Machu Picchu Private Tour from Aguas Calientes with Guide

A private guide means you stop where you want and linger at the sites that matter to you.

A private guided tour of Machu Picchu starting from Aguas Calientes, with entrance ticket and round-trip bus included. Your guide meets you in town, leads a 2.5-hour exploration of the Inca citadel including the Temple of the Sun, Sacred Plaza and Royal Tomb, then returns you to Aguas Calientes. You choose your departure time between 5:30 am and 3:30 pm, and the guide tailors the route to your interests and pace.

Step-by-step itinerary

Private guided tour of Machu Picchu

• Meet guide in Aguas Calientes
• Take 30-minute bus to Machu Picchu
• Explore Machu Picchu with guide
• Visit Temple of the Sun and Intihuatana
• See Sacred Plaza and Royal Tomb
• Take photos at Gate of the Sun
• Return by bus to Aguas Calientes

The experience

The tour begins with a thirty-minute bus ride from Aguas Calientes up to the site. Once there, your private guide leads you through the main attractions: the Sacred Plaza, the Temple of the Sun, the Royal Tomb, the Intihuatana stone and the Terraces of the Incas. The guide handles the history and context (the stories behind the structures, why the Inca built them where they did, what each plaza was used for), while you decide how long to spend at each stop. You get time for photos at key vantage points like the Gate of the Sun, and the guide answers questions as you move through the citadel.

The 2.5-hour guided portion is built around your interests. If you want to focus on the architecture, the guide adjusts. If you're drawn to the astronomical alignments or the agricultural terraces, the route can shift. This flexibility is what separates a private tour from a fixed group schedule. After you've finished exploring, you ride back to Aguas Calientes with time to reflect on what you've seen. The guide is available in English, Spanish, Italian, French or Portuguese, so the explanations happen in the language you understand best.

Entrance to Machu Picchu, the bus from Aguas Calientes and back, and the professional guide are all included. Children from age 3 can join. Departure times run from 5:30 am through 3:30 pm, so you can time the tour around the rest of your day in the Sacred Valley. If you need train tickets to or from Aguas Calientes, you can add those at checkout.

What’s included

• Official Machu Picchu entrance ticket with access to the main circuit.
• private professional guide in your choice of five languages.
• round-trip bus from Aguas Calientes to the site and back.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 11:00

AgesAdult (17 to 90 years) · Child (3 to 16 years) · Under 3: can't be included in the booking

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “Meet us at the statue in the center of Plaza de Aguas Calientes for the start of your adventure!”

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Cosmo Expeditions

Is this one for you?Pick this tour if you want to move at your own pace and have the guide focus on what genuinely interests you: the architecture, the history, the views, or a mix of all three. The private format means no waiting for a group to gather or moving faster than you'd like.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 16 years). Under 3: they can't be included in the booking.

What sites inside Machu Picchu does the guide take you to?

The Sacred Plaza, Temple of the Sun, Royal Tomb, Intihuatana stone and Terraces of the Incas are the main stops. The guide also positions you at the Gate of the Sun and other photo locations, and can adjust the route based on what interests you most.

How long is the actual guided tour at Machu Picchu?

The guided exploration lasts 2.5 hours. Add the thirty-minute bus ride up from Aguas Calientes and the return journey, and the full outing takes around three to four hours from start to finish.

Can I pick what time the tour starts?

Yes. Departures run between 5:30 am and 3:30 pm, so you choose the time that fits your schedule and lets you see the site in the light you prefer.

What's included in the price?

The entrance ticket to Machu Picchu, round-trip bus transport from Aguas Calientes, and the private professional guide are all included. Meals and drinks are not. You'll want to bring water and snacks.