Sacred Valley Tour and Short Inca Trail 3 Days

Explore the Sacred Valley Tour and Short Inca Trail 3 days gives you the chance to discover the treasures of Cusco and Machu Picchu. During this Sacred Valley Trip, you will have the opportunity to appreciate the Chinchero the home of textile, Salt ponds, Moray and Ollantaytambo Inca site

This tour package 3 Days Sacred Valley & Inca Trail Hike is a perfect combination of culture and history where you can learn about the rich history of our Inca ancestors as well as the indigenous people who still live in the Sacred valley of the Incas today.

This tour takes you along the Short Inca Trail, known as one of the Inca trail routes most frequented by travellers seeking adventure in a protected ecological preserve. This trail is truly one of a kind, well known for its natural environment where you can appreciate the most varied natural fauna and flora and appreciate the different ecological wonders, all of which you experience with the imposing backdrop of snow peak mountains, rivers and Inca complexes such Chachabamba and Winay huayna.

NOTE: If you want to experience 1-night camping for a truly outdoor experience, you can request it before booking your trek (see info on Short Inca Trail with Camping). On this version of the hike, you camp at Puente Ruinas which is below Machu Picchu Mountain and enjoy two meals prepared by our gourmet chef.

Inca Trail Private 3 Days – Highlights

Amazing views of Wiñay Huayna
Stunning terraces of Moray
Salt ponds of Moray
Ollantaytambo (Temple of the Sun)
Spectacular mountain ranges of Veronica
Sun gate entrance to Machu Picchu (Inti punku)
Lush tropical forest and grassland
Flora and fauna
History and cultural immersion
Beautiful streams and waterfalls
Delicious food and cuisine
Wonder of the World Machu Picchu

Sacred Valley Tour and Short Inca Trail with Camping

Day 1: Cusco – Chinchero – Salt ponds – Moray – Ollantaytambo
Day 2: Ollantaytambo – Chachabamba – Wiñay Wayna – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes
Day 3: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco

Sacred Valley Tour and Short Inca Trail – Pre Trek Briefing:

You will have thorough briefing with your guide 1 or 2 days before your trek. Your guide will meet you at your hotel and you can take this opportunity to ask questions and make any final preparations.

Sacred Valley and Short Inca Trail – Itinerary

DAY 1:Cusco - Chinchero - Salt ponds of Moray - Moray Inca Site - Ollantaytambo

We will pick you up early from your hotel (around 7.30am) and then we head to the Sacred valley to start our Sacred Valley Tour.

Chinchero the home of weavers

Chinchero is a town located in the Cusco region of Peru, and it is known for its rich weaving tradition. The area has a long history of textile production, and the Chinchero people are skilled weavers who create a wide range of textiles using traditional techniques and natural dyes. The textiles produced in Chinchero are known for their intricate designs and high quality, and they are highly prized by collectors and museums around the world.

Maras Salt Ponds

Maras salt ponds is an astonishing place, since the Inca period, thousands of wells have been dug, new ones every year, to extract a precious element–salt. The salt comes from a spring, loaded with minerals, which flows from a little higher up the valley. To collect it, a technique developed relies on terraces: they retain the water which, as it evaporates, deposits its salt load.

Rounded Shape Terraces of Moray

The archaeological site of Moray is unprecedented in the region. Here, you will see Incas terraces, but in circles that are staggered on different levels into the ground, some up to 1.20 m/4 ft high. The view from every angle is incredible, whether viewing from above or below. Research suggests this might have been a kind of agricultural testing center or “laboratory” where experiments were made to test the function of various crops according to each of the micro-climates corresponding to each terrace level.

Ollantaytambo Inca Site

The Inca archaeological site of Ollantaytambo has been the place of the Inca’s greatest victories against Spanish invaders. It was a fortress, a ceremonial center, an administrative center, and a site for agriculture. The most important part of this complex is the Temple of the Sun, whose stone boulders were brought from a quarry 5 km way. The scale of these stone blocks are so impressive that just to imagine how they could have transported them from such a distance and height above the Valley is an epic story. After enjoying a tour of the complex and exploring it further we will go to our hotel where you can rest.

Meals: Not included
Tickets: Entrance fee for each Inca site
Guide: Fluent English speaking tour guide
Transport: Private Van
Accommodation: 2* Hotel

DAY 2:Ollantaytambo - 104 Km - Sun gate - Machu Picchu - Aguas Calientes

The next day we will wake up early to go to the train station, which is only 15 minutes from our hotel in Ollantaytambo, where we take the train to 104 Km of the Inca trail, which takes about 1 hour. Km 104 is an unscheduled train stop so you will probably feel a twinge of satisfaction that the train is stopping especially for you – and by knowing you are about to see things that no one else will get to! At Km 104 we will get off the train and pass the Inca Trail checkpoint where we will see our first archaeological center called Chachabamba (2,170 m / 7,170 ft). These ruins were one of the last shelters that the Incas used before they reached Machu Picchu. This site was also used as a religious and administrative center and features several buildings.

Then, we will gradually ascend for about 2-3 hours climbing Inca stone steps while our guide points out different flora and fauna along the trail. We will then pass a tall waterfall before arriving at the archaeological site called Wiñay Huayna at (2,650 m / 8,700 ft), which is named after an orchid and means ‘Forever Young’ in Quechua. We will climb to the top of the ruins and enjoy lunch with an incredible view of the Urubamba River and the Sacred Valley. This large site sits on a mountainside and features experimental terraces that the Incas used to grow different crops. We will visit an important temple with 7 windows that was dedicated to the rainbow as well as observe the amazing engineering of water channels that still function today.

Once we finish our tour here, we will continue our hike for about one and a half hours longer on a part of the Inca Trail which is relatively flat, with small ascents and descents along the way. At about 5pm we will reach the Sun Gate (2,720 m / 8,920 ft), which is called ‘Inti punku’ in Quechua. This is where we will have our first view of Machu Picchu and from there we will head down into the ruins of Machu Picchu. We then take the bus down to Aguas Calientes and then check in to our hotel for a well earned rest.

Meals: Box Lunch / Dinner
Accommodation: 2* Hotel
Maximum altitude: 2,720 m / 8,920 ft
Minimum Altitude: 2,040 m / 6,691 ft
Distance to walk: 13 km / 8 miles
Approximate walking time: 5-6 hours

DAY 3:Aguas calientes - Machu Picchu - Cusco

We will get up early and have breakfast in the hotel, then we will catch the bus to Machu Picchu in Aguas Calientes. We will aim to be in Machu Picchu by 6am in order to hopefully catch a spectacular sunrise. Once we reach Machu Picchu you will enjoy a private 2 hour walking tour of the site given by our expert local guide.

If you have elected to climb Huayna Picchu mountain (the price for this is not included in your tour price), you will begin the hike at 10am. If you are not climbing the mountain, you will continue exploring Machu Picchu before you return to Aguas Calientes by bus.

Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, you will board the Expedition train back to Ollantaytambo (train station). From Ollantaytambo you will travel by private van to Cusco and we will drop you off at your hotel. Arrival time in Cusco depends on the time of your train ticket, usually we return at around 7pm.

Meals: Breakfast
Maximum altitude: 2,040 m/ 6,691 ft
Minimum altitude: 2,440 m/ 8,052 ft
Accommodation: Not Included

Includes

Professional English speaking guide for the Sacred Valley & Inca Trail
Pre trek briefing
Transportation from your hotel in Cusco to Ollantaytambo
Bus tickets between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu both days
Sacred Valley Entrance Fees (to Inca sites)
Train tickets round trip
Transport by private van from Ollantaytambo to Cusco
Short Inca trail hiking permit
2 nights hotel (2*)
1 box lunch, 1 dinner, 2 breakfasts
Private guided tour of Machu Picchu
First-aid kit including emergency oxygen tank

Doesn't Include

Hiking poles (can be rented from us for US$ 5)
Breakfast on day 1, lunch on day 1 and 3 and Dinner on day 1 and 2
Water for the duration of the tour
Entrance to the hot springs in Aguas Calientes
Hotel in Cusco
Tip for your guide
Huayna Picchu mountain ticket or Machu Picchu Mountain ticket
Travel insurance – we strongly recommend that travellers purchase travel insurance for the duration of this 3 Day sacred valley tour and short Inca trail with camping

What do I need to bring?

Backpack (we recommend 28l, if not waterproof then please bring waterproof backpack cover during rainy season)
Original passport
ISIC card (if applicable)
Hiking boots
Layers for variable temperatures, especially at night
Sun protection: sunscreen, sun hat, sunglasses etc.
Insect repellent
Rain poncho or a good rain jacket
Toiletries / small towel
Bathing clothes for the hot springs (optional)
Water bottle
Camera
Toilet paper / Tissues
First aid kit
Power bank

Prices

The price for the Sacred Valley Tour & Short Inca Trail is as follows (if you are group of family or friends with 3 or more people, please don’t hesitate to contact us directly for a special price):