Ready to witness the sheer genius of ancient engineering at a relaxed, comfortable pace? The Moray, Salt Mine & Machu Picchu 2-Day Tour is curated exclusively for curious travelers who want to dive deep into the scientific marvels of the Incas. Designed by Inca Trail Hikes Peru, this highly intelligent route skips long, repetitive highway routes to take you smoothly across the high plains of the Sacred Valley on day one, setting you up perfectly for an early, crowd-free entrance to the majestic Machu Picchu sanctuary on day two.
Over two unforgettable days, you will watch history unravel. This itinerary connects three of the most unique archaeological jewels in Peru: the mesmerizing, bowl-shaped concentric agricultural “greenhouses” of Moray, the ancient, shimmering mountain salt evaporation fields of Maras, and the colossal, living stone town of Ollantaytambo. Leave all the complex coordination of trains, buses, and entry windows to us while you step directly back in time to experience the living traditions and deep mysteries of the Andes.
3500 m.s.n.m
Up to 8
Group or private
Adventure, self-guided
Mild
2 days / 1 nights
Your first day starts with a morning pickup directly from your Cusco hotel lobby. Traveling in a comfortable private van, we leave the high ridge of the city behind and cross the sweeping plains of the Sacred Valley, tracking toward the breathtaking landscapes of Moray.
Often called the “Greenhouse of the Incas,” Moray features dramatic, concentric agricultural terraces carved deeply into a massive natural earth bowl. Your expert guide will reveal how ancient scientists utilized these stepped levels to create distinct micro-climates, with temperature variances of up to 15°C between the top and bottom rings. This living laboratory allowed them to domesticate wild seeds brought from the Amazon jungle and Pacific coast, adapting them to grow high in the Andes.
Next, we travel to the colonial village of Maras and descend along a scenic mountain trail to the spectacular pre-Inca Salt Mines. Here, over 3,000 hand-cut mud pans cascade down the canyon walls. A natural, highly concentrated saltwater thermal spring feeds the network of stone channels. As the water evaporates under the intense Andean sun, a thick crust of mineral-rich pink salt forms on the surface, which local families carefully hand-harvest exactly as their ancestors did centuries ago.
In the afternoon, we continue to the magnificent town of Ollantaytambo. This is the only remaining living Inca town in Peru, where original stone water channels still flow past the doorways of traditional adobe homes. Your guide will lead you up the massive stone fortress terraces dominating the cliffside, where you will explore the Temple of the Sun and learn about the historic battles fought across these very stones.
At 07:00 PM, we walk to the adjacent rail station and board the Expedition train to Aguas Calientes. The 90-minute journey winds along the canyon floor, arriving at the foot of Machu Picchu, where our team will transfer you directly to your comfortable hotel room so you can recharge for the main event tomorrow.
Bursting with excitement on your final day, we take the 5.30am bus to the Machu Picchu The excitement peaks this morning. Following an early breakfast at your hotel, we board the 05:30 AM official sanctuary shuttle bus with your guide. The vehicle climbs the winding mountain switchbacks for 30 minutes, arriving at the main gates of Machu Picchu just as the morning light breaks across the jagged peaks.
Step past the checkpoint and enter a world preserved in stone. Your guide will lead you on an immersive, 2-hour private tour through the core architectural sectors of the citadel. Walk the paths of ancient royalty, marvel at the precision masonry of the Temple of the Sun, and learn the deeply layered history of how this engineering masterpiece remained hidden from the outside world for centuries. Our small group size ensures a highly personalized pace with plenty of open windows to ask questions and take iconic photos.
Optional Extension: For travelers seeking an extra physical challenge, you can opt to secure a specialized hiking permit to climb the steep summits of Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain immediately following your main tour. These must be requested at the time of booking, and additional government fees apply.
After taking in the profound energy of the ruins, you will descend via shuttle bus back to Aguas Calientes town. You will have a generous afternoon window to enjoy a relaxed lunch at a riverside café, browse the extensive local artisan craft markets, or take a soothing dip in the local volcanic hot springs.
At 04:22 PM, you will board the return Expedition train back to Ollantaytambo. Upon arrival at the station platform, our private van and driver will be waiting exclusively for our group, providing a direct, comfortable transfer back to Cusco and dropping you safely at your hotel doorstep by approximately 08:00 PM.
The Expedition service is engineered for smart, comfort-focused travelers who want an authentic, highly reliable rail experience through the Andes. It delivers all the premium infrastructure and warm hospitality of PeruRail at a highly practical price point.
The modern carriages are fully equipped with air conditioning, responsive heating, and large panoramic windows that wrap into the ceiling, ensuring you never miss a moment of the changing ecological scenery. Seating is configured in sets of four, with ergonomic individual seats facing each other across a shared travel table, making it a wonderful space to share travel stories. Traditional Andean music plays softly through the cabin sound system throughout the journey, providing a beautiful soundtrack as you track the path of the sacred river canyon.
Our small-group departures are strictly limited to a maximum of 8 travelers per guide, ensuring an intimate, professional, and unhurried experience. The exact flow of your journey is structured beautifully across two days:
Included
Not Included
Voluntary Gratuities: Tips for your dedicated field guides and professional drivers
Our Moray, Salt Mines, and Machu Picchu tour departs daily on any calendar date that perfectly matches your travel plans. We require a minimum of just 2 travelers to secure a departure. To maintain a premium, personalized experience, we operate with a strict small-group policy: an average of 5 and a maximum of 8 guests per English-speaking guide.
We pass direct youth and student entry-fee reductions straight to families to keep your journey high-value:
Booking Verification Mandate: To successfully apply youth or child discounts, the government checkpoint authorities strictly require a clear, high-resolution copy of the traveler’s valid passport at the exact time of booking.
Customize your Andean adventure with our premium upgrades. Please notify our team of your selections at the exact moment of your initial booking:
To offer you total flexibility over your broader travel itinerary, local site entrance fees are not included in the base tour price. These must be purchased directly by the traveler in cash. Important: You must pay in Peruvian Soles ($PEN). Credit cards and US Dollars are strictly not accepted at these checkpoints.
1. Maras Salt Mines Entrance Fee
2. The Cusco Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turístico)
This is the official ticket required to access the main archaeological sites of the region and the Sacred Valley. Most major historical ruins cannot be accessed individually or for free. You can buy this ticket directly when you enter the first site on your itinerary, or ahead of time at the central office on Avenida el Sol (near the Peru office) in Cusco.
You have two excellent choices depending on your vacation plans:
Where You Can Use Your Boleto Turístico:
Individual entrance tickets for masterworks like Sacsayhuaman, Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, Tipón, and Moray cannot be sold individually; you must buy one of the Boleto Turístico options listed above to explore them. The ticket unlocks entry to:
Important Exclusions Note: Please be aware that certain city attractions are managed by completely independent entities and are never included in any version of the Boleto Turístico. If you choose to visit them during your free time in Cusco, the independent entry fees are:
Please read the following information carefully; it will help answer all of your questions about our services and the Moray, Salt Mine to Machu Picchu Tour.
Of course! During your Machu Picchu tour, your main luggage can be stored securely at our central office or directly at your hotel – both options are completely free of charge. We simply ask that you do not pack any essential items, valuables, or clothing layers that you will need for your actual excursion inside your stored luggage.
Booking your adventure is simple and can be completed in two clear steps:
We greatly appreciate it if you pay your remaining tour balance in cash (either in US dollars or Peruvian Soles) directly at our central office in Cusco upon arrival. For your convenience, there are numerous secure ATM cash machines located throughout the historical center of the city to withdraw funds.
If you prefer to clear your balance online using VISA or PAYPAL, please note that both processors enforce a standard 5.5% credit card service charge. To pay your balance through PAYPAL, simply log into your personal account and submit the payment to our official company email address: info@incatrailhikeperu.com.
You will receive a warm, stress-free welcome. A representative from our team will meet you directly at the arrivals terminal of the Cusco airport, holding a bright orange INCA TRAIL HIKE board. From there, we will transfer you safely to your hotel in a private vehicle. This arrival service can be scheduled for any calendar date that suits your travel plans.
On the evening immediately prior to your day-one departure, your professional guide will meet you directly in your Cusco hotel lobby for an in-depth briefing. This is a vital meeting where you will receive your physical train tickets, bus vouchers, and entry passes, and have a chance to map out your morning pickup timeline and ask any last-minute logistical questions.
To qualify for the official student discount on entry permits, the Peruvian Ministry of Culture requires undergraduate students under 25 years of age to present a valid, physical photo ID card issued directly by their university. Please note that standard international ISIC cards or digital student IDs are no longer accepted on their own by checkpoint authorities. Teenagers under 18 years old automatically receive a discount by providing a clear copy of their passport or government identity card.
Unfortunately, no. The Peruvian government and rail companies enforce a strict, zero-tolerance policy regarding modifications. Once your tour deposit is processed, your official Machu Picchu entry slot and train tickets are purchased immediately under your specific name and passport number. These assets are completely non-refundable, non-transferable, and cannot be rescheduled to a different calendar date under any circumstances.
Yes, absolutely. A phone photo, photocopy, or digital scan will not be accepted at the checkpoints. You must carry your physical, original passport with you across both days of the tour. Park rangers and rail conductors will manually cross-reference your passport number against your printed permits at the train station platforms and the main entrance gate to Machu Picchu.
The region transitions rapidly through distinct micro-climates. The Sacred Valley and the high plains of Maras generally experience warm, sunny days with crisp, cold mountain winds in the evenings. As you descend via train into Aguas Calientes, you enter a subtropical cloud forest zone where the climate becomes notably humid and warm. Rain showers can occur unexpectedly year-round, so carrying a high-quality rain poncho or jacket in your daypack is always recommended.
Yes. Our transit service is completely seamless and door-to-door. When your return train arrives at the Ollantaytambo rail terminal on evening two, our private transport van and professional driver will be waiting directly on the platform to greet you. We handle all the highway driving and drop you off safely right at your Cusco hotel doorstep by approximately 08:00 PM.
Altitude sickness, known locally as soroche, is a standard adjustment reaction for travelers arriving in the high Andes. Cusco sits at an elevation of 3,400 meters (11,154 feet). Because this specific 2-day tour format immediately takes you down to the lower floor of the Sacred Valley on day one, it acts as an exceptional, gradual acclimatization strategy. To stay feeling your best, remember to take things slow on your first day, drink plenty of water, sip local coca tea, and eat light meals.
Yes, environmental and social sustainability is a foundational pillar of Inca Trail Hikes Peru. We operate as a fully licensed and certified local Peruvian tour operator. We ensure fair institutional wages for our entire field team, actively work to reduce single-use plastics across our operations, support remote valley communities, and enforce strict Leave No Trace environmental standards to protect the natural and historical heritage of the Andes.
Pack these essential items in a lightweight 20 to 30-liter daypack for your overnight stay and sanctuary exploration:
The Peruvian Andes experience a highly defined weather cycle. The peak dry season spans from May through September, delivering crisp, clear blue skies and optimal photography conditions, though this period sees the highest global traveler numbers. The official rainy season runs from October through April, turning the entire Sacred Valley into a vibrantly lush, emerald-green wonderland. While showers can occur at any time in the cloud forest, traveling during the rainy months rewards you with far fewer crowds on the trails and a beautiful, atmospheric mountain mist that frames the ancient architecture.
If your travel schedule allows for flexibility, it is highly useful to note that Sundays are traditionally the busiest days of the week at all major Sacred Valley archaeological sites. This is because the Peruvian government grants free admission to local residents from the Cusco province on Sundays, creating higher foot traffic alongside international ticket holders. Planning your tour dates for midweek often ensures a noticeably quieter, more peaceful exploration of the ruins.
Altitude sickness (known locally as soroche) is a very real consideration when traveling to the southern Peruvian Andes. Most travelers experience only minor, temporary symptoms such as a mild headache, shortness of breath, or slight nausea upon arrival.
By utilizing this 2-day itinerary, you are making a highly strategic health decision: descending from Cusco’s high 3,400-meter altitude down to the lower Sacred Valley floor on day one drastically reduces the physical strain on your body, giving your respiratory system an optimal environment to adapt smoothly before you scale the citadel steps. Always take it easy on your first afternoon, drink plenty of water, and opt for light meals.
We couldn't make this impact without our partners. Join us in changing lives.
