Explore the magic of Cusco city and then travel by train to Machu Picchu. On this tour you’ll have the chance to combine two different destination in just 2 days. The Sacred Valley of the Inca is in between, so you will be able to have a complete idea of the Inca culture through the archaeological sites to visit.
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Minivan, Minibus, train
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3 Star Hotels upgrade available
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01 breakfast, 02 lunch
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1 - 10
Overview
The tour includes the classic city tour in Cusco, and the famous train journey to Machu Picchu. It also includes a guided tour in Machu Picchu Inca citadel and transportation back to Cusco by train and by road in a tourist transportation. Adventure to this amazing short package.
Highlights
- Explore the Inca Temple of the Ray in Sacsayhuaman and find stone walls constructed of huge stones, weighing up to 120 tons. Travel the same day to Machu Picchu and have a guided tour there the next morning.
- Places to visit: Saqsayhuaman, Tambomachay, Qenqo, The Cathedral, and the Temple of the Sun Qorikancha, Machu Picchu Inca citadel, which includes the lookout, temples, houses, farming terraces.
- Transport: Tourist van or minibus, and train.
- Overnights: 01 night in Aguas Calientes in a 3-star hotel.
Itinerary
City tour: We pick you up at 08.00 am from your hotel in Cusco. Departing in the morning this tour will take you to the highlights of Cusco city. We start with the Inca complex of Sacsayhuaman which is a huge archaeological complex that also includes other Inca sites like Qenqo, Tambomachay, and Puca Pucara. In Sacsayhuaman we will discover huge Inca walls with secrets of iconography that only a good eye could catch.
Then we return to the city to visit The Temple of the Sun Qorikancha (also spelled Koricancha or Coricancha), which is an ancient Incan temple considered one of the most important religious sites in the Incan Empire, and was dedicated to the worship of the sun god, Inti.
Qorikancha means "Golden Courtyard" in the Quechua language, and the temple was renowned for its exquisite architecture and lavish decoration. The walls were once covered in gold plates and the courtyard was filled with golden statues. The temple was also a center of astronomical observation and study, and the Incans built a sophisticated system of channels and canals to regulate the flow of water through the temple and control the temperature and humidity.
After the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century, the temple was partially destroyed and a Spanish colonial church was built on top of it. Today, visitors can see the remains of the Incan temple and the Spanish colonial church that was built on top of it, which is now known as the Church of Santo Domingo.
Then we continue the tour visiting the Cathedral of Cusco, and not for religious purposes. It is the major temple of the city and is located in front of the main plaza and was the Inca palace of Inca Viracocha. There are countless pieces of art from the Cusco art school throughout the entire Cathedral. Valuable works of art that are admirable and deserving of knowledge.
Lunch included in Cusco: After the tour, we stop for lunch before continuing on to Machu Picchu.
Cusco to Machu Picchu:
We will drive to Ollantaytambo train station from where we will travel for 1 and a half hours to Aguas Calientes village, also called Machu Picchu town. The ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu is located at the top of the mountain so we won't visit it today.
The hotel in included and staff of the hotel will be waiting for you to lead you to their location.
06.00 am: We get going early this morning. We pick you up from your hotel and we go to the bus station to make a line to take the bus.
For about 40 minutes, we will ride the bus up the mountain to Machu Picchu. The guided tour, which lasts for approximately two and a half hours, begins when we arrive.You'll have the opportunity to visit Inca temples. In addition to sacred fountains, they constructed a number of temples dedicated to the sun, moon, stars, lightning, rainbow, puma, condor, and other natural phenomena.You will return to Aguas Calientes for lunch following the tour. After lunch you must go to your hotel and pick up your luggage, then go to the train station 30 minutes before the train departure.According to availability we will use the 03.20 pm or the 04.43 pm train.
You will travel back to Ollantaytambo station and from there will continue by road, back to Cusco City. We will pick you up from the Cusco station and take you to your hotel. End.
Includes/Excludes
Included
- Pick up from the hotel in Cusco, and way back.
- Transfer to the train station in a tourist transport, van or minibus.
- Roundtrip train tickets in the train selected.
- Lunch in a tourist restaurant for both days.
- 01 night in a 3-star or 4-star hotel in Aguas Calientes.
- English-speaking professional tour guide.
- Roundtrip bus tickets to Machu Picchu.
- Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu.
- Transfer from the train station to your hotel in Cusco.
Not included
- Request a reservation to lunch next to Machu Picchu at Belmond Sanctuary Lodge hotel, in the Tinkuy restaurant. This way you don’t have to take the bus back to Aguas Calientes for a meal.Additionally you have hike options to Wayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain, buying an additional ticket.
- From January to April the train departure is from Wanchaq station and a bus is taken to Ollantaytambo and from there begins the train journey.There are two train options that depart and arrive at the same time. The Expedition train, called the tourist train, is comfortable and has affordable prices. The Vistadome is a panoramic train with upgraded services and wide windows to enjoy the scenery better. Also includes snacks and hot drinks along the way. The prices are not more expensive though. On the way back the Vistadome includes a fashion show and a folk dance show.
Google map
Booking conditions
- We need a deposit of 30% of the total tour cost of the tour.
- The balance can be paid based on: From 1 to 8 participants, a full payment must be made 45 days before the tour start date.
- From 8 to more participants, a full payment must be made 70 days before the tour start date.
- Please see the full booking and cancelation policies clicking here.
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Temple of the Ray:
An important place of worship in Sacsayhuaman’s citadel was the temple of lightning. It is thought to have been a place of worship for Illapa, the Inca god of lightning. Illapa was a strong god in Inca mythology who commanded lightning and thunder and was revered as a protector of the Incas and their empire. It was constructed from huge stone blocks. No mortar was required to join the blocks together because they were carved and placed with such accuracy. The temple of lightning is thought to have been built in the 15th century, during the reign of the Inca Pachactec.
Cusco Cathedral:
It is one of the most important religious buildings in Peru. The construction of the cathedral began in 1559 and was completed in 1669. It was built on the site of the temple of the Inca Wiracocha, which was destroyed by the Spanish conquistadors. The cathedral is a mix of architectural styles, including Renaissance, Baroque, and Gothic. It also has an impressive collection of religious art, with many works from the Cusco School, one of the most important schools of religious art in Latin America. The cathedral is famous for its main altar, which is made of silver and features many religious artworks and sculptures. It also has an underground crypt that houses the remains of various bishops and archbishops.
Temple of the Sun:
It was one of the most important temples of the Inca empire. The temple was a sacred place where the Inca priests worshiped the sun, their main deity. Its construction began in the 13th century and continued for the following centuries. The temple was made of stone and had impressive walls and gold decorations. It housed many sacred rooms and enclosures, each dedicated to a deity or aspect of nature. In addition to the sun, the moon, stars, lightning, and other gods were worshipped. The structure of the temple was partially destroyed by the Spanish conquerors in the 16th century. Much of the gold and jewelry that adorned the temple were looted and shipped to Spain.
Machu Picchu Inca citadel:
It was designated by UNESCO as a Cultural and Natural Heritage of Humanity in 1983, and it is likely the most amazing architectural masterpiece from the Inca Empire. This citadel is made up of temples, palaces, terraces, monuments, complexes, and walls, as well as water channels built with large blocks of stone and no amalgam, demonstrating the Inca civilization’s great wisdom. Nowadays it is one of the famous 7 world wonders, and the main reason for tourism in Peru.
Frequently asked questions
The tour starts at 8:00 AM on the first day with a private city tour in Cusco. It ends on the second day when we drop you off at your hotel in Cusco after returning from Machu Picchu in the evening.
The tour includes all transfers, train and bus tickets, entrance fees to Machu Picchu, guided tours, a 3-star or 4-star hotel in Aguas Calientes, and lunch on both days.
No, the entrance ticket to Machu Picchu is already included in the tour package. However there are limited tickets available and early bookings are required
Yes, you can choose between a 3-star or 4-star hotel. Please let us know your preference when booking.
We recommend bringing comfortable clothing, a rain jacket (especially during the rainy season), sunscreen, insect repellent, a hat, a reusable water bottle, and your passport, which is required for entry to Machu Picchu.
In case of any train delays or cancellations, we will assist you in making the necessary arrangements to ensure you reach Cusco safely.
Yes, we offer train upgrades to higher-class services like the Vistadome. For the Luxury train Hiram Bingham please contact us for availability and pricing.
