Photo gallery
Machu Picchu 2-day tour photos
Tour overview
Machu Picchu 2-day tour at a glance
The Machu Picchu 2-Day Tour is the relaxed way to see the citadel by train. You leave Cusco around midday, ride the train to Aguas Calientes and spend the night at the foot of the mountain, so the next morning you can take one of the first buses up and enter when the light is soft and the crowds are smaller. It is also the easiest way to add Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain. Private transfers and guide, from US$ 449 per person.
Our Cusco team checks the services, timings and availability for your dates and sends the options in a written quote.
Journey highlights
Highlights of the Machu Picchu 2-day tour
- Early entry to Machu Picchu after a night in Aguas Calientes
- Optional Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain hike
- Relaxed pace with time for the hot springs
Interactive journey map
The train route to Machu Picchu
This interactive map shows the transfer and train section of this trip. Other visits and overnight stays are described in the itinerary. The line is schematic, not a GPS navigation track.
Ready in Cusco
- 01CuscoHotel pickup
- 02OllantaytamboBoard the tourist train
- 03Machu Picchu PuebloAlso known as Aguas Calientes
- 04Machu Picchu entranceBegin your guided visit
By private carCusco to Ollantaytambo through the Sacred Valley.
By trainOllantaytambo to Machu Picchu Pueblo beside the Urubamba River.
By shuttle busMachu Picchu Pueblo to the sanctuary entrance.
Return journeyReturn connections are confirmed in your quote.
Detailed itinerary
Machu Picchu 2-day tour itinerary: day by day
Times and services are indicative. Your final schedule is confirmed in your written quote.
Day 1 — Cusco to Aguas Calientes
Your private driver picks you up at your Cusco hotel around midday and drives you through the Andean countryside and down into the Sacred Valley to Ollantaytambo station. The train follows the Urubamba River through a narrowing canyon, from open farmland into the cloud forest. In Aguas Calientes you walk to your hotel, and your guide meets you in the evening to hand over your tickets and explain the next morning's plan. The rest of the evening is free: the thermal baths are about 10 minutes away on foot, and the main street is full of restaurants.
Day 2 — Machu Picchu and back to Cusco
After an early breakfast, you take one of the first buses up the zigzag road to Machu Picchu (25 minutes) and enter at your booked time, when the light is soft and the crowds are still small. Your private guide leads you along your circuit: the classic viewpoint over the citadel, the Temple of the Sun, the Intihuatana stone and the Inca terraces, explaining how and why the Incas built here. With the Huayna Picchu add-on, you climb at 7 or 10 am; with Machu Picchu Mountain, at 7 or 9 am. Afterwards you take the bus down, have lunch in town and board the afternoon train to Ollantaytambo, where your driver takes you back to your Cusco hotel.
What's included
What's included in the Machu Picchu 2-day tour
Included
- transfers
- round-trip train
- 1 night hotel with breakfast
- round-trip bus
- Machu Picchu ticket
- guide
- 24/7 assistance
Not included
- lunches and dinner
- mountain add-ons
- hot springs entry
- tips
Compare your options
Why spend a night in Aguas Calientes?
An early entry. With the night in town, we can book the first morning slots instead of the late-morning entries that day trips depend on.
A shorter, calmer day. The 2-hour drive and the 1.5–2 hour train ride happen the afternoon before, so you arrive at the gate rested.
The mountains. Huayna Picchu (2,720 m) starts at 7 or 10 am and Machu Picchu Mountain (3,082 m) at 7 or 9 am. Both are much easier to fit after a night in Aguas Calientes. Read our guides to Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain.
Time to rest. Aguas Calientes sits at 2,040 m, lower and warmer than Cusco, and the hot springs are about 10 minutes on foot from most hotels. See our Aguas Calientes guide.
Only have one day? Take the Machu Picchu Day Tour from Cusco. Want to see the Sacred Valley on the way? Choose Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu 2 Days. Already have your train and hotel? Book only a private Machu Picchu tour guide.
Optional extras
Ways to tailor this trip
- Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain +US$ 75
- Vistadome train +US$ 65
- Vistadome Observatory +US$ 145 (round trip)
- 3★ or 4★ hotel upgrade on request
Optional services are subject to availability. Mention your preferences in the booking form notes; your quote will list the selected extras and final total.
Plan with confidence
Duration, difficulty and price
Good to know
Good to know before you go
Entrance route
This tour uses the Machu Picchu circuit available for your date, confirmed in your quote. See Machu Picchu circuits explained.
Planning guides
Planning guides
What to bring
What to pack
- Original passport
- Overnight backpack (max 8 kg) or carry-on bag (max 12 kg), plus a daypack
- Rain jacket, warm layer for the early morning, sun hat and sunscreen
- Insect repellent, especially from November to March
- Swimsuit and sandals for the hot springs
- Cash in soles for meals and tips
Carry the original passport used to book. Check your confirmed ticket and operator instructions for current baggage and site rules.
Frequently asked questions
Machu Picchu 2-day tour FAQs
Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain?
Huayna Picchu is shorter and steeper, with very limited daily spots. The Mountain is longer, less exposed and usually easier to secure.
Is the mountain hike safe for kids?
Huayna Picchu has narrow stairs. We recommend it for ages 12+ with a good head for heights.
Can I see the sunrise over Machu Picchu?
With the first entry slot you arrive early, when the light is soft. In the rainy season the citadel is often covered in mist at dawn.
Can I stay a second night in Aguas Calientes?
Yes. Ask for it in your quote and we adjust the train and hotel.
Which is better for photos, Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain?
Huayna Picchu shows the citadel up close from above. Machu Picchu Mountain gives a wider view of the whole valley.
Which hotel do you use in Aguas Calientes?
A basic tourist-class hotel (Hotel Andino or similar) with breakfast. You can upgrade to a 3★ or 4★ hotel in your quote.
What time does the tour start and finish?
Pickup at your Cusco hotel is around midday on Day 1. On Day 2 you take a bus up from about 6:00 am, visit for 2–2.5 hours and return to Cusco around 7–9 pm.
What luggage can I take?
One backpack of up to 8 kg or one carry-on bag of up to 12 kg per person on the train. Pack an overnight bag and leave the rest at your Cusco hotel.
Tripadvisor reviews
What travelers say about the Machu Picchu 2-day tour
Reviews of Traveleez Peru SAC, the operator of Machu-Picchu.tours, on our Tripadvisor profile Machu Picchu by Traveleez.
★★★★★
Amazing Excursion to Machu Picchu!
“We loved watching the sun rise over the city with her.”
