Machu Picchu Tour from Lima (3 days)

Our 3 day Machu Picchu Tours from Lima to Machu Picchu is perfect for exploring Machu Picchu in a short time. This ancient citadel is one of the best-preserved Inca sites in Peru.

T_carr-tour4
T_carr-tour4
T_carr-tour3
T_carr-tour3
Duration: 3 days
Difficulty: Moderate
Recommended age: 12 years
Language: Spanish, English, Portuguese
Max Height: 3200 msnm
Group: 2 people minimum

The travel itinerary begins with an early morning pick-up from a hotel in Lima and a flight to Cusco, followed by a transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon, a guided tour of Cusco includes visits to the Cusco Cathedral, the Convent of Santo Domingo – Qorikancha, the Inca ruins of Sacsayhuaman, the stone carvings of Qenqo, the water fountains of Tambomachay, and the small fortress of Puca Pucara.

The second day features an early trip to Machu Picchu, including a train ride to Aguas Calientes and a guided tour of Machu Picchu’s Main Temple, Temple of the Three Windows, Temple of the Condor, and Intihuatana, with optional hikes to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain.

The final day involves a transfer to the airport for a flight back to Lima and transfer to the hotel. Rest easy knowing you have got transportation and ticket arrangement sorted from Lima to Machu Picchu

History of Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is an Inca citadel located in the high jungles of Cusco, in Peru. It was built during the height of the Inca Empire, in the XV century. After its scientific rediscovery in 1911, Machu Picchu was mistaken as the lost capital of the Inca Empire. However, Machu Picchu was actually a religious sanctuary whose entrance was reserved to the royal Inca family.

Most historians agree that Machu Picchu was never invaded by the Spanish. The citadel was probably inhabited by a small population of priests and priestesses until 1572 when the so-called “Inca Empire of Vilcabamba” fell after the execution of Tupac Amaru. After being abandoned, the citadel was quickly covered by the surrounding jungles.

Over the centuries, there have been some sporadic references to a “lost Inca city” in the region of Vilcabamba, Cusco. For example, in the late XVI century, a Spanish soldier named Baltasar de Ocampo claimed that he encountered a large Inca city hidden in the high jungles of Cusco.

Machu Picchu was officially rediscovered in 1911 when an American expedition led by Hiram Bingham found the Inca ruins. This expedition elaborated detailed descriptions and blueprints of some sections of the citadel. Their findings were made public to the world by the National Geographic (external link) magazine.

Cusco Machu Picchu is an unskippable destination when visiting Peru. This ancient citadel is one of the best-preserved Inca sites in Peru. During this tour, you will explore the main buildings of Machu Picchu, including the famous Temple of the Condor and the Intihuatana.

Why travel with us?

3 Day Machu Picchu Tours from Lima

We are a local travel agency committed to providing the best tours and treks in Peru. Our staff have years of experience planning vacations in Peru. During our tours, our tour operator will give you unique insights about the history and traditions of all the places you will be visiting.

Our 3 day Machu Picchu Tours from Lima to Machu Picchu is perfect for exploring Machu Picchu in a short time. We also offer day tours to Humantay Lake, Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu. You can also check out our special tour package options to the Salkantay Trek and the Inca Trail. Explore the most incredible Inca archaeological sites of Peru with us.

Day 1: Lima - Cusco

We began our 3-day tour by picking you up from your hotel in Lima at 4:00 am. Then, we will drive to the airport to take a flight to Cusco City. Once in Cusco, we will transfer you to your hotel room. Later in the afternoon, we will pick you up from your hotel. Then, you will have a guided Cusco city tour.

Cusco Cathedral

We will first visit the Cusco Cathedral. This church houses numerous paintings of the traditional Cusco Art School. These paintings depict curious scenes that mix the Spanish and Inca cultures. One of them is “The Last Supper”, which shows Jesus Christ and his apostles eating a guinea pig.

Convent of Santo Domingo – Qorikancha

Afterward, we will visit the Convent of Santo Domingo. This colonial church was built on top of the Inca temple of Qorikancha. The Qorikancha was the main temple of the Inca Empire. It used to house hundreds of religious idols from the populations conquered by the Incas. Nowadays, some sections of the Qorikancha are still visible. Some of them are the Sun Temple, the Moon Temple, the Intipampa, and the Solar Garden, among other Inca ruins.

Sacsayhuaman

Next, we will visit the Inca ruins of Sacsayhuaman, located outside the city of Cusco. Sacsayhuaman has huge stone walls arranged in a zig-zag layout. For this reason, Sacsayhuaman is often mistaken as a fortress. However, the archeological evidence suggests that Sacsayhuaman was actually a giant temple dedicated to the sun and thunder gods.

Qenqo

After visiting Sacsayhuaman, we will explore the nearby Inca site of Qenqo. Some sections of Qenqo are decorated with complex stone carvings that resemble snakes, monkeys, and llamas. Some historians propose that Qenqo was used as a sanctuary where ritual sacrifices were performed. However, the real purpose of Qenqo is still unknown to this day.

Tambomachay

Then, our next stop will be the Inca ruins of Tambomachay. This site has some Inca water fountains that still work to this day. Tambomachay was an Inca temple dedicated to the water. It also served as a retreat center for the Inca royalty.

Puca Pucara

Finally, we will visit the small fortress of Puca Pucara. This place served as an Inca military outpost. After visiting Puca Pucara, we will return to Cusco City, where we will transfer you to your hotel room.

We will wake up early in the morning. After having breakfast, we will drive to the Ollantaytambo train station, located in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Once there, we will board a train to Aguas Calientes town, the entry point to visit Machu Picchu.

The train trip to Machu Picchu takes around 1.5 hours to complete. Once we arrive in Aguas Calientes, we will board a bus to Machu Picchu. After passing the security checkpoints, we will enter the Inca citadel.

Then, you will have a guided tour of the most famous places of Machu Picchu. You will visit the Main Temple, the Temple of the Three Windows, the Temple of the Condor, and the Intihuatana. If you have booked a ticket to Huayna Picchu mountain or Machu Picchu mountain, our staff will take you to the respective entrance for your Machu Picchu trek.

After the guided tour, we will return to Aguas Calientes, where you will have free time to have lunch. The lunch is not included in the tour price. In the afternoon, we will board a train to return to Ollantaytambo. Once there, we will transfer you back to your hotel in Cusco City.

We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco and take you to the airport for your flight to Lima. Once we arrive in Lima, we will transfer you to your hotel.

If you want to learn more about the Inca history of Cusco or prefer a customised tour option, contact us for more information about our specialized Sacred Valley Tours.

Departure & Return Location
Lima Hotel Transfer

Departure Time
4:00 a.m.

Price Includes

  • Cusco hotel transfer
  • Round trip plane tickets from Lima to Cusco (Light opt - Carry on bag 10kg)
  • Round trip train tickets from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (Expedition train tickets)
  • Professional English speaking Tour guide
  • Breakfast on the second day
  • Round bus trip from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
  • Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu citadel

Price Excludes

  • Travel Insurance
  • Breakfast on the first day
  • Hotel in Lima and Hotel in Cusco
  • Lunch and dinner
  • Entrance to Huayna Picchu mountain (optional)
  • Entrance to Machu Picchu mountain (optional)
  • Entrance to Aguas Calientes hot springs (optional)
  • Vistadome train tickets (optional upgrade)
  • Hiram Bingham train tickets (optional upgrade)
  • Tips
  • Any Private Expenses

Packing list

  • Original Passport (same as used at time of booking for permits/ tickets)
  • Camera fully charged & extra batteries (batteries drain quicker in the cold)
  • Sunglasses and Sun hat or cap
  • Protect & hydrate sunscreen lotion (factor 60 or 70+ is recommendable)
  • Water bottle and snacks
  • Peruvian soles in cash
Ready to Experience This Adventure?

From:

$

200

Voices that inspire adventures

Find out what those who have trusted us to explore unique destinations and live extraordinary adventures have to say.

Related Tours

Huchuy Qosqo Peru (3 days)

3 nights

Huchuy Qosqo means little Cusco in Quechua. It is an Incan ruin perched on a hilltop overlooking the Sacred Valley of Incas. This was a royal estate of the eighth emperor of the Inca empire, Viracocha.

From: $500

Huchuy Qosqo Trek (2 days)

2 days

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.

From: $200

Salkantay Inca Trail Trek (7 days)

7 days

The seven day Inca Trail Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu begins at a high altitude. It takes you down to the cloud forests through some renowned Inca Sites. The experience culminates at Machu Picchu citadel.

From: $1,250
Need Help? Chat with us