1 Day Machu Picchu Tour From Cusco
Description
Get to know the sanctuary of Machu Picchu on a 1-day tour from the city of Cusco. Designed for those who’s time in Peru is limited, your private tour will take you door to door to the Inca city and back to your hotel in Cusco in just 1 day. Your private tour to Machu Picchu includes a round trip private car journey through the Sacred Valley to the town of Ollantaytambo. Followed by a train ride to Aguas Calientes and a bus ride up to Machu Picchu. Every step accompanied by your own personal tour guide and their local knowledge of the region and its history. Your 3-hour guided tour of Machu Picchu will take you on a journey through the history of the Incas and the most important archaeological sites inside the citadel. These include the panoramic viewpoint, temple of the sun, central plaza, solar observatory (Intiwatana), palace of the Inca, temple of the condor and the iconic stepped terraces. An unforgettable day packed full of bucket list moments that will surely leave you amazed!
Tour Options
Itinerary
5:30 AM Start the amazing tour of Machu Picchu with the pick up from your hotel in Cusco in our private transportation, to later be transferred to the train station in Ollantaytambo, where you will board the train to go to the town of Aguas Calientes.
7:45 AM Enjoy an exciting train ride to Aguas Calientes, the experience of the trip depends on the type of train you have chosen. Travelers can choose between the Expedition and Vistadome trains. On the way you will see beautiful natural landscapes with a duration of approximately 1h 50min. This is an unforgettable experience full of local charm.
9:45 AM Once you arrive in Aguas Calientes, the small town located at the base of the famous Machu Picchu, your guide will be waiting for you with a sign with your name on it at the Aguas Calientes train station. With him you will go to the bus station to ascend 400 m high, by a short road, for approx. 30 minutes to reach the incredible wonder of the world “The Sanctuary of Machu Picchu”, known as “The Lost City of the Incas”.
10:30 AM Upon arrival at the citadel of Machu Picchu we will pass a checkpoint where your guides will provide you with your entrance tickets, then follow your guide along the main roads to see the admirable ancient Inca engineering. You will be guided for 3 hours (approx.) by your expert guide, who will explain all the history, culture and designs of the entire sanctuary of Machu Picchu. You will get to know closely the most outstanding places of Machu Picchu, such as the sacred sundial, the Royal Quarters, the main square and the Temple of the Three Windows, among others. After your guided tour of Machu Picchu's most important sites, you will have free time to explore and enjoy this wonder of the world completely on your own. After the unique experience of visiting Machu Picchu we will take the bus back to the town of Aguas Calientes.
2:00 PM Once you arrive in the town of Aguas Calientes you will have free time to have lunch at one of the restaurants recommended by your guide or visit a bit of the town before going to the Aguas Calientes train station. At 3:48 PM we Board the train and relax after spending the whole day in Machu Picchu on the striking train ride to Ollantaytambo.
5:45 PM Upon arrival at the train station in Ollantaytambo we will be waiting for you with a sign with your name to take you back to your hotel in Cusco in our private transportation in 1h 30min approx.
7:30 PM you arrive to Cusco city and you will be transfered to your hotel, (this is not a specific time, it varies depending on the different factors of the tour) leaving you at your hotel, so you can rest after the incredible tour of Machu Picchu and thus ends this magnificent experience.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
This tour includes roundtrip transfer from any hotel, apartment (If Airbnb please put the exact location with the street number) or your house located around the Cusco city.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Our agency is distinguished for offering excellent tourist experiences, where quality is the central axis of each service. We strive to maintain the highest standards at every stage of the tour, ensuring that, even in the group tour, our passengers enjoy a carefully designed service, with touches of quality and personalized attention that exceed expectations.
- A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
- Raincoat (long poncho) during the rainy season
- Sunscreen, brimmed hat for sunny days
- Medicine and / or personal items (liquid for contact lenses).
- A backpack or lightweight suitcase (no weight limit between 5-6 kilos maximum).
- Have on hand checks in small denominations and coins in soles or dollars.
- MANDATORY: The Machu Picchu authority requests: full name, passport number, date of birth and nationality, in order to issue the entrance ticket. If you do not send this information we will not be able to reserve and subsequently pay for your tickets to Machu Picchu.
- The entrance ticket to Machu Picchu is *NOT REFUNDABLE*, so we kindly ask you to be 100% sure to take the tour. *DATE CHANGES OR MODIFICATIONS ARE NOT ACCEPTED. If you need to change the date of your visit, you must purchase a new entrance ticket.
- Due to the high demand and the limited number of entrances to the Inca citadel, our company will issue your entrance ticket in circuit 2 as a priority. If it is not available, circuit 3 or 1 will be assigned, prior coordination with the passenger before issuance.
- The type of transportation you will receive from Cusco - Ollantaytambo and Ollantaytambo - Cusco, will depend on the option you have chosen when booking the tour (PRIVATE OR GROUP).
- Round trip train tickets and entrance tickets to Machu Picchu are included in the tour.
- Machu Picchu has two seasons throughout the year: the rainy season from December to March, and the dry season during the rest of the year.
- The day before the tour, your guide will come to your hotel or Airbnb to give you a briefing about the entire tour and answer any questions you may have.
- To coordinate your briefing, our company staff will contact you weeks or days before the tour, to inform you about the briefing time, who is guiding, etc.
- The start of the tour in GROUP is at 4:30 AM, it may vary depending on the location of the hotel or Airbnb or some other factor, that will be well coordinated in their respective briefing. In the PRIVATE tour the departure time is a little more flexible, at 5:00 AM, 6:00 AM, 7:00 AM, that is coordinated before with the traveler in their respective briefing mentioned above.
- The guided tour inside the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu lasts approximately “3 hours”, and it is always private (ONLY YOU AND YOUR COUPLE OR YOUR COMPANIONS) even if you have chosen to book the “Group Tour”.
Reviews(171)
We were a group of 20 people who recently booked a tour with Viajes Peru and we had a wonderful experience they took care of A to Z of the logistics , accommodation and other things . Freddy and Piero were wonderful to work with I highly recommend them for tours to Machu Pichu
Not only did I go with my family on the excursion to Machu Picchu, but also to the Humantay Lagoon, the Mountain of Seven Colors, the city tour of Cusco, and more. It was genuinely a great week that we spent with my family. The service provided by the agency was spectacular, especially by our guide Yorgan. 10 out of 10. Special mention also goes to Irving, one of the drivers.
Very good experience. Good organization without any problems
Amazing Machu Picchu experience! It was a long day, but absolutely worth it to visit one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Jose Dario was an outstanding guide—knowledgeable, engaging, and passionate about the history of the site. We also highly recommend the Vistadome train; the panoramic windows offer incredible views and make the journey part of the experience. Highly recommend.
An unforgettable day in Machu Picchu thanks to the perfect organization. Everything is taken care of down to the last detail. Very professional and friendly people; we had a great connection with the driver and the guide. Totally recommended.
We had a private tour which was amazing. The reason that it was private was not so amazing. There were no trips available out of where we were staying and the company graciously agreed to pick us up and take us to local train station to meet with the rest of the group. The driver never showed up. (We waited, called, texted, etc) and finally got to the train but the group had been long gone and the only recourse was to allow us part of the tour with a different guide to Machu Picchu . I believe there was more to the trip in addition to the actual train ride and walk through Machu Picchu, but that is what we got.
Everything went smoothly from the organization to the practice! We were informed about further steps at all times and were able to communicate with everyone involved at any time via WhatsApp. Gladly know the and definitely worth a recommendation
Sehr geehrter Reisender, Vielen herzlichen Dank für Ihre wunderbare Bewertung und Ihre freundlichen Worte! Es freut uns sehr zu hören, dass von der Organisation bis zur Umsetzung alles reibungslos für Sie verlaufen ist und Sie sich jederzeit gut informiert und betreut gefühlt haben. Der direkte Kontakt über WhatsApp ist uns sehr wichtig, um unseren Gästen Sicherheit, Vertrauen und eine schnelle Kommunikation zu ermöglichen. Vielen Dank auch für Ihre Empfehlung – das bedeutet uns wirklich sehr viel. Wir würden uns freuen, Sie eines Tages wieder in Peru begrüßen zu dürfen und Ihnen erneut ein unvergessliches Erlebnis zu ermöglichen.
The best experience I have had when I reach to see with my own eyes the mountain landscape seemed to me q was not real everything seemed like a postcard because from the beginning accompanied me and my friend on a private tour the guide Williams wonderful person, q took care of us so much, explained every detail helped us with our backpacks and took the most beautiful photos we have ever had, at first it rained but that inca was impediment to nothing was problem with that security of q would stop the rain and we would have a beautifully unforgettable December 31, 2025
Estimada Idiana, Muchísimas gracias por compartir un comentario tan hermoso y lleno de emoción. Nos alegra profundamente saber que esta experiencia fue tan especial para ustedes y que el paisaje de Machu Picchu se haya sentido como una verdadera postal hecha realidad. Nos llena de orgullo saber que Williams las acompañó con tanta dedicación, cuidado y profesionalismo durante su tour privado, brindándoles seguridad, explicaciones detalladas y ayudándolas a capturar recuerdos inolvidables. Sin duda, le haremos llegar sus lindas palabras, que serán una gran motivación para él. Incluso con la llovizna inicial, nos alegra saber que nada opacó ese 31 de diciembre tan especial e inolvidable, y que pudieron vivir el tour con tranquilidad y confianza. Gracias de corazón por confiar en nosotros y por permitirnos ser parte de un momento tan significativo. Será un verdadero placer recibirlas nuevamente en el futuro.
Outstanding Peru Experience – Highly Recommended! We had an absolutely amazing experience on our Peru trip, and a big part of that credit goes to the incredible team who took care of us throughout the journey. Ernesto (Driver) was phenomenal—always punctual, professional, and extremely safe. Navigating long routes and challenging terrains with such calm confidence made the travel portions completely stress-free. His friendly attitude and willingness to help at every step truly stood out. Sendro, our tour guide, was exceptional. His deep knowledge of Peruvian history, culture, and local traditions brought every site to life. He was patient, engaging, and genuinely passionate about what he does, making the experience both educational and enjoyable. He went above and beyond to ensure everyone was comfortable and had the best possible experience. Overall, the tour was very well organized, seamless, and memorable. Thanks to Ernesto and Sendro, this trip exceeded our expectations. We would highly recommend this tour company to anyone planning a trip to Peru and would gladly choose them again in the future!
Dear Mitesh, Thank you so much for sharing such a thoughtful and enthusiastic review of your experience in Peru. We are truly honored to know that your trip was not only smooth and well organized, but also exceeded your expectations. It means a great deal to us to hear your kind words about Ernesto and Sandro. Ernesto’s professionalism, safety, and calm approach on long and challenging routes, combined with Sandro’s deep knowledge, passion, and dedication as a guide, truly represent the level of service we strive to provide. We will be more than happy to pass along your appreciation to both of them. Thank you sincerely for your trust and for recommending our company. It was a pleasure to be part of your journey, and we would be delighted to welcome you again in the future for another unforgettable adventure in Peru.
Very pleasant, clear and close experience from the point of view of doubts for quotation, simple and totally secure contract and international payment process, very personalized treatment and quick responses after payment and contract for the logistics of the activity, I highly recommend it, all the team very prepared and extremely friendly.
Estimada viajera, Muchas gracias por compartir su experiencia con nosotros. Nos alegra enormemente saber que todo el proceso, desde la resolución de dudas, la cotización, el contrato y el pago internacional fue claro, seguro y satisfactorio para usted. Brindar un trato personalizado, respuestas rápidas y un acompañamiento constante antes y después de la reserva es una de nuestras prioridades, por lo que comentarios como el suyo nos motivan a seguir trabajando con el mismo compromiso. Agradecemos sinceramente su recomendación y la confianza depositada en todo nuestro equipo. Será un placer poder atenderle nuevamente en una próxima aventura por el Perú.
