4-day Cusco, Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu tour with guide

Walk four Inca sites across Cusco and the Sacred Valley, ending at Machu Picchu

A 4-day guided tour of Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu with hotel accommodation, all transport, entrance fees and a guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese. The itinerary moves through the Temple of the Sun and Sacsayhuaman in Cusco on day one, then into the agricultural heartland of the Sacred Valley on day two, reaching Machu Picchu on day three before returning to Cusco on day four. Airport pickup is included, and the tour operates with 3-star hotels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Airport pickup and city tour

• Pickup from airport to hotel
• Rest and acclimatize in morning
• Visit Koricancha temple
• Travel to Sacsayhuaman
• Guided tour of Sacsayhuaman
• Visit Qenqo ritual center
• Visit PucaPucara red fort
• Visit Tambomachay Inca baths
• Return to Cusco hotel

Day 2: Sacred Valley and Aguas Calientes

• Pickup from hotel at 8:00 AM
• Travel to Pisaq ruins
• Guided tour of Pisaq ruins
• Buffet lunch in Urubamba
• Visit Ollantaytambo archaeological site
• Train to Aguas Calientes

Day 3: Machu Picchu visit and return

• Early bus to Machu Picchu ruins
• Guided tour of Machu Picchu
• Lunch in Aguas Calientes
• Free time in village
• Train to Ollantaytambo
• Bus to Cusco

Day 4: Departure and optional tour

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

The experience

Day one starts with a representative meeting you at the airport and transferring you to your hotel. After time to rest and acclimatize, a 2 PM pickup takes you into Cusco itself. The Qoricancha, or Temple of the Sun, gets a 45-minute guided tour before you move on to Sacsayhuaman, an hour-long stop at one of the Inca Empire's most recognizable sites. The afternoon continues through Qenqo, a ritual center built into a rocky outcrop, then PucaPucara, a military fortress, and ends at Tambomachay, where the Incas performed water worship ceremonies. You return to Cusco around 7 PM.

Day two departs the hotel at 8 AM for the Sacred Valley. After 90 minutes of travel, you reach Pisaq, where a guided tour covers the agricultural terraces and temple structures. Lunch is a buffet in Urubamba, then you visit Ollantaytambo, another major archaeological site, before boarding a train to Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of Machu Picchu.

Day three is the Machu Picchu site itself. An early morning bus takes you up to the ruins, where a guided tour follows the ticket circuit assigned to you (circuits 1 and 2 are standard, other circuits available for an additional charge). After the tour, you return to Aguas Calientes for lunch and free time before the train departs back to Ollantaytambo, then a bus to Cusco. Arrival timing depends on the train schedule available that day.

Day four is a free morning to rest before your departure. If your flight or bus leaves later, an optional additional tour covering Peruvian gastronomy and pisco sour preparation is available.

What’s included

• Guided tours at each site in English, Spanish or Portuguese.
• three nights in 3-star hotels.
• all entrance fees to Cusco sites, Sacred Valley ruins and Machu Picchu.
• air-conditioned vehicle transport throughout.
• breakfast daily at the hotel.
• airport pickup and transfer to your hotel.
• train travel from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and return.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day11 departure times: the first at 05:00, the last at 13:30

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 yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelers

Operated by Chullos Travel Peru

Is this one for you?Book this if you're visiting Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu as one continuous journey rather than piecing together separate stops: the four-day structure moves you through all three regions in sequence.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

What exactly is Sacsayhuaman and why does it take a full hour to tour?

Sacsayhuaman is one of the most emblematic sites of the Inca Empire, built with massive stone blocks fitted without mortar. The one-hour guided tour covers the scale and construction of the fortress, which sits on a hilltop overlooking Cusco and was a military and ceremonial center.

Do I need to book my Machu Picchu ticket separately, or is it included?

Machu Picchu entry is included in the tour price, but tickets are subject to availability through the Ministry of Culture of Peru. Tickets are assigned according to available circuits (circuits 1 and 2 are standard). If no tickets are available for any circuit, you receive a full refund of the entire tour package.

How much time do I spend actually walking around Machu Picchu?

The guided tour duration depends on which ticket circuit you receive. After the guided portion, you return to Aguas Calientes for lunch and have free time before the train departure back down the mountain.

What happens if my flight arrives late on day one?

A representative meets you at the airport whenever you land and transfers you to the hotel. The city tour begins at 2 PM, so if your arrival is later, you can rest and acclimatize at the hotel and join the afternoon tour if timing allows, or rest fully and begin the Sacred Valley tour the next morning.

Is the train to Aguas Calientes included, or do I pay separately?

The train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes is included in the tour. Return train fare from Aguas Calientes back to Ollantaytambo is also covered as part of the itinerary.

What kind of accommodation will I stay in?

The tour includes 3-star hotels for all three nights: one in Cusco, one in the Sacred Valley area (Aguas Calientes), and one back in Cusco before departure.