SACRED VALLEY TOUR WITH INCA TRAIL ROUTE – 8 DAYS ADVENTURE IN CUSCO
Take the most complete tour of Cusco in 8 days. At TheSacredValley.com we organize this tour so that you can learn all about the history of the Incas and also ancient trails that connect with Machu Picchu. Thus, to guarantee the safety of all our clients, we will meet you from your arrival in Cusco and you will have transportation to your hotel.
Once you have settled into your hotel, which you can choose in advance, we will begin with the activities included in this 8-day tour. On the first day we will be met at the airport and later that day we will have a briefing on the Inca Trail route. The next day we will visit the Sacred Valley, with a round trip. On the third day, we will take the Inca Trail route to Machu Picchu for 4 days.
For all activities we will have all the necessary services. In addition, these will be included in the price we offer, so last-minute payments will not be necessary. On the other hand, we will also have transportation and entrance tickets to all destinations, ready to use. In the case of the Inca Trail route, we will also have all the necessary equipment for the hike.
At TheSacredValley.com, we prioritize information, friendly service, and good planning for your trip. That is why we contacted the best tour guides in Cusco so they can help you learn more about this enigmatic journey through the ancient cultures of Peru. Our guides will be present during all activities from day one. All the information about this tour is below.
Is it easy to travel through the Sacred Valley of the Incas and then do the Inca Trail for 4 days?
The activities prior to the 4-day Inca Trail are completely easy to do. In addition, they are ideal activities for acclimatization. Remember that Cusco is located at more than 3,339 meters above sea level. Also, it is good to know that from the point where we will start the hike, it is 2,800 meters above sea level.
Piscacucho is the main starting point for the hike or trekking route and begins at kilometer 82 of the railway network. Therefore, you still have to take a train ride to get to this point. Returning to the hike, the highest point we will find is 4,200 meters above sea level, at the pass of the Warmiwañusca snow-capped mountain.
This 8-day tour will allow you to book a hotel room in Cusco for 4 nights, and another 3 nights will be spent in the camps assigned to us according to availability. As this is a multi-day trekking tour, we will have the support of porters and cooks, all of whom have extensive experience on the route. They will organize food and also the camp for the night, during the 4 days of the trek.
On the other hand, the guides will accompany us during all the activities we will carry out. Likewise, they will give information about all the sites we will see, both in Cusco, the Sacred Valley, during the Inca Trail and also during the tour of Machu Picchu. As this is one of the most requested tours, it is important to make the reservation in advance. The recommended advance notice is at least 2 to 3 months.
Finally, we would also like to mention that the only restriction that can be found on this 8-day tour is that the trip cannot be made during the month of February. This is mainly due to the Inca Trail route, since all activities on this route close in February. If you are planning to make the trip during this month, we recommend changing your option. Our advisors will help you during the booking process.
What are the activities of this tour, how does the route to the Inca Trail begin and can we enter Machu Picchu?
This tour is divided into 8 days of different activities. It is also oriented towards diverse experiences that will combine the appropriate time of simple tours to acclimatize and one of the best hiking routes to Machu Picchu. We are talking about the 4-day Inca Trail route.
We will start, as usual in TheSacredValley.com, with the pick up from the airport upon arrival in Cusco. In the evening hours, we will conduct a briefing to give details of the Inca Trail. Also, you can add the Cusco City Tour service to visit the Cusco Cathedral, Qoricancha, Sacsayhuaman, Tambomachay, Qenqo and Pucapucara. We will visit all these destinations for a maximum of 6 hours. All the destinations mentioned are very close to Cusco. The tour concludes in the afternoon at a suitable time for the briefing.
Day two is the time to make the trip through the main attractions of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. We will start in the same way with the pick-up from the hotel and once the whole group is there we will make the trip north. The first destination to visit will be the Taray viewpoint, then it is time for Písac, a pleasant buffet lunch, before arriving at Ollantaytambo and ending in Chinchero. The transport will take us to all the places and also back to the door of our hotel in Cusco.
On the third day, after adequate acclimatization, it will be time to take the route along the Inca Trails. We always start with a pick-up, this time earlier and heading to the train station in Cusco. You will travel to Ollantaytambo and then to Piscacucho. The Cusco – Ollantaytambo trip can be done by bus, while the Ollantaytambo – Piscacucho section is done by train.
In Piscacucho (kilometers 82), we will find a small camp where we will have to go through the control and also prepare our belongings for the walk. The guide on duty will give us the necessary information for a safe walk and will also introduce us to the rest of the group. This is how the 4-day walk along the Inca trails or paths will begin.
For 3 nights you will spend in the different camps along the route. Also during the 4 days you will see several archaeological sites of which you will learn more, thanks to the guides. Early on the fourth day of the hike and the seventh day of the tour, you will arrive at Machu Picchu. The entrance will be through Inti Punku and you will be able to appreciate the sunrise and a beautiful view of the entire Inca citadel.
Later that day, you will do the entire tour of Machu Picchu and, at the end, descend to Machu Picchu Pueblo. From here, you have to wait for the trains back to Cusco. The return can also be done with the bimodal service. Once you arrive in Cusco, we will be waiting for you and then take you to your hotel in Cusco so you can spend the night. The next day, you can choose new tours or simply rest. On the eighth and final day, you will have transportation so you can get to the airport without any problems and in complete safety.
Can I add more services to those provided in the tour package?
Of course, at TheSacredValley.com, we know that all people are different when it comes to needs and demands. That is why we offer more added services to the standard rate of our trips. So you can improve the accommodation services, transportation and even the pick-up service from the airport.
You can also make the trips privately and only with your loved ones. This service can also be applied to most activities. Especially for the services that can be carried out towards the Sacred Valley and also during the City Tour. Since it can be done privately to guarantee the comfort of your group or family.
During your visit to Machu Picchu, you can also add a new ticket. Many people, after doing the 4-day Inca Trail, want to climb Huayna Picchu, but they can also choose other routes such as the Machu Picchu + Temple of the Moon ticket or any other entrance ticket.
All the services we will detail can be added at the time of booking. Our travel advisors will give you a quote for the services you wish to add. It is recommended that if you are going to add entrance tickets to Machu Picchu, you should do so 2 or 3 months in advance. Likewise, you should book the tour in advance because the Inca Trail is in high demand. Below are more of the services offered.
- Completely private transportation and service.
- Improve the standard hotel service we offer in Cusco.
- Add a mat for camping.
- Request the inclusion of hiking poles.
- Guided service in languages other than Spanish or English.
- Guide service to other destinations. This service is for other destinations not indicated in the tour.
- Entrance ticket to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (you can add any other entrance ticket to Machu Picchu).
- Luxury travel on PeruRail or Inca Rail trains with advance reservation (ideal for the return trip).
- Option to complement the tour with other destinations such as: trips to the Rainbow Mountain, Humantay Lagoon and even a trip to the South Valley.
What archaeological sites can be visited during the Sacred Valley tour with Inca Trail and Cusco tour?
Cusco is one of the best destinations in the world. It offers different destinations to visit, among which the archaeological sites belonging to the Inca culture stand out. This culture was one of the most impressive in the entire ancient world, reaching a territorial domain that almost reached all of South America.
The Inca culture, throughout its dominion, was interconnected by the Qhapac Ñam or Inca Trail, and during this tour, we will be able to see part of the route. We will only travel 43 kilometers of the entire network of roads that is estimated to have reached a total of 60,000 kilometers in different spaces and geographies.
On this tour we will learn more about this route and how it was organized from the different citadels and Inca constructions. In Cusco, the Sacred Valley and during the Inca Trail, we will be able to learn more about this enigmatic culture of the Peruvian Andes that extends from Cusco to Machu Picchu. Below is a list of all the places or archaeological sites that we will visit.
- Cusco Cathedral – One of the main monuments of Cusco, located in the heart of Cusco, is the cathedral that has beautiful carvings and also decorations. Another attraction are the beautiful paintings of the Andean Baroque school (Only if you add City Tour Cusco).
- Sacsayhuamán – Very close to Cusco. You can see large Inca buildings where religious activities and ceremonies have been recovered to this day. Even during these years you can see the famous Inti Raymi (Only if you add City Tour Cusco).
- Qenqo – Located very close to Sacsayhuamán, it appears to be a space dedicated to ceremonies and sacrifices. It also appears to be a space for embalming corpses, animals and preparing everything necessary for burials (Only if you add City Tour Cusco).
- Tambomachay – Also very close to Sacsayhuamán, it is presented as an Inca space dedicated to water. In this sense, Tambomachay is considered a temple dedicated to water (Only if you add City Tour Cusco).
- Pucapucara – It is considered a fortress and military center. Mainly because when they did the excavations they found a large number of Inca weapons and also representations of the main war deity, the Illapa (Only if you add City Tour Cusco).
- Qoricancha – This was the most important temple created to begin worshipping the main figures of the Inca gods. Temples dedicated to the sun, the moon, the stars, water, the rainbow and others could be found (Only if you add City Tour Cusco).
- Písac – Located in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, it is the first archaeological site that we can visit during the tour to this destination. You can learn more about the terraces, the main temples and also appreciate beautiful landscapes, thanks to the fact that Písac is located on a mountain.
- Ollantaytambo – Located very close to the current town, its main buildings include the Temple of the Sun and all the terraces that protect it.
- Chinchero – The archaeological site is still inhabited by the current population. You can find a colonial church and also a large number of terraces. The main attraction will be the Palace of the Inca Tupac Yupanqui.
- Qhapac Ñam or Inca Trail – It was the most important road network of the Tahuantinsuyu, the entire construction would begin to extend from Cusco as a nucleus towards various destinations of Inca domain. On this tour you can see the route to Machu Picchu.
- Qoriwayrachina – It is very close to Piscacucho, the visit is optional and there is a small tambo or resting point for the chasquis or other visitors who made the route to Machu Picchu.
- Patallacta – This is one of the buildings that can even be seen during the train journey. Its main attractions are the platforms that seem to touch the Vilcanota River that comes from the Sacred Valley.
- Runkurakay – This is a small building made up of several warehouses. To others it appears to be a ceremonial space due to the circular shape of the main square.
- Sayacmarca – This is a larger and more capacious tambo compared to the previous point. You can see little streets, some temples and also basic buildings and others of the imperial type. It is located between the tops of the mountains.
- Phuyupatamarca – This is an imposing Inca construction. It is made up of several terraces and water channels. It seems to be inside the cloud forests, which is why fog is almost always seen. On the other hand, it seems to be a religious space and closely linked to agriculture.
- Inti pata – This is an area dedicated to agriculture due to the large number of terraces that can be seen. In addition, the presence of water channels and some colcas will stand out. This place is usually one of the campsites for spending the night.
- Wiñayhuayna – From the moment you arrive at this place, you can see a large number of terraces, but with a beautiful incline. The impressive view from the top of the place allows you to appreciate all the splendor of the mountain range that you cross to reach this point.
- Inti Punku – In the early hours of the morning and hopefully before sunrise we will reach this point. Inti Punku is considered the original checkpoint of Machu Picchu. It is possible to see the sunrise from this place.
- Machu Picchu – This will be one of the most anticipated destinations. On the seventh day of the tour we will be receiving a new day right from the streets. It is also possible to appreciate the Temple of the Sun, other temples and many buildings throughout the Inca citadel.
Are there any restrictions for taking the 8-day Sacred Valley, Inca Trail and Cusco tour?
The tour we are organizing for 8 days includes the route along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, activities in Cusco and also in the Sacred Valley. It is important to know that the Inca Trail route, in any of its variations, cannot be done during the entire month of February.
The suspension of this route is granted to avoid accidents during the month with the greatest amount of rain. Also, during the month of February, authorized and trained personnel begin to carry out restoration and maintenance, both of the routes and of the archaeological sites that can be found along the route. This does not apply to Machu Picchu.
That is to say, Machu Picchu can be visited throughout the year, just like the other destinations we will visit in Cusco and the Sacred Valley. In case there is any prohibition, it will be due to force majeure and we will inform you in a timely manner so that we can make any changes to the plans or similar.
This 8-day tour has no other restrictions, except for the classic restrictions when entering Machu Picchu, where backpacks and sharp objects may prohibit your entry. On the other hand, you can leave your backpacks right in the access area. There, you can request the luggage storage service. This is mainly to make the tour without problems or unnecessary weight.
