3-Day Cusco, Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu Tour

Walk Incan ruins across three days without arranging the logistics yourself

A 3-day guided tour from Cusco covering the city's key sites, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu, with hotel pickup, professional guide, train travel to Aguas Calientes, and all entry tickets included. Day 1 takes you through Qoricancha, Sacsayhuaman, Q'enqo, and Tambomachay; Day 2 moves through Pisac and Ollantaytambo before a train ride to Aguas Calientes for the night; Day 3 is the guided visit to Machu Picchu itself, followed by the return journey to Cusco. Machu Picchu tickets are subject to availability from Peru's Ministry of Culture. If none are available, you receive a full refund.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Airport pickup and Cusco city tour

• Airport pickup and hotel transfer
• Rest and acclimatize in the morning
• Guided tour of Coricancha temple
• Travel to Sacsayhuaman fortress
• Guided tour of Sacsayhuaman
• Visit Q'enqo ritual center
• Visit Puka Pukara military construction
• Visit Tambomachay water cult site
• Return to Cusco

Day 2: Sacred Valley and train to Machu Picchu

• Pickup from hotel at 7:00 am
• Travel to Pisac ruins
• Guided tour of Pisac ruins
• Travel to Urubamba for buffet lunch
• Travel to Ollantaytambo archaeological site
• Guided tour of Ollantaytambo
• Travel to train station
• Train to Aguas Calientes

Day 3: Machu Picchu visit and return

• Bus ride to Machu Picchu
• Show tickets and passports
• Guided visit of Machu Picchu
• Return to Aguas Calientes for lunch
• Train and bus back to Cusco

Day 4: Transfer to Cusco airport

• Pickup from accommodation
• Transfer to Cusco airport

The experience

Day 1 starts with airport pickup and a free morning to rest at altitude. In the afternoon, a guide leads you through Qoricancha (the Temple of the Sun) for 45 minutes, then drives 30 minutes to Sacsayhuaman, the massive fortress overlooking Cusco, for a one-hour walk through its stone terraces. You continue to Q'enqo, a ritual center carved into rock, and finish at Tambomachay, known as the Inca's Bath, where water channels still flow. The day ends back in Cusco by 7 p.m.

Day 2 begins at 7 a.m. with pickup from your hotel for the Sacred Valley. After 90 minutes of driving, you reach Pisac, where a guide shows you the agricultural terraces and temple ruins for an hour. Lunch is a buffet of typical Andean food in Urubamba, the valley's main town. Then it's 30 minutes to Ollantaytambo, where another guided tour covers the Temple of the Sun, the Intihuatana stone, and the Princess Baths. By evening, you board the train to Aguas Calientes and spend the night there.

Day 3 is the Machu Picchu visit. A 30-minute bus ride takes you up to the site, where a professional guide leads you through the ruins according to your ticket circuit (circuits 1 or 2 are standard, other circuits available at extra cost). After the tour, you return to Aguas Calientes for lunch, then take the train and bus back to Cusco. Day 4 is your transfer to Cusco airport.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup on Days 1, 2, and 3.
• airport pickup on Day 1 and airport transfer on Day 4.
• entry tickets for Qoricancha, Sacsayhuaman, Q'enqo, Pisac, and Ollantaytambo.
• professional guide in English or Spanish throughout.
• train tickets from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and return.
• bus transport to and from Machu Picchu.
• guided tour at Machu Picchu.
• breakfast and lunch on Days 2 and 3.
• air-conditioned vehicle for all ground transport.
• Machu Picchu entry ticket (circuits 1 or 2, subject to availability).

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day9 departure times: the first at 04:00, the last at 13:30

AgesAdult (22 to 44 years) · Senior (45 to 80 years) · Youth (13 to 21 years) · Under 13: can't be included in the booking

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availableNot for pregnant travelersNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Chullos Travel Peru

Is this one for you?The pace is steady (you're moving between sites each day and boarding a train on Day 2 evening), so this works best if you're comfortable with early starts and several hours of guided walking at altitude. The fixed itinerary and included transport mean you don't build the schedule yourself. Everything is timed to connect.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 21 years). Under 13: they can't be included in the booking.

What exactly is Sacsayhuaman and why is it on this tour?

Sacsayhuaman is a massive Incan fortress overlooking Cusco, built with enormous fitted stone blocks. It's included because it's one of Cusco's most significant archaeological sites and gives you a sense of Incan engineering and military architecture. The one-hour guided tour on Day 1 covers its layout and history.

Do I need to book my own train ticket to Machu Picchu?

No. The train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes on Day 2 and the return train on Day 3 are both included in the tour package. Your guide handles the logistics.

What happens if Machu Picchu tickets aren't available when I book?

Machu Picchu tickets are sold only by Peru's Ministry of Culture and availability varies by date. If no tickets are available for your dates, you receive a full refund of your entire tour package. Your agent will confirm ticket availability before you finalize the booking.

How much walking is involved each day?

Day 1 includes guided walks at four sites (Qoricancha, Sacsayhuaman, Q'enqo, and Tambomachay), with the Sacsayhuaman tour lasting about an hour on uneven terrain. Day 2 involves walking at Pisac and Ollantaytambo, each roughly an hour. Day 3 at Machu Picchu is a guided walk through the ruins. The exact distance depends on which ticket circuit you receive.

Is breakfast included every day?

Breakfast and lunch are included on Day 2 (in Urubamba and Aguas Calientes) and Day 3 (in Aguas Calientes). Day 1 breakfast is not included. Day 4 is your airport transfer only.

What's the earliest start time, and do I need to be fit?

Day 2 pickup is at 7 a.m. from your hotel. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels, though it involves walking at altitude (Cusco is at 11,000 feet) and on uneven archaeological terrain. The pace is guided and stops are built in.