Cusco Express: City tour + Machu Picchu 3d/2n
- 10k reviews 3d/2n
The city tour of Cusco and Machu Picchu are two of the most visited tourist destinations in Peru, sign up for this Cusco express tourist package of 3 days and 1 night.
The timings for Day 2: Full day classic Machu Picchu are referential and based on the schedule of the PeruRail train company (Expedition) or another company with similar schedules. Consider the availability of train tickets and Machu Picchu.
Itinerary
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Day 1: Reception at the airport + city tour Cusco
- Reception at the airport and transfer to your hotel.
- The pickup time will be coordinated one day before your arrival.
- Check in en tu hotel.
- 13:00 Recogida desde tu hotel – si aplica.
- Explore:
- Cusco Cathedral
- Coricancha Temple + Santo Domingo Church
- Sacsayhuamán
- Handicraft shop — optional
- Qenqo
- Puca Pucara
- Tambomachay
- 19:00 This tour ends near the Plaza de Armas.
Day 2: Full day classic Machu Picchu
- 4:25 Pick-up and transfer from your hotel in Cusco.
- The transfer will be to the train company office from where you will take your bus.
- 5:10 Your bus departs to Ollantaytambo.
- 7:15 Board your train Ollantaytambo.
- 7:45 Your train departs to Aguas Calientes.
- 9:15 Arrival at Aguas Calientes and breakfast.
- 10:10 Board your bus to reach MP ruins.
- The bus ride from Aguas Calientes to MP ruins takes about 30 min.
- The buses depart about every 10 min.
- 11:00 Meet your guide outside the entrance gate of MP ruins.
- Guided tour of Machu Picchu (Circuit 2) — approx. 2 hours
- Free time at Machu Picchu ruins.
- This issue will always depend on park rangers.
- Return to Aguas Calientes and have lunch.
- 15:52 Board your train.
- 16:22 Your train returns to Ollantaytambo.
- 18:10 Arrival at Ollantaytambo.
- Transfer to the bus in Ollantaytambo.
- 20:30 Arrival in Cusco and transfer to your hotel on your own.
Day 3: Historical walk + airport transfer
- 10:00 Meet your Guide:
- In front of the Chicha restaurant in the Regocijo square.
- Look for the yellow vest.
- Explore:
- Saint Francis Square
- Santa Clara Arch
- San Pedro Market — interior visit
- Main Square
- Pachacutec Palace — exterior visit
- Sun Temple — exterior visit
- Colonial mansions
- 13:00 This tour ends near the Plaza de Armas.
- Return to your hotel.
- Transfer to the Airport.
- The transfer time will be coordinated one day before.
Price/Hotel
The prices shown in the table are:
- Per person in US dollars ($).
- Prices are indicative and depend on: Hotel category, number of people, tour date, and nationality.
- Children have discounts.
- Group = shared service with other tourists.
- Pple. = people.
- The stars below stand for the hotel category.
Group:
| Pple. | Tour (without hotel) | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 1 | $320 | $410 | $480 | $550 |
Private:
| Pple. | Tour (without hotel) | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 1 | $560 | $650 | $720 | $790 |
| 2 | $460 | $505 | $540 | $575 |
| 3 | $410 | $445 | $485 | $505 |
| 4 | $380 | $425 | $460 | $495 |
| 5 | $350 | $390 | $425 | $455 |
Details
Included:
Day 1: Reception at the airport + city tour Cusco
| Included | Group | Private |
| Pick up from the airport | ✅ | ✅ |
| Pick up from your hotel for the tour | ✅ | ✅ |
| Professional Guide | ✅ | ✅ |
| Tourist vehicle | ✅ | ✅ |
| Personalized service | ❌ | ✅ |
| Boleto Turístico Cusco | ❌ | ❌ |
| Drop off at your hotel | ❌ | ✅ |
Day 2: Full day classic Machu Picchu
| Included | Group | Private |
| Pick up from your hotel in Cusco | ✅ | ✅ |
| Meal | ❌ | ❌ |
| Bus: Cusco-Ollantaytambo (round trip) | ✅ | ✅ |
| Bimodal Expedition train: Ollantay-Aguas Calientes (round trip) | ✅ | ✅ |
| Bus: Aguas Calientes-MP ruins (round trip) | ✅ | ✅ |
| Type of ticket: Circuit 2 (Ruta clásico diseñada or Ruta terraza inferior) | ✅ | ✅ |
| Guide for MP ruinas | ✅ | ✅ |
| Personalized service | ❌ | ✅ |
| Drop off at your hotel in Cusco | ❌ | ✅ |
Day 3: Walking tour + transfer to the Airport
| Included | Group | Private |
| Pick up from your hotel | ❌ | ✅ |
| Meal | ❌ | ❌ |
| Professional Guide | ✅ | ✅ |
| Personalized service | ❌ | ✅ |
| Drop off at your hotel | ❌ | ❌ |
| Transfer to the Airport | ✅ | ✅ |
Inclusions under exclusive request:
- Hotel (see Price/Hotel tab).
- Modification of places to visit (only for private tours).
More details:
Day 1: Reception at the airport + city tour Cusco
- The transfer time from the airport will be coordinated one day before the event.
- See the details of the Cusco city tour in the following table:
| Details | Group | Private |
| Schedule | 13:00 to 19:00 | You decide |
| Language | es/en simultaneously | es or en |
| Size | 15 to 30 pax | You and your friends |
Day 2: Full day classic Machu Picchu
| Details | Group | Private |
| Schedule | 4:25 to 20:30 | 4:25 to 20:30 |
| Language: Guided tour of MP | es or en | es, en, pt, fr |
| Size: Guided tour of MP | 15 pax | You and your friends |
| Size: Cusco-Ollantaytambo by bus | 30 pax | 30 pax |
| Size: Train car | 52 pax | 52 pax |
| Size: Aguas Calientes-MP ruins by bus | 30 pax | 30 pax |
Day 3: Walking tour + transfer to the airport
- After the walking tour you can return to your hotel and then we will transfer you to the airport.
- The transfer time will be coordinated one day before the event.
- See the details of the Walking tour in the following table:
| Details | Group | Private |
| Schedule | 10:00 to 13:00 | You decide |
| Language | es or en | es or en |
| Size | 15 pax | You and your friends |
Accessibility: Not suitable for people with reduced mobility.
What do I bring?
- Original passport
- Sweaters
- Rain ponchos
- Anti-slip shoes
- Caps or hats
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Mosquito repellent (only for MP tour)
- A bottle of water
Not allowed:
- Performing flights with paragliders, drones, or any type of small aircraft.
- Backpacks, bags, or purses larger than 40x35x20 cm (16x14x8 inches).
- Walking sticks, umbrellas, sunshades, camera supports or extensions (tripods), and selfie sticks.
- Accessing with baby strollers.
- Climbing or leaning on Inca walls.
- Touching, moving, or extracting lithic elements.
- Not respecting the established circuits and routes.
- Engaging in prohibited acts will result in the immediate expulsion of the visitor without the right to a refund.
WhatsApp:
Notes
Pick-ups and schedules
Transfers from/to the airport:
- We will coordinate them before the event according to your flight schedules.
- Consider that you have to be at the airport 2 hours before your flight departure for domestic flights.
Group tours:
- Day 1: City tour
- All pick up times and tour ending times are approximate.
- We will pick you up as long as you are in the historic center; otherwise, we will coordinate another meeting place.
- If your hotel doesn’t have a car access, the streets are one-way only or there is a lot of car traffic, then you will walk some blocks to get in the bus.
- We may not pick you up for some tours due to schedules, festivals and strikes.
- When being picked up, we will call for your name, lastname and tour destination; otherwise, don’t get on the bus.
- We will coordinate all pick-up time details one day prior your tour.
- Day 2: Full day classic Machu Picchu
- The pick-up time from your hotel is punctual.
- The ending time of this tour is approx.
- We will pick you up as long as you are in the historic center; otherwise, there will be an additional cost.
- When being picked up, we will call you by your first and last name; otherwise, don’t board the vehicle.
- We will coordinate all the pick-up details one day prior your excursion.
- Day 3: Walking tour
- The tour ending times are approx.
Private tours:
- If you book private tours, many of the inconveniences mentioned above can be avoided.
Expedition train
- It’s a train carriage owned by PeruRail.
- Capacity of the train carriage: 52 pax.
- Spacious train carriages with comfortable seats and ambient music onboard.
- Luggage spaces are shared.
Bimodal train:
- Means tren + bus
- Cusco-Ollantaytambo: Round trip by bus.
- Cusco a Ollantaytambo: 2 hours aprox. by bus.
- Years ago, 90% of the trains departed from the city of Cusco.
- Due to landslides and other factors, nowadays, 80% of the trains depart from Ollantaytambo city.
- To reach Ollantaytambo, the train companies offer buses that depart from their offices in Cusco city.
- You will transfer to the train in Ollantaytambo to embark towards Aguas Calientes.
- The journey from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes takes approx. 2 hours by train.
- For returning to Cusco, you will use the same system: Train + Bus.
- The bus will drop you off at the train company’s office, and we will pick you up there to take you to your hotel.
- Important: Don’t confuse these buses with the buses from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu ruins.
Bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu ruins
- This bus ride lasts 30 minutes approx.
- The buses leave every 10 minutes approx.
- The buses have a capacity of up to 30 passengers.
Aguas Calientes = Machu Picchu Pueblo
- Aguas Calientes is the colloquial and popular name for the contemporary city of Machu Picchu Pueblo (official name). This city is the closest to the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu.
- Aguas Calientes = AC.
- Machu Picchu Pueblo = MP Pueblo.
Machu Picchu Pueblo vs Machu Picchu ruins
- Machu Picchu = MP.
- Machu Picchu Pueblo is:
- A super small city from the middle of the 20th century.
- The closest city to the ruins of Machu Picchu.
- Also known colloquially as the city of Aguas Calientes.
- Machu Picchu ruins is the Inca citadel.
Types of ticket for MP: Circuit 1, 2 and 3
80% of tourists visit Circuit 2. The Ruta 2-A and Ruta 2-B are 99% similar:
- Circuit 2 – Circuito clásico:
- Ruta 2-A: Ruta clásico diseñada — 2 hours.
- Ruta 2-B: Ruta terraza inferior — 2 hours.
If you want to include other Machu Picchu circuits, you can do but the price might increase:
- Circuit 1 – Panorámico:
- Ruta 1-A: Ruta Montaña Machu Picchu — 4 hours.
- Ruta 1-B: Ruta terraza superior — 2 hours.
- Ruta 1-C: Ruta Portada Intipunku (available only in high season) — 4 hours.
- Ruta 1-D: Ruta Puente Inka (available only in high season) — 4 hours.
- Circuit 3 – Machu Picchu realeza:
- Ruta 3-A: Ruta Montaña Wayna Picchu — 4 hours.
- Ruta 3-B: Ruta realeza diseñada — 2 hours.
- Ruta 3-C: Ruta Gran Caverna (available only in high season) — 4 hours.
- Ruta 3-D: Ruta Huchuy Picchu (available only in high season) — 4 hours.
Type of vehicle and seats
- All vehicles are:
- 100% tourist, super comfortable.
- Authorized by the Ministry of Transportation of Peru.
- You reserve a seat on the bus; not necessarily a specific seat number, applies for:
- The City tour of Cusco (unless you book private tour)
- Bus: Cusco-Ollantay
- Bus: Aguas Calientes-MP ruins
- Travel companions or couples sit together to 99%, very rarely the other way and if it happens, it’s part of the dynamics of this excursion.
Terms
We are an upfront team: As a traveler, you have the right to information before making a purchase. We don’t hide any information from you. The more informed you are, the better you’ll enjoy your trip.
Operativity
This tour is subject to variation without prior notice due to weather conditions, strikes, and any other event that may disrupt the normal operation of the tour.
Rescheduling
Machu Picchu tours:
- Once we purchase your ticket for Machu Picchu, there will be no turning back to modify the date of entry to Machu Picchu.
- Strikes/landslides:
- If you cannot visit Machu Picchu on the scheduled date due to strikes or landslides, we will reschedule your travel date for the following days (not for the next month or year).
- Please note that the strike must actually occur to modify the entry date to Machu Picchu. For example, if there is a strike announced for next week and it may likely affect your itinerary, you should still attempt to enter Machu Picchu. If unfortunately, you couldn’t, then we will reschedule your entry date to Machu Picchu, usually for the next day. However, you won’t be able to request rescheduling without having attempted to visit Machu Picchu previously.
- Remember that strikes don’t always impact Machu Picchu tours and other destinations, and the intensity of the strike can only be assessed on the day of the strike itself.
Other tours:
- Please notify us at least 2 days in advance for rescheduling.
Cancellations
Machu Picchu tours:
- Cancel with a minimum of 7 days in advance for a partial refund; otherwise, there will be no refund.
Other tours:
- Cancel with a minimum of 2 days in advance for a refund; otherwise, there will be no refund.
- If you cancel your tour outside the allowed time limit, there will be no refund or rescheduling. Please, be sure before canceling a tour. For example, if you have a tour scheduled for tomorrow at 4:30 am and you cancel it today, you cannot change your mind tomorrow before 4:30 am, calling us on the phone and requesting things like: “We want to go on the tour,” “We’ve changed our minds,” “Come to pick us up at the hotel,” etc. The answer is no. We won’t be able to accommodate you on the bus at the last minute, and there will be no refund.
Refunds
Machu Picchu tours:
- Please inform us at least 7 days in advance for a partial refund.
- The Ministry of Culture (MP tickets) and the bus companies do not provide refunds, therefore the cost paid for the entrance tickets to Machu Picchu and the buses from Aguas Calientes to MP ruins will not be refunded for any reason.
- Before issuing a refund, we will request a refund from the train companies, buses, etc. Please consider that they may charge an administrative fee, and they don’t provide immediate refunds.
- We do not issue refunds in case of delayed flights, landslides, bad weather, or strikes that affect the tour.
- We do not issue the breakdown of the costs incurred during the tour.
- You will receive the refund within 7 business days.
Other tours:
- Please inform us at least 2 days in advance for a free refund.
- If you made the payment and reservation one day before the tour, you will not be eligible for a refund or rescheduling.
- Strikes/landslides: If the bus has already departed and there is a strike, the guide will offer an alternative route if possible, but there will be no refund or rescheduling. The alternative route may not be to your liking.
- No show: If you are not present at the scheduled pick-up time from your hotel or meeting point, the tour will be considered terminated with no right to a refund or rescheduling.
- We do not issue the breakdown of the costs incurred during the tour.
Refund process:
- We preferably refund you through PayPal; otherwise, we will use Western Union.
- When we send you the refund, we don’t include the commission that PayPal or Western Union normally charges. The money transfer companies will apply the respective commission on your refund.
- The money transfer commission charged by PayPal or Western Union is approx. 5%.
- If you paid with a credit card, we refund you less than 5% of the total payment you made. The 5% represents the commission charged by the banks.
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