This unforgettable visit to the Inca citadel with a Machu Picchu full day, will allow you to marvel at spectacular Inca architecture, taking a step back in time through Inca portals and pathways around this impressive archaeological site. You will pass through the stunning Sacred Valley landscapes on an unforgettable train ride to the magnificent Machu Picchu, where history comes alive as you follow in the ancient footsteps of the Incas. Marvel at the giant stones and intricate masonry, pass through temples along ancient pathways, all surrounded by the magnificent scenery and cloud forest setting that is this magical wonder of the world.
Day 1: Machu Picchu full day – 2:30hr tour
This day, in the morning at the agreed time, we will pick you up from your hotel to go to the Ollantaytambo train station (a journey of almost 02 hours), once there, we will board the train in order to go to Aguas Caliente. After, we will arrive to the Aguas Calientes train station, where our tour guide will be waiting for you with a sign with your name to head to the bus station for the 30 minute journey up to Machu Picchu. We will zigzag up 400m of road to arrive at the “Historical Sanctuary of Machu Picchu” also known as “The lost city of The Incas”. On arrival at the citadel with your guide, we will queue at the entrance to Machu Picchu and we will begin our tour of this mind-blowing, archaeological site. For two and a half hours, we will visit the principal sites inside the site such as the Plaza Mayor, The temple of the Sun, The Sacred Sun dial (Intiwatana) the royal quarters, The Temple of the Three Windows, The Temple of the Condor, as well as other important sites inside the citadel of Machu Picchu.
After the guided tour, you will be allowed time to take photos, before we return to the town of Aguas Calientes. You will be able to have lunch in one of the many restaurants (lunch is not included), after which we will board the train on our return journey to Ollantaytambo (Depending on the departure time of the train) and we will return along the same road as we arrived, to get to the city of Cusco. In Ollantaytambo, the representative of the train will transport to the bus to take you on the final leg of the journey back to Cusco. Finally we will drop you off in your hotel.
IMPORTANT
From the 1st of January 2019, the rules changed with regards to the Machu Picchu. The visit to the archaeological site will all be in one direction, which means that once you have passed by a certain site, you are not allowed to return. There is no re-entrance to the site, if we leave the site for any reason, we are not allowed to re-enter. The only exception to this new rule is, if you have an entrance ticket to either Machu Picchu Mountain or Huayna Picchu mountain. Also, if you wish to climb one of these mountains, the guided tour of the main citadel will be reduced to coincide with the mountain entrance time. In the case of Machu Picchu Mountain, your guided tour will be for one hour to allow time for you to climb the mountain; In the case of Huayna Pichu, the tour of the main citadel will be for 2 hours approximately.
IMPORTANT ADVICE
After a hearty breakfast and the recommended coca tea before you go to Machu Picchu, we recommend that you leave your luggage/suitcases at the storage of the hotel in Cusco and only carry a daypack to take water, (please remember that Machu Picchu is a plastic free zone so plastic water bottles will be confiscated on entry). Passport, cash, entrance ticket, sunhat sunscreen and insect repellent. We should also take into account that there is usually a queue for the shuttle bus, to and from Machu Picchu. There is also usually a queue for the train back to Ollantaytambo also, so we will need to allow plenty of time in each case. Your guide will be there to orientate you in the best possible manner.
- Overnight: Hotel in Cusco (not included)
- Meals: none
What's Included
- Day 1
- Transfer Hotel – Ollantaytambo train Station - Hotel
- Tourist train from Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes
- Bus – Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu Archaeological Site – Aguas Calientes (2 ways)
- Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu
- Professional, english guide
- Guided tour of Machu Picchu
- Tourist train from Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytambo
- Transfer from Ollantaytambo to hotel in Cusco
- 24/7 Assistance
Not Included
- Drinks except those mentioned in the itinerary
- Meals except those mentioned in the itinerary
- Snacks
- Phone calls
- Tips / gratuities
- Travel insurance
Optional Services
- Return Train VISTADOME/360° with panoramic views, typical dance show (Aguas Calientes - Ollantaytambo) - Upgrade service: USD 65,00 per person
- Passport with at least 6 months validity
- Light daypack
- Refillable water bottle
- Toilet paper
- Sunscreen
- Repellent
- Sunglasses
- Clothing for hot and cold weather conditions
- Walking shoes/boots
- Camera
- Extra memory stick and additional batteries
- Personal medications (for headaches, anti-inflammatory´s etc).
- Extra Cash in soles and small denominations if possible.
- Sunhat
- Rain gear or poncho
| Service | Travelers | Prices |
|---|---|---|
| Group | from 2 person | $387 price per persona |
If the tour is cancelled due to weather conditions, do I get my money back?
No. Tour cancellations due to bad weather conditions are non-refundable, as these are factors beyond our control.
If my tour is cancelled, is the entrance fee to Machu Picchu refundable?
According to the latest updates from the Direccion desconcentrada de Cultura de Cusco, all entrance tickets to Machu Picchu are for personal use. Therefore, tickets purchased for Machu Picchu are not reprogrammable, nor transferable to another date and/or person, nor are refundable.
For the train trip to Machu Picchu, what do I do with my luggage? do I leave it at the hotel or take it with me?
The company that takes you by train to Machu Picchu does not allow you to take a suitcase of more than 5 kg. This means that most people pack a smaller backpack to spend the day in Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu, but people have doubts about where the larger luggage will stay during this time, you can leave it in the storage of the hotel in Cusco, at no extra cost.
can I choose the number of seats on the train?
PeruRail and IncaRail, the companies that provide train services in Peru, do not allow you to choose the seats on the trains. The distribution is done automatically by the company’s system.
To travel by train to Machu Micchu, which one do you suggest: EXPEDITION or VISTADOME?
We usually recommend to book the Expedition/Voyager train for the outbound trip and the Vistadome/360° panoramic train for the return trip, mainly because the outbound trip only has earlier departures, so this would mean missing the guided visit to the Ollantaytambo archaeological complex.
Is it obligatory to be vaccinated against Fiebre Amarilla?
Fiebre Amarilla vaccination is not mandatory for visitors to Peru. However, it is an additional precaution, especially since it is a tropical country.
Is travel insurance obligatory?
Travel insurance is not mandatory, but it is extremely important, especially for tourists who decide to travel to Peru.
Electrical plugs and voltage in Peru
The standard voltage in Peru is 230 volts, however, in some hotels there are plugs with 110, in this case, there are transformers that reduce the voltage.
What is the best currency to use in Peru, dollars or nuevo sol, and where to change?
Almost all establishments accept payments in dollars, so this will be the most used currency in the country. The ideal is to have an amount of dollars and a smaller amount of nuevo sol to make purchases at craft fairs, for example.
It is recommended to take dollars with you and exchange them in Peru at reliable exchange houses recommended by the travel agency.
What is the weather like in Peru?
The country’s weather is divided into two main seasons: rainy and dry.
The rainy season runs from December to the end of March and the dry season from April to October. In the region of Cusco and Machu Picchu, there is a lot of variation in temperature, but normally the maximum reaches 20°C and the minimum is close to 0°C.
In the Lima region, on the coast of Peru, temperatures are higher and range from 12°C to 35°C.
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