Discover the magic, mysticism, and history of the majestic city of Cusco, the fertile Sacred Valley, and the enigmatic citadel of Machu Picchu through a comprehensive 5-day, 4-night program operated by Vilcabamba Tours. This itinerary is strictly designed to explore the most important treasures of the region with seamless logistics, combining an initial acclimatization day with guided excursions through the colonial and Inca monuments of the historic center and the colossal exterior fortresses such as Sacsayhuamán.
With Vilcabamba Tours, you will also venture into the Sacred Valley to visit the complexes of Pisac and Ollantaytambo before boarding the train that will take you to the town of Aguas Calientes. This ensures a strategic overnight stay at the foot of Machu Picchu so you can enter the wonder of the world early, enjoying included buffet lunches and comprehensive transfers from start to finish under the constant support of our professional team.
Brief Itinerary
- Day 1: Arrival in Cusco: Arrival in the city, reception at the airport, private transfer to the hotel by the Vilcabamba Tours team, and free afternoon for rest and acclimatization.
- Day 2: City Tour and 4 Archaeological Sites: Breakfast at the hotel, guided tour of the Plaza de Armas, Cathedral, and the Coricancha Temple, followed by a visit to the archaeological complexes of Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Puca Pucará, and Tambomachay.
- Day 3: Sacred Valley – Overnight in Aguas Calientes: Morning pickup to tour the Sacred Valley, visiting the terraces and market of Pisac, local buffet lunch, exploration of the Ollantaytambo fortress, and train ride to Aguas Calientes for an overnight stay.
- Day 4: Excursion to the Machu Picchu Citadel: Breakfast at the hotel, 30-minute bus ascent and entry to Machu Picchu for a 2.5-hour guided tour with our specialist. Return by bus, buffet lunch in the town, return train journey, and final transfer to your hotel in Cusco coordinated by Vilcabamba Tours.
- Day 5: Departure from Cusco: Breakfast at the hotel and private transfer to the airport at the appropriate time to board your return flight.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Cusco
The journey begins with your arrival in the city of Cusco. Our Vilcabamba Tours staff will greet you at the airport to provide a warm welcome and transfer you directly via private service to your selected hotel. You will have the rest of the afternoon free to rest, walk at a leisurely pace, and facilitate the acclimatization process to the Andean altitude, staying overnight at your accommodation in Cusco with the continuous support of our team.
Day 2: Cusco — City Tour and 4 Archaeological Sites
After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, you will begin a comprehensive guided tour of the city’s historic center in the morning, exploring the Plaza de Armas, the majestic Cusco Cathedral—which houses magnificent handicraft works and canvases from the Cusco School—and the Convent of Santo Domingo, built on the polished walls of the famous Coricancha Temple, guided by a Vilcabamba Tours guide. Subsequently, the tour will move to the outskirts of the city to explore four imposing archaeological sites: the colossal Sacsayhuamán Fortress with its stone blocks up to 9 meters high, the ceremonial center of Qenqo, the military checkpoint of Puca Pucará, and the hydraulic engineering fountains of Tambomachay, returning to your hotel in Cusco in the afternoon.
Day 3: Sacred Valley — Overnight in Aguas Calientes
After breakfast, you will be picked up at the hotel in the agency’s comfortable transportation to embark on a full-day excursion to the fertile Sacred Valley of the Incas. The first stop will be the town of Pisac, famous for its colorful artisan market and its archaeological complex displaying advanced irrigation systems, terraces, and a sundial or Intiwatana. After enjoying a restorative buffet lunch at a selected local restaurant, you will continue to Ollantaytambo, an impressive living Inca town guarded by a fortified fortress on the mountainside that divides the worship and residential sectors. In the late afternoon, you will be transferred to the train station with all logistics coordinated by Vilcabamba Tours to board the train bound for Aguas Calientes, where the hotel staff will receive you upon arrival.
Day 4: Excursion to the Machu Picchu Citadel
You will start the morning early with breakfast at the hotel before boarding the bus that, in a winding 30-minute journey, will take you to the official entrance of the enigmatic citadel of Machu Picchu. Once inside, you will take a guided tour of approximately 2.5 hours with a professional Vilcabamba Tours guide to contemplate the magnificence, plazas, temples, and terraces of this maximum expression of Inca architecture. At the end of the tour, you will take the bus down to Aguas Calientes to enjoy an included buffet lunch at a top-level restaurant. Afterward, you will present yourself at the train station 30 minutes before departure to board the return train; upon arrival at the intermediate station, our agency transport will be waiting to safely transfer you back to your hotel in Cusco.
Day 5: Departure from Cusco
After enjoying the last breakfast at the hotel, you will have the preceding hours according to your flight itinerary to tour the historic center. At the appropriate time, our private transport from Vilcabamba Tours will pick you up in the lobby of the accommodation to transfer you directly to the Cusco airport, providing personalized assistance at departure to board your return flight and concluding our exclusive services.
Included
- Private airport-hotel-airport transfer in Cusco provided by Vilcabamba Tours.
- Transfers from the hotel to the train stations and vice versa throughout the program.
- 3 nights of accommodation in Cusco with breakfast included at the hotel of your choice.
- 1 night of accommodation in the town of Aguas Calientes with breakfast included.
- Guided City Tour excursion (Cathedral, Coricancha, and the 4 surrounding archaeological sites).
- Full-day excursion to the Sacred Valley (Pisac and Ollantaytambo) with included buffet lunch (drinks not included).
- Full Day to Machu Picchu with train tickets included in Expedition or Voyager service.
- Up and down bus tickets between Aguas Calientes and the Inca citadel.
- Official entrance ticket to the Machu Picchu Citadel with a professional 2.5-hour guided service provided by Vilcabamba Tours.
- Buffet lunch included in the town of Aguas Calientes on Day 4 (drinks not included).
- Transportation, official tickets, and professional bilingual guide service coordinated by the agency.
Not Included
- Domestic or international air tickets and flights.
- Extra personal expenses at the destination.
- Food or beverage services not specified in detail in the itinerary.
