Tour Machu Picchu and Maras Moray 2 Days/ 1 Night
Duration
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Overview
This tour is a combination of the Maras Moray Salt Mines Tour and the Classic Train Tour to Machu Picchu. That makes this package ideal for those who want to discover both cultures and traditions of the ancient Incas as well as gain some experience being in contact with Quechua descendants, their traditions and costumes.
Enjoy the beauty of the Andean agricultural lands of Chinchero, which modern Cusqueños farm, as well as the high mountains in the famous Sacred Valley of the Incas and the llamas and alpacas. Discover the mysterious circles of Moray, an ancient laboratory of the Incas, and afterwards, the salt terraces where the tradition of salt extraction has been kept since ancient times.
Next, embark on an incredible train journey from the Sacred Valley of the Incas to Machu Picchu Town, where you’ll discover the ancient Incan sanctuary, Machu Picchu.
Please note that we are only able to reserve tickets for Machu Picchu with one month’s notice, if you are booking your trip to Machu Picchu within one month of your visit you will need to buy your ticket when you arrive in Aguas Calientes, the nearest town to Machu Picchu. In this case, your trip has to include an extra day in Aguas Calientes while you get your entrance ticket.
Guidance on buying Machu Picchu entrance tickets in Aguas Calientes
1000 tickets a day are put on sale in Aguas Calientes for entrance to Machu Picchu the following day. To buy a ticket, you must go to the Ministerio de Cultura office twice, the day before you visit Machu Picchu. The Ministerio de Cultura office is located just half a block from the main square in Aguas Calientes.
First, you must go to the office the day before your visit to Machu Picchu with your original passport to collect a queue number. These are released at 6 am, and we recommend arriving at the office by 4 am to ensure you receive your ticket. If you go to the office after 8 am, no more queue numbers will be available. You will have time to return to the office that afternoon to buy your entrance ticket to Machu Picchu.
Secondly, you must return to the office with your original passport at the time shown on your queue number, and make sure you are not late, as you will lose your ticket. The entrance ticket costs S152 and must be paid for in cash.
You can spend the rest of your day in Aguas Calientes enjoying the town’s many shops and restaurants, and visiting the nearby waterfalls and thermal baths. The following day, you will be able to enjoy an unforgettable trip to Machu Picchu.
Full Itinerary
We will pick you up with our private transport at 08:00 am from your hotel; then our tour guide will take you on a journey to:
CHINCHERO
The small town is located 28 kilometres from Cusco and is surrounded by patchwork-style fields of exquisite natural colours. Chinchero is a charming town with significant colonial-style constructions, which has been one of the major agricultural centres during the time of Tahuantinsuyo. We invite you to appreciate its archaeological site, the famous church, and the stone walls with their trapezoidal niches that provided the optimal setting for the traditional market. Chinchero’s women can consistently be recognised for their significantly distinguishing clothing and braided hair.
MORAY
Continuing our ride a further 20 breathtaking kilometres, enjoying the beautiful view of the snowcapped mountains Chicon and Veronica in the Cordillera Vilcanota, we arrive at Moray. The site Moray is an Inca agricultural greenhouse or laboratory, which was used as an experimental place to study the adaptation of plants to new ecosystems. The four platforms in an amphitheatre style consist of various overlapping concentric circular stone rings, which have a total depth of 150 meters and widen as they rise.
MARAS and SALINERAS (Salt mines)
Located 7 miles from Moray at an altitude of 3380 meters, we will find a small village, just like a model of a miniature city. Maras is famous for its salt terrace,s which contain about 3000 small wells, each one with an average size of about 5 ms². These were already exploited since the Inca times as a means of economic exchange and security. You will be surprised to see how the salt is recovered from these mines and how the workers live here.
After visiting these attractions, we will take you to Ollantaytambo Train Station. In case we arrive early at Ollantaytambo, you will then have the opportunity to visit its archaeological site or explore the Inca town itself. You will be amazed by the impressive Temple of the Sun, featuring intricate stonework details, terraces constructed to sustain the mountain, and a temple in the shape of a llama.
If you use your free time to explore the complex, please take note that the train to Aguas Calientes will leave at 04:30 pm from the train station of Ollantaytambo. From here, you will enjoy a 2-hour train journey with panoramic windows, offering a view of the Urubamba River as it descends from the high valley to the cloud forest at 2000 meters. The landscape changes drastically in front of your eyes! You will be amazed to see the tropical mountain ending in a snow carpet and the small waterfalls shimmering on the hills, forming small rivers that flow to converge at the Sacred River. After these spectacular natural views, you arrive at Aguas Calientes, where the warm atmosphere welcomes you with typical jungle sounds.
Our staff will be waiting for you at the gate of the train station in Aguas Calientes and will bring you to your hostel.
At 07:00 pm, you will receive a short briefing from your tour guide for the next day’s excursion, so please make sure you are in the hotel at that time.
Accommodation: Hotel Hatun Inti Classic
The day you were waiting for!
Wake up early for breakfast and take the bus uphill to the famous Inca Citadel of Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas. The first bus leaves at 05:30 am and takes a 25-minute ride. (This timing can be changed according to the entrance fee to Machu Picchu)
Optional: Take the path which winds up the mountain to reach Machu Picchu.
The Machu Picchu gate opens at 06:00, so arriving early will allow you to be among the first visitors of the day and avoid the crowds. However, we may modify the timing when you make your booking.
Upon paying your entrance fee, a private bilingual tour guide will escort you through the vast ruins for approximately 2.5 hours, providing a comprehensive explanation of Machu Picchu's historical significance and its importance within the Inca Empire.
Machu Picchu is the best known of all the Inca Archaeological sites, as it is recognised worldwide as one of the new seven wonders, even though it’s not mentioned in any handwritten Chronicle of the Spanish Conquerors. Experts believe that Machu Picchu was constructed around the mid-15th century by Inca Pachacuteq and was rediscovered in 1911 by American historian Hiram Bingham.
The guided tour of this fascinating site will be an unforgettable experience, visiting the Main Square, the Royal Quarters, the Temple of the Three Windows, the Circular Sun Tower, the Sacred Sun Dial (Intihuatana), and the Burial Grounds.
We offer optional hikes in Machu Picchu with an additional ticket. (has to be reserved together with your booking)
You can hike up Huayna Picchu (the mountain behind Machu Picchu), from where you will enjoy stunning views over the whole complex! However, there are only 400 entrance tickets available per day; therefore, you must let us know in advance if you want to do the hike so we can reserve your ticket at an extra cost of US$60.00.
Due to Huayna Picchu being very fast oversold, we offer Machu Picchu Mountain as a second optional climb. The advantage of this hike is that it will be less crowded, but not less beautiful! The cost for this hike is also US$60.00 per person.
La Gran Caverna a ceremonial place in Machu Picchu US$ 60.00 per person.
Also, there is another road to Inti Punku, the SUN GATE, which is the traditional end of the Inca Trail (a hike of 3 hours), US$35.00 per person.
You can visit the beautiful Inca Bridge (a hike of 1 hour). This road will allow you to enjoy other views of Machu Picchu and take many breathtaking pictures. US$35.00 per person.
You will arrive at Aguas Calientes for a late lunch.
At 14:30, you take the train back to Ollantaytambo and then a tourist bus to Cusco.
Please let us know if you want to spend more time in Aguas Calientes, so we can book a late train at 04:12 pm or 19:00 (according to the train service, it may have an extra cost).
Meals: Breakfast
Included/Exclude
- Private tour Cusco – Maras Moray – Ollantaytambo
- 24-hour support from the company owner
- Private tour guide in Maras Moray
- Entrance ticket for Machu Picchu
- Tourist train tickets, both ways with reserved seats
- Bus Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes
- Private Guided Tour 2.5 hours in Machu Picchu
- Accommodation at a 3-star hostel (single person pays +US$60)
- 1 breakfast on the second day
- Private transfer back from Ollantaytambo to Cusco
- Meals or snacks
- Entrance ticket for Maras Moray and Ollantaytambo ruins
- Entrance ticket to Huayna Picchu (book it in advance! +US$60.oo)
- Meals on the first and second day (except breakfast)
- Entrance to hot springs 15 Soles
- Insurance of any kind
Optional
- Extra night in Aguas Calientes US$60.00 per person (on double occupancy, you have to book it in advance to organise your train ticket for the following day)
- We recommend purchasing the General Tourist Ticket for the Sacred Valley Tour, which grants access to 16 sites, including the ruins of Cusco and its museums. Otherwise, you can purchase a one-day partial ticket, which allows a one-day visit to just the Sacred Valley sites, including Pisaq, Ollantaytambo, and Chinchero. This is in case you are not planning to visit any of the Cusco sites.
Recommendations, what to bring
- Your original passport (to control your train ticket and entrance ticket to Machu Picchu)
- Original student card if you book your tour as a student
- Day backpack
- Warm clothes for the early morning and evening
- Water
- Camera and extra batteries
- Rainjacket or poncho (being close to the jungle, the weather is unpredictable)
- Change of clothes
- Basic toiletries
- Sun protection (sun cream, hat)
- Insect repellent (must be number one on your list)
- Torch or heat light (if you decide to walk in the morning to Machu Picchu)
- Comfortable shoes
- Extra money (prices in Aguas Calientes can be higher than anywhere else in Peru)
What we need when you make a reservation
- Full name as it is written in your passport (please include a scanned copy of your passport)
- Passport number
- Nationality
- Date of birth
- Tour departure date
- Send a deposit of 60% of the total price of your tour. (The remainder of your balance will be due upon your arrival in Cusco.) Payment can be made via Western Union, PayPal, or ABN AMRO Bank in Holland, or securely and directly through our website by selecting your desired tour and clicking the BOOK NOW button.
Prices
- The Price per person is US$490.00 (Group price). / Price is based on two people.
- Large groups receive discounts based on the number of people in the party.
- Children under 11 years get a discount of US$50 on the Tour.
Upgrade your Hotel: (double room, the additional Price is based on two persons)
Hotel La Cabaña: + US$20 per person.
Hotel Hatun Inti Boutique: + US$40 per person.
Hotel Sumaq: + US$85 per person.
Hotel Casa del Sol: + US$135 per person.
Please send us a mail with the official request for the Hotel Upgrade or private Tour guide, and we will organize it for you. The upgraded hotel or private tour guide is reserved at the basic Price, with the price difference added to your remaining balance.
“With every tour you book with Green Peru Adventures, you can request a free walking tour of Cusco’s mysterious and historical city, accompanied by one of our professional guides, who speaks several languages.”
We are looking forward to creating an unforgettable experience for you.
