Machu Picchu from Cusco: Small Group Tour with Train & Guide

Train, guide, and two hours inside the citadel, with lunch and all logistics arranged

A guided tour of Machu Picchu departing from Cusco with hotel pickup, round-trip train, entrance ticket, professional guide in English or Spanish, and lunch included. The operator handles transport coordination, train boarding and the bus ride up from Aguas Calientes, so the day unfolds without planning or navigation on your part. Children from age 3 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Machu Picchu from Cusco

• Pickup from hotel in Cusco
• Transfer to train station
• Train journey to Aguas Calientes
• Assistance boarding bus to Machu Picchu
• Guided tour of Machu Picchu
• Return to Aguas Calientes
• Free time for lunch or rest
• Train back to Ollantaytambo
• Transfer to hotel in Cusco

The experience

Your day starts with pickup from your Cusco hotel and a transfer to the train station. The tourist train carries you down to Aguas Calientes, where the operator's team meets you and guides you onto the bus for the 30-minute ride up to the entrance. This arrangement (someone waiting, someone coordinating) is what turns a complicated logistics chain into a single coherent day.

The guided tour itself runs two hours inside Machu Picchu. Your guide, speaking English or Spanish, walks you through the main sectors of the citadel and explains its history within Inca culture. The specific route depends on which circuit is assigned at the entrance, so the path varies by availability. After the tour, you have roughly two hours free in Aguas Calientes for lunch, exploring the town, or resting before the return train departs.

The train brings you back to Ollantaytambo station, where transport is waiting to drive you to your hotel in Cusco or drop you near the Historic Center. Lunch (appetizer, main course, and dessert) is included. Cold drinks are paid separately. The whole day runs about 16 hours from pickup to return.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and return in Cusco.
• round-trip tourist train to Machu Picchu.
• round-trip bus between Aguas Calientes and the entrance.
• official entrance ticket to Machu Picchu.
• two-hour guided tour with a professional guide in English, Spanish, or Portuguese.
• lunch with appetizer, main course, and dessert.
• shared transport in comfortable, modern vehicles.
• local assistance throughout the day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (18 to 80 years) · Child (3 to 17 years) · Under 3: can't be included in the booking

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Runas Trip Peru

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're staying in Cusco without a rental car. The operator handles every transfer, train ticket, and coordination, so you step off the return bus at your hotel without having navigated a single connection or paid a separate fee along the way.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 17 years). Under 3: they can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. No refund if you cancel.

What's the guided tour of Machu Picchu actually like?

The tour lasts two hours and covers the main sectors of the citadel with a professional guide explaining Inca history and the site's significance. The specific route depends on the circuit assigned at entrance, which varies by availability.

How much free time do I have in Aguas Calientes?

After the guided tour, you have roughly two hours in Aguas Calientes before boarding the return train. That's time to have lunch, walk around town, or rest.

Does the tour include meals?

Lunch is included with an appetizer, main course, and dessert. Cold drinks are not included and must be paid for directly.

What happens if I'm staying outside Cusco?

Pickup is included from your hotel in Cusco. If you're staying elsewhere, contact the operator to arrange a meeting point near the Historic Center or another location.