Full Itinerary of Sacred Valley + Short Inca Trail 3 days

Day 1: Sacred Valley tour - Ollantaytambo.

Your tour guide will meet you in the hotel at 7.30 am to explore the Sacred Valley on a full-day tour. You will drive towards the north of Cusco for about 40 minutes to Mirador of Taray, where you will enjoy amazing views of the Sacred Valley, the Urubamba river, and the Andes Mountains. Next, you will drive to the Pisaq Inca site to amaze at the stunning agricultural terraces and ancient constructions. After exploring, we will go to the lower village of Pisac to see a bustling handicraft market. After you've spent some time scouring the market for bargains, we'll have lunch at an Andean restaurant in Urubamba.

After lunch, we will visit the circular terraces of Moray and the Salineras of Maras, where local people have harvested salt since the Inca Times using ancient techniques. Last but not least is Ollantaytambo, where you will witness the living Inca Culture and explore the ancient Inca streets still used by locals. We will spend the night in a hotel near the town. 

• Highest altitude: 3300m / 10925ft
• Duration: 9 hours
• Meals: Buffet Lunch
• Accommodation: Tunupa Lodge (or similar)
• Difficulty: Easy
• Transportation, entry fees, and lunch included

Day 2: Ollantaytambo - Km 104 - Sun Gate - Machu Picchu

After breakfast, we will pick you up from your hotel around 5.40 am, and you will board the first trains to the Inca Trail - Km 104 (Chachabamba). The train ride takes around 1.2 hours from the highlands into the cloud forest. Upon arrival at Km 104 (Chachabamba), you will get off the train, cross a hanging bridge, and arrive at the first checkpoint, where you will need to show your original passport. Next, you will prepare for the trek and use the facilities. 

The Short Inca Trail starts with a guided tour of the Chachabamaba Inca site to later begin a 2-hour gradual ascent to Wiñay Wayna, the most famous Inca site along the Classic Inca Trail; your tour guide will take you on a guided tour of the most important buildings such as the temples, waterfalls, gardens, storehouses, watchtowers, and agricultural terraces and enjoy a organize box lunch in the nearby campsite.

The second part starts with a more leisurely 1-hour hike to the Sun Gate, where you will have the first and most amazing views of Machu Picchu, Huayna Picchu, Urubamba River, and the Andes Mountains. You will spend some time enjoying the sunset over Machu Picchu. Then, you will continue for one more hour to the upper part of Machu Picchu to may capture magnificent photographs of Machu Picchu with fewer visitors in the afternoon. 

Last is a 30 minutes bus drive to Aguas Calientes town (Machu Picchu Pueblo). Dinner is served in a Local restaurant, and we spend the night in a 3-star hotel.

• Highest altitude: 2720m / 8923ft
• Distance: 15km / 8 miles
• Duration: 8 hours
• Meals: Lunch, snacks, and dinner
• Accommodation: Susanna INN (or Similar)
• Difficulty: Moderate

Day 3: Explore Machu Picchu - Return to Cusco

On the last day of the tour, explore the "Lost City of the Incas," Machu Picchu. After breakfast in the hotel, you will board the first bus and arrive at Machu Picchu before sunrise. You will explore Machu Picchu on a guided tour for about 3 hours, visiting the main temples, palaces, farming terraces, and most important buildings. You will also have time to spend alone or participate in an additional mountain hike like Huayna Picchu mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain (not included - permits need to be in advance). 

After Machu Picchu, you will return by bus to Aguas Calientes, enjoy lunch, and board the afternoon Vistadome Panoramic trains back to Ollantaytambo where our team will be waiting for you and transfer you back via private vehicle to your hotel in Cusco. The arrival time is around 7.30 pm.

Cusco via private vehicle, where we will drop you off at your accommodation.
 

• Highest altitude: 2400m / 7874ft
• Duration: 3-4 hours tour in Machu Picchu
• Meals: Breakfast (hotel)
• Difficulty: Easy