Cusco and Machu Picchu 4 Days 3 Nights Package: Itinerary and Price
Cusco and Machu Picchu 4 Days 3 Nights Package: Itinerary and Price
Four days is the minimum we recommend to see the essentials of Cusco without rushing: the city, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu with a night in Aguas Calientes. It's the package we put together most often for first-time visitors. Here's the day-by-day itinerary, the price and what's included.
Package summary
| Day | Activity | Tour | Price per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrival and afternoon City Tour | Cusco City Tour | US$15 |
| 2 | Sacred Valley: Chinchero, Moray, Maras and Ollantaytambo | Sacred Valley VIP | US$32 |
| 3 | Train to Aguas Calientes and a night at the foot of Machu Picchu | Machu Picchu 2D/1N | US$280 |
| 4 | Early Machu Picchu visit and return to Cusco | (included in the 2D/1N) | — |
| Tours total | US$327 |
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: arrival in Cusco and City Tour
You arrive in Cusco in the morning. Rest for a few hours at your hotel: Cusco sits at 3,400 meters and it pays to take the first day easy (read our altitude sickness guide).
In the afternoon, the City Tour picks you up at your hotel and visits Qoricancha, Sacsayhuamán, Q'enqo, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay with a professional guide. It's a half-day tour, ideal for arrival day because most of it is by bus. More about Sacsayhuamán in our Sacsayhuamán guide.
Day 2: Sacred Valley VIP
A full day in the Sacred Valley: Chinchero and its weavers, the circular terraces of Moray, the Maras Salt Mines and the Ollantaytambo fortress, with buffet lunch included. The valley is lower than Cusco, which helps you acclimatize. We cover Ollantaytambo and Maras and Moray in detail.
Day 3: train to Aguas Calientes
You leave early for the train station and ride a tourist train to Aguas Calientes along the Urubamba River. The afternoon is free: hot springs, the Site Museum or the Mandor gardens. You sleep at a hotel in Aguas Calientes with breakfast included. Ideas for the afternoon in our Aguas Calientes guide.
Day 4: Machu Picchu and return
You ride up on one of the first buses and tour Machu Picchu with a guide, with fewer crowds and better light than at midday. Then you head back down to Aguas Calientes and take the return train, arriving in Cusco in the evening.
Important: since you get back at night, book your departure flight for day 5. That gives you a buffer if the train is delayed.
What's included
- City Tour: hotel pickup, tourist transport and a professional guide.
- Sacred Valley VIP: hotel pickup, transport, a professional guide and buffet lunch.
- Machu Picchu 2D/1N: round-trip tourist train, bus up and down, Machu Picchu entrance ticket, a professional guide and 1 night at a hotel in Aguas Calientes with breakfast.
What's not included
- Hotel in Cusco (2 nights: days 1 and 2).
- Cusco Tourist Ticket: the Integral costs S/130 and covers Sacsayhuamán, Chinchero, Moray and Ollantaytambo, among others. We explain which to buy in our Tourist Ticket guide.
- Qoricancha and Maras Salt Mines entrance fees, paid separately.
- Meals not mentioned, tips and personal expenses.
- Flights.
How much does it cost in total?
A rough estimate per person, excluding flights:
| Item | Approximate |
|---|---|
| Tours (City Tour + Sacred Valley VIP + Machu Picchu 2D/1N) | US$327 |
| Integral Tourist Ticket (S/130) | about US$35 |
| Hotel in Cusco, 2 nights | from US$40 (budget) |
| Meals not included | from US$60 |
| Approximate total | from about US$460 |
For a more detailed breakdown, see how much a Machu Picchu trip costs.
What if I have one more day?
With 5 days you can add Rainbow Mountain (US$30) or Humantay Lake (US$35). Do it on the last day, once you're acclimatized. If you can't decide, read Rainbow Mountain vs Humantay Lake. And if you have a week, see our 7-day Cusco itinerary.
Why Machu Picchu in 2 days and not a day trip?
Because sleeping in Aguas Calientes lets you enter early, without racing the return train and with a buffer if anything is delayed. We explain it in depth in Machu Picchu in 2 days 1 night.
How to book
Message us on WhatsApp with your dates and number of travelers. We'll send you the itinerary and a written quote with what is and isn't included. Machu Picchu is booked with a deposit, because the ticket and train are bought in your name; the balance is paid on arrival in Cusco.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a 4-day Cusco and Machu Picchu package?
With our tours, the City Tour, Sacred Valley VIP and Machu Picchu 2D/1N add up to US$327 per person. The hotel in Cusco, the Tourist Ticket, some entrance fees, meals not included and flights are extra.
Does the package include a hotel?
It includes 1 night at a hotel in Aguas Calientes with breakfast. The 2 nights in Cusco are not included, so you can choose the hotel you prefer.
Are 4 days enough for Cusco and Machu Picchu?
Yes, for the essentials: the city, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. If you want to do Rainbow Mountain or Humantay Lake, add a fifth day.
How far in advance should I book?
In high season (May to September), at least 1-2 months ahead, because Machu Picchu tickets and trains have limited capacity. The rest of the year, 2-3 weeks is usually enough.
