Machu Picchu Day Trip From Cusco

Your epic day trip to Machu Picchu from Cusco begins with an early morning transfer from your hotel in Cusco. Depending on the availability of the train, we will be transferring you to Poroy or Ollantaytambo train station.

Poroy is a small village some 30 minutes away from Cusco city. Ollantaytambo is an hour and a half drive from Cusco. 

You will board the train to Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu. The train ride offers jaw dropping views at every turn. You will see a change in topography as the train would snake through the remote Andean villages from the Andes to the tropical jungle.

Once in Aguas Calientes, our representative will meet you and will transfer you to the bus station. Here, you will be boarding the bus to Machu Picchu entrance. It is a 25 minute ride. Before entering the citadel, your original passport will be verified against your entrance tickets to Machu Picchu by local authorities. 

Machu Picchu Day Trip From Cusco

Your guided Machu Picchu day trip would begin with a brief introduction to the Inca civilization and how Machu Picchu played a prominent role in their lives.

We will then visit the prime sites of the citadel – the main square, remains of Inca temples, royal quarters and ceremonial sites, to name a few. 

After this immersive guided tour of Machu Picchu citadel, you will have some free time to explore the citadel on your own. If you have booked to climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain, our tour guide will direct you to the respective trail head. 

Please note that you will need a separate permit to enter the trailhead of any of these peaks. Just as the Inca trail permits, even these are sold out months in advance due to daily limitations on the number of visitors. It is highly recommended that you secure your permit while booking the tour.

You can also hike to the Sungate to contemplate the panoramic view of Machu Picchu citadel. You won’t need any permit to get there. Sungate is a point of entrance to those hiking the esteemed Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.

Once you have had your fill of the sites in Machu Picchu, we will take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes. You will have some free time here to stop for lunch at a local restaurant. You can also saunter the cobble stoned streets rimmed with shops selling souvenirs.

Around 0445 in the evening, we will be boarding the train to Ollantaytambo. You will be reaching by 0630 PM. Our representative will meet you on arrival and will transfer you back to your hotel in Cusco. We will be reaching Cusco by 0830 PM.