca nobility. Important temples and shrines were also built there to worship the sun, the mountains, the earth and more.

The Sacred Valley of the Incas has important tourist attractions, the most important are: the archaeological site of Pisac, the archaeological site of Ollantaytambo, the archaeological site of Moray, the salt mines of Maras, the town and archaeological site of Chinchero and more. The main tourist hotels are in the town of Urubamba, also capital of the province of the same name.

The towns of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, unlike the city of Cusco, are at a lower altitude and therefore have a better climate and landscapes full of greenery, with rivers, mountains and a beautiful valley. In Urubamba there are 3, 4 and even 5 star hotels. Many visitors like to stay there the first days of the trip for a better acclimatization to the altitude of Cusco. Other towns with an important hotel offer are Ollantaytambo, Pisac and Yucay.

Urubamba is located at 2,871 meters above sea level. Likewise, it is located 53 kilometers by road from the city of Cusco (1 hour trip on average). From there you can go to Machu Picchu, either by the classic route by train from the town of Ollantaytambo, or by the alternative route by bus to Hidroeléctrica in the jungle of Cusco. It is not necessary to return to Cusco to start the trip to Machu Picchu but it is necessary to organize everything in advance, especially in the purchase of tickets.

Sacred Valley of the Incas

The trip to Machu Picchu from the Sacred Valley

From the Sacred Valley of the Incas you can organize your trip to Machu Picchu following these steps:

1. If you wish to make the trip with a tour, you must hire a service through the internet one, two or three months in advance. The tour already includes everything: entrance tickets, trains, buses, guide and transfers. This way the visitor will not have to worry about anything. On the other hand, if you plan to make your visit on your own, you must purchase the tickets to Machu Picchu separately by entering the web page of the official website and choosing among the ten available tickets.
2. After getting the tickets, you must do the same with the train tickets to Machu Picchu. Currently there is no train station departing from Urubamba, so it is best to choose to depart from Ollantaytambo station in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. From there most services depart daily, so you will have no problem choosing the type of train (Peru Rail or Inca Rail) on the day and time of your choice.
3. The third step is to choose the hotel in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. It is necessary to choose one through the internet. Most services are in the town of Urubamba, although there are also interesting options in the towns of Pisac and Ollantaytambo. Once you have secured your hotel, you can look for public or private transportation for the transfer from the Sacred Valley of the Incas to the train station in Ollantaytambo.
4. The other services, the bus ticket from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu, the tour guide service and lunch on the day of the visit to Machu Picchu, can be obtained on the same day of the trip. If you want to organize everything better, you can search for these services online.

Map of the route Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu

Entrance fees and trains to Machu Picchu

When choosing your entrance ticket to Machu Picchu you must choose one of these 10 available tickets:

• Ticket Machu Picchu Classic Photo – Allows to make the circuit 1 in Machu Picchu. It has a cost of 152 soles for foreign adults.
• Ticket Machu Picchu Classic – Allows you to do circuit 2 in Machu Picchu. It has a cost of 152 soles for foreign adults.
• Ticket Machu Picchu Classic lower terrace – Allows you to do circuit 2 in Machu Picchu. It has a cost of 152 soles for foreign adults.
• Ticket Machu Picchu Temples of the lower part – Allows you to do circuit 3 in Machu Picchu. It has a cost of 152 soles for foreign adults.
• Ticket Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu – Allows you to do circuit 3 in Machu Picchu. It also allows you to hike the Huayna Picchu mountain. It has a cost of 200 soles for foreign adults.
• Ticket Machu Picchu + Mountain – Allows you to do circuit 3 in Machu Picchu. It also allows you to hike the Machu Picchu mountain. It has a cost of 200 soles for foreign adults.
• Ticket Machu Picchu + Huchuy Picchu – Allows you to do circuit 3 in Machu Picchu. It also allows you to hike the Huchuy Picchu mountain. It has a cost of 152 soles for foreign adults.
• Ticket Machu Picchu + Intipunku – Allows you to do circuit 1 in Machu Picchu. It also allows you to hike to Intipunku (Sun Gate). It has a cost of 152 soles for foreign adults.
• Ticket Machu Picchu + Inca Bridge – Allows you to do circuit 1 in Machu Picchu. It also allows you to hike to the Inca Bridge of Machu Picchu. It has a cost of 152 soles for foreign adults.
• Ticket Machu Picchu + Temple of the Moon – Allows you to do circuit 3 in Machu Picchu. It also allows you to hike to the Temple of the Moon (the Great Cavern). It has a cost of 200 soles for foreign adults.

Circuits in Machu Picchu

When choosing the train to Machu Picchu you must choose between these options:

• Peru Rail Trains

  • Expedition Service – more economical tourist service.
  • Vistadome Service – tourist service with more comfort and show on board.
  • Hiram Bingham Service – luxury service.

• Inca Rail Trains

  • The Voyager Service – more economical tourist service.
  • The 360 Service – tourist service with more comfort and show on board.
  • The Private Service – luxury service.

Price of the trip to Machu Picchu from the Sacred Valley of the Incas

This is the approximate budget of the trip to Machu Picchu for a 1 day visit starting from the Sacred Valley of the Incas:

Questions and answers: Travel to Machu Picchu from the Sacred Valley

• 1) What is the Sacred Valley of the Incas and why is it famous?

  The Sacred Valley of the Incas is a geographical area of great history and natural beauty located a few kilometers east of the city of Cusco. There the Incas built important citadels. Today it is a very touristic area for its landscapes, towns, traditions, archaeological sites and tourist services.

• 2) How far is the city of Cusco from the Sacred Valley of the Incas?

  The town of Urubamba, in the heart of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, is 53 kilometers by road from the city of Cusco.

• 3) How far is the Sacred Valley of the Incas from Machu Picchu?

  The town of Urubamba, in the center of the Sacred Valley, is located approximately 60 kilometers from the archaeological site of Machu Picchu.

• 4) How to get from Urubamba to Ollantaytambo to take the train to Machu Picchu?

  Urubamba is only 19 kilometers by road to Ollantaytambo. To get there you can take a public transport minivan (5 soles) or a private cab (30 soles). Prices are approximate.

• 5) Is there a train station from Urubamba to Machu Picchu?

  There used to be a train station from Urubamba to Machu Picchu but it is no longer in operation.

• 6) Where are the best hotels in the Sacred Valley of the Incas?

  Definitely in the town of Urubamba are the best hotels in the Sacred Valley of the Incas (3, 4 and 5 star services).

• 7) How to visit the main tourist attractions of the Sacred Valley of the Incas before my visit to Machu Picchu?

  You can hire a 1 day Sacred Valley of the Incas tour. Another option is to do it on your own by purchasing the Partial Cusco Tourist Ticket (includes admission to the archaeological sites of Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero and Moray).

• 8) How to visit Machu Picchu by the route to Hidroeléctrica from the Sacred Valley of the Incas?

  From Urubamba you must hire a private tourist transport to the station of Hidroelectrica (price of 50 dollars on average). From there you complete the route on foot to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu village).

• 9) How to do the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu starting from the Sacred Valley of the Incas?

  You must hire a tour online, since the 4-day Inca Trail tour is purchased 5 or 6 months in advance.

• 10) Are there tourist agencies to Machu Picchu in the Sacred Valley of the Incas?

  Yes, mainly in the town of Urubamba. However, most tour agencies are in the city of Cusco. In any case, it is best to book tours online and in advance.

Advice from people who have been there

Machu Picchu

By: Fiorella B.

“The land of the Incas“

“Cusco and Machu Picchu are very old cities with a lot of history where you can breathe tranquility and beauty everywhere. I would come back a thousand times if I could.“

By Ticket Machu Picchu – Last updated, October 10, 2024