Machu Picchu Day Trip from Cusco: Private Tour & Lunch

Summary

Private Machu Picchu day trip from Cusco with expert guide and local lunch

You’ll start early in Cusco, catch the train through dramatic valleys to Aguas Calientes, then explore Machu Picchu’s terraces and temples with a private local guide. After wandering ancient stone paths and snapping photos at hidden viewpoints, you’ll enjoy lunch in town before heading back—legs tired, heart full.

What’s the experience like?

“You’re not going to sleep on the train, are you?” our guide teased as we left Ollantaytambo. I tried, but the window kept pulling me back—mist curling over the river, flashes of green cliffs. The journey from Cusco had started before sunrise (I barely made coffee), but something about moving through the Sacred Valley in that soft morning light felt like being let in on a secret. By the time we reached Aguas Calientes, my shoes were already dusted with that pale Andean grit.

We met our Machu Picchu guide—Luis, who grinned at my pronunciation and told us his grandmother still calls it “Old Mountain” in Quechua. The bus up was all switchbacks and nervous laughter; I kept thinking we’d tip right off into the jungle. At the gate, Luis handed us our tickets and paused to point out a tiny orchid growing between stones—he said they only bloom after rain. Inside Machu Picchu itself, there was this hush that surprised me. Not silence exactly—just everyone sort of whispering, even when they didn’t mean to. I touched one of those sun-warmed walls and tried to imagine what it must’ve felt like to build all this by hand.

Lunch back in Aguas Calientes was simple but so good—I can still taste that fresh trout (and okay, maybe I had two helpings of rice). We swapped stories with another couple who’d come from Lima; someone’s phone rang with a cumbia ringtone and everyone laughed. The afternoon train ride back was quieter. I watched kids waving at us from the tracks and realized how tired my legs felt—good tired though. There’s something about seeing Machu Picchu in person that just sits with you for days after.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Machu Picchu tour with lunch

• Pickup from hotel in Cusco
• Travel to Ollantaytambo train station
• Train to Aguas Calientes
• Bus to Machu Picchu entrance
• Explore Machu Picchu with guide
• Lunch in Aguas Calientes
• Train back to Ollantaytambo
• Return transport to Cusco

Top questions

How long is the day trip from Cusco to Machu Picchu?

The tour lasts one full day including travel time from Cusco to Ollantaytambo by car (about 1 hour 30 minutes each way), plus train rides and guided visit.

Is hotel pickup included for this Machu Picchu tour?

Yes, pickup from your hotel in Cusco is included at the start of your day trip.

Do I get a private guide at Machu Picchu?

Yes, you’ll have a private expert guide for your visit inside Machu Picchu.

Is lunch included on this tour?

Yes, lunch is included during your stop in Aguas Calientes after visiting Machu Picchu.

Are entrance tickets to Machu Picchu provided?

Yes, entry fees for Machu Picchu are included (circuit subject to availability).

What languages do guides speak?

You can request an English or Spanish-speaking guide for your private tour.

Is this tour suitable for all fitness levels?

The itinerary is suitable for all physical fitness levels.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup in Cusco, comfortable transport to Ollantaytambo station, round-trip tourist train tickets to Aguas Calientes, bus transfers up to Machu Picchu itself, entry fees for your chosen circuit (subject to availability), a private guided tour inside Machu Picchu in English or Spanish, plus a comforting lunch before returning by train and car late afternoon or evening.