4-Day Cusco, Humantay Lake & Machu Picchu Tour

Days threading Cusco's ruins, a glacial lake at high altitude, and the Lost City itself.

A 4-day guided tour of Cusco, Humantay Lake and Machu Picchu with airport pickup, accommodation, train tickets and all site entries included. The itinerary runs fixed days: Day 1 covers Cusco's main sites after you land; Day 2 is the high-altitude hike to Humantay Lake; Day 3 is the full Machu Picchu visit by train; Day 4 is your departure. Machu Picchu tickets are subject to availability from Peru's Ministry of Culture and correspond to circuits 1 or 2. If none are available, you receive a full refund.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Airport pickup and city tour

• Airport pickup and transfer to hotel
• Rest and acclimatize in the morning
• 2:00pm pick up for city tour
• Visit Koricancha (Temple of the Sun)
• Travel to Sacsayhuaman
• Visit Sacsayhuaman archaeological site
• Visit Qenqo ritual center
• Visit PucaPucara fortress
• Visit Tambomachay Inca Bath
• Return to Cusco by mobility

Day 2: Humantay Lake trek and return

• 4:00am hotel pickup
• Travel to Mollepata and have breakfast
• Travel to Soraypampa
• 1.5-hour walk to Humantay Lagoon
• Enjoy fauna and flora during trek
• Descend to Soraypampa
• Return to Mollepata for lunch
• Return to Cusco by mobility

Day 3: Machu Picchu visit and return

• 3:40am hotel pickup
• Transfer to Ollantaytambo train station
• Train to Aguas Calientes
• Receive Machu Picchu visit information
• Bus to Machu Picchu citadel
• Present tickets and passport
• Guided one-way tour of Machu Picchu
• Bus back to Aguas Calientes for lunch
• Return to Cusco by train and bus

Day 4: Departure and optional activities

• Free morning to relax
• Optional Peruvian gastronomy and pisco sour tour
• Transfer to airport or bus station

The experience

You arrive at the airport and a representative meets you for the transfer to your hotel. The afternoon is yours to rest and acclimatize to Cusco's altitude. At 2:00 pm, pickup begins the city tour: a 45-minute guided walk through Koricancha (the Temple of the Sun), then by vehicle to Sacsayhuaman, the massive stone fortress overlooking the city. From there you move through Qenqo, a ritual center carved into rock, then Puca Pucara, a military outpost, and finish at Tambomachay, where the Incas engineered water channels for ritual bathing. You return to the city by 7:00 pm.

Day 2 starts at 4:00 am with a pickup for the drive to Mollepata, where breakfast waits. You continue to Soraypampa and walk for an hour and a half to Humantay Lake, sitting at 4,250 meters (nearly 14,000 feet). The trail passes through the high-altitude flora and fauna of the region. After descending back to Soraypampa, you take the vehicle to Mollepata for lunch, then return to Cusco by 6:00 pm.

Day 3 is the Machu Picchu day. Pickup happens at 3:40 am for the 1.5-hour drive to Ollantaytambo train station. You board the train to Aguas Calientes, then take a 30-minute bus up to the citadel. After presenting your tickets and passport, a guide leads you through Machu Picchu on a one-way tour. The rest of the day depends on your ticket time slot: lunch in Aguas Calientes, then the train and bus return to Cusco. Day 4 is free until your departure. The operator offers an optional additional tour on Peruvian gastronomy and pisco sour preparation if your flight allows.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle transport throughout the four days.
• pickup from the airport on arrival and transfer to your hotel.
• train tickets to and from Aguas Calientes.
• three nights in three-star hotels.
• all site entry fees (Cusco attractions, Humantay Lake access, and Machu Picchu).
• a guided tour of Machu Picchu.
• breakfast on Day 2 and lunch on Days 2 and 3.
• return transfer to the airport or bus station on departure.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day15 departure times: the first at 05:00, the last at 22:00

AgesAdult (41 to 70 years) · Youth (under 41)

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Chullos Travel Peru

Is this one for you?Choose this if you're visiting Cusco for the first time and want one fixed itinerary covering the city, Humantay Lake, and Machu Picchu. Book the private version instead if you need flexibility or prefer traveling alone.

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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 (under 41).

What exactly happens on the Cusco city tour on the first afternoon?

The city tour covers four major sites: Koricancha (Temple of the Sun) with a 45-minute guided walk, then Sacsayhuaman, the massive fortress above Cusco; Qenqo, a ritual center built into rock; Puca Pucara, a military construction; and Tambomachay, where the Incas built water channels for ritual use. Transport between sites is by vehicle, and you return to the city by 7:00 pm.

How high is Humantay Lake and what is the hike like?

Humantay Lake sits at 4,250 meters (nearly 14,000 feet) above sea level. The walk from Soraypampa takes an hour and a half, and you pass through the high-altitude flora and fauna of the region on the way up and back down.

What's included in the Machu Picchu day and how do I get there?

The Machu Picchu day includes pickup at 3:40 am, a 1.5-hour drive to Ollantaytambo train station, train passage to Aguas Calientes, a 30-minute bus ride to the citadel, and a guided one-way tour of Machu Picchu itself. Lunch in Aguas Calientes and the return train and bus to Cusco are part of the day. Machu Picchu tickets are subject to availability from Peru's Ministry of Culture and correspond to circuits 1 or 2.

What happens if Machu Picchu tickets aren't available?

If the Ministry of Culture has no tickets available for your dates, you receive a full refund of your entire tour package.

Are meals included in the tour?

Breakfast is provided on Day 2 in Mollepata, and lunch is included on both Day 2 and Day 3. Other meals are not included in the package.

What's the accommodation like?

You stay in three-star hotels for all three nights of the tour (Nights 1, 2, and 3). The hotels are included in the package price.