- Day tours
- Ollantaytambo- Rainbow mountain
The Sacred Valley Tour Peru and Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is the ultimate Machu Picchu tour package for travelers looking for history, culture, and adventure in one experience. This 3-day tour combines the best of the Andes with one of the most iconic hikes in the world.
Explore the famous Sacred Valley of the Incas, visiting top Inca sites like Pisac ruins and Ollantaytambo fortress, two of the most important archaeological destinations in Peru. This part of the journey offers a deep cultural immersion before starting your Inca Trail hike in Peru.
Continue with the Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, the best easy Inca Trail alternative in Peru, perfect for travelers who want a shorter but unforgettable hike. Walk the original Inca stone path, surrounded by cloud forests and breathtaking landscapes, and visit the incredible Wiñay Wayna archaeological site — one of the highlights of the trail.
Arrive at Machu Picchu through the legendary Sun Gate (Inti Punku), the most spectacular entrance to the Lost City of the Incas. Enjoy a guided Machu Picchu tour and discover why this wonder is one of the most visited destinations in the world.
This Sacred Valley and Short Inca Trail experience is ideal for those looking for a small-group Inca Trail hike, a Machu Picchu hiking tour, and a complete journey through Peru’s most iconic landscapes.
What places can you visit on the 3-day tour to Machu Picchu?
Sacred Valley Highlights In the Sacred Valley, you will visit:
Short Inca Trail Highlights Along the Inca Trail, you will explore:
Availability of the Sacred Valley Tour and 2-Day Inca Trail Permits Only 250 permits per day are issued for the 2-Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, and they are strictly controlled by the Peruvian government. These same permits are required for our 3-Day Sacred Valley and Short Inca Trail package, which combines a full Sacred Valley tour with the 2-Day Inca Trail hike. Once permits are sold out, there is absolutely no way to access the Inca Trail, even if hotels and trains are available. During high season (May to September), Inca Trail permits can sell out weeks or even months in advance. To secure your Sacred Valley and 2-Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, we strongly recommend booking at least 2–3 months ahead.
How to book permits for the Inca Trail To book the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, you must reserve through a licensed tour operator authorized to operate the Inca Trail. Independent bookings are not permitted by the Peruvian government. To secure your Inca Trail permits, we recommend booking 2–4 months in advance. A 50% deposit is required to guarantee your spot. Once your reservation is confirmed, your permits are officially secured. The deposit is used to purchase your official Inca Trail entrance permits, Machu Picchu tickets, train tickets, and hotels included in your tour package. Since permits are limited and non-transferable, early booking is essential.
Briefing for the Sacred Valley and Short Inca Trail Tour Your exciting Peru tour to Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu begins with an in-person briefing one day before your adventure starts. Our professional tour guide will provide you with all the information about your Sacred Valley and Inca Trail tours to Machu Picchu. By the end of the briefing, all your questions will be answered, and this is also when you’ll make your final payment to the company before starting your adventure.
At 8:00 AM, we’ll pick you up to start an unforgettable journey through the breathtaking Sacred Valley of the Incas. Our first stop is the beautiful Chinchero archaeological site, where you’ll explore its rich history and stunning landscapes.
Next, we’ll visit the Maras Salt Mines, a natural wonder with spectacular views of the Andean mountains. From there, we head to Moray, an impressive Inca agricultural laboratory, before continuing to Ollantaytambo, a fascinating archaeological site that marks the gateway to Machu Picchu.
This Sacred Valley tour offers a deep dive into the origins of the Inca civilization, setting the stage for your visit to the legendary Machu Picchu.
We will pick you up from Ollantaytambo or Cusco and transfer you to the train station in Ollantaytambo, where you’ll take the train to the starting point of the Short Inca Trail. At the trailhead, we’ll pass through a checkpoint to enter Machu Picchu National Park.
Once the hike begins, we’ll visit two remarkable sites along the way: Chachabamba and Wiñay Wayna, also known as the «mini Machu Picchu.» From there, we continue toward the breathtaking Sun Gate (Inti Punku), your first view of Machu Picchu.
Enjoy a spectacular guided tour of Machu Picchu. Early in the morning, after breakfast at your hotel, we’ll take a 30-minute bus ride to the Machu Picchu archaeological site. Our tour guide will show you the most iconic areas of this ancient Inca city, including the Sun Temple, the Royal Palace, the Temple of the Condor, the agricultural terraces, and the priest’s house.
After the guided tour, we’ll return to Aguas Calientes for lunch before taking the train back to Ollantaytambo and continuing by van to Cusco.
