Machu Picchu tour from Cusco: 15-hour guided day trip with lunch

Fifteen hours from hotel to ruins and back, with a guide and a meal included

A 15-hour guided tour of Machu Picchu departing from Cusco includes round-trip train and bus transport, hotel pickup, a 2-hour guided walk of the ruins on circuit 1 or 2, and lunch in Aguas Calientes. Machu Picchu tickets are subject to availability through Peru's Ministry of Culture. If none are available, you receive a full refund. The tour operates in English, Spanish, Portuguese or French.

Step-by-step itinerary

Machu Picchu excursion from Cusco

• Driver picks up from hotel
• Transfer to bus station
• Bus to Ollantaytambo train station
• Train to Aguas Calientes
• Meet guide in Aguas Calientes
• Bus to Machu Picchu entrance
• 2-hour guided Machu Picchu tour
• Return bus to Aguas Calientes
• Lunch in Aguas Calientes
• Train to Ollantaytambo
• Bus back to Cusco hotel

Stops and time spent at each 4 stops

1. Cusco passing by
2. Ollantaytambo passing by
3. Machupicchu cusco 4h
4. Cusco passing by

What’s included

• Round-trip minivan transport from Cusco to Ollantaytambo.
• round-trip train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (expedition service).
• round-trip bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu.
• 2-hour guided tour of the ruins in English, Spanish, Portuguese or French.
• lunch in Aguas Calientes.
• hotel pickup and return.

Times

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• Every day 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00

Information

Machu Picchu day tour from Cusco with train, guide, lunch and hotel pickup: a 15-hour round trip on circuits 1 or 2.

Group Private

Live guide English, Spanish, French and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup included. See the pickup points

Book up to the start time

Ages Up to age 70

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Not recommended during pregnancy

More information The pickup points, the operator’s instructions and every other detail are in the full listing. See the full listing

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The experience

The day starts before dawn. A minivan picks you up from your hotel in Cusco's historic center and drives you to the bus station (about 10 minutes), then continues to Ollantaytambo (roughly 2 hours). From there, you board the train to Aguas Calientes, a 2-hour ride that descends into the Sacred Valley. When you arrive, your guide meets you at the station with a sign bearing their name and walks you through what to expect at the ruins.

From Aguas Calientes, a bus climbs to Machu Picchu in 30 minutes. You present your entrance ticket: allocated by the Ministry of Culture according to available circuits (1 or 2), and then walk the site for 2 hours with your guide. The guide speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese or French. After the tour, you descend by bus back to Aguas Calientes for lunch before the return journey begins: train to Ollantaytambo (2 hours), then minivan to Cusco (2 hours). You need to be at the train station 30 minutes before departure.

Tickets are subject to availability and sold exclusively by Peru's Ministry of Culture. If circuits 1 or 2 are unavailable, other circuits may be offered at an additional charge. Should no tickets be available at all, the full tour price is refunded. The entire day is long and involves early waking, but the pace suits all fitness levels.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese.

What time does the Machu Picchu tour from Cusco start?

Pickup from your hotel begins between 3 and 4 a.m., so you can reach Ollantaytambo in time for the train to Aguas Calientes and then ascend to the ruins while the site is less crowded.

Does the tour include the train ticket to Machu Picchu?

Yes, the tour includes round-trip train transport from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and the round-trip bus from Aguas Calientes up to Machu Picchu. The entrance ticket to Machu Picchu itself is subject to availability through Peru's Ministry of Culture.

What is included in the Machu Picchu tour price?

Hotel pickup in Cusco, minivan transport to Ollantaytambo, round-trip train to Aguas Calientes, round-trip bus to the ruins, a 2-hour guided tour of Machu Picchu, lunch in Aguas Calientes, and return transport to your hotel are all included. The guide speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese or French.

How long is the guided walk at Machu Picchu itself?

The guided tour of Machu Picchu lasts 2 hours and covers either circuit 1 or circuit 2, depending on ticket availability from Peru's Ministry of Culture.

What happens if Machu Picchu tickets are not available?

If no tickets are available on your tour date, you receive a full refund of the entire tour package. Tickets are sold exclusively by Peru's Ministry of Culture and allocated according to available circuits.

Operated by Chullos Travel Peru. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.

Prices and times updated yesterday