Chinchero & Sacred Valley Premium Hike to Machu Picchu 3 Days

Walk the old Inca path down to the valley

Duration3 days / 2 nights
Max. altitude3,762 m / 12,342 ft
DifficultyModerate
Tour typeHiking · Cultural
Group sizemax. 16 travelers
LanguagesEnglish / Spanish

Overview

Hike the ancient trail from Chinchero down to the Urubamba River, stay in the Sacred Valley, stroll through Urubamba market and the Ollantaytambo ruins, and end with a guided visit to Machu Picchu.

Highlights

Inca trail from Chinchero to Urquillos
Urubamba local market experience
Ollantaytambo temple hill
Guided Machu Picchu visit

The Incas built these trails amidst the stunning natural beauty of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The trail begins in the town of Chinchero, at 3,762 meters above sea level. This Andean village is famous for its Inca constructions, such as the palace of Inca Túpac Yupanqui. The trail ends in the town of Urquillos, at 2,980 meters above sea level. This town is famous for its Inca trails, pleasant climate, and beautiful natural surroundings. The Inca Trail from Chinchero to Urquillos is open to the public. It is a historic route, easy to hike (the trails are downhill), full of incredible scenery, and free of charge.

Itinerary

Day 1Cusco – Chincheros – Yucay
You will be pick you up at 5 am. In the morning and take with our private transportation to Chinchero once arrive to the place we will start our journey with healthy energetic breakfast provide by our master chef. The first visit will be+ weaving classes in one of the organizations of traditional textiles local house where the ladies will show you the process of elaborating it. If you are interested to obtain hand, make textiles this is the recommended point to get it. Then we will explore the archaeological site and the colonial church full of mural paintings, also our guide will be ready to explain about chinchero Incan ruins and then exploring around. after that we will be ready start descent the original Inca path to Urquillos part of the sacred valley by a cozy valley and enjoy one of the nature and spectacular views.

The way will take us for 3 hours approximately in hour going down we stop in order to enjoy two beautiful mountains far away. Pitusiray over (5110meter/16765.09ft), and Sawasiray (5133 meter/16840.55ft) according Andean ideology those 2 mountains are symbol of the Incan duality, you will notice as well how the temperature and the vegetation change as we descend. Another beautiful natural beauty you will appreciate is the impressive Poc Poc - water fall 50 meter high where stop to refresh and take nice pictures on the way. Once we arrive at the village of Urquillos we will enjoy our lunch organize by our master chef. After that we will continue hiking to your lodge - hotel organize by the company. This lodge-hotel is exactly located in heart of sacred valley of the Incas perfect to stay and pass overnight.

Trek Overview:
- Tour Location: Cusco Sacred Valley, Peru
- Hiking time: 5 to 6 hours
- Transport time: 1.20 hours
- Tour Type: Hiking – Cultural, History - nature
- Start/End Time: At 5 am from your Cusco hotel and you will be in your hotel at 4 pm
- Consideration: Please remember to take the necessary hiking cloths, boots - follow all the company recommendations
- Starting Altitude: 3780 m / 12401.5 ft
- Climate: Templete weather
- Total, Walking Distance: 7 km / 4.34 miles - down and flat
- Highest Altitude: 3780 m / 12401.5 ft
- Overall Difficulty: Easy – Down – flat
Day 2Yucay – Urubamba Local Marquet – Ollantaytambo Inca Ruins
Today we will start our tour at 8 am, after a good breakfast in your lodge, hotel, we will continue hiking to Urubamba town - our first stop will be exploring andenes de Yucay where we will see original Incan construction, after we will be able to visit the local market of this town Urubamba. In this market we'll observe the mixture of crops farmed in sacred valley of the Incas our guide will be able to provide a lot of information and show all the products are in this market. Once that our professional master chef would be waiting with delicious traditional food “Pachamanca”, after enjoyed the lunch we'll continue driving for 25 minutes, to Ollantaytambo town where we will have chance to visit the ruins of Ollantaytambo, here our guide will teach you a lot of information and show you the important places as well as temples, farming terraces, food storage and much more. After that our guide will take you to your hotel in ollantaytambo. For this afternoon our dinner will be in one of tourist restaurant.

Trek Overview:
- Tour Location: Cusco - Sacred Valley - Peru
- Hiking time: hike – walk
- Transport time: 30 minutes transport
- Tour Type: Hiking – Cultural, History – Market
- Start/End Time: At 8 am from your Cusco hotel and you will be in your camp at 4 pm
- Consideration: Please remember to take the necessary hiking cloths, boots - follow all the company recommendations
- Starting Altitude: 2857 m / 9373.3 ft
- Climate: Templete weather
- Total, Walking Distance: 2 km / 0.00124274 ml
- Highest Altitude: 3,133 / 10278.87 ft
- Overall Difficulty: Easy – flat
Day 3Machu Picchu – return to Cusco
Today will be easy and the most impressive journey at 5.10 am we finally board the train to Aguas Calientes town. The train will take us 2 hours approximately, once arrived to aguas calientes train station our tour guide will take you to Bus station where the bus drive 25 minutes and leave you next to Machupicchu entrance. where you and your professional tour guide Show the original passport and entrance feet to citadel in order to visit.
Once passed the control our tour guide start with tour guiding for 3 hours in the citadel, where he will teach you the Peruvian, inca history and also, he will show you the most impressive places, such like temple, palace, fountain, plazas, ceremonial places, much more. after you finished to explore the citadel of machupicchu, you will have to return to aguas calientes town together with your guide. Here if you want you can go have lunch with your tour guide or by yourself any restaurant because this last lunch is not included in your trek.
At 3:20 or 4:20 pm according you booking trek you will be returning to Ollantaytambo train station and from Ollantaytambo to Cusco. Our driver will leave you to each of you at door of your hotel.

Trek Overview:
- Tour Location: Cusco Machupiccu, Peru
- Hiking time: Full Day tour
- Transport time: 50 minutes transport by bus in aguas calienets couple hours by train
- Tour Type: Hiking – Cultural, History - nature
- Start/End Time: At 8 am from your Cusco hotel and you will be in your camp at 4 pm
- Consideration: Please remember to take the necessary hiking cloths, boots follow all the company recommendations
- Starting Altitude: 2792 m / 9,160. 1 ft
- Climate: Templete weather
- Total, Walking Distance: 11 km / 6.8 ml
- Highest Altitude: 3,133 / 10278.87 ft
- Overall Difficulty: Easy – Down – flat

Included

Professional English & Spanish speaking tour guide throughout all activities.
Train ticket to Machu Picchu.
Round-trip bus tickets in Aguas Calientes (up and down).
Machu Picchu entrance ticket (Circuit #2 – La Diseñada).
Train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo.
Private transportation from Ollantaytambo back to your hotel in Cusco.
Private transportation for all excursions.
Professional trekking chef (Master Chef).
Traditional Pachamanca lunch.
Ollantaytambo archaeological site entrance ticket.
3-star hotel accommodation in Ollantaytambo.
Chinchero Inca ruins entrance ticket.
Private transportation to Chinchero.
Poc Poc Waterfall entrance ticket.
Lunch during the Chinchero & Poc Poc excursion.
3-star hotel accommodation.

Not included

Lunch in Aguas Calientes on the Machu Picchu day.
Dinner and breakfast in Ollantaytambo (unless otherwise specified).
Trekking poles.
Tips for tour guide, trekking chef, and staff (optional and voluntary).
Personal expenses and extra services not mentioned in the itinerary.
Travel insurance (highly recommended).

Recommendations

Arrive in Cusco at least one or two days before the tour to acclimatize to the altitude.
Bring your original passport for train travel and Machu Picchu entry.
Wear comfortable walking shoes or light hiking shoes.
Dress in layers to adapt to changing weather conditions.
Carry a light rain jacket or poncho at all times.
Use sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat due to strong UV radiation.
Bring a small backpack for personal items, water, and essentials.
Carry some cash in Peruvian soles for meals, tips, and small purchases.
Avoid heavy meals and alcohol before early departures.
Follow your guide’s instructions at archaeological sites and during excursions.
Respect local communities, cultural heritage, and the natural environment.
Consider travel insurance for added peace of mind.

Important information

Bring your original passport: it is checked at the Machu Picchu entrance and at train stations.
This tour reaches high altitude. Spend at least two nights in Cusco before departure to acclimatize and drink plenty of water.
Travel insurance covering trekking and medical evacuation is strongly recommended.
Machu Picchu entry circuits and times are assigned by the Ministry of Culture according to availability at the time of purchase.
Train luggage limit: one small bag or backpack up to 5 kg per person. Leave the rest of your luggage at your Cusco hotel.
Hotel pickup in Cusco historic center. The exact pickup time is confirmed the evening before at the briefing.
A pre-departure briefing takes place in Cusco the day before (18:00) to meet your guide and pay any balance.

FAQs

Do I need to buy the Machu Picchu tickets in advance?

No, you do not need to purchase any tickets in advance. The Machu Picchu entrance ticket (Circuit #2 – La Diseñada), train tickets, and bus tickets are all included in the tour and arranged for you once your reservation is confirmed. You only need to provide accurate passport information and carry your original passport on the day of the visit.

Is lunch included on the Machu Picchu visit day?

Lunch in Aguas Calientes on the Machu Picchu day is not included. This allows you to choose a restaurant according to your preferences and schedule. Your tour guide will gladly recommend good local restaurants based on your taste, budget, and available time before your return train.

What type of accommodation is included in this program?

The program includes comfortable 3-star hotel accommodation in Ollantaytambo and during the itinerary as specified. These hotels offer private rooms, private bathrooms, and basic amenities, providing a good balance of comfort and location to rest after daily excursions.

What level of physical activity is required for this tour?

This tour is suitable for travelers with a moderate fitness level. Most activities involve walking at archaeological sites, short hikes, and guided visits rather than strenuous trekking. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended, and the pace is adjusted so everyone can enjoy the experience without difficulty.

Are tips mandatory during the tour?

Tips for the tour guide, chef, and staff are not mandatory and are completely optional. Tipping is a personal way to show appreciation for good service, but you should never feel pressured to tip. You are welcome to tip only if you feel satisfied with the experience.

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