About this experience
We’ll head to the train station, where we’ll board a train to explore one of the Seven Wonders of the World. We’ll arrive at the Aguas Calientes station, where our staff will help us board the vehicle that will take us up a winding road, offering spectacular views of the Urubamba River, which carves out the famous canyon. The Lost City of the Incas, Machu Picchu, will welcome us with its incredible terraces, stairways, ceremonial sites, and urban areas. Energy radiates from every corner of the site. At the agreed-upon time, we will return by train to the city of Cusco.
At a glance
- Duration: 14 hr
- Private experience
Plan your experience
Set aside 14 hr for the experience itself, with additional time to reach your meeting or pickup point.
Compare the available options before choosing: their itinerary, inclusions and pickup arrangements can differ. Check the price for your date and whole group.
Before you go
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- MANDATORY: The Authority of Machu Picchu asks full name, passport number, date of birth, nationality details to issue the admission ticket. The admission ticket of Machu Picchu is NOT REFUNDABLE and date changes or amendments are NOT accepted. *If you need to change your visit date, you will need to purchase a new entrance ticket. Due to high demand and limited entrances to the citadel, VIPAC will issue your admission ticket on trail 2 as a priority. If it is not available, trail 3 or 1 will be provided, after prior coordination with the passenger before issuance. Machu Picchu Admission ticket and train tickets are included in this tour. Our sales team will send them 72 hour after paid. Shifts entry by hours from 6 am to 3 pm. Our shared tour considers 9 am, 10 am and 11 am shifts. If the shifts are not available, we will open a new shared tour in the next hour available. Our staff will inform you for acceptance. Travelers must arrive to Cusco city at least one day before Machu Picchu day tour. The authority of Machu Picchu do not accept travel date ammends of admission ticket. This shared tour could have a waiting time of up to 40 minutes to start the tour, depending on Machu Picchu shift time and train timetable avaliability. One day before the company's staff will contact the travelers to send the pick-up time through Viator or Tripadvisor experiences extranet. For weather reasons, from January to March, all excursions departs on bimodal service (Bus from Cusco to Ollantaytambo & train from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu. The guided tour inside Machu Picchu takes around 2h 30m following a delimited trail. Machu Picchu has two seasons. Rainy season from December to March. Dry season, the rest of the year. VIPAC is not responsible for flight cancellations or delays. We recommend arriving in Cusco one day before the scheduled tour date." Machu Picchu has implemented new visitor circuits, with three main routes with specific differences to distribute passengers in various areas. These changes are intended to improve the visitor experience and preserve the integrity of the archaeological site. The circuit with route 2 will be given as priority and if it is not available, the options of taking circuit 3B or circuit 1B will be informed so that you can confirm your decision before the tickets are issued. Remember that, if you are a Peruvian national, you must have a valid National Identity Document (DNI) in order to be able to issue your ticket to Machu Picchu. In addition, this document must be sent through the corresponding platform and presented on the day of the visit. The system does not allow the issuance of tickets with a passport for Peruvian citizens. The option to take the Panoramic Circuit 1 tour from the moment you enter the Citadel of Machu Picchu can be extended for a maximum of 2 hours.
Local guides to help you plan
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
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.
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.
What is included
- Admission ticket to Machu Picchu Citadel.
- Local Expert guide (The guidance is in Spanish, English, German, French, Portuguese or Italian)
- Round trip shuttle bus ticket to go up & down to the citadel from Machu Picchu town.
- Round trip train tickets to Aguas Calientes
- Pick up and drop-off from your lodging in Cusco.
Not included
- Meals
- Gratuities
- Bottled water
Itinerary and highlights
Your day will start with a hotel pickup in Cusco and a transfer to the train station, where you will board the train for the journey toward Machu Picchu.
Spend the day exploring the Inca citadel and UNESCO World Heritage Site of Machu Picchu on a private, full-day tour from Cusco—no need to worry about transport logistics. Visit the legendary mountaintop site with a guide who brings its construction and history to life as you explore. Designed with a relaxed, non-strenuous pace, this experience is well-suited to first-time visitors and families.
There's no need to tackle the roads yourself—round-trip transport lets you relax Entrance fees are included, so there aren't any hidden costs to surprise you A local guide provides insight you'd miss out on if exploring solo.
After your exploration, head back to Aguas Calientes station to board the train to go back to Cusco. Relax and enjoy the scenic train journey back to Cusco, where your day concludes with a transfer to your hotel.
Meeting and pickup information
- This activity includes roundtrip transfer from your hotel, apartment or your house.
Languages and tickets
- German — Guide
- Portuguese — Guide
- English — Guide
- Italian — Guide
- French — Guide
- Spanish — Guide
- Mobile Only
Tour operator
- VIPAC Travel
Accessibility and practical details
- Service animals allowed
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- The circuit tour will be offered subject to availability
- Infants aged 0 to 2 years must be held by their parents on the train.
- MANDATORY: The Authority of Machu Picchu asks full name, passport number, date of birth, nationality details to issue the admission ticket. The admission ticket of Machu Picchu is NOT REFUNDABLE and date changes or amendments are NOT accepted. *If you need to change your visit date, you will need to purchase a new entrance ticket. Due to high demand and limited entrances to the citadel, VIPAC will issue your admission ticket on trail 2 as a priority. If it is not available, trail 3 or 1 will be provided, after prior coordination with the passenger before issuance. Machu Picchu Admission ticket and train tickets are included in this tour. Our sales team will send them 72 hour after paid. Shifts entry by hours from 6 am to 3 pm. Our shared tour considers 9 am, 10 am and 11 am shifts. If the shifts are not available, we will open a new shared tour in the next hour available. Our staff will inform you for acceptance. Travelers must arrive to Cusco city at least one day before Machu Picchu day tour. The authority of Machu Picchu do not accept travel date ammends of admission ticket. This shared tour could have a waiting time of up to 40 minutes to start the tour, depending on Machu Picchu shift time and train timetable avaliability. One day before the company's staff will contact the travelers to send the pick-up time through Viator or Tripadvisor experiences extranet. For weather reasons, from January to March, all excursions departs on bimodal service (Bus from Cusco to Ollantaytambo & train from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu. The guided tour inside Machu Picchu takes around 2h 30m following a delimited trail. Machu Picchu has two seasons. Rainy season from December to March. Dry season, the rest of the year. VIPAC is not responsible for flight cancellations or delays. We recommend arriving in Cusco one day before the scheduled tour date." Machu Picchu has implemented new visitor circuits, with three main routes with specific differences to distribute passengers in various areas. These changes are intended to improve the visitor experience and preserve the integrity of the archaeological site. The circuit with route 2 will be given as priority and if it is not available, the options of taking circuit 3B or circuit 1B will be informed so that you can confirm your decision before the tickets are issued. Remember that, if you are a Peruvian national, you must have a valid National Identity Document (DNI) in order to be able to issue your ticket to Machu Picchu. In addition, this document must be sent through the corresponding platform and presented on the day of the visit. The system does not allow the issuance of tickets with a passport for Peruvian citizens. The option to take the Panoramic Circuit 1 tour from the moment you enter the Citadel of Machu Picchu can be extended for a maximum of 2 hours.
Cancellation policy
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Questions about this experience
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