Last Updated on November 8, 2023 by James Bustamante

The best 3 day Peru tour route to take would be Cusco to the Sacred Valley, Aguas Calientes, and Machu Picchu if you have 3 days.

• Day 1 Arrival to Cusco – Transfer to The Sacred Valley/Stay in Cusco
• Day 2 Train to Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu Guided Tour
• Day 3 Transfer to Velasco Astete airport in Cusco for a flight out

This way you get to see the most iconic locations if you are short on time. The Machu Picchu hike will be done on day 2 of your trip, this will give you enough time to return to Cusco for a final overnight stay before heading to the airport the following day. 

There are many routes you can take for a 3 day Peru itinerary but you will probably want to focus on three main locations in this case if you are short on time

3 Day Peru Tour Outline

• Day 1 Arrival to Cusco – Transfer to The Sacred Valley
• Day 2 Train to Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu Guided Tour
• Day 3 Transfer to Velasco Astete airport in Cusco for a flight out of Cusco

In this version of 3 day Machu Picchu tours, we begin the itinerary with the arrival at Cusco airport. Once luggage has been collected, the traveler quickly heads to the lower elevation area of the Sacred Valley. On the second day, we will take a train and visit Machu Picchu as well.

We then head back to Cusco by train on PeruRail. The second day is the one with the highest activity level, so you will need to make sure to rest plenty on your first night.

The third day is reserved to do some sightseeing in the city of Cusco before our driver takes you to the airport for your flight out of Cusco.

Now let’s go over each destination along with their respective activities in more depth.

3 Day Peru Tour Itinerary

Day: 1 Arriving in Cusco & The Sacred Valley

On day one of this 3 day Peru tour, your flight will come into Cusco from Peru’s capital city Lima.

Most travelers don’t realize this but the Velasco Astete airport in Cusco only receives domestic flights, not international.

There are a few exceptions for flights coming in from La Paz, Bolivia as well as Ecuador but these only happen once or twice per week.

Once you arrive you will notice how small this airport is. The best course of action is to get through and get your luggage, get past airport security, and exit as soon as you can. After a while, this tiny building might get too crowded. 

Travel Fact: Cusco Elevation above sea level: 10,500 feet or 3,300 meters 

There is a project for another airport being built near Urubamba. This new airport will accept international flights however, it is still several years away.

For now, once you have picked up your luggage, kindly walk out through the main doors of the airport, and one of our drivers and guide will be waiting for you.

You should immediately see a sign with your name/last name on it.

Our guide will greet you, and once you have boarded the private transport, we are off to the Sacred Valley. 

The total ride from Cusco airport to the Sacred Valley will be anywhere from 1.5 hours to 2.2 hours, depending on how heavy traffic is. 

As we leave the city of Cusco, you will see its cobblestone paths, old Spanish buildings as well as several merchants.

Once we exit the city limits you will instantly see how green this area of Peru is.

The ride through Urubamba and all the small villages in between is a very scenic ride on its own.

Travelers Tip: On this trip, you have the option of choosing to have your first overnight stay in Cusco or the Sacred Valley. Choose Cusco if you don’t mind the added elevation and would like to go out for a walk around this highland city. If you prefer a town with a slightly lower elevation so you can acclimate, then the Sacred Valley will be a better choice.

Once we arrive at your Sacred Valley hotel, our guide will assist you in the check-in process.

The guide will then brief you on your itinerary for the next couple of days as well as give you some tips on acclimatization. 

Day 2: Train to Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu Guided Tour

On the second day of our 3 day Peru tour, we will have a driver take us from the hotel in the Sacred Valley and drop us off at the Ollantaytambo train station.

Once we arrive at this small town, you are free to explore the grounds, even if it is just for a short while.

This old town has a hike leading to Inti Punku or a sun gate which is similar to the one in Machu Picchu.

At around 30 minutes before the train departs, you will already need to be waiting at the station.

Make sure to have your tickets checked and scanned so you can board the train as soon as possible. 

While you wait, try some of the local coffee being served in the coffee shops right next to the boarding platform.

Coffee from the Cusco region is unique in its smell and flavor. 

Once we board the train the conductor will assist you in finding your seat. Make sure you place your bags in the overhead compartment, the last thing to do is to sit back and relax. 

The ride from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes is said to be one of the most beautiful train rides of any around the globe.

We will pass through the entirety of the Urubamba valley past the beautiful Andean mountain range.

We continue to ride the train downward until we reach a lower elevation and can see how the landscape suddenly changes.

In a flash we go from the beautiful highland to an area that resembles a jungle, this is referred to as the cloud forest. 

Once we arrive at the Aguas Calientes train station, we quickly get out daypacks and walk out of the train to meet who will be our guide to Machu Picchu. 

Quick Aguas Calientes Tour – Shuttle Ride to Machu Picchu

Our guide will check once again on your documentation and make sure everything matches with your tickets.

We then proceed to walk through Aguas Calientes on our way to the shuttle station.

Our guide will quickly go through the history related to this town.

If your Machu Picchu tour is set for later in the day then you will have some time to go to the hot springs located about 10 minutes away. 

Once we reach the shuttle station our guide will hop on with the group and we then proceed to go up to Machu Picchu.

The winding road will take us up the mountain for about 20 minutes in total.

The views that surround the paved road are truly spectacular and can provide an opportunity for some amazing photography.

Once we reach the entrance to Machu Picchu we will leave the shuttle and get ready to enter the Inca citadel.

Machu Picchu Guided Tour – 3 Day Peru Tour

Your Machu Picchu guide will assist you in having your tickets checked and stamped for your entrance to this historic complex.

Once inside the guide will go through the entire Machu Picchu tour in about 2.5 hours in total.

We will go through each section carefully and explain what individual rooms were used for and who exactly occupied them during the Inca’s reign.

You will also be able to ask our knowledgeable guides any questions that might come up during the Machu Picchu guided tour. 

Travelers Tip: You will have the option of taking this section of your 3 day Peru tour in private or as part of a Machu Picchu group tour.

The pricing for the private version will be a bit more expensive than the group tour option but not by much.

If you don’t mind taking this guided hike with a small group then the first option is great. 

The guide will carefully go through the Inti Punku, The Incas bathhouse, and all the other locations in the complex.

After we are finished you will have a chance to go walk around Machu Picchu on your own for about an hour. 

Travelers Tip: If you have the energy for it make sure to also book the Huayna Picchu hike in Machu Picchu.

It is the highest peak in the entirety of the complex and you will need an additional 2 hours to fully complete it.

It requires an additional permit that needs to be reserved ahead of time so make sure to ask your travel adviser about it. 

After we are all done exploring Machu Picchu, hiking the peaks, and taking pictures with Llamas and Alpacas, we proceed to exit the complex and take the shuttle back down to Aguas Calientes. 

Once we arrive back in town, take the next couple of hours to relax from today’s hike. You will have time to visit a restaurant and have a snack or stop for lunch. 

Return Train to Cusco

We board the train to the city of Cusco. The entire ride back will take around 2.5 hours and we actually face a different side of the mountain.

It will be dark out but you can still catch the sun setting in the distance as we gently ride through the Sacred Valley of the Inca. 

Once we arrive back in Cusco our guide will be waiting for you.

Depending on how far your hotel is we will either have the guided walk with you to your hotel or send private transport to get you there. 

We will have the guide help you check into the Cusco hotel for your final overnight stay.

Travelers Tip: The luggage you left behind in the Sacred Valley hotel will have been brought over to Cusco by our staff earlier in the day.

Day: 3 Early Sightseeing & Transportation to Cusco Airport

This last day on your 3 days Peru tour will depend heavily on your domestic flight schedule.

We can set aside the morning for a short Cusco walking tour. You will have a chance to visit the Monastery, The cathedral, The Koricancha gold museum, The San Blas neighborhood, and several other iconic places, all located nearby to your hotel. 

Once the Cusco walking tour is over you will return to your hotel in time for check out. 

Once all of your luggage has been packed our driver will take you to the Velasco Astete airport in time for your domestic flight back to Lima. 

Travelers Tip: For domestic flights make sure you are at the airport at least 2 hours before the place is set to depart. This will ensure you do not miss your flight. 

We thank you for your visit and hope you enjoyed Cusco, The Sacred Valley, Aguas Calientes, and Machu Picchu!

If you are looking for longer itinerary breakdowns such as this one then check out the 10 day Peru itinerary and discover the best route through the country.

Frequently Asked Questions About The 3 Day Peru Tour Itinerary