By train
The most comfortable option: train through the Urubamba Valley and a bus up to the citadel.
- Physical effort
- Low
- Where you sleep
- Hotels in Cusco and Aguas Calientes
- From
- US$ 375
Train · Inca Trail · Treks · Day tours
Machu Picchu Tours
Reach Machu Picchu the way that best fits your trip: by train in a single day, with a night in Aguas Calientes, hiking the Inca Trail, or at the end of a multi-day trek. All programs depart from Cusco and include your ticket to the citadel.
12trips
1–6days
US$ 375from, per person
Day tourMachu PicchuMachu Picchu Full Day by Train
Ollantaytambo · Aguas Calientes · Cusco · Machu Picchu
1 dayFromUS$ 375per person
TrekMachu PicchuShort Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Inca Trail · Ollantaytambo · Aguas Calientes · Cusco +1
1 dayFromUS$ 532per person
TrekMachu PicchuShort Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Inca Trail · Sacred Valley · Ollantaytambo · Aguas Calientes +2
2 days / 1 nightFromUS$ 644per person
TrekMachu PicchuLares Trek to Machu Picchu
Lares · Sacred Valley · Ollantaytambo · Aguas Calientes +2
4 days / 3 nightsFromUS$ 672per person
TrekMachu PicchuShort Inca Trail: Hike and Camping
Inca Trail · Sacred Valley · Ollantaytambo · Aguas Calientes +2
2 days / 1 nightFromUS$ 700per person
TrekMachu PicchuShort Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu
Humantay Lake · Salkantay · Sacred Valley · Ollantaytambo +3
4 days / 3 nightsFromUS$ 728per person
PackageMachu PicchuMachu Picchu with Kids
Sacred Valley · Ollantaytambo · Aguas Calientes · Cusco +1
4 days / 3 nightsFromUS$ 763per person
PackageMachu PicchuMachu Picchu Express
Aguas Calientes · Cusco · Machu Picchu
4 days / 3 nightsFromUS$ 763per person
TrekMachu PicchuClassic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Inca Trail · Ollantaytambo · Aguas Calientes · Cusco +1
4 days / 3 nightsFromUS$ 868per person
TrekMachu PicchuCusco and the Short Inca Trail
Inca Trail · Ollantaytambo · Aguas Calientes · Cusco +1
5 days / 4 nightsFromUS$ 868per person
PackageMachu PicchuEnchanting Machu Picchu
Humantay Lake · Rainbow Mountain · Sacred Valley · Ollantaytambo +3
5 days / 4 nightsFromUS$ 882per person
PackageMachu PicchuAndean Machu Picchu
Rainbow Mountain · Sacred Valley · Ollantaytambo · Aguas Calientes +2
6 days / 5 nightsFromUS$ 938per person
No trips match those filters.
Quick guide
Train, Inca Trail or trek?
The three ways to reach the citadel, compared. Pick one and we will filter the trips for you.
Inca Trail
You arrive on foot along the original route; the classic version enters through the Sun Gate.
- Physical effort
- Moderate to high
- Where you sleep
- Campsite or hotel, depending on the route
- From
- US$ 532
Salkantay & Lares
Mountain routes past glaciers, lakes and Andean communities, ending at Machu Picchu.
- Physical effort
- High
- Where you sleep
- Domes, lodges or campsites
- From
- US$ 672
Machu Picchu travel guide
01
How to Get to Machu Picchu from Cusco
Machu Picchu sits at about 2,430 m above sea level, lower than Cusco (about 3,400 m), and it has no direct road access. The usual route is by train: you leave Cusco for Ollantaytambo, in the Sacred Valley, take the tourist train to Aguas Calientes, and from there ride a bus up to the citadel. This is the system our packages and the day tour use, and it lets you arrive rested and with time for the guided visit.
The other way is on foot. The Inca Trail ends at the citadel itself and you enter through the Sun Gate, an arrival that many people consider the most special. Other treks, such as Salkantay or Lares, cross high-mountain landscapes and end in Aguas Calientes, from where you go up to Machu Picchu the next day.
02
Which Trip to Choose Based on Your Time
- One day
The Machu Picchu Day Tour is for those who are already in Cusco and want to go and return within the day. It is a long day, with an early start and a return at night. If you prefer to hike, the 1-day Inca Trail covers about 11 km from Km 104 to the citadel.
- Two or three days
With a night in Aguas Calientes you visit the citadel at a calmer pace. Here you will find the 2D 1N Unforgettable Machu Picchu and the 2-day Short Inca Trail, which combines hiking with a night in a hotel or camping.
- Four to seven days
These are packages that combine Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, and some add Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) or Humantay Lake. There are options designed for families with children, group trips and routes that also pass through Lima.
- Treks of four days or more
The Classic Inca Trail, the Lares Trek and the Short Salkantay Trek, with luxury versions of the Inca Trail and Lares.
03
When to Go
The dry season, from May to October, has clearer skies and is preferred for hiking; it is also the busiest, so it is best to book in advance. From November to April it rains more often, mostly in the afternoons, but the landscapes are green and there are fewer people. The Inca Trail usually closes in February for maintenance; if you want to hike it, plan for another month.
04
Tickets, Guide and Altitude
Machu Picchu tickets are named, have a fixed date and limited capacity, so we issue them with your passport details as soon as you confirm. Once issued, they cannot be changed or refunded. The visit is organized by circuits and time slots, and on our programs you go with a professional guide.
Machu Picchu does not usually cause altitude problems, but Cusco can affect you on the first day. If you arrive by plane, leave at least one quiet day in Cusco or the Sacred Valley before the more demanding tours, drink water and eat light.
How to Book with Us
Choose the program closest to what you are looking for and request your quote. We confirm ticket and train availability, adjust dates, hotel category and trip pace, and send you the detailed itinerary before you pay. We are a local team in Cusco, so we also support you during the trip.
Frequently asked questions
Before you book
Don’t see your question? Message us and we’ll answer on WhatsApp.
How many days do I need to visit Machu Picchu?+
You can do it in one day from Cusco with the day tour, but it is a long day. If you have time, the most comfortable option is a 2- or 3-day program with a night in Aguas Calientes, or a 4- to 7-day package that also includes Cusco and the Sacred Valley so you can acclimatize.
Are Machu Picchu tickets included?+
Yes, all the programs in this section include the Machu Picchu ticket. We issue it with your passport details when the booking is confirmed; because it is named and has a fixed date, it cannot be changed or refunded once issued.
How do you get to Machu Picchu from Cusco?+
On most programs you travel by road from Cusco to Ollantaytambo, take the tourist train to Aguas Calientes and ride a bus up to the citadel. On the Inca Trail you arrive on foot and enter through the Sun Gate.
What is the difference between taking the train and hiking the Inca Trail?+
The train is comfortable and suitable for almost everyone. The Inca Trail requires good physical condition and permits with limited capacity that sell out months in advance, but it lets you arrive on foot along the original route. If you want to hike in fewer days, the 1- or 2-day Short Inca Trail is a good middle ground.
What is the best time to go to Machu Picchu?+
May to October is the dry season and the most in demand. From November to April it rains more, but there are fewer people and the landscape is green. The Inca Trail usually closes in February for maintenance.
Does altitude affect you at Machu Picchu?+
Machu Picchu is at about 2,430 m above sea level, below Cusco. What you notice most is arriving in Cusco, at about 3,400 m; that is why we recommend an easy day on arrival before the demanding excursions.
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