Tours & tickets

Intihuatana Stone

Pick up from hotel 6:30 am CHINCHERO HANDICRAFT MARKET. This town is located 28 km from Cusco on the paved road to Urubamba. It is like a beautiful colonial temple built on Inca foundations. Its main attraction, however, is its handicraft market, originally dedicated to the barter of agricultural products between the villagers of the valley and those of the highlands. Currently, the market is a true spectacle of color and movement that causes the fascination of the tourist with its offer of handicrafts and textile garments made in the purest pre-Columbian style. MORAY. It is located 7 km. from Maras, 01 hour from the city of Cusco by the route of Chinchero is one of the most spectacular visits where there are circular terraces of different sizes. They are terraces of agricultural experimentation and places of concentration of feminine energy, for which it is considered as a magnetic center of the Pachamama. SALT MINES OF MARAS. Located northwest of the town of Maras known by some as “salt mines” are made up of about 3000 small wells. The salt has been obtained since pre-Hispanic times through a system of drying salt water that comes from a subway stream in the sun. Once the water has evaporated, the salt is ready for sale. URUBAMBA A great place with Inca productions, most primordially corn, and today a beautiful countryside, with great production of fruit trees. An excellent place to enjoy our typical buffet lunch of the area. OLLANTAYTAMBO Typical Inca village located 21 km. from Urubamba (2800 masl). It was named in honor of the cacique Ollanta, famous for his romance with an Inca princess, daughter of Pachacutec. One of its best preserved areas extends to the north of the Hanan Huacaypata plaza, a total of 15 blocks of mansions built on carved stone walls. In the vast archaeological site, located on the hill that names the town, buildings such as the Temple of the Sun, the Intihuatana and the Baths of the Princess stand out. PISAC Pisaq is located 33 km from Cusco by paved road (from the Sacred Valley of the Incas). It has an ancient town, an archaeological site considered among the most important of Cusco, and a modern town of colonial origin. This place also has a very famous Pisac handicraft market that attracts thousands of visitors. The tour can also end in Ollantaytabo for tourists who have planned their trip to Machu Picchu (15:30 PM). END OF THE TOUR IN CUSCO 19:00 PM

Do you want to hire an expert local guide to explore the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu? Well, we have the best local guides who live in the city of Aguas Calientes, therefore the prices are super economical, we have daily departures in the morning and afternoon, full Spanish and English upon reservation. Our resident guides are super charismatic, knowledgeable about the history and most importantly they are licensed to work as guides, we are sure you will have a super educational and unforgettable guided tour of Machu Picchu. If you do not like group tours with other tourists, we also have guides who can make a 100% private tour just for you, your family or group of friends, without strangers. You will visit the most emblematic places of Machu Picchu (circuit 1 or 2), such as the guardian house, place of the classic photo, temple of the 3 windows, the Intihuatana, temple of the condor and more.

At Machu Picchu Holiday Tours, we offer you an experience that goes beyond a simple tourist tour. Our tour takes you on a journey through time, exploring every corner of the citadel, where history comes to life through the stories our expert guides share with you. From the imposing agricultural terraces to the Temple of the Sun and the enigmatic Intihuatana, each structure reveals the ingenuity and deep knowledge of nature that the Incas had. Surrounded by lush vegetation and breathtaking views, every step in Machu Picchu immerses you in the mysticism and magic of this sacred place. Get ready for an unforgettable experience with Machu Picchu Holiday Tours!

DAY 1: Cusco – Mollepata – Challacancha – Humantay Lagoon – Soraypampa • Departure from Cusco early in the morning by tourist transport to the town of Mollepata, located in the Apurimac River Valley. • Brief stop for breakfast and preparation of equipment with the muleteers. • Transfer to Challacancha, the starting point of the trek. • Hike along Andean trails surrounded by highland vegetation and Inca irrigation canals. • Arrive at Soraypampa base camp (3,900 m), surrounded by snow-capped mountains. • In the afternoon, acclimatization hike to Humantay Lagoon, with its turquoise waters at the foot of the snow-capped mountain peak of the same name (4,200 m). • Return to camp and dinner overlooking the snow-capped mountains. Enjoy a chilly night under the stars. DAY 2: Soraypampa – Salkantay Pass – Wayracpunku – Chaullay • Early start to the day to tackle the most demanding stretch of the route. • Gradual ascent to the Salkantay Pass (4,650 m), the highest point of the trek, with stunning views of the Salkantay Mountains (6,271 m). • Break at the summit to enjoy the mountain scenery, glaciers, and feel the energy of the Apus. • Descent over rocky terrain to Wayracpunku, where lunch is served. • Continue the descent through the ecosystem change: from high Andean puna to the edge of the jungle. • Arrival in Chaullay (2,900 m), with warmer weather and tropical vegetation. Dinner and rest. DAY 3: Chaullay – Colpapampa – Sahuayaco Beach – Santa Teresa • Gentle hike along trails that pass waterfalls, rivers, and fruit and coffee plantations. • Pass through Colpapampa, a rural community surrounded by biodiversity. • Continue to Sahuayaco Beach, where you will have lunch. • Option to transfer by vehicle or hike to Santa Teresa (optional depending on the package). • In Santa Teresa, you can visit the relaxing hot springs of Cocalmayo (optional). • Dinner and overnight at a campsite or in basic accommodations. DAY 4: Santa Teresa – Hidroeléctrica – Aguas Calientes • Morning hike along tropical trails to Hidroeléctrica, enjoying the jungle surroundings and the songs of exotic birds. • Lunch in the area and a short rest. • Hike along the train tracks to the town of Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo), at the foot of the Inca citadel. • Dinner at a restaurant and overnight at a hotel. ️ DAY 5: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco • Very early, hike or take a bus to the Machu Picchu citadel. • Guided tour of approximately 2 hours of the main archaeological sites: the Temple of the Sun, the Sacred Plaza, the Intihuatana, among others. • Free time to explore independently or climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (admission required). • Return to Aguas Calientes for lunch (at your own expense). Option 1: Hike + Minivan Aguas Calientes → Hike to Hidroeléctrica → Cusco (minivan). Total duration: approximately 7-8 hours. Option 2: Train + Bus Aguas Calientes → Ollantaytambo (train) → Cusco (bus). Total duration: approximately 4 hours.

Embark on a 4-day trek to Machu Picchu along the Salkantay Trail. Admire the stunning landscapes of the Andes, including the Humantay and Salkantay mountains, and explore the Lost City of the Incas. DAY 1: Cusco – Mollepata – Challacancha – Humantay Lagoon – Soraypampa • Early departure from Cusco by tourist transport to Mollepata, where breakfast will be served and luggage will be organized. • Continue by vehicle to Challacancha, the starting point of the trek. • Trekking for approximately 3 hours to the campsite in Soraypampa (3,900 m). • After lunch, an acclimatization hike to the spectacular Humantay Lagoon, located at 4,200 m above sea level. This section is optional but highly recommended. • Return to camp for dinner and rest. A cool night is ideal for stargazing. DAY 2: Soraypampa – Salkantay Pass – Chaullay – Colpapampa • Early departure after a hearty breakfast. Start of the ascent to the Salkantay Pass (4,650 m), the highest point of the trek, surrounded by glaciers and imposing mountains such as Nevado Salkantay (6,271 m). • After enjoying the scenery at the summit, begin the descent to Wayracmachay, where you will have lunch. • The hike continues to Chaullay and finally arrives at Colpapampa (approx. 2,900 m), where you will have dinner and spend the night in camp. • At this stage, you can already see the change in ecosystem toward the edge of the jungle. DAY 3: Colpapampa – La Playa – Hidroeléctrica – Aguas Calientes • Morning hike through the jungle, crossing rivers, waterfalls, hanging bridges, and coffee, fruit, and orchid plantations. • Lunch stop at La Playa Sahuayaco, a warm agricultural area. • Transfer by vehicle or hike to the Hidroeléctrica power plant. • From Hidroeléctrica, hike along the train tracks for approximately 3 hours until reaching Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Town). • Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight at a basic or tourist hotel (depending on package). DAY 4: Machu Picchu – Return to Cusco •Very early departure to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, on foot (approximately 1 hour 30 minutes) or by bus (optional). • 2-hour guided tour covering the main sites: Temple of the Sun, Intihuatana, Temple of the Three Windows, among others. • Free time to explore independently or climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (admission required). • Return to Aguas Calientes for lunch (not included). • Return trip to Cusco: Option 1: Hike to Hidroeléctrica and minivan to Cusco. Option 2: Tourist train to Ollantaytambo and bus to Cusco. • Arrive in Cusco in the evening.

Between 6:30 and 7:00 a.m., we will pick you up at your hotel and head to Chincheros, the first archaeological site we will discover. After exploring Chincheros, we will go to Maras, where we will visit Moray. There we will find circular terraces with an impressive history that we will discover during the guided visit. Another of the sites we will visit are the salt flats exploited during the Inca period, with more than 3,000 pools of various sizes and dimensions. These belonged to local families, who used the salt produced to treat it with iodine and then sell it at the market. Afterwards, we will head back to Urubamba. Once there, you can enjoy a delicious Andean buffet lunch or have lunch on your own. The next stop of the day will be in Ollantaytambo, which dates back to the 15th century. We will tour the site, visiting the Temple of the Sun, the Princess Baths, and the Intihuatana, among other points of interest. To conclude the tour, we will visit the ruins of Pisac, where we will see a large number of Andean terraces and the best-preserved Andean cemetery in the country.

Today, we'll pick you up from your hotel or Airbnb between 6:30 and 7:00 a.m. and head to the town of Chinchero, where we'll discover its walled Inca agricultural terraces and colonial church, steeped in history. We'll also make a brief visit to the textile center. Moray: Continuing our visit in our transportation, we'll head to the famous circular agricultural terraces of Moray, a very important archaeological site during the Inca era, especially for agriculture. You'll have time to take photos and receive an explanation. Salineras: Afterward, we'll descend to the Maras salt mines, a picturesque location with panoramic views. Here, we'll visit more than 3,000 salt mines, used by the Incas for their consumption. Urubamba: We'll arrive in the town of Urubamba, where we'll enjoy a 45-minute buffet lunch. There's a wide variety, so everyone can choose their favorite option and repeat until they're satisfied. Ollantaytambo: Here, you'll have to make a small effort to climb to the highest point, the Temple of the Sun. We'll begin our ascent up the Inca stairs, with a professional guide who will provide explanations and give you time to take photos (if you have your train ticket, you must stay here). Pisac: We'll then head to the picturesque town of Pisac, home to the Intihuatana ("Place Where the Sun Is Tied"), a beautiful site with its three types of terraces. We'll visit the Pisac indigenous market, the best place to buy handicrafts. Finally, we'll return to Cusco at approximately 7:30 p.m. We'll drop you off at Plaza Regosijo for dinner and then bedtime.

PLACES TO VISIT IN THE SACRED VALLEY VIP TOUR CHINCHERO CRAFTS MARKET. This town is located 28 km from Cusco on the paved road to Urubamba. The remains of what was once the royal hacienda of Tupac Inca Yupanqui" are found here, like a beautiful colonial temple built on Inca foundations. Its main attraction, however, is its handicraft market, originally dedicated to the bartering of agricultural products between the villagers of the valley and those of the highlands. Currently, the market is a true spectacle of color and movement that causes the fascination of the tourist with its offer of handicrafts and textile garments elaborated in the purest pre-Columbian style. MORAY. It is located 7 km. from Maras, 01 hour from the city of Cusco by the route of Chinchero is one of the most spectacular visits where there are circular terraces of different sizes. They are terraces of agricultural experimentation and places of concentration of feminine energy, for which it is considered as a magnetic center of the Pachamama. SALT MINES OF MARAS. Located northwest of the town of Maras known by some as “salt mines” are made up of about 3000 small wells. The salt has been obtained since pre-Hispanic times through a system of drying salt water that comes from a subway stream in the sun. Once the water has evaporated, the salt is ready for sale. URUBAMBA A great place with Inca productions, most primordially corn, and today a beautiful countryside, with great production of fruit trees. An excellent place to enjoy our lunch buffet typical of the area. OLLANTAYTAMBO Typical Inca village located 21 Km. from Urubamba (2800 masl). It was named in honor of the cacique Ollanta, famous for his romance with an Inca princess, daughter of Pachacutec. One of its best preserved areas extends to the north of the Hanan Huacaypata plaza, a total of 15 blocks of mansions built on carved stone walls. In the vast archaeological site, located on the hill that names the town, buildings such as the Temple of the Sun, the Intihuatana and the Baths of the Princess stand out. From Ollantaytambo, an affirmed Inca Trail ascends to the Malaga pass (4,200 meters above sea level) and heads in the direction of the mountain ridge, passing through villages such as the picturesque Huilloc, home to renowned Huairuros. PISAC Pisaq is located 33 km from Cusco by paved road (from the Sacred Valley of the Incas). It has an ancient town, an archaeological site considered among the most important of Cusco, and a modern town of colonial origin. This place also has a very famous Pisac handicraft market that attracts thousands of visitors and villagers from remote villages, wearing the colorful traditional costumes. Here it is recommended to buy all the handicrafts, as these are cheaper than in the city of Cusco. End of services.

Begin your day early with a pickup from your accommodation in Cusco, where you'll be whisked away to the train station. Here, you’ll board a comfortable and scenic train that offers panoramic views through its expansive windows. As the train winds along the Urubamba River, you'll witness the dramatic landscapes of the Sacred Valley transition into lush cloud forests, setting the stage for the wonder that awaits. Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, the gateway town to Machu Picchu, you'll take a short bus ride up the winding road to the entrance of the ancient site. Here, the real magic begins as you enter Machu Picchu, the iconic lost city of the Incas. Your expert guide will lead you through the main streets of these astounding ruins, explaining the history and significance of key sites, including the Temple of the Sun, the Main Temple, the Room of the Three Windows, and Sacred Rock. As you explore, you’ll have the opportunity to marvel at the precision of Inca stonework and the architectural ingenuity that has withstood centuries. The panoramic views of the surrounding mountain peaks and the Urubamba River snaking through the valley below are truly breathtaking. Finally, as the day winds down, you'll return to Aguas Calientes by bus, board the train back to Cusco, and reflect on a day full of adventure and history as you travel under the starlit sky. This comprehensive and enlightening experience not only immerses you in the beauty and history of Machu Picchu but also leaves you with a deeper appreciation of the Incan civilization.

Day 1: Cusco - Ollantaytambo - Km.104 - Chachabamba - Wiñay Wayna - Sun Gate - Aguas Calientes Embark on the thrilling first day of the 2 Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Starting in Cusco, we will travel to the Ollantaytambo Train Station, nestled in the heart of the Sacred Valley. Here, a captivating train ride awaits, taking us through picturesque Andean landscapes. Our hike begins at Km.104, where the air is crisp, and excitement fills the atmosphere. At this point, we’re at an altitude of approximately 2,100 meters (6,890 feet). We will start our ascent, feeling the ancient spirit of the Incas guiding us. Our first significant stop is at Chachabamba. It is an enigmatic Inca site sitting around 2,150 meters (7,052 feet) above sea level. Here, we will explore the ruins and learn about their historical significance. As we trek onwards, the trail gradually rises, surrounded by lush greenery and the sounds of nature. The highlight of our day is Wiñay Wayna, an awe-inspiring Inca site perched at about 2,650 meters (8,694 feet). We’ll tour this ancient wonder, taking time to appreciate its intricate terraces and waterways. Our path then leads us to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku), sitting majestically at around 2,720 meters (8,924 feet). Here, we will be rewarded with our first breathtaking view of Machu Picchu. The sight of the iconic citadel from this vantage point is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. As the day winds down, we will descend to Aguas Calientes. We’ll check into a hotel, where comfort and relaxation await after our adventurous day. Day 2: Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Ollantaytambo - Cusco We will start our day early in Aguas Calientes. It is a town situated at about 2,040 meters (6,692 feet) above sea level. After a refreshing breakfast at our hotel, we’ll set off for the day’s adventure. Our journey to Machu Picchu begins with a short bus ride up the winding mountain roads. The ascent offers breathtaking views of the surrounding Andes and builds excitement for the marvel that awaits. Once we arrive at Machu Picchu, perched at about 2,430 meters (7,972 feet), we will be greeted by its awe-inspiring beauty and grandeur. A 2-hour guided tour of Machu Picchu awaits us. Our knowledgeable tour guide will lead us through the ancient ruins. They will be sharing insights into the history and significance of this world-renowned archaeological site. We will explore its main areas. These include the Temple of the Sun, the Intihuatana stone, and the Room of the Three Windows. This experience offers not just a walk through an ancient site but a journey back in time to the height of the Inca Empire. ** Circuit #3 will be included for this day! Then, we will take the bus down to Aguas Calientes. Here, we’ll have some time to relax, enjoy a meal (not included). Later, we will board a train back to Ollantaytambo. Once we arrive at Ollantaytambo, we’ll transfer to a vehicle for our final journey back to Cusco.