4 Day Machu Picchu Tour from Lima by Plane and Train
Our 4-Day Machu Picchu Tour from Lima combines Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu in one carefully coordinated journey by plane, road, and train. The itinerary begins with an early pickup in Lima and concludes with your return flight on Day 4.
This package is recommended for first-time visitors, couples, families, and travelers who want to experience Peru’s essential Inca destinations without organizing each connection separately. Along the way, you will visit Cusco’s historic center and nearby archaeological sites, travel through the Sacred Valley, spend the night in Aguas Calientes, and enjoy a professionally guided visit to Machu Picchu.
The service covers the main transportation, entrance tickets, guiding, and local coordination required for the trip. What makes our operation different is that our Cusco-based team connects your flights, ground transfers, train journey, Machu Picchu admission, and return travel within one organized itinerary.
Tour Highlights
- Round-trip domestic flights between Lima and Cusco
- Guided tour of historic Cusco and nearby Inca sites
- Visits to Pisac and Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley
- Buffet lunch in Urubamba
- Scenic train journey to Aguas Calientes
- Overnight stay near Machu Picchu
- Official Machu Picchu admission and guided visit
- Bus transportation between Aguas Calientes and the citadel
- Return train and hotel transfer in Cusco
- Local assistance throughout the four-day journey
Itinerary
Itinerary trip
Click any day to expand/collapse
Day 1
Lima – Cusco – Cusco City Tour
Day 1 Lima – Cusco – Cusco City Tour
Your journey begins with an early pickup from your Lima hotel and transfer to Jorge Chávez International Airport. You will board the morning flight to Cusco, which takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Upon arrival, our local team will meet you at Cusco Airport and take you to your hotel. You will have time to leave your luggage, rest, and have a light meal before the afternoon tour.
At approximately 1:00 p.m., your guide will introduce you to the history of Cusco, beginning at the Cathedral and Qorikancha. The experience continues outside the historic center at Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Puca Pucara, and Tambomachay.
The tour ends with transportation back to your Cusco hotel. Because you will arrive directly from sea level, keep the evening free, stay hydrated, and avoid strenuous activities.
Day 1 details
- Highest elevation: Approximately 3,700 m / 12,139 ft
- Flight time: Approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes
- Guided tour: Approximately 4–5 hours
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate
- Accommodation: Your hotel in Cusco, not included
- Meals: Not included
- Cusco Cathedral
- Qorikancha
- Sacsayhuaman
- Qenqo
- Puca Pucara
- Tambomachay
Day 2
Cusco - Sacred Valley of the Incas - Aguas Calientes
Day 2 Cusco – Pisac – Urubamba – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes
After pickup from your Cusco hotel, we travel into the Sacred Valley. The first major visit is the Pisac archaeological complex, known for its agricultural terraces, elevated viewpoints, and Inca structures overlooking the valley.
We continue to Urubamba for the included buffet lunch. Afterward, the journey follows the valley to Ollantaytambo, where your guide leads you through the terraces and ceremonial areas of this historic Inca settlement.
Later in the afternoon, you walk to the railway station and board the Expedition train to Aguas Calientes. The journey follows the Urubamba River as the landscape changes from the open Sacred Valley to the cloud forest surrounding Machu Picchu.
Upon arrival, local staff will assist with the transfer to your hotel. The rest of the evening is available for dinner and preparation for the following morning.
Day 2 details
- Highest elevation: Approximately 3,400 m / 11,155 ft
- Train journey: Approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes
- Difficulty: Moderate walking with stone steps
- Accommodation: Aguas Calientes hotel—confirm whether it is included
- Meals: Buffet lunch included
- Pisac archaeological complex
- Sacred Valley
- Urubamba
- Ollantaytambo
- Aguas Calientes
Day 3
Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Cusco
Day 3 Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes – Cusco
After breakfast, you walk to the bus station and travel up the mountain to the Machu Picchu entrance. The bus ride normally takes approximately 25–30 minutes.
Your guide will lead you through the official circuit assigned to your entrance ticket. During the visit, you will learn about Inca engineering, ceremonial practices, daily life, and the relationship between the citadel and its mountain setting. The exact viewpoints and structures visited depend on the confirmed circuit.
After leaving the archaeological site, you return by bus to Aguas Calientes. There will be time to purchase lunch before boarding the train to Ollantaytambo.
Our driver will meet you at the railway station and take you back to your hotel in Cusco. Arrival is generally expected in the evening, but the exact time depends on the confirmed train schedule.
Day 3 details
- Machu Picchu elevation: Approximately 2,430 m / 7,972 ft
- Guided visit: Approximately 2–3 hours
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Accommodation: Your hotel in Cusco, not included
- Meals: Breakfast depends on the selected hotel; lunch and dinner are not included
- Expected arrival in Cusco: Approximately 8:00–10:00 p.m.
- Machu Picchu
- Aguas Calientes
- Urubamba River railway route
- Ollantaytambo
Day 4
Cusco – Lima
Your final morning in Cusco is free until the scheduled airport transfer. Depending on your flight time, you may rest at your hotel, have breakfast, or take a short walk near the historic center.
Our driver will pick you up from your Cusco hotel and take you to the airport for the return flight to Lima. Upon arrival, the scheduled Lima transfer completes the four-day journey.
Day 4 details
- Flight time: Approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes
- Difficulty: No planned physical activity
- Accommodation: Not included
- Meals: Not included
- Schedule: Determined by the confirmed flight
- Cusco
- Lima
Inclusions
Tour Inclusions
Departure and Return
- Starting point: Your hotel in Lima
- Finishing point: Your hotel in Lima
- Departure time: Approximately 4:00 a.m.
- Minimum booking: Two travelers
What Is Included
- Lima hotel transfer for the scheduled flights
- Round-trip domestic flights between Lima and Cusco
- Light airfare with one carry-on bag of up to 10 kg
- Cusco airport and hotel transfers
- Tourist transportation for the Cusco and Sacred Valley tours
- Round-trip Expedition train tickets between Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes
- Round-trip bus tickets between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu
- Official Machu Picchu entrance ticket for the assigned circuit
- Professional English-speaking guide
- Buffet lunch in Urubamba on Day 2
- Local coordination during the four-day itinerary
What Is Not Included
- International flights
- Hotels in Lima and Cusco
- Meals not specifically listed as included
- Entrance to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain
- Checked baggage or airline baggage exceeding 10 kg
- Travel or medical insurance
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
- Aguas Calientes hot springs admission
- Tips for guides and drivers
Important Accommodation Confirmation
The current page transfers travelers to a hotel in Aguas Calientes but does not clearly state whether that overnight stay is included. This must be corrected before publication.
Use only one of these options:
- If included: One night of hotel accommodation in Aguas Calientes with breakfast.
- If excluded: Hotel accommodation in Aguas Calientes must be booked separately.
The Cusco Cathedral, Qorikancha, Pisac, and Ollantaytambo entrance fees also need confirmation because they are not presently listed among the inclusions.
Packing List
What to Pack
Your domestic airfare includes a carry-on allowance of up to 10 kg, so pack only what you need for the four-day journey.
- Original passport used for the reservation
- Domestic flight and tour confirmations
- Small carry-on bag of up to 10 kg
- Lightweight daypack
- Comfortable walking shoes with good traction
- Lightweight shirts and pants
- Warm fleece or jacket for Cusco
- Waterproof jacket or rain poncho
- Sun hat or cap
- Sunglasses with UV protection
- SPF 50+ sunscreen
- Insect repellent for Aguas Calientes
- Reusable water bottle
- Personal medication
- Phone or camera with charger
- Portable power bank
- Small amount of Peruvian currency
- Change of clothes for Aguas Calientes
Keep your passport in your daypack during the train journey and Machu Picchu visit. Do not place it inside checked or stored luggage.
Price
Tour Pricing
The current page does not publish a price, and the supplied information does not include confirmed rates. I do not recommend copying competitor prices because your package includes round-trip Lima–Cusco flights while most competing four-day tours begin in Cusco.
Until your rates are confirmed, use this section:
Request a Current Quote
The price of this four-day package is confirmed according to:
- Number of travelers
- Domestic airfare available for the selected dates
- Train schedule and class
- Machu Picchu ticket availability
- Group or private service
- Aguas Calientes accommodation, if included
- Optional mountain tickets
Once you provide the actual prices, the recommended format is:
Small-Group Service
| Travelers | Price per person |
|---|---|
| 2–3 travelers | US$ — |
| 4 or more travelers | US$ — |
| Eligible children or students | US$ — |
Private Service
| Travelers | Price per person |
|---|---|
| 2–3 travelers | US$ — |
| 4 or more travelers | US$ — |
| Eligible children or students | US$ — |
Do not publish the table with empty amounts. First confirm whether the airfare is fixed or recalculated according to the booking date.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
We know you are so excited about your 4 day Machu Picchu hike tour and you want to know it all to be prepared for it. That's why we will answer any doubt you have, so you don't have to worry about any surprise during your trip.
Can I travel from Lima to Machu Picchu in four days?
Yes. This itinerary uses a domestic flight between Lima and Cusco, followed by ground transportation and a train to Aguas Calientes. It also provides time for Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu.
Is this a hiking tour?
No. This is a plane-and-train cultural package rather than a multi-day trek. It includes moderate walking on stone paths, archaeological terraces, and stairs.
How far in advance should I book?
Book at least two or three months ahead, and earlier for travel between May and September. Machu Picchu tickets, convenient trains, and domestic flights have limited availability.
Are the domestic flights included?
Yes. Round-trip light airfare between Lima and Cusco is included with a carry-on allowance of up to 10 kg. Additional airline services or checked baggage are paid separately.
Are all hotels included?
Hotels in Lima and Cusco are not included. The status of the Aguas Calientes hotel must be confirmed in your written reservation because the current service information is unclear.
Will I have time to acclimatize in Cusco?
The itinerary provides only limited acclimatization because the city tour begins on the same day you arrive from Lima. The afternoon should be taken at a comfortable pace, and travelers with previous altitude problems should consult a medical professional before traveling.
What happens if my Lima–Cusco flight is delayed?
Our local team will review the remaining schedule and coordinate the available services. A major delay may require changing or shortening the Cusco tour, depending on arrival time and attraction opening hours.
Do I need my original passport?
Yes. Bring the original passport used to make the reservation. Your details must match the information registered on the flights, train tickets, and Machu Picchu admission.
Can children and older adults take this tour?
Yes, provided they are comfortable with altitude, stairs, and moderate walking. Families should consider the early departure, the first-day elevation change, and the long return journey on Day 3.
Can I add Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain?
Yes, subject to ticket availability and compatibility with your scheduled circuit. These entrances cost extra and should be requested when booking.
Can I choose my Machu Picchu circuit?
You may request a preferred circuit, but confirmation depends on government availability. Your guide will follow the route printed on the ticket issued for your visit.
What is the difference between the two-day and four-day tour from Lima?
The four-day option includes time in Cusco and the Sacred Valley before visiting Machu Picchu. The two-day alternative concentrates mainly on transportation and the citadel, making it faster but more demanding.
Is a private service available?
A private option may be arranged if confirmed during booking. It provides dedicated guiding and transportation for your party, but flights, trains, and Machu Picchu entrance times remain subject to provider availability.
What should I verify before paying?
Confirm the airfare and baggage allowance, Machu Picchu circuit, train class, hotel responsibilities, entrance fees, total price, and change or cancellation conditions in writing before completing payment.
Concierge & Local Guide
Available in Cusco
John Taqquere
Local Tour Guide
Travel specialist in Machu Picchu
“I grew up surrounded by the Andes, and I love sharing the history, traditions, and hidden stories of my home with travelers from around the world.”Text John Taqquere on WhatsApp → (opens in a new tab)
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