5-Day Private Cusco, Machu Picchu & Q’eswachaka Tour Package

Summary

Private Multi-Day Peru Tour: Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu & Inca Bridge

You’ll get five days packed with real experiences: ancient temples, living traditions, epic landscapes—and plenty of chances to connect with local culture along the way. If you want history, scenery, good food and zero hassle getting around Peru’s highlights, this trip covers it all.

What’s the experience like?

The first morning in Cusco hit me with that crisp mountain air—thin and a bit sharp, especially if you’re coming from sea level. Someone from the team met me right at the airport with a sign (always a relief after a long flight). I had the morning to just rest and let my body adjust; honestly, I needed it. By 2pm we were off for the city tour. Koricancha was our first stop—golden light streaming through old stone walls, and our guide explained how this was once the heart of Inca spirituality. Sacsayhuaman came next; those massive stones really do make you wonder how they managed it all those centuries ago. There’s this faint smell of eucalyptus in the air up there, mixed with dust and distant street food smoke drifting up from town. We also stopped at Qenqo—a place that feels almost secretive—and then Puca Pucara and Tambomachay before heading back to town around 7pm.

The next day started early with a drive out to the Sacred Valley. The road winds through tiny villages where you’ll spot women in bright skirts selling fruit by the roadside. Pisac’s terraces are even bigger than they look in photos, and we got about an hour to wander with our guide explaining how the Incas farmed these hillsides. Lunch was in Urubamba—a buffet of Andean dishes (I tried quinoa soup for the first time). Ollantaytambo’s ruins are steep but worth every step; standing at the top you can see trains snaking along below. We caught one of those trains to Aguas Calientes as evening fell—the river rushing beside us most of the way. That night, our guide popped by our hotel to go over all the details for Machu Picchu.

Waking up before sunrise is never easy, but catching that first bus up to Machu Picchu is something I’ll never forget. The clouds hung low at first—mist curling around stone walls—then suddenly cleared so fast you could see Huayna Picchu towering above everything. Our guide walked us through hidden corners and pointed out spots most people miss (like a tiny carved sundial tucked behind one wall). After two and a half hours exploring together, we had some free time back in Aguas Calientes for lunch—I grabbed a tamale from a street vendor before catching the train back to Ollantaytambo. Someone was waiting for us at the station with my name on a sign (which made things super easy), then we drove back to Cusco.

Day four took us south—out past rolling hills dotted with llamas—to visit four quiet lagoons where fishermen still cast lines from little wooden boats. We stopped near Yanaoca to see an old volcano before reaching Q’eswachaka bridge: it’s made entirely from woven grass (ichu) and stretches across the Apurímac River like something out of another century. Locals rebuild it every year with rituals for Pachamama (Mother Earth), which our guide explained as we watched people cross—some more confidently than others! On the way back we saw Checacupe’s colonial bridge too; seeing both bridges side by side really shows how much things have changed…and how much has stayed exactly the same.

The last morning was relaxed—I wandered around Plaza de Armas sipping strong coffee while musicians set up nearby. Depending on your flight time you can just soak up those last moments or join an optional cooking class (learning pisco sour tricks is always fun). Transfers are smooth and on time; no stress about missing your bus or plane.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arrival and Cusco City Tour

• Airport pickup and hotel transfer
• Visit Koricancha (Temple of the Sun)
• Travel to Sacsayhuaman
• Visit Sacsayhuaman
• Visit Qenqo
• Travel to PucaPucara
• Visit PucaPucara
• Visit Tambomachay
• Return to Cusco hotel

Day 2 — Sacred Valley and Aguas Calientes

• Travel to Pisaq archaeological site
• Guided tour of Pisaq
• Travel to Urubamba for buffet lunch
• Travel to Ollantaytambo
• Guided tour of Ollantaytambo
• Train to Aguas Calientes
• Overnight in Aguas Calientes

Day 3 — Machu Picchu Visit

• Early bus to Machu Picchu
• Guided tour of Machu Picchu
• Free time in Aguas Calientes for lunch
• Train to Ollantaytambo
• Transfer to Cusco hotel

Day 4 — Q'eswachaka Inca Bridge Tour

• Hotel pickup at 7:00 am
• Visit four lagoons
• Visit Pabellones volcano
• Visit and cross Q'eswachaka Inca bridge
• Visit Inca colonial bridge of Checacupe
• Return to Cusco city

Day 5 — Departure or Optional Tour

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

Top questions

Is entry to Machu Picchu guaranteed?

Machu Picchu entry depends on ticket availability from Peru's Ministry of Culture. If tickets aren’t available for your dates, you'll get a full refund.

Are meals included during the tour?

Breakfasts are included daily plus lunches in Urubamba, Cusipata, and Aguas Calientes as part of your package.

How physically demanding is this itinerary?

You should be moderately fit—there's walking at altitude and some steep climbs at sites like Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu.

What kind of hotels will I stay in?

You’ll stay in comfortable 3-star hotels in Cusco and Aguas Calientes—all centrally located for easy exploring.

Is transportation between sites included?

Yes—all transfers between airports, hotels, train stations and attractions are covered throughout your trip.

What’s included

Your tour includes airport pick-up/drop-off in Cusco; all ground transport; 3-star hotels; guided tours at each site; entrance tickets for Machu Picchu (subject to availability), Sacred Valley sites and Q’eswachaka bridge; round-trip train tickets between Ollantaytambo & Aguas Calientes; bus tickets up to Machu Picchu; breakfast daily plus lunches as listed; professional guides throughout each experience.