Machu Picchu · Cusco itinerary
Machu Picchu from Cusco: The Complete Guide
Machu Picchu is the highlight of any Peru trip, and Cusco is the gateway. Here is how to visit the lost Inca city — by train as a day trip or 2-day tour — with the best-rated Machu Picchu tours and tickets to book.
At a glance
- 1Train to Aguas Calientes
- 2Bus up to the citadel
- 3Guided tour of the ruins
- 4Return to Cusco
Getting there by train
From Cusco or Ollantaytambo, a scenic train climbs to Aguas Calientes at the foot of the mountain, where a short bus zigzags up to the citadel.
The guided tour
A guide brings the ruins to life — the Temple of the Sun, the Intihuatana stone and the terraces — with timed entry along a set circuit.
Day trip or overnight?
A day trip is possible but long; staying overnight in Aguas Calientes lets you enter early for a quieter, sunrise visit.
Book the experiences in this itinerary
Top-rated tours for exactly what this plan recommends in Cusco — prices per person.
