Inca stonework, Andean markets & the lost city
This is leg 2 of 2, the final leg.
Travel leg · Cusco & Machu Picchu
Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu
Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu sit about 53 km (33 mi) apart in a straight line, with Machu Picchu to the west. It is leg 2 of 2 on our Cusco & Machu Picchu itinerary, a 7-day trip. Here is how long it takes by train, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 53 km · 33 mi
- Est. road distance
- 64–75 km
- Est. drive time
- 50 min – 1 h 30 min
- Direction
- Heading west
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 50–80 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By train
Our Cusco & Machu Picchu itinerary is planned around rail, so a train is the likely way to cover this leg. Timetables and direct connections vary — check the operator before you book.
By car
Driving is an estimated 64–75 km (40–46 mi) and 50 min – 1 h 30 min at typical average speeds, not a routed time.
Most travelers fly into Cusco, then use vans, buses or private drivers around the Sacred Valley. From Ollantaytambo a scenic train climbs to the town below Machu Picchu, and a shuttle bus or a hike covers the final stretch to the site.
Open Sacred Valley → Machu Picchu directions in Google Maps ↗
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in Machu Picchu
Spend a night in Aguas Calientes so you can enter early; book circuit and mountain tickets months ahead.
Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary
The Inca citadel on its ridge, visited on fixed circuit routes with timed entry.
Huayna Picchu
Steep stone-step climb to the peak behind the classic view, with ruins at the top.
Indio Feliz
Long-running French-Peruvian bistro with set menus and a quirky, decorated dining room.
Mapacho Craft Beer Restaurant
Riverside restaurant pouring Cusco-brewed craft beer with Andean dishes.
Machu Picchu Mountain
Longer, less exposed climb than Huayna Picchu with wide views of the citadel and valley.
Inti Punku (Sun Gate)
Gateway on the Inca Trail with the first view down onto the citadel.
Before you leave Sacred Valley
Give it two days: Pisac and the market one day, Chinchero, Maras and Moray the next, ending in Ollantaytambo for the train.
On this curated route
Where Sacred Valley → Machu Picchu sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Machu Picchu to Sacred Valley is the same 53 km in a straight line, heading east. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
The biggest gap comes in August, when Machu Picchu averages highs 4°C warmer than Sacred Valley.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacred Valley high | 17° | 17° | 17° | 17° | 17° | 17° | 17° | 18° | 18° | 18° | 18° | 18° |
| Machu Picchu high | 20° | 19° | 19° | 20° | 20° | 20° | 20° | 21° | 22° | 22° | 21° | 20° |
| Sacred Valley rain | 129 | 127 | 96 | 44 | 9 | 4 | 11 | 8 | 18 | 63 | 72 | 137 |
| Machu Picchu rain | 133 | 131 | 100 | 41 | 11 | 5 | 11 | 10 | 22 | 60 | 73 | 135 |
Temperatures in °C, rain in mm per month. Long-term monthly averages from NASA POWER satellite climatology — a guide to typical conditions, not a forecast. Month headings link to Machu Picchu month guides.
Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu: questions travelers ask
How far is Sacred Valley from Machu Picchu?
Sacred Valley is about 53 km (33 mi) from Machu Picchu in a straight line, with Machu Picchu to the west. By road, we estimate 64–75 km (40–46 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu?
An estimated 50 min – 1 h 30 min, assuming 64–75 km of road at average speeds of 50–80 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day. Our itinerary leans on rail, so check train times too.
Which itineraries include the trip from Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu?
Our Cusco & Machu Picchu itinerary includes this leg. Cusco & Machu Picchu runs about 7 days across 3 stops, best in May – Sep.
Getting to Sacred Valley
- Cusco to Sacred Valley 25 km
Guides for both ends
- Sacred Valley travel guide
- Sacred Valley weather best time to visit
- Machu Picchu travel guide
- Machu Picchu weather best time to visit
Machu Picchu by month
Plan Sacred Valley → Machu Picchu with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.