About this experience
If you do not have a lot of time, our Machu Picchu Day Trip from Cusco is the perfect choice. This full day tour to Machu Picchu is designed for travelers who want to experience Peru’s most important attraction in just one day, without missing the highlights.
Our tour to Machu Picchu combines efficient logistics, professional local guides, and personalized attention, ensuring a smooth and unforgettable journey from Cusco to the ancient Inca citadel. Unlike other Machu Picchu tour packages, we focus on the details that enhance your comfort and understanding of this sacred site.
Machu Picchu, one of the Seven Wonders of the World by UNESCO and known as the navel of the world, offers a unique blend of history, mystery, and breathtaking scenery. On this day trip to Machu Picchu from Cusco, you will explore the Historical Sanctuary of Machu Picchu and connect with the powerful ancestral energy, nature, mysticism, and Andean cosmovision of the Inca Empire.
At a glance
- Duration: 17 hr–18 hr
- Skip-the-line entry
Plan your experience
Set aside 17 hr–18 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
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.
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
- First Aid Kit
- Transport (Cusco - Ollantaytambo - Cusco)
- Professional bi-lingual local guide
- Entrance Ticket to Machu Picchu (subject to availability)
- Bus (Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Aguas Calientes)
- Train ticket Ollantaytambo - Aguas Calientes - Ollantaytambo (Expedition or Voyager).
Not included
- Foods
- Accommodations
- flight tickets
- Personal expenses.
Itinerary and highlights
03:45 a.m. approx. – Hotel Pick Up
We start our Machu Picchu Day Trip from Cusco with an early morning pick up from your hotel or accommodation located in the historic center of Cusco. If you are staying outside this area, we will coordinate a convenient meeting point for your day trip to Machu Picchu from Cusco.
From Cusco, we travel in a comfortable tourist vehicle to Ollantaytambo, enjoying scenic views along the Sacred Valley. This transfer takes approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes and is an important part of our well organized tour to Machu Picchu, ensuring a smooth and efficient start to your full day tour to Machu Picchu.
Train to Machu Picchu
We'll board the train to Machu Picchu, a scenic journey that takes approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, our guide will meet you in the main square to provide details about your bus tickets, entrance to Machu Picchu, and the tour itself.
You'll have some free time in Aguas Calientes to enjoy breakfast and use the restrooms before boarding the bus to Machu Picchu.
Bus to Machu Picchu Sanctuary
Once regrouped, our transfer will take us to the bus station for the ride up to the Machu Picchu Archaeological Park. The journey will take approximately 35 minutes.
Based on your scheduled entrance time to Machu Picchu (between 09:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.), we will explore Circuit 1 or Circuit 2 accompanied by our professional local guide as part of our Machu Picchu Day Trip from Cusco.
This guided visit lasts approximately 2 hours, during which you will learn about the historical, cultural, and architectural significance of the Inca citadel. You will also have time to capture stunning panoramic photos during this unforgettable tour to Machu Picchu.
At the designated time, we will board the shuttle bus back down to Aguas Calientes. Upon arrival, you will enjoy free time to relax at the thermal medicinal baths or explore the Stone Chronicles circuit independently, adding flexibility and comfort to your full day tour to Machu Picchu.
Once in Aguas Calientes, you'll have free time to visit the thermal baths or explore the new Stone Chronicles circuit at your leisure (by your self).
We will board the train from Machu Picchu to Ollantaytambo.
19h00 aprox.
*Availability and potential extra costs apply.
After arriving in Ollantaytambo, we will continue our journey back to Cusco city in a comfortable tourist vehicle as part of our Machu Picchu Day Trip from Cusco.
The approximate arrival time in Cusco will be around 6:00 p.m. or 11:00 p.m., depending on the selected train schedule and overall tour logistics, marking the end of our full day tour to Machu Picchu.
Meeting and pickup information
- We offer pick up and drop off services for hotels located within Cusco’s historic center. If you are staying outside this area, we will coordinate a convenient meeting point and time.
Languages and tickets
- English — Guide
- Spanish — Guide
- Mobile Only
Tour operator
- Machu Picchu Peru Tours
Accessibility and practical details
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Admission to Circuit 2 is subject to availability.
- We recommend making your reservation at least 2 months in advance to guarantee entry to Machu Picchu.
- Train tickets (Expedition or Voyager) are subject to availability.
Cancellation policy
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Questions about this experience
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