Machu Picchu Full Day from Cusco: Circuit 2 & Train

A full day from Cusco to Machu Picchu, by train and on foot

You get picked up from your Cusco hotel before dawn, travel by train through the Sacred Valley to Aguas Calientes, ride a bus up to Machu Picchu, and spend the afternoon exploring the citadel on Circuit 2 with a guide who knows the site. All transport, entry, and the return journey to Cusco are included, with the exact departure time confirmed 48 hours before your tour.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full day Machu Picchu tour from Cusco

• Early morning pickup from accommodation
• Transport to Ollantaytambo for train
• Train journey to Aguas Calientes
• Walk to bus station and bus to Machu Picchu
• Show passports and guided Machu Picchu tour
• Bus back to Aguas Calientes
• Free time to eat and explore village
• Board train to Ollantaytambo or Poroy
• Transport from train station to Cusco accommodation

The experience

A guide is waiting outside the train station in Aguas Calientes, passport in hand, ready to walk you up to the entrance. That guide is yours for the Machu Picchu full day from Cusco: the kind of tour where someone else handles the timing, the train tickets, the bus queue, and the two-hour return journey so you don't have to think about logistics while you're standing on a terrace looking at the citadel. The day starts early, with pickup from your Cusco accommodation before dawn (the exact time comes 48 hours before), then a drive to Ollantaytambo or Poroy to catch the tourist train. The scenery during the ride is the kind you watch without talking: the valley opens up, the light changes, and then you're in Aguas Calientes, a small town that exists mostly because of the mountain above it.

Once the staff meets you at the station, you walk to the bus station and queue for the shuttle up to Machu Picchu: about 25 minutes of switchbacks through cloud forest. The tour itself runs on Circuit 2, which means you see both the top terraces for the classic photograph and the lower urban area where the Inca actually lived and worked. Your guide points out the construction details, the water channels, the way the stones fit without mortar, and you move through the site at a pace that lets you absorb it instead of just checking it off. The group stays small, which changes how it feels. You're not shuffling in a crowd of two hundred people all trying to stand in the same spot. After the guided section, you have free time to wander, sit, or take your own photos before heading back down to Aguas Calientes for lunch and a break before the train home.

The return train leaves at a set time (the staff will tell you when), and it takes you back to Ollantaytambo or Poroy depending on which station you left from that morning. A private vehicle is waiting at the station to drive you back to your hotel in Cusco, arriving sometime between 8pm and 11pm depending on which train slot you were assigned. The whole day is about 14 to 16 hours door-to-door, which sounds long until you realize you've crossed two ecosystems, ridden two trains, climbed a mountain, and seen one of the most photographed ruins on earth without once having to book a separate ticket, find a platform, or negotiate with a driver.

What’s included

Your day includes early morning pickup from your Cusco accommodation, private transport to the train station at Ollantaytambo or Poroy, a tourist train ticket to Aguas Calientes, a shuttle bus up to Machu Picchu and back down, entry to the sanctuary, and a guided tour of the citadel on Circuit 2. The return train to Ollantaytambo or Poroy is included, along with private transport back to your hotel in Cusco, concluding in the evening.

Options for this experience

6 options

Guide in English, Spanish or PortugueseNo fixed time

Guide in English, Spanish or PortugueseNo fixed time

Guide in English, Spanish or PortugueseNo fixed time

See 3 more options

Guide in English, Spanish or PortugueseNo fixed time

Guide in English, Spanish or PortugueseNo fixed time

Guide in English, Spanish or PortugueseNo fixed time

You pick the guide language when booking. Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (18 to 89 years) · Youth (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 or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Minkas Travel

Is this one for you?A good fit if you want to see Machu Picchu from Cusco without arranging five separate bookings and managing train schedules yourself. The early start and long day are what make the round trip possible in one go, getting you back to your hotel by evening.

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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: Youth (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 time does the tour start?

Pickup is early morning from your Cusco accommodation. The exact time depends on government availability for Machu Picchu entry and is confirmed 48 hours before your tour date.

What's included in the price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off in Cusco, train tickets from Ollantaytambo or Poroy to Aguas Calientes, the bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu and back, entry to Machu Picchu, and a guided tour of the citadel on Circuit 2.

How long is the tour?

The full day is approximately 14 to 16 hours, from early morning pickup to return to your Cusco hotel in the evening.

What is Circuit 2?

Circuit 2 includes access to both the top terraces (where the classic photos are taken) and the lower urban area, giving you a complete view of the Inca citadel.

Is lunch included?

Lunch is not included, but you have free time in Aguas Calientes before the return train, where there are restaurants and cafes to choose from.

How many people are in the group?

Groups are kept small, and the tour operates with guaranteed departures even on Circuit 3 if Circuit 2 is not available.

What if I'm not very fit?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels. The walking at Machu Picchu is on established paths and terraces, though the site is at high altitude (about 2,430 meters), so acclimatization to Cusco beforehand helps.

Do I need to book in advance?

Yes, booking in advance is recommended to secure Circuit 2, which offers the best access to both the top and bottom of the citadel. If you book last-minute, Circuit 3 is the guaranteed option.