Machu Picchu Full Day

See Machu Picchu in a single day from Cusco, with no need to spend the night in Aguas Calientes. It's the ideal option if you only have a few days in the city and don't want to leave Peru without setting foot in the world's most famous Inca citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983 and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World since 2007.

We take care of everything: hotel pickup, transport to the Sacred Valley, Vistadome train, bus up and down, entrance ticket, certified guide and buffet lunch. The pace is relaxed and the only walking is inside the citadel, so the tour suits families, older travelers and first-time visitors to Cusco.

How the day goes

• Early morning – hotel pickup: we pick you up between 4:00 and 5:00 am, depending on your train time. We confirm the exact time the day before.
• Drive to the Sacred Valley: about 1 hour and 45 minutes by tourist van to Ollantaytambo station, watching the sun rise over the Andes.
• Vistadome train: around 1 hour and 30 minutes along the Urubamba River. Panoramic side and roof windows reveal the snow-capped Veronica peak, Inca terraces and the shift from highlands to high jungle.
• Arrival in Aguas Calientes: we meet you at the station and take you to the bus stop.
• Up to Machu Picchu: about 30 minutes on the official Consettur bus along the zigzagging Hiram Bingham road.
• Guided visit: about 2 hours exploring the citadel with your guide. We start with the panoramic photo from the upper section, then head down to the temples and the urban area.
• Buffet lunch: take the bus back to Aguas Calientes and have lunch at a restaurant serving Peruvian and international dishes.
• Free time: stroll around town, the craft market or the main square before your train.
• Afternoon – back to Cusco: take the train back to Ollantaytambo, and our van drops you at your hotel around 7:00 pm.

What you'll see at Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu was built in the mid-15th century on the orders of the Inca ruler Pachacutec, at 2,430 meters (7,970 ft) above sea level, high on a mountain encircled by the Urubamba River. It served as a residence for Inca nobility and as a religious center, and remained hidden from the outside world until 1911, when explorer Hiram Bingham made it known. Your guide explains its history and the astronomy and engineering that have kept it standing for more than 500 years. Depending on the circuit on your ticket, you'll visit places such as:

• The Guardhouse and the classic view: the postcard shot of the citadel with Huayna Picchu mountain behind it.
• The agricultural sector: hundreds of terraces that hold up the mountain, drain rainwater and made farming possible on the steep slope.
• The Temple of the Sun: a semicircular tower of polished stone with windows aligned to the solstices.
• The Temple of the Three Windows and the Main Temple: the finest examples of Inca stonework, with blocks fitted together without mortar.
• The Intihuatana: a carved rock that served as a sundial and astronomical calendar.
• The Main Plaza and the Sacred Rock: the heart of the citadel, separating the religious area from the urban area.
• The Temple of the Condor: natural rocks carved into the shape of a condor with outstretched wings.

Along the way you'll very likely cross paths with the llamas that live on the citadel's terraces.

Why book with Danfer Tours

• Local operator in Cusco: we run the tour ourselves, with no middlemen, and coordinate every leg so you never miss a connection.
• Tickets secured: we buy your Machu Picchu entrance and train tickets in advance, so you avoid lines and surprises.
• Certified guides: tourism professionals born in the region who stay with you for the whole visit.
• WhatsApp support: we're with you before and during the trip to answer any question.

When to go

Machu Picchu is open all year. May to September is the dry season, with clear skies and more visitors. April, October and November combine good weather with fewer crowds. December to March brings more rain, but the landscape is at its greenest. Tickets are limited, so we recommend booking at least one month ahead, and two or more in high season.