Private Guide Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes: 2-hour tour

Walk Machu Picchu at your own pace with a private guide who knows the site

A private guided tour of Machu Picchu departing from Aguas Calientes includes hotel or train station pickup, a 25-minute bus ride to the site, and a 2- to 2.5-hour tour led by a professional guide in your choice of language. The guide adjusts the route based on your entrance ticket type (circuits vary from A through D) and sets a leisurely pace so you can photograph and absorb the history without rushing. You'll need to purchase your Machu Picchu entrance ticket separately in advance.

Step-by-step itinerary

Guided tour of Machu Picchu

• Pickup from hotel or train station
• Travel to bus station
• Bus ride to Machu Picchu entrance
• Use bathrooms at entrance
• Guided tour of Machu Picchu site
• Take photos and learn history

The experience

You're picked up from your hotel or the train station in Aguas Calientes at an agreed time, then driven to the bus station for the 25-minute ride up to Machu Picchu's main entrance. The guide meets you there and walks you through the site for roughly 2 to 2.5 hours, depending on which circuit your ticket covers. Because the tour is private, the pace stays yours. You stop for photos, ask questions, and linger at the places that matter most without waiting for a group or moving on when you're not ready.

The guide speaks English, Spanish or Portuguese and knows which sections of the site your specific ticket gives you access to, so there's no confusion about where you can and can't go. You'll visit the main structures and learn the history and significance of this Incan settlement. Bathrooms are available at the entrance, and the whole experience (from pickup to the end of the tour) takes roughly 3 to 4 hours.

Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu must be purchased separately and in advance, as they sell out quickly. The guide can help you organize this before your tour date. Public transportation is available near the pickup point if you prefer to make your own way to the bus station.

What’s included

• Private professional guide in your choice of English, Spanish or Portuguese.
• hotel or train station pickup in Aguas Calientes.
• round-trip bus transport to and from Machu Picchu (25 minutes each way).
• guided tour of the site lasting 2 to 2.5 hours at a leisurely pace with time for photos and questions.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.You can choose from 3 pickup points.Operator's directions: “At the agreed time. The tour guide will call you by name in the middle of the main square of Aguas Calientes. Next to the statue.”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 68

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Machupicchu Edu Tours

Is this one for you?Choose this if your ticket is for Circuit 1, 2, or 3: your guide adjusts the route to match, so you're not locked into a fixed path through the site.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Can I book this tour if I haven't bought my Machu Picchu entrance ticket yet?

Yes. The guide will help you purchase your ticket in advance, as Machu Picchu tickets sell out fast and are required to enter the site. You choose which circuit (A, B, C or D) your ticket covers, and the tour route follows that access.

What's included in the 3 to 4 hours?

Hotel or train station pickup in Aguas Calientes, the 25-minute bus ride to Machu Picchu, the 2- to 2.5-hour guided tour of the site, and the return journey. Entrance to Machu Picchu itself is separate.

Do I need to be fit for this tour?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. You walk at a leisurely pace through the site, and the guide adjusts the route based on your ticket type and your comfort.

What if I'm arriving by train? Can I still be picked up?

Yes. Pickup is available from either your hotel or the train station in Aguas Calientes, whichever works for your arrival. Confirm your pickup location when you book.

Are there bathrooms at Machu Picchu?

Yes, bathrooms are available at the main entrance to the archaeological site.