Visiting: Cusco · Sacsayhuamán · Qenqo · Pukapukara · Tambomachay · Pisac · Moray · Maras · Chinchero · Ollantaytambo · Aguas Calientes · Machu Picchu
Overview
The Cusco City, Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu 3-Day Private Tour is our most complete package — it brings together the three great highlights of the region in one carefully planned, fully private itinerary. You travel with your own guide and vehicle, at your own pace, with every entrance ticket, train and hotel already arranged.
Day one explores Cusco city and its four nearby Inca ruins, then the Pisac ruins and market in the Sacred Valley. Day two crosses the valley — Moray, the Maras salt mines and Chinchero — before the scenic Vistadome train to Aguas Calientes. Day three is a full guided visit to Machu Picchu, with free time to add Huayna Picchu, Machu Picchu Mountain or the Sun Gate before the train home.
📅 Good to know. This is a private tour for 2 or more travellers, with a lower per-person rate as the group grows. It's an easy, comfortable pace, but you spend time at high altitude (Cusco and the ruins sit above 3,400 m) — we recommend acclimatising before you start. Machu Picchu uses timed-entry tickets that sell out in high season, so book ahead.
Day by Day
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1
Cusco city tour + the four ruins + Pisac
A morning pick-up from your hotel at 8:30 am starts a full day through Cusco and the Sacred Valley. You begin in the historic centre at the Coricancha, the city's main temple, and the colonial cathedral — a striking blend of Inca and colonial architecture — then dive into local life at the bustling San Pedro central market, sampling Andean snacks before a stroll through the old Inca streets and lunch at a traditional restaurant.
In the afternoon you tour the four Inca ruins above the city — Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Pukapukara and Tambomachay — a glimpse into the Incas' ingenious stonework and engineering. You then continue into the Sacred Valley to the Pisac ruins, perched high on the mountains, and explore the lively Pisac market before heading to a comfortable hotel in Urubamba for the night.
Good to know: This single day covers the most significant sites of Cusco and its surroundings — the city centre, the four ruins and your first taste of the Sacred Valley at Pisac.
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2
Moray · Maras salt mines · Chinchero → train to Aguas Calientes
After breakfast at the hotel, you drive to Moray, the Incas' agricultural laboratory of circular farming terraces, then to the dazzling Maras salt mines, where you can step into the Salineras and touch the salt crystals. Next is Chinchero to admire its colonial temple built atop an Inca structure and visit a traditional textile workshop, learning the natural dyeing techniques and Andean iconography from local weavers.
You stop for lunch at a valley restaurant known for healthy, clean cooking, with a chance to taste the local chicha (Inca corn beer) and meet locals while learning about guinea-pig farming and Andean cuisine. In the late afternoon you board the panoramic Vistadome train at Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, the town at the foot of Machu Picchu, where you spend the night ready for the citadel the next day.
Good to know: Today is full of Sacred Valley highlights — Moray, the Maras salt mines, Chinchero's textile workshops, a guinea-pig farm and the living Inca town of Ollantaytambo before your train.
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3
A full day at Machu Picchu → Cusco
Early in the morning, after a nourishing breakfast, you take the bus up to Machu Picchu and enter the sacred sanctuary of the Incas before the crowds, with time to capture the breathtaking views. Your expert guide then leads an informative tour of the citadel, sharing the history and culture of the Incas, followed by plenty of free time to explore the mystical site at your own pace.
If you wish, you can walk to the Sun Gate or the Inca Bridge, or climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain if you booked them in advance. Afterward you return to Aguas Calientes for lunch at one of the town's charming restaurants, then board the train to Ollantaytambo, where we transfer you back to Cusco with a drop-off at your hotel.
Good to know: With the whole day on site, this tour is ideal for the optional hikes — the Sun Gate, the Inca Bridge, or Huayna Picchu / Machu Picchu Mountain if booked in advance.
Which Machu Picchu Circuit Will I Visit?
Machu Picchu is visited on fixed circuits, and tickets are sold only by the Peruvian government in limited daily numbers. Your tour includes the entrance ticket; we buy the best circuit available for your date, prioritising the classic routes:
- Circuit 2 (Classic) — our first choice: the classic postcard viewpoint plus a complete tour of the citadel, temples and terraces. Book ~4 months ahead in high season, as it sells out first.
- Circuit 1 (Panoramic) — the upper terraces and the classic viewpoint, with the best wide photos, but without entering the urban sector.
- Circuit 3 (Royalty) — the lower part of the citadel and the royal sector; a good alternative when Circuits 1 and 2 are sold out.
- Optional add-ons — Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain can be added for a small supplement (separate ticket and circuit, subject to availability). With a full day on site, this tour is ideal for them.
Circuits and entry times are set by the government and cannot be changed once issued. We always aim for Circuit 2 first and confirm your exact circuit before travel.
Tour at a Glance
| Duration | 3 days / 2 nights |
| Service | Private tour with your own guide & vehicle |
| Difficulty | Easy — gentle walking, comfortable pace |
| Altitude | Highest ~3,765 m (Cusco ruins / Chinchero); Machu Picchu 2,430 m |
| Train | Vistadome (panoramic) out · Expedition return · round-trip bus to Machu Picchu |
| Machu Picchu | A full day · guided tour (usually Circuit 2) |
| Meals | 2 breakfasts · 3 lunches · 1 dinner |
| Group | Private · from 2 travelers · daily departures |
What's Included
Tap any item to see the full details.
Included
Not included
Prices — 2026 Season
This is a private tour, so the price per person depends on your group size — the bigger the group, the lower the rate. Students and children may qualify for a discount on Machu Picchu's official entrance fee; ask us when booking.
| Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|
| 2 travelers | $630 |
| 3 travelers | $590 |
| 4 travelers | $560 |
| 5 travelers | $510 |
Per-person rates for a fully private tour. A $250 deposit per person confirms your booking and secures your Machu Picchu ticket and train. Travelling in a larger group? Message us for a tailored quote.
Optional Add-ons
- Huayna Picchu Mountain (circuit upgrade)+$20
- Machu Picchu Mountain (circuit upgrade)+$20
- Vistadome panoramic train — return upgrade+$35
What to Pack
An easy, comfortable tour — but bring layers for Andean weather and the strong high-altitude sun:
- Always with you: original passport (and physical student ID if you booked the student rate) and your tickets.
- Clothing: layers for warm days and cool evenings, a waterproof jacket or poncho, comfortable walking shoes, a sun hat and sunglasses.
- Extras: high-SPF sunscreen, insect repellent, a reusable water bottle, some cash in soles, and a camera or phone.
How to Book
Book online or in person at our Cusco office (Portal Nuevo 270, Plaza Regocijo). A $250 deposit per person secures your Machu Picchu ticket, train and place; the balance is due at least 24 h before the tour. Tickets sell out in high season, so book ahead.
- Check availability for your travel date and group size.
- Choose the number of travellers and any extras.
- Fill in each traveller's details exactly as in their passport (tickets are nominative).
- Pay the $250 deposit or full amount — you receive confirmation and our team follows up by WhatsApp.
Deposit: a non-refundable, non-transferable $250 deposit per person is used to buy your Machu Picchu ticket and train immediately.
Ticket: issued by the Peruvian government for a fixed date, time and circuit — non-refundable and non-modifiable.
Balance: due at least 24 h before the tour, payable in cash (soles or USD) at our Cusco office, by card (+3.9%), or online (+2.9%).
Student rate: email a photo of both sides of your PVC university ID to info@machupicchuteam.com when booking; the discount is applied on arrival once verified.
Passport: must be valid 6+ months; update us if you renew before travel. Full terms are confirmed at checkout.
Frequently Asked Questions
It's the most complete option and it's fully private. In three days you cover Cusco city and its four ruins, the main Sacred Valley sites (Pisac, Moray, Maras and Chinchero) and a full day at Machu Picchu — all with your own private guide and vehicle, at your own pace. The other Machu Picchu tours focus on the citadel alone or on a single leg.
Because it's a private tour, the fixed costs (guide, vehicle, driver) are shared between your group, so the per-person price drops as the group grows: $630 for 2 travellers, down to $510 for 5. For larger groups, message us for a tailored quote.
It's an easy tour with gentle walking at each site — no trekking required. The main thing to plan for is altitude: Cusco and the ruins above it sit over 3,400 m, so we recommend spending a day or two acclimatising in Cusco before you start. Machu Picchu itself is lower and more comfortable at 2,430 m.
The package includes the panoramic Vistadome train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes on day two, and the Expedition train back on day three (both subject to availability). If you'd like the Vistadome on the return leg too, you can upgrade for about +$35.
We always request Circuit 2 (the classic route with the postcard viewpoint and a full tour of the citadel). If it's sold out for your date, we book the best available alternative. For Circuit 2 in high season, book around 4 months ahead.
Yes, for a small supplement (about +$20), subject to availability. These are separate mountain circuits with limited daily spots, so book them well in advance. With a full day at the site, this tour is perfect for adding one.
