Experience an unforgettable journey to Machu Picchu on a one-day tour from Cusco. Travel by train to Aguas Calientes and continue to the impressive Inca citadel, where you will enjoy a guided tour and learn about its history, architecture, and main sectors. An ideal option for travelers with limited time who want to discover one of Peru’s most remarkable destinations on a practical and complete day trip.
For this Machu Picchu tour, we recommend arriving in Cusco a couple of days before the tour to acclimatize and staying in a centrally located hotel with easy access.
On this memorable day, we will pick you up from your hotel around 4:00 a.m. If you plan to stay in the Sacred Valley, don’t worry, we’d be happy to pick you up between 6:00 and 7:00 a.m., as we are very close to Ollantaytambo.
From Cusco, we will begin a drive through the enchanting Sacred Valley to the Ollantaytambo train station, where we will board the train to Machu Picchu Pueblo, also known as Aguas Calientes.
The train journey takes an hour and a half and will take you through breathtaking Andean landscapes and the cloud forest of the high jungle.
Then, upon arrival at the train station in Aguas Calientes, your tour guide will be there to greet you! to catch the bus to Machu Picchu. You’ll enjoy a beautiful 30-minute bus ride to the entrance of the archaeological park.
We’ll arrive at the main entrance of Machu Picchu around 10:00 a.m., giving us plenty of time to prepare for an unforgettable experience. Remember to bring your Machu Picchu entrance tickets and passport.
Once you enter the citadel, your expert guide will take you on an exclusive TreXperience tour, which will show you Machu Picchu for about 2 to 3 hours. We’ll walk along Circuit 2, where you’ll see the best of the entire complex, including the viewpoints, the Guardian’s House, the agricultural terraces, the temples, and the palaces. And, of course, we’ll make sure to stop at the perfect spots for taking amazing photos and enjoying the breathtaking views.
After the tour, our guide will help you board the bus that will take you to the town of Aguas Calientes. You can enjoy a delicious lunch on your own or simply explore the charming town, stroll through its streets, or visit its artisan market. Aguas Calientes is a very small town, which is really convenient because you can easily walk from one end to the other. In the afternoon, we’ll board the train back to Ollantaytambo (a 1.5-hour journey), where our transportation will be waiting to take you back to Cusco.
After a drive of approximately 2 hours, we’ll make sure to drop you off at your hotel in Cusco between 7:30 and 8:00 p.m., so you can relax and unwind after an unforgettable day. Don’t worry, if you’re staying at a hotel in the Sacred Valley, we’ll take you there too!
If you’re looking for a truly panoramic experience, choose the Vistadome train and enjoy live entertainment, larger seats, and wider windows.
Note: Pick-up and drop-off times from your hotel may vary depending on the final departure time of your booked train. Furthermore, if tickets for Machu Picchu Circuit 2 sell out, we offer you the best available option, which could be Circuit 3 or Circuit 1. Therefore, we recommend securing your trip to Machu Picchu as soon as possible, as Machu Picchu tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis and the best circuits and times sell out first.
