Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu 2-Day VIP Tour Review

Visiting Machu Picchu is almost always a bucket-list item, right? I mean, the majestic Inca citadel perched high in the Andes mountains kinda has that appeal. So, planning the adventure usually needs just the right approach. When I decided to finally make my trip, I knew I wanted something comfortable, pretty seamless, and, really, insightful. That’s why I landed on the Sacred Valley VIP Connection to Machu Picchu 2-Day Tour. Let me take you through it, offer my views, and provide some tips if you’re thinking of doing the same.

What to Anticipate from a “VIP” Tour

Okay, the label “VIP” can raise eyebrows. So, here’s what it appeared to mean in this situation. With a VIP tour, you often get smaller group sizes, aiming to deliver a more individualized experience. Expect better accommodation selections, maybe nicer hotels, right? It seemed they try to pick quality places. Transportation should be pretty comfortable, with experienced guides looking to give you detailed explanations at each stop. With that in mind, how did this tour really stack up? Actually, I think it generally delivered on this promise.

Day 1: Unveiling the Sacred Valley

Day one, well, it kicks off with exploring the Sacred Valley, this fertile region that was pretty vital to the Inca civilization. We got started, apparently, super early with a pickup from my hotel in Cusco. Now, Cusco sits at an elevation of around 11,000 feet, that is roughly 3,400 meters above sea level. If you’re not accustomed, you really might want to spend a day or two there, that is acclimatizing before going all-out. Altitude sickness is something you actually want to avoid. The ride to the Sacred Valley took us past these gorgeous mountain landscapes. It’s almost postcard-perfect pretty right from the beginning. I felt lucky, that the bus was comfortable and that it had these giant windows for viewing. Plus, our guide gave us what I thought were informative tidbits as we made way. Our first spot, actually, was Pisac.

Pisac: Markets and Majestic Heights

Pisac has this pretty well-known market, and, really, you find many locals selling handicrafts, textiles, and all manner of souvenirs there. If you want, be prepared to haggle a bit for the best price. It’s almost part of the fun, okay? Also, don’t forget to wander up to the Pisac ruins high up on the mountainside. That viewpoint is worth the climb for breathtaking views. The Inca stonework is actually pretty remarkable to observe.

Ollantaytambo: A Fortress of Ingenuity

After Pisac, we traveled on to Ollantaytambo. That’s yet another fascinating site. The Ollantaytambo ruins are a great display of Inca engineering. That’s how they built these giant terraces and stone structures without modern tech, pretty incredible stuff. This town also marks, kinda serves as, one of the main jumping-off points for the train to Aguas Calientes. That is the town at the foot of Machu Picchu.

Travel to Aguas Calientes and Preparation for Machu Picchu

Late afternoon, pretty much, we boarded the train to Aguas Calientes. It is a scenic train ride that follows the Urubamba River. What’s interesting, is that they’ve made that train mostly with glass windows. So it delivers great views of the canyon as you roll through the scenery. Upon arrival, we checked into our hotel, and the tour guide basically filled us in for what the plan would be early next day.

Day 2: Machu Picchu

The climax of the tour is what I like to refer to as the moment you step onto Machu Picchu, right? It does seem to deliver some kind of sensation. Expect an early start, it tends to get rather crowded. And mornings usually do offer the clearest views before any mist possibly rolls in. So you usually need to be keen and prepared. The buses from Aguas Calientes wind their way up the mountain in a zig-zagging climb. At the entrance, your guide takes care of getting you in smoothly.

Exploring the Citadel with a Knowledgeable Guide

Having a guide is kinda key at Machu Picchu. These guides know the history. That they tell of what they do. It is interesting hearing about Inca society and how they managed things up there. Our guide basically led us through all the main areas. We checked out the agricultural terraces, the Temple of the Sun, and the Intihuatana stone. So the Intihuatana stone functioned pretty much like a sun dial for the Inca people. You should see that a good guide adapts the tour to your group’s needs and gives you sufficient time to take photos. You will be very appreciative.

Free Time to Wander and Reflect

Most tours give you some time on your own so you can wander around and grab photos or explore particular spots that draw your focus. I mostly spent some time sitting on a high point there just enjoying the quiet and the scenery. To see a great feat of ancient civilisation in action, that is awesome.

Optional Hikes: Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain

If you are looking for an extra kick of adventure, the tour allows for hikes up Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain. Keep in mind, they have visitor limits and these tickets should usually be booked way in advance. Sadly, these weren’t included in our tour package. But, judging by how difficult the normal paths up the site were to manage, they will really be tough, maybe even for a semi-fit person! It almost felt impossible for some of those around who looked like they struggled a bit. Be ready for some cardio.

Accommodation and Meals

As part of the “VIP” experience, the accommodation in Aguas Calientes was reasonably better. So you’d see that you probably weren’t exactly camping. The hotel did a pretty decent job overall with providing you basic comfort and that it would be clean, for a good sleep. Now the included meals, mostly, provided a sampling of local fare. That is pretty typical tourist fare, it would not be unfair to point out. Breakfast buffets normally contained what you’d expect. I.e., eggs, bread, and fruit. While lunch locations gave choices between Peruvian classics. Things, like Lomo Saltado or quinoa soup.

What I liked

The Guides: Ours seemed very experienced. Also he provided a lot of good context, okay? That made it, well, something else entirely.
Comfortable Transport: Having clean, comfy transport helps tons. Particularly on those long winding mountain drives, apparently.
Organization: I liked how organized things seemed to be. From pickups, actually, right up to the entrance. Everything was scheduled and covered.

Possible Downsides

Pace: Two days isn’t an extremely large time to fit it all in. What this means, is, some travelers can experience it, they feel that some might find it kinda quick, perhaps slightly rushed.
Cost: VIP treatment can mean you actually do get some money separating from your wallet, right? This isn’t going to come super cheap. Make sure that what the “VIP” add-ons actually get you really are worth something, okay?
Weather: No tour company can guarantee what the weather actually does. That’s right, not a single one. The mountains and weather tend to change seemingly quickly so just be sure to be prepared.

Is this Tour for you?

So this VIP tour may work for folks in particular, actually like:

Those who only have a short window to see it all.
Those wanting comfort and ease of access to some sites without any difficulties or having to haul backpacks or lug round extra gear.
Anyone wanting guidance for greater site details that perhaps guidebooks wouldn’t easily offer.

But, if perhaps you have extra time or travel frugally, and backpacking is something you may have enjoyed then, quite frankly, this isn’t for you at all.

Tips if You’re Going

Altitude Acclimation: Take it super easy in Cusco before going into this tour at all, apparently, to decrease those odds that it may cause possible altitude related issues.
Pack Smartly: Layers, right? Pack clothes in layers for cold mornings as well as any warmth in afternoons, wear those strong hiking boots, that’s also great too.
Stay Hydrated: Carry some bottle of H2O. Those high-altitude climates tend to dry you so very rapidly so have some fluid around to rehydrate.
Book in Advance: Securing things well enough ahead, well before departure date tends to result in more comfortable flights as you actually are in a better class. That helps reduce possible additional issues.
Travel insurance: Don’t even leave home without good travel insurance for international trips that would include what you may need for certain medical problems. That is very essential.

Sacred Valley VIP Tour: The Verdict

Well this “Sacred Valley VIP Connection” is rather worth it, right? To have all done without any possible hiccups while visiting sites so magnificent seemed great. Though expensive if that’s all you’re having, the VIP aspect really is convenient with excellent travel arrangements that make seeing this ancient city almost worth that. This VIP Sacred Valley trip is kinda, seemingly rather great! Consider going now, it’s highly recommended.

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