English and Spanish-speaking guide
Private tour (only for your group)
Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Check the Dates
This efficient Cusco to Machu Picchu 1-day tour offers a private, streamlined experience, managing all 15 hours of complex logistics for you. Enjoy comfortable private transfers and scenic expedition train travel before ascending to the Citadel for an extensive 3-hour guided tour. This is the ultimate personalized day trip to admire the Temple of the Condor and the impeccable Inca engineering.
Highlights:
- Explore the magnificent Citadel with a private bilingual guide for a personalized experience.
- Marvel at the architecture, including the Temple of the Condor and the Inca terraces.
- Experience a panoramic train ride along the Vilcanota River and through the Sacred Valley.
- This 1-day tour to Machu Picchu from Cusco is perfect for travelers short on time.
- Enjoy comfortable, round-trip private transfers from your Cusco hotel to the train stations.
About this tour:
This private, full-day Cusco to Machu Picchu 1-day tour offers the ultimate seamless, personalized, and efficient way to visit the Lost City of the Incas. Designed exclusively for your group, this 15-hour adventure manages every complex detail of the train, bus, and guided tour logistics, allowing you to focus entirely on the ancient Citadel.
Your day begins with an early morning pickup from your hotel in Cusco in a private van. You will drive approximately 2 hours to the Ollantaytambo train station. From there, you will board the expedition train for a spectacular 2-hour ride that showcases the stunning Vilcanota River, mountains, valleys, and Inca farming terraces.
Upon arriving in Aguas Calientes, you will be escorted to the bus station for the 30-minute ascent to the main entrance. The highlight of the day is the 3-hour guided tour of Machu Picchu. Led by a professional bilingual guide, this tour will provide insight into the history of Pachacutec, the 9th Inca, and the opportunity to admire the impeccable arrangement of the terraces, stairs, famous temples, and the magnificent Temple of the Condor.
After the guided visit, you will take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes for free time that you can allocate to having lunch (not included). The Machu Picchu 1-day tour from Cusco concludes with a scenic return journey: a 2-hour train ride to Ollantaytambo/Poroy, followed by a final 2-hour private transfer directly back to your accommodation in Cusco. The tour includes all necessary train tickets, bus tickets, the Machu Picchu entrance ticket, and private transfers throughout.
Included:
- Private bilingual guide
- Entrance ticket to the Sanctuary of Machu Picchu
- Private transfer from Cusco to the Ollantaytambo/Poroy train station
- Round-trip expedition train ticket from Poroy/Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes
- Transportation from Poroy/Ollantaytambo back to your accommodation in Cusco
Essential Information:
- Guided Tour: The tour of the Citadel is approximately 3 hours.
- Not Suitable For: People with heart problems, people afraid of heights, and people over 95 years old.
- Exclusions: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are NOT included. Tips for your guide are also excluded.
- What to Bring: Passport, daypack, cash, camera, comfortable shoes, rain gear, hat, sunscreen, snacks, water, insect repellent, change of clothes, and toiletries.
- Not Allowed: Alcohol and drugs, smoking, sprays or aerosols, umbrellas, weapons or sharp objects, walking sticks, pets, and non-folding wheelchairs.
Activity provider: Apu Ausangate Trek EIRL
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this Cusco to Machu Picchu 1-day tour include?
This private, all-inclusive Cusco to Machu Picchu 1-day tour covers all essential logistics for a seamless experience. It includes the official admission ticket to the Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, round-trip expedition train tickets, round-trip bus tickets between Aguas Calientes and the Citadel, and a private bilingual guide for the 3-hour tour. All transfers between your Cusco hotel and the train stations (Ollantaytambo/Poroy) are via private transport.
What is not covered by the tour price?
It is important to note that breakfast, lunch, and dinner are NOT included in the tour price, as this is a full-day, 15-hour trip. You will have free time for lunch in Aguas Calientes. Tips/gratuities for your guide are also excluded.
Who is this Machu Picchu 1-day tour from Cusco not suitable for?
Due to the intense, 15-hour nature of the trip and the steep terrain of the Citadel, this tour is not suitable for people with heart problems, people who are severely afraid of heights, or people over 95 years old.
What should I bring for this tour?
You must bring your passport (required for entrance to Machu Picchu), cash, a camera, and a daypack. Essential items include comfortable shoes, rain gear, a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, water, and snacks.
What is not allowed on this 1-day Machu Picchu tour from Cusco?
Visitors are strictly prohibited from bringing or using alcohol, drugs, sprays or aerosols, weapons or sharp objects, smoking, and non-folding wheelchairs. Umbrellas, walking sticks, and pets are also not allowed inside the Citadel.
What should I know before I go on this tour?
This is a very long, 15-hour day that starts with an early morning hotel pickup. The tour is private, meaning the bilingual guide is exclusively for your group for a personalized 3-hour tour of the Citadel. The train and bus logistics are complex but are fully managed for you.
What will I experience during this 1-day tour to Machu Picchu from Cusco?
Your day is designed for maximum efficiency, beginning with a private van transfer to the train station, followed by a panoramic train ride along the Vilcanota River. Upon arrival, you will take the bus up to the Citadel.
The highlight is the 3-hour guided tour where you will explore the impeccable arrangement of terraces, stairs, temples, and courtyards, including the famous Temple of the Condor. Your private guide will share insights into the history of Pachacutec and the fascinating Inca engineering before you take the scenic journey back to Cusco.