About this experience
For many visitors to Peru and even South America, a visit to the Inca city of Machu Picchu is the long-anticipated highpoint of their trip. In a spectacular location, it’s the best-known archaeological site on the continent. This awe-inspiring ancient city was never revealed to the conquering Spaniards and was virtually forgotten until the early part of the 20th century.
At a glance
- Duration: 13 hr
- Private experience
Plan your experience
Set aside 13 hr for the experience itself, with additional time to reach your meeting or pickup point.
Before you go
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Local guides to help you plan
Choosing the Right Train to Machu Picchu
PeruRail or IncaRail, Vistadome or Expedition, Ollantaytambo or Poroy. The trade-offs nobody explains until you're already at the station.
Machu Picchu Train From Cusco Guide
Plan the Machu Picchu train from Cusco with clear advice on bimodal routes, entry tickets, train classes, timings, baggage, and booking order.
Machu Picchu Day Trip From Cusco
A Machu Picchu day trip from Cusco is possible, but it requires advance entry tickets, carefully matched transport, and a very early start. Use this practical guide to choose a circuit, build a realistic schedule, compar
What is included
- Round Trip transfer from Cusco to Ollantaytambo
- Bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu and back
- Guided tour of Machu Picchu (private)
- Cusco Hotel Transfer
- Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu
- Train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes
Not included
- Meals
Itinerary and highlights
At 3.55am hotel pick-ups will commence, so be up early and ready to go! You’ll be driven to the train station in Ollantaytambo, where you’ll catch the 6.40am train, arriving into Aguas Calientes at around 8.00am. On arrival, your guide will meet you at the train station in Aguas Calientes to take you to the bus, up to Machu Picchu. The bus ride is about 30 minutes. You should arrive to Machu Picchu at around 8.45am, and enter the site. During a tour through this magnificent place, your bilingual guide will explain all about the historic site of Machu Picchu, and you’ll visit all the major places within the lost city. The guided tour will take around 2.5 to 3 hours. Afterwards, you'll have free time to wander around and admire this awe-inspiring place on your own. It’s possible to exit the site to eat a snack at the café, and then re-enter. Your ticket is valid for the entire day. Optional: You can climb the mountain of Huayna Picchu (tickets need to be bought at the time of your Machu Picchu purchase), which is a 1.5 to 2-hour roundtrip. This trip is without a guide. The entrance time is 10.00-11.00am, so if you choose to take this tour, your guided tour will be quicker in order to finish in time to enter Huayna Picchu. After, you’ll descend to Aguas Calientes, the town named for its hot springs. You can get there by bus: it’s a 30-minute trip, and buses leave every 5 minutes. Then you’ll return by train to Cusco. You can choose the 4.12pm train to return directly to Cusco, or the 7.00pm train to return to Ollantaytambo - the train ride is about 1 hour and 40 minutes. A mini-bus will be waiting in Ollantaytambo to take you to Cusco (approx. 90 min).
How far in advance should I book tickets to Machu Picchu?
To secure your spot at Machu Picchu, we recommend purchasing tickets online 2 to 3 months in advance. This will allow you to choose the date and time that best suit your plans, avoiding any last-minute issues. Tickets sell out quickly, so if you plan to buy them directly in Cusco, you risk not being able to get them.
Booking recommendations based on the tour option:
Machu Picchu + Mountain, Machu Picchu + Classic Postcard, Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu, Machu Picchu + Lower Temples: Book 2 to 3 months in advance.
Machu Picchu Classic Route, Machu Picchu Classic Route (Lower Terrace): Book 3 to 4 months in advance.
Machu Picchu + Inca Bridge Temples, Machu Picchu + Temple of the Moon, Machu Picchu + Inti Punku: Book 1 to 2 months in advance.
Machu Picchu + Huchuy Picchu: Book 3 months in advance.
How far in advance should I book tickets to Machu Picchu?
To secure your spot at Machu Picchu, we recommend purchasing tickets online 2 to 3 months in advance. This will allow you to choose the date and time that best suit your plans, avoiding any last-minute issues. Tickets sell out quickly, so if you plan to buy them directly in Cusco, you risk not being able to get them.
Meeting and pickup information
- We will be picking you up from your hotel within the historic centre of Cusco. Please Note: This service doesn't include pick up in private residencies, example; Airbnb or hotels that are outside the historic centre.
Languages and tickets
- English — Guide
- Spanish — Guide
- Mobile Only
Tour operator
- Peru Amazon Trips
Meeting points and locations
Accessibility and practical details
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation policy
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Questions about this experience
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Traveller reviews and photos
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