Cusco Express 3 Days: City Tour and Machu Picchu
from US$ 455 per person
Three well-used days to see the essentials of Cusco. You arrive, settle into your hotel with a cup of coca tea and in the afternoon take the city tour: Qoricancha, the Cathedral and the ruins of Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay.
Day two is for Machu Picchu, there and back from Cusco: train to Aguas Calientes, bus to the citadel, guided visit in English or Spanish, buffet lunch and an evening train back. On day three you have breakfast at an easy pace and we take you to the airport.
Highlights
- Machu Picchu with train, bus, entry ticket and guide included
- Cusco city tour with Qoricancha, the Cathedral and four ruins
- 2 nights in Cusco with breakfast, no hotel changes
- Airport transfers and hotel pickup for every tour
- Buffet lunch in Aguas Calientes
Gallery
- Duration
- 3 days / 2 nights
- Schedule
- Airport pickup on day 1
- Capacity
- Minimum 2 people (double room)
- Service
- Shared
- Languages
- Spanish and English
Itinerary
Sample itinerary: times on Machu Picchu day depend on the assigned train and entry slot.
- Day 1
Arrival, city tour and four ruins
We meet you at the airport, take you to your hotel and welcome you with a cup of coca tea. Between 12:45 and 13:20 you are picked up for the city tour: Qoricancha, the Cathedral and the ruins of Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay. You are back in Cusco around 18:00 and spend the night at your hotel.
- Day 2
Machu Picchu
Between 3:00 and 5:00 you are picked up for Ollantaytambo or Poroy station to board the train to Aguas Calientes, where the guide meets you to ride the bus up to the citadel for the guided visit with the group. You come back down to Aguas Calientes for a buffet lunch and free time. Between 18:00 and 20:00 you take the train back and a transfer drives you to Cusco, where you spend the night.
- Day 3
Departure from Cusco
You have breakfast at the hotel, check out and we take you to the airport for your departing flight.
Included
- Airport or bus terminal pickup on arrival and drop-off on the last day
- Welcome coca tea at the hotel
- 2 nights of accommodation in Cusco at a hotel in the chosen category
- Hotel breakfast every morning
- Cusco city tour with the four nearby ruins
- Hotel pickup for every tour
- Transfers between Cusco and Ollantaytambo or Poroy station
- Round-trip train to Aguas Calientes on the Expedition or Inca Rail service, with complimentary snacks and drinks
- Bus up and down between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu
- Machu Picchu citadel entry ticket
- English- or Spanish-speaking guide on every tour
- Buffet lunch in Aguas Calientes
- Ongoing assistance throughout the trip
Not included
- Qoricancha entrance (S/ 25)
- Cathedral entrance (S/ 45)
- Partial Tourist Ticket for Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay (S/ 70 foreigners, S/ 40 Peruvians)
- Entrance to the Aguas Calientes hot springs
- Meals not mentioned
Safety
- Cusco sits at about 3,400 m and the city tour is on your arrival day: eat light, drink water and take the first hours slowly.
- Machu Picchu day starts before dawn: pack a small daypack the night before with your passport, water, rain jacket, sunscreen and insect repellent.
- The citadel has stairs and uneven ground: wear shoes with good grip and stay with your guide on the marked circuits.
Important
- Rates are per person for foreign travelers and depend on the hotel category you choose, from 2★/3★ economy to 5★.
- The rate applies to a minimum of 2 people sharing a double or matrimonial room; for 1 person or groups of more than 2, the rate changes.
- If you live in Peru or come from an Andean Community country (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador), ask for your rate.
- Rates are not valid on public holidays, Holy Week, Peru's national holidays (Fiestas Patrias), New Year, Inti Raymi, some festive days and long weekends.
- Children up to 3 years old travel free and share their parents' bed. Students and children with valid ID get a reduced rate: ask when you book.
- Tours are on a shared basis. Depending on train schedules, there may be a wait at Machu Picchu until passengers from other trains arrive to start the guided visit.
- Services end at Plaza Regocijo, two blocks from Cusco's Main Square. If your hotel is on the way back, the vehicle can drop you at the door.
- To enter Machu Picchu, bring the original passport or ID used to issue your ticket.
- You can add entry to Huayna Picchu, Machu Picchu Mountain or the museum, the Vistadome train or an earlier return train, at extra cost and subject to availability. Extra entrance tickets must be booked together with the package.
- No-shows, cancellations and date changes are charged at 100% of the package.
Frequently asked questions
Is the train to Machu Picchu included?
Yes. It includes the round-trip train between Ollantaytambo or Poroy and Aguas Calientes on the Expedition or Inca Rail service, the bus to the citadel, the entry ticket and the guide. The Vistadome train is available as an upgrade at extra cost.
Which entrance fees do I pay separately?
On the city tour you pay in soles for the Qoricancha entrance (S/ 25), the Cathedral entrance (S/ 45) and the Partial Tourist Ticket for the four ruins (S/ 70 foreigners, S/ 40 Peruvians). The Aguas Calientes hot springs are also paid separately.
Why does Machu Picchu day start so early?
Because you go and come back from Cusco on the same day: pickup is between 3:00 and 5:00 and the return train leaves between 18:00 and 20:00. In exchange, you never have to move your luggage between hotels.
Can I add Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain?
Yes, at extra cost and subject to availability. Those tickets are booked together with the package because spaces are limited.
