Machu Picchu Day Trip from Cusco: Full-Day Guided Tour

The person I was initially traveling with told me to book this tour last week on Thursday for the next day. At the time of booking, there were two available slots for Friday morning so we chose one and paid for the tickets. The ad on viator did say that it was non refundable or transferable. After receiving the confirmation email we saw that we were supposed to go to the HG office for an orientation between 5-8pm. When we arrived there some time during the 7 o’clock hour only to find the doors to the office padlocked. At that time I did not know the person I was traveling with took it upon herself to message the company on both of our behalf’s. The company said that day (Friday) was sold out but they would honor for (Saturday). I already had something planned for Saturday so I did not want to go with them. We did not book on the same reservation so I told them that when I got back to my Airbnb that I would reach out to the company myself. I did just that and someone at HG told me that I would be able to reschedule my tour for Saturday or Sunday and I told them that I wanted to do Sunday, they agreed. The next day, I received a message from a completely different person telling me that I *had* to go on Saturday because my “colleague” confirmed for me. I asked why someone would be able to speak on my behalf even though I booked my own reservation that did not have that persons name on it, that person paid only for one ticket so should only be able to speak for one ticket. HG couldn’t explain to me why they would allow someone to speak to me and their only resolution was for me to pay them an extra $115 for a private vehicle and a private guide but I still had to have an uncomfortable train ride both to Aguascalientes and back seated next to the person that I was trying to avoid. They had absolutely no right to listen to that person, then to force me to go on that day. HG along with the person I was traveling with ruined my trip. Book with a more professional company!!!

Overall, we had a good experience with Happy Gringo. Communication before the tour was very good, and our guide at Machu Picchu was friendly, helpful, and made the experience enjoyable. However, after comparing prices with other tour companies, I realized that we paid about $100 more for a very similar 1-day Machu Picchu tour. I wish I had compared a few more options before booking. I would still recommend Happy Gringo for their good communication and friendly guide, but if price is important to you, I definitely recommend checking and comparing a few other tour companies before making your decision.

My husband and I had such a great time visiting Machu Picchu, Mauro Salas was our tour guide, he was awesome, funny, informative and always helped, especially when I got short of breath going up flights of stairs, I recommend this company because we always were taken care of, thank you, love your company.

It was an amazing experience. Not only did our guide take wonderful photos for us, but the detailed explanations about the ruins and their history were absolutely perfect. I was truly impressed and moved by the whole experience. I would love to come back again in the near future! May peace be with him and his family!!

When we suddenly had an unexpected window to take some time off work, we desperately wanted to visit Machu Picchu. We knew it was notoriously difficult to secure tickets at the last minute, and after reading horror stories about other tour companies totally ghosting people for their 4 AM pickups, we were nervous about booking. Happy Gringo Tours stepped up and absolutely made it happen. They took all the stress off our shoulders by handling every single piece of the logistics seamlessly, and they were incredibly punctual when it mattered most—no early-morning no-shows here! A massive shoutout to our guide, Ruben. He was so friendly and deeply knowledgeable, and may I add, he is a pretty good photographer—definitely a hidden talent! He helped us capture the experience perfectly. Wishing everybody at Happy Gringo Tours the absolute best. If you want a reliable, stress-free, and unforgettable experience, look no further!

Our guide, Ruben, with Happy Gringo Tours, was incredible. He was extremely knowledgeable about Machu Picchu, taking great care into explaining the details of this sacred place. We took Route 2A and had the opportunity to see many parts of citadel. We never felt rushed and always had time for questions and photos. After a long day of travel and seeing the citadel, Ruben made a reservation for us at a wonderful restaurant in Aguas Calientes. It’s details like this that make experiences memorable. If you can request Ruben for your tour, we highly recommend him!

I had an absolutely wonderful experience booking my day trip to Machu Picchu with Happy Gringo Tours. From beginning to end, everything was incredibly well organized and completely streamlined. The day started with a smooth pickup from my hotel, followed by a comfortable bus ride to Ollantaytambo, where I boarded the train to Aguas Calientes. The train ride was absolutely beautiful, with breathtaking views of the mountains and surrounding scenery. The experience was made even more special by the music and traditional dancing on the train—it was such a fun and memorable part of the journey. When I arrived in Aguas Calientes, I was met by a friendly representative who guided me through the next steps and made the transition to the bus up to Machu Picchu completely effortless. I visited Circuit 3 – Machu Picchu Realeza, and this was truly the highlight of my trip. When I arrived, I met my guide, Mauro, and he made the experience unforgettable. Mauro was incredibly kind, knowledgeable, and passionate about the history and culture of the Incas. His stories and explanations brought Machu Picchu to life and gave me a much deeper appreciation for this incredible place. It was raining during my visit, but Mauro never let the weather dampen the experience. He was patient, helpful, and made sure I had plenty of opportunities to take some amazing pictures despite the rain. What impressed me most was how well everything was coordinated throughout the entire day. I never felt lost or had to worry about transportation or logistics. At the end of the day, Mauro even made sure I safely made my way back to my hotel. A huge thank you to Happy Gringo Tours and especially to Mauro for making my Machu Picchu experience so special. Everything was handled with such professionalism and care, from the hotel pickup to the train, Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu, and safely back to my hotel. I highly recommend Happy Gringo Tours to anyone planning a visit to Machu Picchu. The organization, service, and personal attention were exceptional, and I will always remember this incredible experience!

Great experience and a memory for life. I had a great English speaking guide for the group I was in and have no complaints. Well, be prepared for a bumpy ride in the van from Cusco to the train but who can change the road/street/aswalt-work..

The guide Mauro was very attentive; it was a personalized tour of circuit 3 of Machu Picchu. He took the time to help with photos, answer questions, and provide information about other nearby tourist areas. He also picked me up and dropped me off in front of the train station for the start and end of the tour. He recommends places to eat and places to spend time before returning to Ollantaytambo. I recommend a minimum stay of 4 days, 1 for each tour.

Couldn't have asked for a much better experience, particularly when booking somewhat last minute, ie. less than 2 weeks out. Happy Gringo Tours has been able to secure these last minute openings when other operators were unable to. There was some uncertainty around the meetup specifics after each train arrival (both there and back), but a little patience and trusting the process goes a long way. Would highly recommend, particularly if trying to book inside of the Machu Picchu online sales sold-out window.