Visit the legendary Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, on this full-day trip from Cusco. Ride the train through the Sacred Valley to Aguas Calientes, then enjoy a guided tour of the Inca citadel with time to take in its breathtaking terraces, temples, and mountain views.
Suitable for all ages.
Yes, and it is not optional. Your original passport is required to board the train and again at the citadel gate, and the details must match the entry ticket exactly. We ask for your passport information at the time of booking for this reason, so please send it exactly as it appears in the document. Children need their own passport too. Citizens of Peru and the Andean Community can travel on a valid national ID instead.
Less than in Cusco, in fact. The citadel sits at 2,430 m, almost 1,000 m lower than Cusco (3,399 m), and the air feels noticeably easier. What tires people here is the terrain rather than the altitude: the site is built on steep ground and the guided route involves a fair number of uneven stone steps.
As early as you can. Entry to Machu Picchu is capped at 4,500 visitors a day (5,600 on designated high-season dates) and sold by circuit and hourly time slot, and train seats for the good departures go the same way. Between June and August the best combinations are usually gone weeks ahead. Once your slot is confirmed it cannot be changed for another date or another name.
Backpacks must stay under 40 x 35 x 20 cm. Tripods, selfie sticks, drones, umbrellas, loudspeakers and food are not allowed inside, and there is free luggage storage at the entrance for anything oversized. Bring your passport, water, sun protection and a light rain jacket. There is no re-entry once you leave, so plan your stop at the toilets before you go through the gate.
Pickup at your hotel in Cusco is at 03:45, and you are usually back around 18:30, so it is a long day of roughly fourteen hours. The train leaves Ollantaytambo at 06:10 and returns at 14:55. Breakfast and lunch are included, along with the train, the shuttle bus up to the citadel, the entrance ticket and a guided tour of around two and a half hours.
