The Sacred Valley of the Incas and Machu Picchu are two must-see tourist destinations on a trip to Cusco, Peru. The first allows access to the second so it is recommended a route of two consecutive days to visit both places. It is possible to make a two-day tour or go on your own. In Ollantaytambo, in the heart of the Sacred Valley, you take the train that in almost 2 hours leads to Machu Picchu village, also known as Aguas Calientes. Learn step by step how to organize the trip to these two tourist attractions in Peru.

• The historic Sacred Valley of the Incas
• The Sacred City of Machu Picchu
• The step by step trip to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu
• Why visit the Sacred Valley on the trip to Machu Picchu?
• Questions and answers: step by step trip to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu built on a mountaintop

The Sacred Valley – Machu Picchu route in the visit to Cusco
The mythical Inca city of Machu Picchu, better known as the “lost city of the Incas”, is the masterpiece of the Inca civilization, and one of the few Inca cities that was not destroyed or modified during the Spanish invasion. It was built around 1,450 A.D. and is located 80 km northwest of the city of Cusco, in the valley formed by the Urubamba River, and known as the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Most tourists arriving in Cusco make the 2-day route Sacred Valley (Pisac, Urubamba and Ollantaytambo) – Machu Picchu. This visit can be done with an all-inclusive tour or on your own starting in Cusco.

The historic Sacred Valley of the Incas

The historic Sacred Valley of the Incas is an Andean geographic area that was highly appreciated by the Incas more than 500 years ago. The reason? They took advantage of its fertile lands to build thousands of terraces and agricultural terraces. In addition, important citadels were built there, which today are archaeological sites visited by tourists from all over the world.

In the Sacred Valley of the Incas you can visit different tourist attractions, such as the salt mines of Maras, the circular terraces of Moray, the archaeological site of Pisac, the Inca citadel of Ollantaytambo, the Inca palace and the colonial church of Chinchero and many more places. Find out what a visit to the historic Sacred Valley of the Incas has to offer!

• Pisac

  It is a picturesque town located 32 km from the city of Cusco, has one of the best systems of terraces achieved by the Incas. It also houses towers, fortresses and astronomical observatories; among the structures also highlights the Inca cemetery, the largest ancient cemetery in America. But that’s not all, every week there is a Sunday fair where indigenous artisans and merchants come to offer their products, you can find handicrafts, jewelry and textiles of the highest quality, be sure to visit the market of Pisac is an unforgettable experience.

Archaeological site of Pisac

• Ollantaytambo

  It is the town where you will have to board the train to Machu Picchu, is located 97 kilometers from Cusco. There you can find a great fortress that served as a checkpoint for people who wanted to travel through the valley and enter Machu Picchu. Another Inca structure not to be missed in Ollantaytambo is the Temple of the Sun (temple dedicated to the Sun God), the baths of the ñustas (Inca princesses), etc. The current town of Ollantaytambo, is built on the walls of the ancient Inca town.

Photo from the Ollantaytambo viewpoint

• Urubamba

  It is another ancient Inca town on which a colonial town was built. It is located in the most fertile area of the valley and must have been one of the main agricultural production centers of the empire. Today, it is a beautiful countryside that produces fruit and the best white corn in the world. Urubamba is located at the foot of the snow-capped Chicón mountain, 72 kilometers from Cusco. It is also called “The Pearl of the Vilcanota” because of the incredible landscapes that surround it.

Panoramic view of Urubamba

• Chinchero

  Chinchero is one of the most traditional towns in Peru. It is located only 30 kilometers from Cusco. It is also the highest tourist town in the Sacred Valley, at 3,762 meters above sea level. It is famous for its fertile lands where several varieties of potatoes are grown. It was also the site of the palace of Emperor Tupac Yupanqui (son of the great leader Pachacutec). In the 16th century, the Spaniards destroyed the Inca temple and, on its foundations, built a colonial church that still stands today.

Archaeological site of Chinchero

The Sacred Valley of the Incas 1 day tour
The classic tour to the Sacred Valley of the Incas includes the visit to three historical sites: the Inca city of Pisca, the fortress of Ollantaytambo and Chinchero. The tour begins and ends with the return to the city of Cusco. On the other hand, if you take a 2-day tour that joins the Sacred Valley with Machu Picchu, the destinations to visit will be: Pisac and Ollantaytambo. In this town you will travel by train to Machu Picchu town (Aguas Calientes) where you will spend the night in a tourist hotel. The second day you visit Machu Picchu and make the return trip to the city of Cusco. Both options are very popular with visitors from all over the world.

The Sacred City of Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is one of the best tourist destinations on the planet. The trip there offers a lot of history, natural scenery, good quality tourist services, as well as hiking trails to high mountains. From the Sacred Valley of the Incas you can get there by train from the town of Ollantaytambo. In the town of Aguas Calientes you take a tourist bus that in 30 minutes takes you to the sacred city. There you can visit around 150 Inca constructions. There is also the option of taking one of the hiking trails to its mountains.

• Aguas Calientes

  It is the closest town to Machu Picchu (only 10 kilometers away) so it is also called Machu Picchu village. Trains arrive there from Ollantaytambo, in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. In the village you take the buses that in only 30 minutes ascend the slopes of a mountain until arriving at the archaeological site of Machupicchu. The town is also famous for the excellent quality of its restaurants, cafes, bars, tourist hotels and tourist attractions such as its thermal baths.

• Machu Picchu

  Machu Picchu is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world with 1.6 million visitors each year. There you can see more than 150 stone constructions, including the Temple of the Sun, the Intihuatana, the Sacred Rock, the Main Temple and more. From the Casa del Vigilante, the classic photo that all visitors want is taken. Its construction was ordered by Emperor Pachacutec in the 15th century. Since 2007 it is considered one of the new Wonders of the Modern World.

• Machu Picchu Trekking Routes

  Within the archaeological site of Machu Picchu you can take different trekking routes to its mountains. The most famous route is the 2 kilometers uphill to the top of Huayna Picchu (2,693 meters above sea level). Also the route of 2.5 kilometers by ascending trails to reach the top of the Machu Picchu mountain (3,082 meters above sea level). Or the small route of less than 1 kilometer to the Huchuy Picchu mountain (2,497 masl). In addition, there are optional routes to Intipunku, the Inca Bridge or the Great Cavern.

Observing the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu

The step by step trip to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu

The Sacred Valley, Cusco and Machu Picchu, receive more visitors than any other place in Peru. The Sacred Valley is a very nice place; the climate is pleasant, the people are nice, the archaeological sites are impressive, and you can find all the necessary services, hotels, restaurants and so on. It is also where you will enter Machu Picchu, one of the most incredible destinations in the world.

To make the trip to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu you must follow these steps:

• DAY 1:

  • Spend at least two nights in Cusco to better adapt to the altitude of the Andes Mountains.
  • Get a tour or decide to go on your own.
  • If you decide to go on your own, hire private transport or travel by public transport. Buses leave from Puputi street (towards Pisac) or Pavitos street (towards Chinchero or Ollantaytambo) in Cusco.
  • To enter Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Moray and Chinchero you must buy the Cusco Tourist Ticket at the door of one of the archaeological sites (cost 70 soles for foreigners and 40 soles for Peruvians).
  • In Ollantaytambo you must take the train to Machu Picchu (it is recommended to buy the entrance ticket online in advance).

Map of the Cusco – Aguas Calientes route through the Sacred Valley

• DAY 2:

  • In Aguas Calientes you should spend one night in one of the tourist hotels in town (it is recommended to book the hotel online in advance).
  • The second day you must buy your bus ticket that in 30 minutes will take you to Machu Picchu. This ticket can be purchased in the village without any problem.
  • The entrance to Machu Picchu must be purchased online in advance. If you look for a ticket at the last minute, you run the risk of not being able to visit the Inca city because availability is limited.
  • At the entrance gate of Machu Picchu you can get group or private tour guides.
  • In the town of Aguas Calientes you can get restaurants for breakfast and lunch, all of good quality.
  • After the visit you should return to Cusco the same way: by bus and train.

Route from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu Sanctuary

Why visit the Sacred Valley on the trip to Machu Picchu?

• The Sacred Valley of the Incas is home not only to Inca and pre-Inca archaeological sites, but also to beautiful colonial towns built near and above them. The town of Pisac and its handicraft market is a must-see in the valley.
• The Sacred Valley is also the best place to acclimatize before visiting Machu Picchu, it is at a medium altitude and has one of the most delicious climates in the region. A good acclimatization is necessary, especially if you plan to do any of the hikes inside Machu Picchu National Park, such as climbing the Huayna Picchu mountain.
• Visiting the Sacred Valley of the Incas before entering Machu Picchu, offers you to see the most important territories and cities of what was the vast Inca Empire; giving you a more complete vision of this amazing civilization.
• The Sacred Valley of the Incas also gives you the opportunity to practice outdoor, adventure and extreme sports; you can go hiking, mountain biking, ziplining (ziplining), or some more extreme ones, such as climbing or rafting (levels 2, 3 and 4).
• As the train to Aguas Calientes travels through the Sacred Valley of the Incas, it gives you the opportunity to take in beautiful views at every turn.

Sacred Valley of the Incas

Questions and answers: step by step trip to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu

• 1) What tourist attractions does the Sacred Valley have?

  The Sacred Valley has interesting tourist attractions such as Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, Maras and Moray.

• 2) How to get to the Sacred Valley of the Incas from Cusco?

  From the city of Cusco there are two routes to the Sacred Valley. The first is the trip to Pisac (35 kilometers). The second is the route to Chinchero (30 kilometers).

• 3) How to travel from the Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu?

  The train route from Ollantaytambo (Sacred Valley) to Machu Picchu is the one that connects both tourist attractions. The trip is only 35 kilometers on average (1 hour 40 minutes travel time).

• 4) How much does it cost to visit the Sacred Valley of the Incas?

  The Cusco Tourist Ticket includes admission to Pisac, Moray, Chinchero and Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley. It costs 70 soles for foreigners and 40 soles for Peruvians.

• 5) How much does the entrance to Machu Picchu cost?

  The classic entrance ticket to Machu Picchu costs 154 soles for foreign adults. The ticket offers discounts for children under 18 years old, university students and citizens of Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia.

• 6) How to go from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu?

  Buses from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu leave the town every 5 minutes. The trip is 10 kilometers (30 minutes).

• 7) Can I stay in the Sacred Valley?

  Yes, in Urubamba there are the best hotels in the Sacred Valley (2, 3, 4 and 5 star services).

• 8) Can I stay in Machu Picchu?

  Yes, in the town of Aguas Calientes there is a variety of hotels in 2, 3, 4 and 5 star services.

• 9) When is it best to go to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu?

  The dry season lacks rainfall which facilitates outdoor excursions in the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. This season occurs from April to October.

• 10) What is the climate like in the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu?

  The climate in the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu is temperate with sunny days (between 18ºC. and 22ºC.) and cold nights (between 8ºC. and 12ºC.).

Advice from people who have been there

Sacred Valley

By: Laura H.

“Impressive ruins“

“I can't explain the majesty of the valley, you have to experience it. You thought you could only see incredible constructions in Machu Picchu, you are wrong. What you can see in many places in the valley will amaze you as much as the wonder.“

By Ticket Machu Picchu – Last updated, October 28, 2024