4 days
Duration
1/5
Difficulty

4 Day Cuzco – Machu Picchu Tour

Fountain Plaza de ARmas CuzcoShort itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive in Cuzco (3500 m altitude)
Day 2: Sacred Valley Tour, incl.: Pisac ruins – Salineras – Ollantaytambo fortress – Aguas Calientes
Day 3: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Ollantaytambo – Cuzco
Day 4: Cuzco – Lima

Optional: An extra day to visit the colorfull Rainbow Mountains

Extended itinerary 4 Day Cuzco – Machu Picchu Tour

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Day 1: Arrive in Cuzco (3500 m/ 11483 feet altitude)

Cuzco city tour Peru Upon arrival in Cuzco our English-speaking driver will be waiting for you at the airport. He will not only bring you to your hotel, but he will also be able to give you inside tips about his city. Cuzco was once the Inca Capital of Peru, ruling most of South America. After the Spanish Conquistadors arrived, they build their colonial buildings on top of the Inca foundations of the Inca buildings. This fusion of different building styles together with the beautiful location in the mountains, the many touristic activities, restaurants, bars, etc., have made from Cuzco one of the most popular tourist cities in South America! If you arrive early today, we can include a half day city tour through the center of Cuzco. This tour will at least include short visits to the Qorikancha Temple of the Sun, where the Inca civilization used to worship the sun, and the impressive Cathedral on Plaza de Armas, where Christians worship their beliefs.Overnight with breakfast in Hotel Maytaq Wasi or another good 3* hotel that’s located in the center. Check also our virtual City Tour Cuzco.
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Day 2: Sacred Valley Tour, incl.: Pisac ruins – Salineras - Ollantaytambo fortress – Aguas Calientes (2000 m/ 6562 feet).


View from the Pisac Inca RuinsThis To maximize your experience in the most important valley of the Inca’s we have included a beautiful private tour through the Sacred Valley. This tour will start with visiting the archeological site of Pisac. Passing along the ruins and enjoying the great views over the valley your guide will explain you most of the impressive Inca history. After visiting the archeological site of Pisac, you will have time for a quick stroll around on the colorful market of the village of Pisac. On the way to the town of Ollantaytambo, you will bring a visit to Salineras. This is a pre-Inca salt winning place from the Maras culture. Hundreds of years ago they started to collect the water from a mountain in small shallow pools. The sun would dry the water and what was left is salt. Even now this system is still working and the white ‘salt pans’ provide a great view in the green valley. Salineras de Maras salt pansFrom Salineras you drive further to the town of Ollantaytambo.
After a short walk through the picturesque town, your guide will lead you around the ancient Inca fortress with the same name. The fortress of Ollantaytambo is one of the very few places where the Inca’s won a big battle against the Spanish conquistadors. After a short walk through the picturesque town, your guide will lead you around the ancient Inca fortress with the same name. The fortress of Ollantaytambo is one of the very few places where the Inca’s won a big battle against the Spanish conquistadors.
After visiting this interesting archeological site your guide will bring you to the train station. A scenic train ride of around 1h/40 min. will bring you to the tourist town of Aguas Calientes (now officially called Machu Picchu Pueblo).
Overnight with breakfast in Hotel Susanna Inn Machu Picchu https://susanna-inn.cuzco-hotels.com/ or another good 3* hotel in Aguas Calientes.
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Day 3: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Ollantaytambo - Cuzco


Machu Picchu view PeruEarly morning, consisting with the time-slot on your Machu Picchu entrance ticket, your guide will pick you up from the hotel. Together you will ascent by shuttle bus along a narrow winding road from the river of Aguas Calientes to the ruins of Machu Picchu in the mountains. It is the most known archeological Inca site worldwide. However, it is also still covered with mysteries about its original purpose, how the Inca’s could build this city on and between the mountain tops and even about its original name. Machu Picchu actually translates to “Old Mountain” and is not mentioned in any of the Spanish Conquistadors writings. It is believed to have been constructed around the mid-15th century and was “rediscovered” by the American historian Hiram Bingham in 1911. During your private tour your guide will explain you everything that is known about this unique archeological site. More information: About Machu Picchu.
After the tour you take the bus back to Aguas Calientes and have time to shop souvenirs, enjoy the subtropical climate and have lunch.
Around 3pm your train departs back to Ollantaytambo, from where you travel by private transport back to Cuzco. Arrival time around 18:45 h, enough time to enjoy the bustling nightlife of Cuzco.
Overnight with breakfast in Hotel Maytaq Wasi, or another good 3* hotel that’s located in the center..
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Day 4: Cuzco – Lima


Qoricancha Temple CuzcoIf your flight back to Lima is late in the afternoon, we can include a half day city tour through Cuzco. At a convenient time for your flight a private transfer will bring you to the airport of Cuzco

The price of this tour is: 625 US$ p.p.
The price of this tour is based on min. 2 participants, sharing a double room.

For those who travel with 3 the price for this private tour is: 565 US$ p.p.

For those who travel alone the price for this private tour is: 875 US$

Note: If you travel alone, it is also possible to join a Sacred Valley Tour in shared international service and to visit Machu Picchu in a shared tour to reduce the costs.

Recommendation: We recommend you to look for flight combinations. It is not always possible, but if you can book your flights within Peru in combination with your international flights, it could save you more than 100 US$ p.p. so it is worth to try.

Optional:
Rainbow Mountains Peru– Half day private city walking tour with English-speaking guide, incl.: visiting the Qorikancha Temple of the Sun, the Cathedral and entrance fees.
– To combine your city tour with visiting the extensive archeological site of Sacsayhuaman.
– Climbing the Huayna Picchu, or Machu Picchu Mountain (to be booked far in advance!)
– To extend your stay in Cusco with one day to visit the famous Rainbow Mountains.

Inclusive and recommended to bring on this tour:

– Private transfer from and to the airport in Cusco
– 3 Nights with breakfast in well located 3* hotels
– A Sacred Valley tour in private service, incl.: Visiting the ruins of Pisac, Salineras and Ollantaytambo, an English-speaking guide, transport, entrance fees and lunch
– Tourist train services from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and back
– Bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu and back
– The entrance fee of Machu Picchu
– A private guided tour over the archeological site of Machu Picchu with an English-speaking guide
– Private transport from Ollantaytambo to your hotel in Cusco
– Local taxes and administration fees
– 24h English-speaking emergency support

Exclusive:
– Flights
– Everything not mentioned in the itinerary above
– Drinks, lunches and dinner
– An obligated travel insurance
– International banking costs if you pay from outside Peru, or outside of the US
– Tips for guides and drivers during tours

What to bring with:

– Original passport
– Good walking shoes
– Two long, comfortable pants
– A warm sweater and warm jacket
– A rain jacket or poncho (in any season it can rain)
– 3 T-shirts and a pair of shorts
– Swimming clothes (only if you want to use the hot springs in Aguas Calientes)
– Insect repellent (against sand flies and mosquitos)
– Sun block, sun glasses and hat
– Personal toiletries (and personal medications if needed)
– Water bottle with a volume of 1-2 liters of water
– Light (day)backpack

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Tour Reviews

5.00 based on 3 reviews
April 21, 2018

Before now, I have never taken a trip planned through a travel agent like yourself since I like to do my own thing for trips. After seeing how much time I saved by not trying to coordinate all my travel, I will definitely do more agent travel in the future. Let me know what locations are your specialty so I can plan on calling on you if I get to an area you cover.

March 19, 2023

Hi Martijn,
Honestly I don’t think there is much to improve on, the hotels were perfect, the different stops were things we would have likely not seen on our own and we’re worth it for sure. My wife just kept being impressed by how organized and on time everything was. The guides were knowledgeable and you could tell they truly enjoyed what they were doing. I think one of the big factors for us though is that everyone was telling us that tourism was at about 10% of what it normally was so I’m sure this played a role, but it seemed like we always had the best rooms and best seat at the restaurants, etc.

We cannot thank you enough for how special you made this trip, my wife is already asking where else you coordinate travel for!

Lee

April 3, 2023

We loved our trip!
Our tour was perfect and everyone was so nice!
We will recommend it to everyone (:
Maeghan & Tori

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