The Cusco to Puno tour by Machu Picchu is designed to offer you a deeper insight into the Inca civilization and the prominence of the archaeological complex in Cusco and en route to Puno.
The Cusco to Puno tour by Machu Picchu is designed to offer you a deeper insight into the Inca civilization and the prominence of the archaeological complex in Cusco and en route to Puno.
What is special about this tour package is that, besides offering classic landscapes like the Sacred Valley, Maras-Moray, and Machu Picchu, the itinerary includes a trip to Puno, so you can take time to appreciate the beauty this trail offers.
You will also get to experience the world’s highest navigable body of water, Lake Titicaca. Besides being able to visit a local family, you can see part of the process of making the famous floating islands.
See the best of Peru with this guided tour.
Here are all of the attractions and locations you will visit with this unbeatable tour.
We are a fully locally owned tour operator based in Cusco. Our guides are passionate about Peru’s history and culture and have years of experience hiking to Machu Picchu.
This is a high-altitude experience. Although our tour guides will be carrying oxygen tanks and coca leaves, it is highly recommended to spend 3-4 days in Cusco to avoid altitude sickness.
Take a moment to check out the reviews on Trip Advisor.
Check out our interesting facts about Machu Picchu.
Welcome to Cusco! Today, our representative will meet you and assist you on arrival at the airport. We will transfer you to your hotel and assist with your check-in.
As Cusco is at a high altitude, (11,151 ft / 3399 metres above sea level) we do suggest to spend the rest of the day relaxing. We would also recommend arriving in Cusco in the morning so that you can acclimatize to the altitude for the rest of the day or come a day before you start this Cusco-Machu Picchu-Puno tour with us.
Sightseeing in Cusco City. The former capital of the Incas is home to their fascinating artworks that are still intact to this day with a mix of European-colonial styles.
1 pm: We will be leaving from your hotel. On this half-day tour we will be visiting one of the most captivating cathedral of Peru, Cusco Cathedral.
We will continue the tour by stopping at the temple of Coricancha (Sacred Temple of the Incas) and finish exploring the city by going to the nearest archaeological site of Cusco. Sacsayhuaman (12139 ft / 3700m).
6 pm: We end the tour by visiting Qenqo, Tambomachay and returning to the hotel.
7:30 am: Today we will visit one of the most iconic places in Cusco, The Sacred Valley of the Incas. We will pick you up and make our way to the first stop point, Awanacancha.
During the trip, we will have our first sighting of South America’s treasured animals, llamas, alpacas, vicuñas and guanacos. We will also have the opportunity to learn about the alpaca wool and have time to shop for some beautiful quality baby alpaca fabrics.
As we continue on with the tour, we visit the archaeological center of Pisac (9,750 ft / 2,972 m), one of the prominent ruins along the Sacred Valley. Pisac market is one of the most visited markets. Here you will find a variety of gifts and souvenirs for all types.
Afterwards, we will have lunch (included) offering a variety of options. Then we stop at a Peruvian bar (Chichería) and try the traditional Peruvian drinks.
Finally, we stop at the last archeological site, known as Ollantaytambo, to visit one of the oldest museums in South America. We will then continue by exploring the archaeological site.
6:30 pm: We will then return to Cusco. On our way, we will be stopping at Chinchero. It is home to the Andean weavers. The village also houses Inca ruins.
Check out our Sacred Valley Guide
9 am: Pick-up will start at your hotel. We will head to Moray, where we will have time to take photos and learn more about the Inca culture. We will then pass through the salt mines and have the opportunity to see up close the making of the product.
12:30 pm: After seeing these two beautiful places, we board the bus at Moray, and stop for lunch at a traditional Peruvian restaurant.
4:40 pm: We then make our way to the parking lot of the train station and board the train at 4:40 pm (or a similar train time). The journey will be from Ollantaytambo to the town of Aguas Calientes (approximately 2 hours).
6:40 pm: Arrive in Aguas Calientes. Overnight stay at a 3-star hotel in Aguas Calientes.
Special Information: We recommend leaving your suitcases at the hotel in Cusco before we make our way to Aguas Calientes. Unfortunately, suitcases and/or large bags are not permitted on the train. Carry only what is necessary for the trip using a small backpack.
7 am: Today, we hop on a bus ride and make the journey (30-minute drive approx.) to visit Machu Picchu, The lost city of the Incas.
Our tour guide will welcome you with a 2-hour guided tour and take you to the most important temples and enclosures Machu Picchu has to offer. After the tour, you will have free time for exploring Machu Picchu on your own.
If you have booked a hike to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain, our guide will direct you to the trailhead.
Alternatively, you can hike in Inti Punku or Sun Gate. This is the point of entrance to the citadel to those on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
2:30 pm: After the full day tour of Machu Picchu, we will depart Aguas Calientes to board the train at 2:30pm (depending on availability) to Ollantaytambo train station. Here our representative will be meeting you and will be driving you back to Cusco.
7 pm: We will arrive at Cusco City at roughly 7 p.m.
6 am: Be transferred from the hotel, after breakfast, to make our way to board the tourist bus from Cusco to Puno.
Enjoy the panoramic view whilst we make some stops along the way. Our guide will impart further insight into the Puno tour, its history and culture. Visit Andahuaylillas ¨The Sistine Chapel of America¨ (11,154ft / 3400m), and Raqchi ¨Temple of Wiracocha¨ (11,318ft / 3450m).
The third stop will be in Marangani (11653ft / 3552m), enjoy lunch (included), and continue onto the border of Cusco and Puno la Raya (14,222 / 4335m).
We take a break to stretch and take photos of our surroundings. The last stop will be at the Pukara Museum (12795 ft / 3900 m) and the city of Puno (12467 ft / 3800m).
5 pm: We will be arriving in the city of Puno at approximately 5 pm.
7 am: Be transferred from your hotel towards Lake Titicaca to board our recommended boat. Today, we visit the Uros and Taquile Islands, which both have unique and different customs and traditions.
In Uros (12467 ft / 3800m) we get the chance to interact with the locals and learn their culture and the uniqueness the island offers. Following on, we visit a local family in Taquile (12795 ft / 3900 m).
Here, they will demonstrate the process of making one-of-a-kind fabrics, not only their designs but also the techniques used when making them. After the demonstration, we have lunch included within the premises.
6 pm: Afterwards, we return to the boat on a 2-hour ride back to the city of Puno.
We will be picking you up from your hotel and will be dropping you off at Juliaca Airport, and we’ll officially wrap up our fun-filled Cusco to Puno tour.
Departure & Return Location
Cusco Airport Pickup
Departure Time
Depends on your flights arrival time
Price Includes
Price Excludes
Recommended To Carry
Summary of the tour
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Do you have any questions? Contact us at +51 974 378 488
Find out what those who have trusted us to explore unique destinations and live extraordinary adventures have to say.
John CJanuary 10, 2025Verified Excellent, perfectly planned trip. The trip was perfectly planned from start to finish, the transport, the hike, the hotel, the food and the entrance to Machu Picchu. The lovely guide Edwin was incredibly knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the site, the hike, and it's history. It truly is an incredible and captivating place that is a must see if you have the opportunity. Gabriel CNovember 12, 2024Verified Rainbow Mountain Tour guide We had a great tour of Rainbow Mountain. Jose was extremely knowledgeable and was a lot of help. The tour included good breakfast and lunch. I highly recommended this tour Joshua SNovember 10, 2024Verified "Unforgettable Machu Picchu Journey with an Exceptional Guide!" John was the perfect guide for our journey from Cusco to Machu Picchu! From the start, he made everything smooth and enjoyable, picking us up from our hotel and ensuring we were comfortable and ready for the adventure ahead. Thanks to his planning, we arrived at Machu Picchu early, avoiding the crowds and enjoying the stunning morning views. The weather was fantastic, and John's deep knowledge of the history and culture made every moment even more memorable. His explanations brought the ancient Incan sites to life, and he guided us thoughtfully through the walk at Machu Picchu, pointing out details we would have missed on our own. Throughout the entire day, John was attentive, patient, and incredibly helpful. He truly went above and beyond to make our experience unforgettable. Highly recommend! Gabriel CNovember 10, 2024Verified Great tour Me and my brother went on a tour with John. He was very helpful. He was very knowledgeable and helpful. Not only did he give a great tour but he was able to give us good recommendations and was very accommodating Kim AOctober 24, 2024Verified An amazing experience! We are an American family from Evansville, Indiana. After doing much research we chose Machu Picchu Tours to make our dream come true of seeing Machu Picchu via the 4-day Inca Trail Trek.Planning this kind of trip is no small feat, but John Taqquere Villaneuva was there for us every step of the way! He always responded quickly to my MANY texts and provided excellent information to prepare us for the trek. Our amazing guide, Edwin, the Porters and Chef went way above and beyond to make sure we felt safe and that we were getting the best experience that was promised. I cannot emphasize how important hygiene and safe food is on a trip like this. We feel our Porters did an excellent job keeping the dining area clean and providing excellent, healthy and safe food. While it is common for foreigners to get sick when traveling to a new country, the crew kept us healthy, hydrated, and safe the entire trip. Our porters took care of every single detail from setting up our camp, refilling our water bottles, and feeding us delicious hot meals 3 times a day. The porters were always there to take care of us. Our bags were transported and waiting for us in our tents upon arrival. Hot drinks were ready for us upon arrival at each campsite, and hot soapy water and towels were provided to clean up after a long day’s hike. Their work ethic and attention to detail was impressive. The 4 day trek is strenuous. Our guide, Edwin, coached us along the way, helping us to set a pace that worked for us so that we would not burn out. He also handled all of our paperwork and entry tickets. There are checkpoints and everything must be in order and spelled correctly. Without these documents, there is no trek and there is no entry into Machu Picchu. Our guide always kept us informed of the daily itinerary and was always supportive and eager to help. His knowledge of the history of the Inca and the ruins was exceptional. We walked away feeling an immense appreciation and understanding of the Inca because of Edwin. If your dream of seeing Machu Picchu is through the Inca Trail, or want to arrange guided tours, then don’t let fear stand in your way. And if you are looking for an agency, we highly recommend John Taqquere Villaneuva with Machu Picchu Tours. These are good, honest, trustworthy and hard-working people that will help make your dream come true. We are so thankful to Machu Picchu Tours, our Guide, Edwin, and the amazing Porters and Chef for their hard work and efforts to help make our dream come true. HikeJunkieCarlosOctober 21, 2024Verified Very organized crew knowledgeable friendly and just plain awesome to have around every step of the way. Couldn’t have asked for a better crew chef porters tents and food for this 4 day Inca trail tripWas the best experience for all 8 of us in our friends group to enjoy every moment and have amazing time all the way through the trip in town and on the Inca trailVery organized crew knowledgeable friendly and just plain awesome to have around every step of the way. Highly recommend this company to solo and groups that plan to visit Peru SkyMiles KOctober 19, 2024Verified 1 of 2 top Bucket List items, Hike the INCA Trail to Machu Picchu Completed the INCA trail with our Hike Junkies family. The Machu Picchu tours were INCREDIBLE!!! A great big shout out to John Taqquere Villanueva & his team for providing us with their expertise & care before, during & after the 4-day backpacking hike. The porters had camp setup for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner during our hiking adventure. Our chef, Carmelito "5-STARS," prepared meals that you should only find in a fine dining restaurant. We even had some Peruvian history lessons along the way. A few surprise discovery viewpoints along the trail. After completing 4-day Inca trail, we hiked the Humanatay Lake on 5th day & Rainbow Mtn on 6th day. We THANK YOU, John, Alberto, Berle, Aiwyn & drivers, porters for making this the adventure of the century!...so far Rebecca ROctober 19, 2024Verified 4 day Inca Trail with Hike Junkies We just completed the 4 day Inca Trail with Machu Picchu Tours. John Taqquere Villanueva went above and beyond to provide us with an amazing experience, with fun, knowledgeable guides to qn amazing chef and porters. Our tents were comfortable and kept us warm and dry from the elements. We were served four course meals, desert and happy hour on each day. Happy hour consisted of fresh hot popcorn, hot cocoa, coffee, cookies and bread. In addition to the 4 day Inca Trail we scored permits to hike Huayna Picchu ( Stairs of Death) which we conquered just having completed the last day of the Inca trail. Yes, our group is crazy! One member of our group was unable to hike the four day Inca trail due to severe health issues, John Taqquere and went above and beyond to give him an amazing Machu Picchu experience. Our trip consisted of City Walking Tour of Cusco, Alpaca Farm, Humantay Lake, Rainbow Mountain and other ruins. This was a humbling experience that will last a lifetime. Chalmers BOctober 9, 2024Verified Great experience! Our guide Edwin was excellent. The first day is very challenging but equally rewarding, and we were really glad that MPT arranged a pre-meeting the day before to go over logistics and make sure we were properly equipped -- renting poles is highly recommended, well worth the $10. Reaching the Sun Gate and getting the full vista of Machu Picchu felt like a life accomplishment. The second day is much less challenging, walking through the actual ruins of Machu Picchu, and we felt much less pressure because we'd gotten such great views and photos the day before.
Huchuy Qosqo was used as a royal estate by Viracocha. During the last days of his rule, he faced a revolt from Cancha People. Huchuy Qosqo Hike is an off-the-beaten-track experience that takes you to the lesser-known yet prominent Inca site, Huchuy Qosqo Peru.
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