1

You have plenty of time to see MP, Piscec; Ollantaytambo; Saxeywoman.

You need to sign up for the Inca trail months in advance.

2

Parachuting into Cuzco so you can jump down to Machu Picchu for a weekend getaway makes you pretty much the definition of standard tourists.

Take the train, buy your train tickets and your tickets for the site the moment you arrive in Cuzco.

3

Machu Picchu, Písac, Ollantaytambo and Saqsaywamán in 48 hours? It's going to be a veeery busy two days! It took me two weeks to make that loop!

4

We did it in two days and in 3 weeks. The 3 week trip was more interesting but if you only have a few days it is no problem seeing a lot as the Sacred Valley is not very long.

5

You can do a day trip from Cusco to Machu Picchu. A bus or taxi early in the morning from Cusco to Ollantaytambo, then the train from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu. (Unless there is now a train going directly from Cusco to Machu Picchu.) Also, there's another town, starting with a P, closer to Cusco, and from which trains also depart for Machu Picchu. And as "aslukas" above said, buy your Machu Picchu ticket as soon as you can in Cusco -- you can't buy it at the gate. As for your train ticket -- the two tain companies, Peru Rail and Inca Rail, have offices on the main Cusco plaza (and probably internet sites as well). You may want to visit one or the other train office as soon as possible once you're in Cusco, unless you find that you can do everything in advance on the internet. Do as much research as you can well in advance.

As for "not looking like a standard tourist" -- I'm not quite sure what you mean, but if you don't want to look like a standard tourist, then do NOT wear shorts, a t-shirt with a goofy or rude message, a day-pack, water bottle, sunglasses, dangling cameras, or floppy-brimmed hat. However, since you may require some of these things (like water bottle or hat) for your day at Machu Picchu, you may have to resign yourself to looking like a standard tourist, at least to that degree.

6

You won't have time to do the Inca Trail, but with Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu especially, you'll get plenty of hiking in!

With your short trip, please be aware of altitude sickness. Since it's off topic, I won't get into all the hard-learned advice I have on how to prevent altitude sickness in Peru, but it'd be wise to keep it in mind so you don't get sick.

7

thank you! looks quite helpful!

8

You're welcome beechercity!