Overview
  • Day 1: Arrival in Cusco + Cusco City Tour
  • Day 2: Sacred Valley Tour
  • Day 3: Machu Picchu Tour
  • Day 4: Departure from Cusco
Map Special #1

Designed for travelers who want to see Machu Picchu but don’t have a lot of time — this tour package takes you to the world famous Inca citadel and important sites along the way. All you need is 4 days.

Machu Picchu is the highlight, but you’ll start in Cusco and the Sacred Valley. You’ll tour the cobblestoned streets of Cusco, where the city’s half-Inca, half-Spanish colonial architecture tells the story of the rise and fall of Peru’s greatest civilization. In the Sacred Valley, in the shadow of magnificent snow-capped mountains, you’ll visit the fortress ruins of Pisac and Ollantaytambo and you’ll get a glimpse of daily life in thriving Andean towns. Last but not least, you’ll journey by train to the edge of the Andean cloud forest and up the steep flanks of a granite mountain where the Incas crafted their ultimate masterpiece. Lost for 400 years and introduced to the world again in 1911, the stone citadel of Machu Picchu is hard to get to, but once you’re there, you’ll see that it’s worth every effort.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Cusco + Cusco City Tour

Upon arrival at the Cusco airport, meet our representative for a transfer to your Cusco hotel.
In the afternoon, meet your guide for a tour of Cusco’s must see sights. The tour includes stops at the Plaza de Armas, the Cusco Cathedral (a treasure trove of colonial religious art) and Santo Domingo Monastery, constructed on the site of an Inca temple, Qoricancha or the Temple of the Sun. You’ll also visit the Inca ruins 15 minutes outside of Cusco, beginning at the fortress of Sacsayhuaman (site of an important battle between Inca and Spanish troops), and wrapping up the day with stops at Q’enko, Puka Pukara, and Tambomachay.

At the end of the tour, you’ll be returned to your hotel in Cusco. Hit the town to see Cusco by night or enjoy a quiet evening in.

Day 2: Sacred Valley Tour

Meet your guide in the morning for a tour of the Sacred Valley. In Inca times, this breathtaking glacier-carved valley was built up with royal palaces and temples. Today, it is home to thriving towns and villages. Your first stop is Pisac town, famous for its traditional market and impressive hilltop ruins. At the market, your guide will point out local products like potatoes, giant corn, and natural dyes, and you’ll have a chance to browse the souvenir stalls for one-of-a-kind gifts. Next, you’ll drive up the hill to the Pisac ruins, which sprawl across a narrow mountain ridge and offer magnificent views over the Sacred Valley. You’ll continue down the road to Urubamba and stop for lunch (not included) at a buffet restaurant serving Peruvian specialties. The final stop is in Ollantaytambo, where you’ll climb to the top of the fortress ruins for panoramic views across the former Inca heartland.

The tour ends at your hotel in Sacred Valley, where you can soak in the serene majesty of the Andean night sky lit by the twinkling of a million stars.

Day 3: Machu Picchu Tour

Take an early train to Machu Picchu. The 2-hour trip follows the course of the Urubamba River and descends dramatically from the Andean highlands to the cloud forest. On clear days, you can glimpse the glacier-capped peaks that rise over the valley. Upon arrival at the train station, meet our representative for a transfer to the bus stop and the 25-minute shuttle ride to the ruins.

Meet your guide at the ruins entrance for a 2-hour tour of Machu Picchu. You’ll visit the primary temples and palaces of the Inca citadel and then you’ll have time to explore the ruins on your own. Take an optional hike to the Sun Gate (entrance from the Inca Trail) or to the Inca Bridge.
In the late afternoon, return to the train station for the trip back to Cusco.

You can customize this package to include an overnight stay in Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of Machu Picchu, and a second visit to the enigmatic citadel on the following day. Ask for pricing.

Day 4: Departure from Cusco

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and then meet our representative for a transfer to the Cusco airport and the start of your journey back home.

Prices
Double/Triple
Budget 3 Star 4 Star 5 star
$ 969 $ 1069 $ 1219 $ 1549
Single
Budget 3 Star 4 Star 5 star
$ 1279 $ 1509 $ 1719 $ 2479
**Please note that the prices listed above are only applicable for 2022. Rates vary depending on departure dates. Speak with one of our Travel Advisors for a free quotation and further information.
Included
Included:
  • 2 nights in Cusco and 1 night in the Sacred Valley in hotels based on US standards
  • All tours stated in the itinerary with English-speaking guides
  • Ground transportation and entrance fees
  • Breakfast at all hotels
  • Trains: Ollantaytambo - Machu Picchu - Cusco (Vistadome Train for 5-star and 4-star packages / Expedition Train for 3-star & budget packages)
Not Included:
  • Airfare
  • Lunches or dinner (unless otherwise specified)
  • Airport taxes
  • Tips