Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu in 3 days, with a night in the Misminay community
This tour adds what most Machu Picchu trips leave out: time with the people of the Andes. Before reaching the Inca citadel, you spend a night with a Quechua family in Misminay, near Moray, share their work in the fields and their kitchen, and then continue through Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu.
The tour at a glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Duration | 3 days: 1 night in Misminay, 1 night in Aguas Calientes |
| Highlights | Chinchero, Maras, Moray, community life, Ollantaytambo, Machu Picchu |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Entrances | All included |
| Price | From US $600 per person, shared group of 2–14 |
Day 1: Chinchero, Maras, Moray and Misminay
A 7:30 am pickup takes you to the market and colonial church of Chinchero, then to the Maras salt pans and the circular terraces of Moray. In the nearby community of Misminay you are welcomed with music and dance and share a traditional lunch. The day ends with dinner with your host family around a bonfire, and the night in their home.
Sacred Valley, Misminay and Machu Picchu
Three days with a community homestay, Ollantaytambo and a guided Machu Picchu visit, all entrances included — from US $600.
Day 2: a day in the community, then Ollantaytambo
After breakfast you join daily life in Misminay: ploughing or harvesting depending on the season, and learning how wool is spun, woven and dyed with natural colours. Lunch is a pachamanca, meat and vegetables cooked under hot stones in the earth. In the afternoon you visit Ollantaytambo, the “living Inca town”, and take the train to Aguas Calientes for the night.
Day 3: Machu Picchu
An early bus takes you up to Machu Picchu (2,430 m) for a guided tour of three to four hours. Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain can be added for US $65. After lunch in Aguas Calientes, the afternoon train and a private transfer bring you back to Cusco at around 6:30 pm.
What the homestay is like
Homes in Misminay are simple and warm in spirit, if not always in temperature: expect a private room with plenty of blankets and shared facilities. The value lies in the exchange — cooking together, working the fields and listening to how families keep their traditions alive. It is a good fit for travellers who want to understand the Andes, not just see them.
What is included
| Included | Not included |
|---|---|
| All transport, train and Machu Picchu buses | Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (US $65) |
| All entrance tickets, including Machu Picchu | Travel insurance |
| Private guide and refreshments | Tips and personal expenses |
| Homestay, hotel in Aguas Calientes and the meals listed | — |
| Oxygen and first aid | — |
2 days or 3?
The 2-day version (from US $425) covers the same sites at a faster pace, without the community stay. Choose 3 days if you want the cultural experience; it also means every entrance ticket is already paid.
Frequently asked questions
It is a Quechua farming community on the high plateau near Moray, in the Sacred Valley region.
Depending on the season, you help in the fields, learn spinning, weaving and natural dyeing, and share meals including a pachamanca.
From US $600 per person in a shared group, with all entrance tickets included. Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain costs US $65 extra.
It is simple: a private room with warm blankets and shared facilities. Bring warm clothes for the night.
Around 6:30 pm on day 3.
