Machu Picchu Day Trip from Ollantaytambo and Urubamba
Description
Discover Machu Picchu with a private, personalized experience designed for travelers staying in the Sacred Valley, including Urubamba and Ollantaytambo. This full-day tour stands out by offering door-to-door service, transfers, train rides, and a dedicated local guide who brings the Inca citadel to life with stories of its temples, terraces, and sacred sites. Unlike standard group tours, you will enjoy a relaxed pace and the freedom to immerse yourself without feeling rushed. Travel aboard a scenic train to Aguas Calientes, then ride the bus up to Machu Picchu, where your guide will lead you through the most iconic spots and hidden corners. You will also capture breathtaking photos from the best viewpoints and meet the famous llamas along the way. Best of all, your guided visit takes place in the AFTERNOON—when the site is noticeably quieter—giving you space to truly appreciate this wonder of the world, without the morning rush.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We board the train at Ollantaytambo train station
Meet your guide and catch the shuttle bus up to Machu Picchu citadel
Upon arriving at the entrance gate of Machu Picchu, your private guide will lead you to the Guard House, where you will be treated to the best panoramic views of this ancient wonder. Here, you will have time to take in the stunning scenery and capture iconic postcard-worthy photos. After soaking in the breathtaking views, you will begin an in-depth guided tour of Machu Picchu’s urban sector. You will explore its main temples, royal residences, and other significant structures, while your guide shares fascinating historical insights, stories of the Inca civilization, and sacred legends surrounding this mystical site. The guided visit typically lasts 2.5 - 3 hours. approx. After completing your visit, you will board the shuttle bus back to Aguas Calientes Town where you will have time to enjoy lunch before boarding the train back to Ollantaytambo, and your driver will meet there to drive back to your Hotel.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We pick you up from your hotel/hostel/Airbnb anywhere in Ollantaytambo and Urubamba. IMPORTANT: After you made your reservation, please send us immediately via the Tripadvisor messenger the pickup location as well as if you'd like to be dropped-off in Ollantaytambo or Cusco. This messenger will be available within your booking confirmation.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Total tour duration includes the travel time.
Reviews(55)
We were very happy to do business with Cusco Local Friend. Indeed, on the day of our visit to Machu Picchu, there was a fire along the tracks. This disrupted our entire schedule. However, Cusco Local Friend took good care of us. We were able to see Machu Picchu as planned (John was an excellent guide. We were not rushed and he gave interesting information). If we had not been with them, we would have been much more stressed. This brought peace of mind.
Jhon was an excellent guide and was able to share lots of information about the site in a very engaging way. The whole organization of the day was very smooth with everything we needed (tickets, itinerary etc) received by WhatsApp the day before. Pick up was on time at the hotel and at the end of the day. Overall a wonderful experience and fabulous day.
It has been seamless to work directly with Cusco Local Friend. Definitely contact them directly- don’t book through a 3rd party or Viator! They put together our Machu Picchu experience, helped out with timing on when to book trains, and we had an excellent guide. Our guide, John, was amazing! He was funny and took the time to answer any questions we had. He also is a pro at knowing where the best photo spots are, and was happy to take as many as we’d like. I just booked a customized Sacred Valley tour as well, with a pick-up from our hotel in Ollytantambo, a choice of which sites we’d like to see, and a drop-off at our next hotel in Cusco. Very affordable and even worked with a slightly later pick up so we could sleep in!
Our tour of Machu Picchu with Abraham was absolutely incredible from start to finish. The entire experience was extremely well coordinated and thoughtfully planned, making everything seamless and stress-free. Marcello was an excellent driver, getting us safely to and from our hotel, which made the early morning travel so much easier. When we arrived at the train station, Abraham was there waiting for us. He guided us to the bus, handled all the logistics, and then led us through the breathtaking ruins of Machu Picchu. Abraham brought so much passion and genuine love to every part of the tour, making the history come alive. His knowledge of the Incas is truly incredible, and he shared fascinating stories and insights that gave us a much deeper appreciation for this remarkable place. Beyond being an outstanding guide, Abraham was incredibly kind, patient, and welcoming. He made sure everyone felt comfortable and took the time to answer every question with enthusiasm. We couldn't have asked for a better experience and highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Machu Picchu. If you have the chance to tour with Abraham and Marcello, you're in excellent hands!
We had a great, well organized tour to Machu Picchu with Cusco Local Friend! It was absolutely perfectly organized, 100% safe and reliable! Every arrangement was on time with all transportation, tickets and representatives we met were very professional and helpful. A special thanks to out guide in Machu Picchu - John, he was extremely interesting and fun and made our experience very enjoyable and memorable! Go ahead, guys, and book your tour with Cusco Local Friend!
Excellent trip, very well organized. Our guide Abraham was very friendly and knowledgeable. Absolutely recommend.
This was a fantastic tour. Our guide John was enthusiastic and knowledgeable. There is very little information posted in Machu Picchu, so having John provide the information and history really made our visit exceptional. The company also made all the arrangements for a seamless visit from being picked up to being dropped off. I would definitely recommend!
We had an amazing time with them - great service and our tour guide John was amazing!
Here’s a polished review you can post: We had an absolutely incredible experience on our Machu Picchu tour. Our guide, John, was outstanding—knowledgeable, engaging, and passionate about sharing the history and significance of this amazing place. He brought the site to life with fascinating stories and insights while showing us the breathtaking surroundings. John was prompt, professional, and made the tour both informative and enjoyable. He even took some fantastic photos for us, which was a wonderful bonus! The entire experience was seamless from start to finish. Transportation was smooth, everything ran on time, and communication throughout the booking process was excellent. This was truly a 10/10 experience, and I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Machu Picchu. Thank you, John, for helping make our trip so memorable!
We had a great day with Cusco Local Friend and our Machu Picchu guide John. Everything from the train from Ollantaytambo all the way up to Machu Picchu and our guided tour together with John was above and beyond our expectations. Would highly recommend Cusco Local Friend if you plan to visit Peru.
