It is an all-inclusive tour from Cusco. This tour with our local English-speaking tour guide offers an extensive insight into the Inca empire.
This package is the BEST starting point to Visit Cusco and Peru; Take a look at this 5-Days Machu Picchu Tour Packages. This trip is all-inclusive tour from Cusco. This tour is leaded by our local expert English-speaking tour guide offers an extensive insight into the Inca empire.
The Lost City of Machu Picchu the best attraction on your trip to Peru and south America. We have created this 5-day itinerary exclusively to give you a step-by-step introduction to the Inca civilization.
The tour begins with a Cusco City Tour where you will be introduced to some of the prominent Inca sites. We will visit the Sacred Valley of the Incas where we will be visiting, the Local market, Alpaca farms and Inca sites, and local Communities; before you visit Machu Picchu.
In the end of our package you will visit the famous Rainbow Mountains of Cusco in the Andes mountains.
Feel free to write to us if you need any travel information. Also, do take a look at our reviews on TripAdvisor.
We are a local company that operates the entire route of your package in Peru. This means we do not transfer our passengers to other companies, and we work only with small groups to ensure the best possible experience.
We Pickup from the airport our your hotel into city sights. Visit the Cathedral built over old Inca spot, kinda overwhelming how they just replaced it. Qorikancha, walls still hold Inca stones under Spanish build. Legends talk gold statues everywhere.
Sacred Valley feels like a breather Pisac market for grabbing stuff, locals haggling loud. Up the hill to ruins, Temple of Sun stands out stark. Urubamba lunch buffet, real Peruvian eats. Ollantaytambo last inca City and site, Inca myths carved in stone.
Machu Picchu day tour. Bus ride up and your guide walks enclosures and temples for 2 hours. Free time to wander, or hike extra (Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, book in advance). Train back later and drop in Cusco by evening.
Rainbow Mountain early start next and hike challenges with altitude.
A 2-hour guided touyr through the main sectors of the Inca City, then free time to roam at your pace. Guides focus on chronology, building methods and local stories.
4Markets and living streets combined with agricultural terraces and Inca-era stonework. Pisac market sells textiles, handicrafts and snacks; Ollantaytambo shows steep terraces and traditional layouts.
Massive interlocking stone walls, zigzag terraces and an open ceremonial plaza near central Cusco. Stone fitting is tight and impressive; walking is uneven but not technical.
High-altitude trek to colorful mineral strata; Vinicunca is higher and harder, Palcoyo is lower and less crowded. Expect steep uphill sections, loose stones and possible horse rental.
Town gateway with a compact archaeological museum and public thermal pools near the river. The museum gives context with pre-Inca and Inca finds; hot springs relax tired legs after trains and hikes.
We plan each day to reduce stress and maximize time on the ground: local pickup, expert English-speaking guides, timed train and bus logistics, and practical tips for altitude and timing. We handle train and entrance coordination so you can focus on walking, photos and short cultural talks.
Our staff adapts pace to the group, offers plain, direct explanations, and arranges simple add-ons (private guide, better train class, horse for Rainbow Mountain) when requested.
Our team handles the nitty-gritty so you focus on the spots. We’ve got local guides who know shortcuts and stories not in books, makes the trek less hassle.
Two companies are available: PeruRail and Inca Rail, from Ollantaytambo or Cusco area.
Prices fluctuate a bit with season, check current.
We will be picking you up from your hotel in Cusco. The half day tour starts with a visit to the Cathedral of Cusco. This was the Royal palace of Incas. On Spanish conquest, they took it down and built the cathedral.
We will continue the City Tour at Qorikancha. This was the most prominent and Sacred Site of worship to Incas. Legends say that once the courtyard of the temple was full of statues made entirely of gold.
The Spanish rulers demolished the temple on conquering Cusco and built the temple retaining its basement.
Once you have had your fill of these two iconic sites within the city of Cusco, we will be driving you to the outskirts of the city. Here we will begin the tour at Sacsayhuaman. It is a massive fortress built entirely of massive stones each weighing over a ton. It is still a mystery how the Incas transported these stones here.
Our next stop will be in Q’enqo. This site was used for scarification and mummification of corpses.
We will then visit Tambomachay. This was more like a spa to the political elites of Incas. There are a series of canals through which water from the nearby Timpuc river flows. Even today you will be able to see the water flowing through these canals.
We will then visit Puca Pucara. In Quechua, it means red rock. It gets its name after the colour of the rock at sunset. This was the watch tower of Incan military.
Ending the tour, we will be driving you back to Cusco city. We will be dropping you off at Plaza Regocijo, a block away from Cusco’s main square – Plaza de Armas.
We will be picking you up from your hotel in Cusco at 0800 in the morning to explore the Sacred Valley. Then we will be driving you to Pisac. Here we will begin the tour by visiting the traditional Pisac market. This is an ideal place to buy souvenirs.
We will then drive you to the hill top to the main entrance of the archaeological complex. Our local expert will be walking you through some of the notable parts of the complex. Temple of the sun is an unmissable part.
We will then continue the tour to Urubamba. This is often referred to as the heart of the Sacred Valley due to its centric location. Here we will be stopping in a local restaurant for a buffet lunch.
After relishing an authentic Peruvian meal, we will continue the sacred valley tour to Ollantaytambo. Here we will begin the tour by admiring the beauty and architecture of the village. We will then be visiting the archaeological complex.
Our local expert will be sharing some detailed story about the prominence of the complex. It depicts Inca mythology.
Later in the evening, you will be boarding the train to Aguas Calientes Machu Picchu. Once you have checked in at y0ur hotel, you will have the rest of the day to explore the town of Aguas Calientes.
What to do in Aguas Calientes?
If you love history then the Machu Picchu Museum is a great place to visit. The museum highlights pre-Inca times with a collection of Inca artefacts. The Orchid Gardens is another location to visit which is about a 30 minute walk from Aguas Calientes.
The site has a rustic feel filled with a variety of beautiful orchids on display. Or enjoy the rest of the day relaxing in the thermal waters of the Hot Springs, in Aguas Calientes.
Early in the morning, we will be boarding the tourist bus for a 25 minutes ride up the hill for your guided trip to the world heritage site, Machu Picchu.
Our tour guide will welcome you with a 2 hour guided tour and take you to the most important temples and enclosures the lost city of the Incas has to offer. After the tour, you will have free time for exploring Machu Picchu on your own.
If you have booked to hike Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain, our guide will direct you to the trailhead.
Alternatively, you can hike to Inti Punku or Sun Gate. This is the point of entry to the citadel to those on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
After the full-day tour of Machu Picchu, we will depart Aguas Calientes to board the train at 2:30 pm (depending on availability) to Ollantaytambo train station. Here our representative will be meeting you and will be driving you back to Cusco. We will arrive at the City of Cusco by 7:00 p.m.
You will be picked up from your hotel at 5 am to leave for the southern valley of Cusco, a bus drive of approximately 2 hours. Here you will have a small stop for breakfast (included). After breakfast, the trip will continue for 45 more minutes on the bus until you reach the starting point of the Rainbow Mountain Trek.
It usually takes 2 hours to reach the summit from the trailhead. The hike is mostly a climb up to the top (16,732 ft / 5,100 m), which is generally an easy trail. Nevertheless, the altitude is what makes this hike a challenge. Along the hike you will see beautiful landscapes, some local families and of course many llamas and alpacas.
If you are not feeling keen on hiking, you can ride a horse. At the base camp there are locals with their horses, you can negotiate a price and ride on one to the top.
Once you reach the top you can appreciate the mighty Ausangate Mountain Range, the tallest and the most sacred mountain in Cusco. Once you have had your fill of the Rainbow Mountains, you will start the descent until getting back to the bus.
You will return by bus to Ccolca and have lunch there. After lunch, the bus drive will continue for 2 more hours until arriving at Cusco at approximately between 4pm – 5pm.
We will be picking you up from your hotel in Cusco and will transfer you to Cusco Airport for your onward flight.
Departure & Return Location
Cusco Airport Transfer
Departure Time
1:00 p.m.
Price Includes
Price Excludes
Packing list
Sites you will be visiting
The story goes that the Cusco Cathedral stands right where an Inca royal palace used to be. After the Spanish arrived, they tore down the Inca building and built their own church on that exact spot.
Qorikancha was the most important temple for the Incas, a really sacred place for them. You hear some wild stories about it, like how its courtyard was once full of statues made entirely of gold.
The Spanish knocked down the Inca temple, but they built their church, the Church of Santo Domingo, using the original Inca stone foundations. You can still clearly see the Inca stonework at the bottom today, which is pretty amazing.
Sacsayhuaman is just massive. It's a huge fortress built with stones that are unbelievably big, some weighing over a ton. How they managed to move and place them is still a complete puzzle.
It seems Q’enqo was a spot for Inca rituals. We’re talking about ceremonies, and maybe even things like mummification and sacrifices.
People call this place the "Inca Baths." It was dedicated to the worship of water and acted as a kind of spa for the Inca elite. Water still flows through the canals they built, which is cool to see.
It gets that name from the Quechua words for "Red Rock." At sunset, the stones take on this reddish glow. It functioned as a military lookout post.
The market in Pisac is a great spot to look for souvenirs. It's a traditional market where you can find all sorts of handicrafts and local products.
At the Pisac archeological area, the structure you really can't miss is the Temple of the Sun. It’s pretty impressive.
They serve a buffet lunch at a restaurant in the town of Urubamba, which is basically considered the heart of the Sacred Valley.
Ollantaytambo is unique because it's a functioning town with people living in buildings that have original Inca construction. There's also a massive set of ruins on the hillside that shows parts of Inca mythology.
In Aguas Calientes, you could check out the Machu Picchu Museum. There are also some Orchid Gardens about a 30-minute walk away. Or, you can just go relax in the town’s famous hot springs.
You’ll board a tourist bus in Aguas Calientes for the 25-minute ride up the hill to the entrance of the Machu Picchu Inca City.
The guided portion of the tour through the main parts of the Inca City takes about 2 hours.
Once the guided tour is over, you’ll have your own time to wander around and explore the Inca City by yourself.
Those are the two steep mountains that overlook the Inca City. To hike either one, you have to buy a completely separate permit, and they offer some incredible aerial views of the entire area.
The Sun Gate, or Inti Punku, was the original entry point for people arriving via the Inca Trail. It’s a free hike up from the main grounds of the Inca City and gives you that classic panoramic shot.
Your train from Aguas Calientes usually leaves around 2:30 PM, but this can change depending on what's available. That train connects to a bus that will get you back to Cusco at approximately 7:00 PM.
The pickup for this one is brutal; it’s really early, around 5:00 AM from your hotel in Cusco.
Yes, the trip includes a stop for breakfast on the way there, before you get to the trail.
The top of Rainbow Mountain (also called Vinicunca) is at an extreme altitude of 5,100 meters, or 16,732 feet. The thin air is no joke.
The path itself isn't too hard, but the very high altitude makes it a serious physical challenge.
You'll get back to Cusco sometime between 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM.
Someone will be waiting for you right at the Cusco airport when you arrive.
The city tour finishes in Plaza Regocijo, which is only a block away from the main square, Plaza de Armas.
You’ll take a train from Aguas Calientes to the station in Ollantaytambo. From there, a driver will meet you and take you the rest of the way to Cusco by bus.
pricing
Machu Picchu Tours is a tour operator owned and managed by John Taqquere locally in Cusco. We are a 100% Local company without any external partners. Our Philosophy model is focused on small personalized tours and treks. These are run by local expert staff to ensure a high-quality service.
As a company we practice responsible and sustainable tourism. This includes a commitment to fair pay for all our staff and porters. Our service quality is documented in our reviews and certificates on TripAdvisor.
We are also recommended by travel resources such as Turismo inn, Google and facebook reviews
To provide a more customized service our groups have a maximum size of 8 people. This is a deliberate contrast to other companies that operate with very big and boring tour groups.
Our local guides are professionals who speak fluent English (And Quechua). They possess deep knowledge of Inca heritage and history and are dedicated to ongoing research to provide accurate information. All our guides hold university degrees in fields relevant to their work including Archeology Tourism Botany History or Anthropology.
Machu Picchu Tours keeps a direct connection with Azul Wasi (shelter and children’s home). A portion of the incomes from the tours in Cusco goes to the shelter. That money helps cover food, basic clothing, notebooks, and school items.
Kids at Azul Wasi are between about five and eighteen years old. The goal is simple: keep them studying and avoid gaps in what they need. The difference can be noticed quickly. More cleaning supplies, more stable school attendance, and daily routines better managed.
It’s not only about money. Our Company also sends practical donations. Clothes in good condition, cooking pots, soccer balls, board games, colored pencils. All delivered in coordination with the shelter. For a traveler it may sound small, but watching kids get a new ball or draw with proper materials is something else.
Cusco and its surrounding attractions are located in the Andes, where the climate can be unpredictable. Days are usually sunny with temperatures around 15°C to 22°C (59°F to 72°F), but mornings and nights can drop close to 0°C (32°F), especially in the dry season (May–September). Machu Picchu, being lower in altitude, is warmer and more humid, while Rainbow Mountain is colder due to its high elevation. The rainy season runs from November to March, and the dry season from April to October.
Layered clothing: mornings are cold, afternoons can be warm.
Comfortable trekking shoes with good grip.
Waterproof jacket or poncho in case of sudden rain.
Sun protection: hat, sunglasses, sunscreen (the Andean sun is strong).
Warm jacket, gloves, and beanie for higher altitude areas like Rainbow Mountain.
Altitude is the main challenge in Cusco (3,400 m / 11,200 ft) and Rainbow Mountain (5,100 m / 16,732 ft). To prepare:
Spend 1–2 days acclimatizing in Cusco before strenuous activities.
Drink coca tea or chew coca leaves, a traditional way to ease altitude sickness.
Walk regularly before your trip to build stamina.
Stay hydrated and avoid heavy meals on your first day.
Machu Picchu now operates under different entry circuits to protect the site and control visitor flow:
Circuit 1 & 2: Cover the upper terraces with panoramic views and the main temples.
Circuit 3 & 4: Cover lower sections including the Temple of the Sun and the Sacred Rock.
Additionally, special tickets are required for Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, both offering challenging hikes and breathtaking views.
The train ride from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes is one of the most scenic in the world. There are two main operators:
PeruRail: Offers Expedition (standard), Vistadome (panoramic windows), and luxury options like Hiram Bingham.
Inca Rail: Offers standard, first class, and premium services.
Trains should be booked in advance, especially in high season (June–August).
Many archaeological sites in Cusco and the Sacred Valley, such as Sacsayhuaman, Q’enqo, and Pisac, require the Boleto Turístico.
Full ticket: Valid for 10 days, covers 16 sites.
Partial ticket: Valid for 1–2 days, covering a selection of sites.
Machu Picchu is not included in the boleto and must be purchased separately.
Cusco and Machu Picchu are family-friendly, but some considerations are needed:
Traveling with Children: Machu Picchu and Sacred Valley are manageable, but Rainbow Mountain may be too challenging due to altitude. Consider shorter hikes or horse rentals.
Traveling with Seniors: Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu are suitable if mobility is good. Machu Picchu involves some uneven steps, but there are resting areas. Rainbow Mountain may be too strenuous for most elderly visitors.
Bring snacks, water, and light jackets for children.
The people in Cusco, Sacred Valley, and Aguas Calientes are warm, hospitable, and proud of their Inca heritage. You will often see locals in traditional Andean clothing, especially in markets like Pisac.
Many speak Quechua in addition to Spanish, and tourism is their main livelihood, so they are welcoming to visitors. Respect for their traditions and customs is appreciated.
From:
$
Find out what those who have trusted us to explore unique destinations and live extraordinary adventures have to say.
