Photo gallery
Machu Picchu 3-day tour photos
Tour overview
Machu Picchu 3-day tour at a glance
The essential first trip in three days. Explore Cusco, follow the Sacred Valley down to the train, and visit Machu Picchu early the next morning.
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 3-day tour
- Cusco city tour on arrival
- Sacred Valley on the way to the train
- Early visit to Machu Picchu after a night in Aguas Calientes
- Every ticket confirmed before you pay
Detailed itinerary
Machu Picchu 3-day tour itinerary: day by day
Times and services are indicative. Your final schedule is confirmed in your written quote.
Day 1 — Arrival and Cusco City Tour
We meet you at Cusco airport and take you to your hotel to rest and drink coca tea, the best start at 3,400 m. In the afternoon your guide walks you through the Inca capital: the Qoricancha, the Temple of the Sun, with the finest Inca stonework in the city; the Cathedral on the Plaza de Armas, with its silver altar and the Cusco School paintings; and, by bus above the city, the giant zigzag walls of Sacsayhuamán and the shrines of Q'enqo, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay. You are back in the center around 6:30 pm.
Day 2 — Sacred Valley and the train to Aguas Calientes
The road drops into the Sacred Valley, about 500 m lower than Cusco. In Pisac you walk among sweeping Inca terraces and temples high above the river, then browse the craft market for textiles and silver. Lunch is a buffet of Andean dishes in Urubamba. In the afternoon you climb the terraces of the Ollantaytambo fortress to the Temple of the Sun and its giant pink stones, and walk through the Inca town below. The evening train follows the Urubamba River into the canyon to Aguas Calientes, where your guide meets you to explain the next morning's visit.
Day 3 — Machu Picchu and return
After an early breakfast you take one of the first buses up the zigzag road to Machu Picchu. Your guide leads you along your circuit, from the classic view over the citadel to its temples, plazas and terraces, explaining how and why the Incas built here. Add Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain for the view from above. Afterwards you have free time for lunch in town before the afternoon train to Ollantaytambo and the transfer to your Cusco hotel, or straight to the airport for an evening flight.
What's included
What's included in the Machu Picchu 3-day tour
Included
- airport pickup
- 2 hotel nights with breakfast
- city tour and Sacred Valley tour with every entrance fee
- buffet lunch on Day 2
- round-trip train
- bus
- Machu Picchu ticket
- guides
Not included
- flights
- meals not listed
- tips
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 (the one used for your bookings) and student ID if applicable
- Small overnight bag or backpack within the train allowance (8 kg backpack or 12 kg carry-on); main luggage stays at your hotel
- Daypack of about 20 liters for the visits
- Layers: warm jacket for Cusco evenings, light clothes for Machu Picchu
- Rain jacket or poncho (essential from November to March), sun hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
- Insect repellent and a refillable water bottle
- Cash in soles for meals, small purchases 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 3-day tour FAQs
3 days or 4 days?
The 4-day package adds a second Sacred Valley day with Maras and Moray. Choose it if you are not in a hurry.
Can I fly out on Day 3?
Yes. Flights leave Cusco until around midnight, so an evening flight works. If you connect to an international flight, leave a wide margin or add a night in Cusco.
What time should I arrive in Cusco?
By late morning on Day 1, so you can join the afternoon city tour. If you arrive later, we move the city tour to the end of the trip.
Which hotels are included?
One night in Cusco and one in Aguas Calientes, in basic tourist-class hotels with breakfast. You can upgrade to 3★ or 4★ in your quote.
Which meals are included?
Breakfast at the hotel and a buffet lunch in the Sacred Valley on Day 2. Other meals are not included.
How do I handle the altitude?
Rest on arrival, drink water and coca tea and avoid alcohol the first night. The Sacred Valley and Aguas Calientes are lower than Cusco (3,400 m) and easier on the body.
Can I add Huayna Picchu or the Vistadome train?
Yes. Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, the Vistadome train and hotel upgrades can all be added in your quote.
Tripadvisor reviews
What travelers say about our team
Reviews of Traveleez Peru SAC, the operator of Machu-Picchu.tours, on our Tripadvisor profile Machu Picchu by Traveleez.
★★★★★
Highschool’s travel buddies to Machu Picchu
“Traveleez team are so helpful in assisting our needs with their prompt response.”
★★★★★
Incredible experience
“An unforgettable experience. Super punctual, good transportation, and very good treatment.”
Translated from Spanish
★★★★★
Highly recommended
“This agency is super responsive, unlike others that can take weeks to get back to you.”
