James Bustamante is Native to New York but born to Peruvian parents. He has been traveling throughout Latin America since early 2003 and finally made his home in Peru. James has made his way by eating and traveling through almost every country in Central and South America.

www.journeymachupicchu.com

Last Updated on January 25, 2023 by James Bustamante

Planning the best Machu Picchu tour is easier than most people think as long as you first consider the essential aspects of the trip. There are so many paths and routes to take before even getting to the Inca citadel that a set itinerary needs to be laid out for clarity. Pondering which destinations or activities to include and which can be left out is key in planning the greatest Machu Picchu tour experience. In this article, we will assume that you are arriving in Cusco.

Table of Contents

Planning Day 1 Of The Machu Picchu Experience

One of the primary things to include in the itinerary is the day you arrive in Cusco. Remember that the main international airport is located in the Peruvian capital, Lima, not in Cusco. More than 95% of international flights arrive solely at the Lima Jorge Chavez airport before going to Cusco. Why is this important? Because timing is essential when putting together an itinerary for the best Machu Picchu tour experience.

One-Day Trip to Machu Picchu Outline

Take an early morning train from Cusco to Aguas Calientes (the town nearest to Machu Picchu)
Take a bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu

Arrive at Machu Picchu and enter through the main gate
Have a guided tour of the main ruins and learn about the history and significance of the site
Have some free time to explore the site on your own and take in the views

Take the bus back to Aguas Calientes
Take the train back to Cusco
End of the trip

Is A One-Day Trip Possible?

Yes, you can arrive in Cusco and visit Machu Picchu that same day. So to be perfectly frank, you don’t need to stay in Cusco if you want to go to Machu Picchu. The entire experience can be relatively short if the traveler prefers. You can arrive in Cusco in time to board the train at the Poroy station and head to Aguas Calientes. Once there, take a 5-minute walk to the bus station and head up to Machu Picchu. If you time everything correctly, you can be in Machu Picchu by the late morning or early afternoon.

Is Arrival to Cusco and Immediate Travel to Machu Picchu The Best Route?

No. This quick itinerary isn’t very practical or enjoyable and definitely will not be the best Machu Picchu tour you will ever experience. The travel time takes away many fantastic things travelers can experience in Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu. Unfortunately, it is also too quick, and the travel times exceed the time you’ll be in Machu Picchu.

Arrival At Cusco and Machu Picchu The Following Day

The quickest way to get to Machu Picchu without completely burning out is to do it in 2 or 3 days with an overnight stay in Aguas Calientes. The two-day version of the trip starts with an arrival at the city of Cusco. Once you arrive, you should quickly get to your hotel and check-in. Take the rest of the day to walk around the neighborhood and see the local sites within walking distance from your hotel.

Don’t tread too far; the first 24 hours are an essential part of the acclimatization process. Travelers should focus on short walks, plenty of rest, plenty of fluids, including water and coca tea. Lastly, make sure to keep your meals on the light side for the first day of the journey.

On day two, we can take the Machu Picchu Express tour. This Machu Picchu day trip begins at 5:00 am, when our guide and drivers will pick up the group at their hotel. Afterward, the group will head away from Cusco and in the direction of Ollantaytambo across the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Once we reach the Ollantaytambo train station, travelers will have a chance to visit the village and have breakfast or wait until breakfast is served on the train.

The scheduled train ride will take 2 hours to reach the town of Aguas Calientes, located at the bottom of Machu Picchu mountain. Afterward, we’ll head up on the bus to the main entrance and begin the Machu Picchu tour. After 2 hours, we’ll head back down to Aguas Calientes and take the train back to the Poroy train station in Cusco. The group will be back in the city by 7:30 pm.

The Express tour is a great way to see Machu Picchu in one day, but it is not necessarily the best Machu Picchu touring experience. If you have another 24 hours to spend in the region, we suggest taking the three-day experience, including an overnight stay in Aguas Calientes and visiting the local hot springs.

The 3 Day Machu Picchu Tour

The 3-day tour is one of the most popular ways to visit the Inca citadel while taking your time in Cusco and Aguas Calientes. The general itinerary works similarly to the two-day trip, including the express tour to Machu Picchu. The only difference with the three-day version is the overnight stay in Aguas Calientes.

Travelers can leave Cusco, head to Ollantaytambo, and then take the train to Aguas Calientes. Instead of going up to Machu Picchu right away, travelers will have the chance to check in at one o the local hotels and then explore this small cloud forest village. Although there are several restaurants and local stores to visit, part of the allure of the town is the location.

Aguas Calientes is situated in the cloud forest, a focal point that connects the mighty Andes mountains to the exotic Amazon rainforest. The village also boasts its very own hot springs. Tourists can walk from the village center to the hot springs in approximately 15 minutes. The mineral bath waters possess unique properties that help with muscle soreness and relaxation.

Another advantage of having at least three days to take the Machu Picchu tour is that on the last day, travel groups can be in Machu Picchu at dawn. One of the biggest draws to Machu Picchu is getting the perfect photograph with the sun rising over the Andes mountains behind the Incan complex. People from around the globe make this one of the prerequisites when visiting Peru, and to do it properly, a three-day trip might be the best touring option.

5 to 7-Day Machu Picchu Tour Packages

In my opinion, the best Machu Picchu tour involves spending 5-7 days in the Peruvian highlands and taking full-day excursions to destinations surrounding the area. Visiting places like the Rainbow Mountain, The Sacred Valley, Humantay Lake or planning a Cusco city tour before or after Machu Picchu is the best way to explore the highlands and all the magical activities it has to offer. According to 90% of our former travelers, An example of one of the best Machu Picchu tour packages available is the following itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival At Cusco – Check In At Cusco Hotel
Day 2: Sacred Valley Full-Day Tour
Day 3: Cusco City Tour

Day 4: Train to Aguas Calientes – Visit The Hot Springs
Day 5: Machu Picchu Guided Tour – Wayna Picchu Hike
Day 6: Rainbow Mountain Full-Day tour

Day 7: Transportation to Cusco Airport For Flight

The 7-day itinerary includes all the details explained in this post, with added activities like the Sacred Valley tour, the Cusco city tour, and the Rainbow Mountain tour. All three are full-day tours starting at 7:00 am, including lunch, and ending back in Cusco by 6:30 pm. This type of itinerary can also be tailored to replace day tours, change the day travelers hike Machu Picchu, and even include an additional trek like the Wayna Picchu or the Montana Machu Picchu hike.

The Machu Picchu Tour Could Include Wayna Picchu

Most travelers agree that to capitalize on the day of the Machu Picchu tour, it is a good idea to either book the Wayna Picchu or Montana Machu Picchu hike. If you are looking for the best possible angle to take a picture of the Incan city, then either of these peaks is perfect for landscape photography.

Machu Picchu + Wayna Picchu Itinerary

Day 1
- Take an early morning train from Cusco to Aguas Calientes (the town nearest to Machu Picchu)
- Take a bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
- Arrive at Machu Picchu and enter through the main gate
- Have a guided tour of the main ruins and learn about the history and significance of the site
- Have some free time to explore the site on your own and take in the views
- Take the bus back to Aguas Calientes
- Overnight stay in Aguas Calientes
Day 2
- Take an early morning hike to the summit of Wuayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain.
- Return to Machu Picchu for more exploration and photos
- Take the bus back to Aguas Calientes
- Take the train back to Cusco
End of the trip Note: It’s recommendable to check the availability of the tickets for the Wayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain as it’s limited

Conclusion

The best Machu Pichcu tour depends on how many days the traveler will spend in the highland city of Cusco and the surrounding areas. Generally, a 5-7 day trip is ideal to see the sights, visit Machu Picchu, and even take the iconic Wayna Picchu hike to photograph the stone city below. Itineraries with fewer days to spend in the highlands can also be good routes to Machu Picchu, but compromises must be made.

If you are searching for the Ideal scenario of the perfect Peru tour package, this will include time in Cusco, Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca, The Amazon Rainforest, Arequipa, and the city of Lima.