Cusco, Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu 3 days?
 

Can Cusco, Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu be done in 3 days?
If not, what is the minimum?
Should they all be included?
Any alternative suggestions for 3-4 days?

thanks!

Yes it is possible but are you aware that Machu Picchu is closed due to ongoing political unrest?

The Sacred Valley encompasses a number of sites. Which ones did you have in mind?

Theoretically, yes , it could be done and yes, they should all be included, but it would be very rushed. You also need to factor in the need to adjust to the high altitude and avoid altitude sickness.

You would need to fly to Cusco and transfer directly to Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley. Spend the night there and get an early morning train to Aguas Calientes and then a bus up to Machu Picchu itself. Get a late afternoon train back to Ollantaytambo for the night. Next morning take a taxi tour back to Cusco, stopping at Moray, Maras and Chinchero which takes around 4-6 hours. Check into your hotel, dump bags and set out on a whistle stop tour of Cusco's main sites. Overnight and then next morning fly back to Lima.

To make the best of the area you really need a week, five days at a pinch. Cusco alone needs two full days then there are places like Pisac, Sacsayhuaman, Tambo Machay etc which could be added.

Alternatives? Just stay in Lima, its a great city.

As mlgb has pointed out, there is a lot of political unrest in Peru at present. I would not contemplate visiting until things have settled down which may take some time yet.

Yes! It can be done in three day whenever you plan your time well, The day that you arrive to Cusco has to be in the morning and you can do the City tour in the afternoon, on the second day you can do the Sacred Valley and connect to Machu Picchu, and spend the night there in the town. On the third day visit Machu Picchu and back to Cusco in the afternoon reaching Cusco about 6 pm.

Regards

A responsible tour guide would not recommend that someone spend their first night in Cusco, which is at a much higher elevation. Unless of course that tour guide is based in Cusco.

Machu Picchu is open and the train is running. Right now the only road blockades are in the Puno area. It seems as though the local population in Aguas Calientes is prepared to allow the trains to operate without any mischief. If you can live with a little uncertainty it's probably okay to go now. Easy enough to book your own itinerary. Use taxidatum for a transfer on arrival day from Cusco Airport to a hotel in Ollantaytambo. You can also just grab an airport taxi but I'd prefer to book with someone who has a fixed rate. Some hotels can also set up your transfers. If you do as crellston suggests and spend the final night in Cusco you are quite close to the airport and can ask the hotel to call a taxi for you.

Are you planning to do this before a cruise? That seems to be the main reason for these short visits during the worst months, which are also the best months for Cape Horn cruises. If so, I would add in a few days in Lima after, just in case there are flight delays or other complications (weather can also be a factor in delays).

A sign that Machu Picchu is open, now if you would please spend cash with the Cusco agencies who have had a rough few years, can't blame them even if their advice is a bit skewed.