Peru
2 Day Machu Picchu Tour by Bus from Cusco
Hidroeléctrica, Puente Ruinas, Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu
From
US$215
≈ €184 · billed in US$ ≈ £158 · billed in US$ per person
In short
Every Machu Picchu tour is one of three things: the train from Cusco (one day on site, five days total), the Inca Trail (four days walking, permit booked months ahead), or an alternative trek. The train is what 90% of visitors do and the only one that fits a five-day trip.
The site sits at 2,430 m, below Cusco, which is why the order of a trip matters more than its length: two nights acclimatising in Cusco at 3,400 m, then down into the Sacred Valley at 2,800 m, then Machu Picchu. Going straight from the airport to the ruins is how people end up sick on the one day that counts.
Entry is by named circuit and timed slot. The ticket is tied to the circuit you booked, they sell out weeks ahead in high season, and Huayna Picchu — the peak in the photographs — is a separate, smaller quota that goes first.
The Inca Trail needs a permit issued months in advance, closes every February for maintenance, and takes four days. If you have five days total, take the train; if you have seven and the permit, walk.
What Machu Picchu Tours is known for
- The train from Ollantaytambo through the Urubamba gorge
- Guided entry on a named circuit with a timed slot
- Huayna Picchu, a separate quota that sells out first
- The Sacred Valley the day before, at a friendlier altitude
- The Inca Trail, four days, permit months ahead
Practical detail
- Altitude
- 2,430 m — lower than Cusco
- How long you need
- 5 days from Cusco, comfortably
- Tickets
- Named circuit + timed entry, sold out weeks ahead in season
- Inca Trail
- 4 days, permit months ahead, closed every February
What a trip to Machu Picchu Tours costs
Per person, including hotels, transfers and the guided days each trip lists. International flights are never included.
Peru
4 Day Best of Cusco Tour Package
Cusco, Sacred Valley of the Incas at the Urubamba
From
US$309
≈ €265 · billed in US$ ≈ £227 · billed in US$ per person
Peru
5 Day Highlights of Cusco Tour Package
Cusco, Rainbow Mountain, Urubamba and More
From
US$444
≈ €381 · billed in US$ ≈ £326 · billed in US$ per person
Peru
6 Day Best of Cusco Tour Package
Cusco, Humantay, Urubamba, Salkantay and more
From
US$580
≈ €497 · billed in US$ ≈ £425 · billed in US$ per person
Peru
7 Day Ultimate Cusco Tour Package
Cusco, Humantay, Urubamba
From
US$721
≈ €618 · billed in US$ ≈ £529 · billed in US$ per person
Peru
5 Day Best of Cusco & Machu Picchu Tour Package
Cusco, Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley, Urubamba and more
From
US$870
≈ €746 · billed in US$ ≈ £638 · billed in US$ per person
| Package | Length | Price p/p | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Day Machu Picchu Tour by Bus from Cusco | 2 days | US$215 | Book |
| 4 Day Best of Cusco Tour Package | 4 days | US$309 | Book |
| 5 Day Highlights of Cusco Tour Package | 5 days | US$444 | Book |
| 6 Day Best of Cusco Tour Package | 6 days | US$580 | Book |
| 7 Day Ultimate Cusco Tour Package | 7 days | US$721 | Book |
| 5 Day Best of Cusco & Machu Picchu Tour Package | 5 days | US$870 | Book |
No package matches that search.
Frequently asked
How many days do you need for Machu Picchu from Cusco?
Minimum three, five is comfortable: two to acclimatise in Cusco, one for the Sacred Valley, one for Machu Picchu, one spare. The spare day is the one that saves the trip when a train or the weather moves.
Should you book Machu Picchu tickets in advance?
Yes. Entry is tied to a named circuit and a timed slot, and both sell out weeks ahead in high season. Huayna Picchu has a much smaller quota and goes first.
Is the train or the Inca Trail better?
The train if you have five days — it is what most visitors do and it puts you on site rested. The Inca Trail needs at least seven days and a permit booked months out, and it is a walking holiday rather than a visit.