Sacred Valley Trek

There are several ways to discover the Sacred Valley. On this three-day Sacred Valley trek you’ll get a taste of the Andes Mountains but we’ve planned the itinerary in such a way that it doesn’t involve too much hiking. It’s also a lot cheaper than the short classic Inca Trail and you’ll still get to see Machu Picchu.

From Cuzco you’ll travel to Chinchero, the birthplace of the rainbow according to the Incas. From there you’ll travel on to the Sacred Valley to Maras Moray where you’ll continue into the valley on foot. It’s mostly downhill past colourful terraced fields, the Las Salinas salt pans and grey mules carrying all kinds of loads. Take the train to Aguas Calientes where you’ll spend the night in order to be the first up to the ancient Inca ruins the next morning before the crowds arrive.

To see the Sacred Valley from a different side, take a look at our Ollanta Trek. If you prefer to visit the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu without the trekking, check out our modules Markets and mañana Machu Picchu or Sacred Valley cruising.

Duration	3 days / 2 nights Departure Thursdays from May - October, other months on request only.	Accommodation	1 night in tent (fullboard) 1 night in double room with private bathroom, breakfast included. Comfort level 3 (see accommodation)
Price	£ per person - based on 2 people sharing	Includes	Transport, accommodation as described, English-speaking guide, sleeping bag
Transport	All transport by minibus and train	Excludes	Entrance fee Machu Picchu (US$24 per person until 31 Aug., US$38 until 31 Dec.)

Day 1 Cuzco - Ollantaytambo

Around 9am you’ll be picked up by minibus at the hotel and make your way towards Maras Moray, about 30km outside Cuzco. It’s a short bus scenic drive with wonderful views across the snowy peaks of Veronica and Salkantay, of the ancient Inca terraces and locals leading their packed mules along the side of the road.

Your Sacred Valley trek kicks off with a five-hour hike downhill towards Ollantaytambo. The first stop is at the Las Salinas salt terraces. These basins (over 4000 of them) have been used for salt extraction since the Incas. Leaving the salt pans behind you’ll continue on to the Urubamba river where the minibus is already waiting to take you to your camping spot at Ollantaytambo. Ollanta is a small village on the railway from Cuzco to Machu Picchu.

If there’s time, visit the old fortress above the village. This fortress was the only place where the Incas managed to hold off the Spaniards by riddling them with arrows from behind the thick rock walls

Day 2 Ollantaytambo - Aguas Calientes

Depending on what time your train to Machu Picchu leaves, you can take another stroll around the village or head back up to the fort for another visit. Your ticket is still valid and if you’re up early, it’s worth climbing up there around 7am. Perched high above the village you can watch the sun come up and as the cockerel crows the village slowly awakens. There are a couple of restaurants and cafes in the villages as well as a small museum and a local market. Ollanta is a small place with just over 2000 inhabitants so there’s not much going on, but life here trundles along and after the lively Cuzco the peace and quiet is actually very pleasant.

In the late morning board the train to Aguas Calientes, where you’ll arrive 1 ½ hours later. This small town is pretty touristy seeing as everyone visiting Machu Picchu will need to pass through here. There’s a constant flow of travellers, but it’s a fun and lively atmosphere. Check in to your hotel and spend the rest of the day exploring the village. Instead of a town square, the centre of Aguas Calientes is actually built around the train tracks that run straight through the town. The tracks are lined with shops and restaurants. In the afternoon, take a soothing dip in the hot springs or hike up to one of the nearby waterfalls. Tonight you can swap your chilly tent for a nice comfy bed in your hotel.

Day 3 Aguas Calientes - Cuzco

It’s an early start today if you want to see the ruins of Machu Picchu in relative quiet before the crowds of tourists start arriving. You can take one of the first buses up to the entrance, or you could walk up. Hand in your backpack at the entrance and step through the gates into the ancient Inca realm.

Wandering among the ruins the city really comes alive. The terraces fields, the temples and houses show you how sophisticated the Incas were for their time but whatever led to the decline of this once magnificent Inca city still remains a mystery. Scientists and archaeologists still have opposing theories on what happened here that eventually turned the city into a deserted ruin, none of which have ever been proven.

You'll have plenty of time to wander along the endless network of basalt walls before picking up your rucksack at the entrance, where the buses are waiting to take you back to Aguas Calientes.

What to bring on your Sacred Valley trek:
(you can leave the rest of your baggage at the hotel in Cuzco):

Good hiking boots
Waterproof poncho
Breathable clothes
Sunscreen
Sun hat
Warm sweater, preferably fleece

Warm, windproof jacket
Toilet paper
Snacks
Money (Peruvian, small notes and change)
Spare clothes in plastic bag
Torch and binoculars

Entrance fees subject to change, imposed by the government without prior notice so please understand that we need to recalculate any altered fees where applicable.

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