Cornelius Amann
October 06, 2026
5/5
Peru: Machu Picchu, Cusco and the Sacred Valley
5 days from Cusco: two nights low in the Sacred Valley with Pisac, Moray and Maras, the train to Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu at 6 am and a last night in Cusco.
5 days · Round trip from Cusco · up to 12 guests
Machu Picchu under cloud Photo: Scott Umstattd scott_umstattd, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Machu_Picchu_Through_Clouds_(Unsplash).jpg)
The facts
At a glance
- Length
- 5 days, 4 nights
- Start and end
- Round trip from Cusco
- Group size
- 7 to 12 guests
- Longest drive
- 2.5 h on day 1No drive day is longer than 4 hours.
- Activity level
Moderate
2 to 4 hours on foot on touring days, on uneven Inca stone paths and steps without handrails, at heights from about 2,040 metres in Aguas Calientes to about 3,500 metres at Moray. Machu Picchu day is the longest, with an early start and 3 to 4 hours on foot. Every steep stretch has an easier option, and you can sit out any walk.
- Meals included
- 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 1 dinner
- Room of your own
- + CAD 375 (estimated price)
- Season
- April to October
Highlights
Why this trip
- Walk into Machu Picchu at 6 am with a licensed guide, on a circuit that passes the upper viewpoint
- Two nights low in the Sacred Valley first, about 500 metres below Cusco, to settle into the altitude
- The Pisac ruins in the quiet mid-afternoon, after the morning day tours have left
- Ollantaytambo at 8:30 am, then the panoramic-window train down the Urubamba gorge into the cloud forest
- Moray's circular terraces and the Maras salt pans in one unhurried morning
- Qorikancha, the twelve-angled stone and the Cathedral on a last morning in Cusco
What makes this trip different
Short drives, all published
Every drive is listed day by day, and none is longer than 4 hours.
Free time is part of the plan
Free time and choices are marked on the days they fall.
Solo without the penalty
A room of your own is + CAD 375 (estimated price).
Day by day
Itinerary
The longest drive is 2.5 h, on day 1.
Tap any stop on the map to open that dayClick any stop on the map to open that day
Arrive in Cusco, then down to Pisac and the valley
Cusco airport (CUZ) to Pisac, then down the Sacred Valley to Urubamba
- Lunch in Pisac and welcome dinner
- Stay in Sacred Valley (Urubamba)
- Drive about 2.5 h
Fly into Cusco's Alejandro Velasco Astete airport (CUZ), most likely from Lima, and plan to land by about 11 am. Cusco sits at about 3,400 metres, so we do not stay: your See Sight Tours guide and our driver meet you in arrivals and we drive over the hill and down into the Sacred Valley, about an hour, with a stop at a viewpoint over the Urubamba River and its terraced fields.
Afternoon
Lunch is a slow sit-down meal in Pisac, at about 2,970 metres, with time to walk the market square, busiest on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. In the mid-afternoon, once the morning day tours from Cusco have gone, we drive up to the upper entrance of the Pisac ruins and walk the gentle upper sector, where temples of fitted stone circle a carved ritual rock above curved terraces. Then it is about 45 minutes down the valley to our hotel near Urubamba, home for two nights.
Evening
Welcome dinner is at the hotel or close by, and early to bed.
Included
- Pick-up at Cusco airport (CUZ) with your guide
- Viewpoint stop above the Sacred Valley
- Sit-down lunch in Pisac and time at the market square
- Pisac archaeological site, upper sector, entry included
- Welcome dinner
Easier option: Skip the ruins: go straight from lunch to the hotel and rest. If your flight lands after about noon, we skip the ruins and drive to the hotel; very late arrivals are met and join the group at dinner.
More active option: Walk down from the ruins to Pisac town on the Inca path through the terraces, about an hour, steep in places.
Activity: About 1 to 1.5 hours on foot at the ruins, at about 3,400 metres, on stone paths. We aim to enter by about 3 pm, well before closing. Walk slowly and drink plenty of water today.
Moray, the Maras salt pans and a free afternoon
Urubamba up to Moray, across to the Maras salt pans and back down to the valley
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Sacred Valley (Urubamba)
- Drive about 2 h
A slower start. At 9 am we drive about 50 minutes up a road of switchbacks to the high plateau above the valley, around 3,500 metres. Moray is a set of circular Inca terraces laid into natural hollows, the deepest about 30 metres from rim to floor, and many archaeologists believe the Incas used the change in temperature from level to level to test crops. Your guide explains the theories as we walk the rim path. From there a country road crosses farmland, with snow peaks of the Urubamba range on the skyline on a clear day, to the Maras salt pans: thousands of small pools stepped down a hillside, fed by one salty spring and worked by local families since before the Incas. Visitors now watch from a path above the pools, and the white and ochre patchwork is best seen from there anyway.
Afternoon
We come down to the valley floor for a late sit-down lunch in Urubamba, and the afternoon is yours: the hotel garden, a nap, or a walk in town.
Included
- Moray terraces with your guide, entry included
- The Maras salt pans, community entry fee included
- Sit-down lunch in Urubamba
Easier option: See Moray from the rim and the salt pans from the viewpoint, with no steep steps.
More active option: Walk down from the salt pans to the valley floor on a footpath beside the pools and the stream, about an hour downhill, and the van meets you at the bottom.
Free time: Afternoon free in the valley
Activity: About 2 hours on foot at around 3,500 metres, mostly level paths at Moray and a stepped path at Maras.
Ollantaytambo, then the train to Aguas Calientes
Urubamba to Ollantaytambo, then the train down the Urubamba gorge to Aguas Calientes
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Aguas Calientes
- Drive about 30 min
We pack an overnight bag, because the trains to Machu Picchu allow only a small one, and our vehicle takes your main bag on to the Cusco hotel. Then it is about 30 minutes down the valley to Ollantaytambo, where we reach the ruins at about 8:30 am, before most of the day tours from Cusco. Terraces climb steeply to the Temple Hill and its wall of six huge pink stone blocks, hauled from a quarry across the river. In 1537 Manco Inca held off a Spanish force here, one of the few times the Incas beat them in open battle.
Afternoon
Below the ruins, families still live on the Inca street grid, with water channels running beside the lanes, and we walk it before a sit-down lunch in town. In the early afternoon the train runs about 1.5 to 1.75 hours down the Urubamba gorge, from dry hills into cloud forest.
Evening
Aguas Calientes is a small town wedged in the gorge below Machu Picchu; the late afternoon is free, and we have dinner together and an early night.
Included
- Ollantaytambo archaeological site with your guide, entry included
- Walk through Ollantaytambo's Inca town
- Sit-down lunch in Ollantaytambo
- Panoramic-window train to Aguas Calientes
- Dinner in Aguas Calientes
Optional experiences
- The hot springs in Aguas Calientes
Easier option: Stay on the lower terraces and in the town, without the climb to the Temple Hill.
More active option: Climb the steep path on the other side of town to the Pinkuylluna storehouses for the view back across the ruins.
Free time: Late afternoon free in Aguas Calientes
Activity: About 2 hours on foot at Ollantaytambo, with about 200 stone steps up to the Temple Hill. The train allows a small bag only, about 5 kg on most services.
Machu Picchu at opening, then back to Cusco
Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu, then the train to Ollantaytambo and the road to Cusco
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Cusco
- Drive about 2.5 h
This is the early start the trip is built around, and the reason we sleep in Aguas Calientes. We take one of the first buses up the zigzag road and walk in at 6 am, when the site is at its quietest and, in the dry season, the cloud lifts off the peaks. A licensed Machu Picchu guide, required by the site's rules, leads the visit on a circuit that passes the upper viewpoint for the classic view over the citadel and Huayna Picchu, then down through temples, plazas and terraces. Each ticket covers one circuit and one entry time, with no re-entry.
Afternoon
After lunch in Aguas Calientes the afternoon is free: the hot springs, the site museum or a café by the river.
Evening
A late-afternoon train runs back upstream to Ollantaytambo, about 1.5 to 1.75 hours, and our driver takes us about an hour and three quarters over the Chinchero plateau to Cusco, arriving in the evening. If the train runs late, the driver waits.
Included
- Machu Picchu entry at 6 am with a licensed site guide
- Every bus ride between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu
- Sit-down lunch in Aguas Calientes
- Panoramic-window train to Ollantaytambo, then our vehicle to Cusco
Optional experiences
- Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain ticket (separate ticket, small daily numbers, booked with your trip)
- A second same-day Machu Picchu ticket on another circuit, if available; your guide confirms it locally and it is paid separately
- The hot springs in Aguas Calientes
Easier option: Rest after the morning visit: the hot springs, the site museum near the bridge below the ruins, or a café by the river.
More active option: Add a Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain ticket, booked with your trip, a steep climb on stone steps for the view down over the citadel.
Free time: Afternoon free in Aguas Calientes
Activity: The longest day: about 3 to 4 hours on foot at about 2,430 metres on stone steps without handrails, an early start, and arrival in Cusco in the evening.
Qorikancha, the Cathedral and home
Cusco: Qorikancha, the twelve-angled stone, San Blas and the Plaza de Armas, then Cusco airport (CUZ)
- Breakfast
- Drive about 30 min
Morning
After breakfast we walk to Qorikancha, the Inca Temple of the Sun, where Dominican friars built their monastery on top of curved Inca walls of fitted stone. From there your guide leads a slow walk up to Hatun Rumiyoc street and its twelve-angled stone, into the lanes of San Blas, the artisans' quarter, and down to the Plaza de Armas. Inside the Cathedral, built over an Inca palace, look for the colonial painting of the Last Supper with a roast guinea pig on the table. Cusco's old centre has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983.
Afternoon
On a Sunday or public holiday Qorikancha opens only in the afternoon, so we start in San Blas, see the Cathedral when it opens at about 11 am, and add Qorikancha only if your flight allows. We are back at the hotel by about 12:30, and the hotel holds your bags until the transfer. The airport is about 5 km from the centre, around 20 minutes by road,. Most international flights leave from Lima, about 1 hour 20 minutes away, so book a Cusco departure after about 2:30 pm and allow at least four hours to connect in Lima.
Included
- Qorikancha, the Temple of the Sun, entry included (afternoon only on Sundays and public holidays)
- Walk past the twelve-angled stone and through San Blas
- Cusco Cathedral, entry included
- Drop-off at Cusco airport (CUZ)
Optional experiences
- Extra nights in Cusco
Easier option: For a morning flight, see Qorikancha only (or San Blas on a Sunday), or go straight from the hotel to the airport.
More active option: With a flight after about 5 pm, drive up to Sacsayhuamán above the city after lunch; its entry is on the full tourist ticket included in the trip.
Activity: About 2.5 hours on foot on Cusco's steep lanes at about 3,400 metres. Book a flight after about 2:30 pm to see everything.
- Cuscostart
- Sacred Valley (Urubamba)2 nights
- Aguas Calientes1 night
- Cusco1 night
- Overnight stop
- Day trip
- By boat or train
Wildlife and weather: The dry season, roughly May to September, brings clear days, cold nights and the most visitors at Machu Picchu; Cusco is busiest around Inti Raymi on 24 June. The rains run from about November to March, heaviest in January and February, with afternoon showers, cloud over the ruins and occasional train disruption.
Want this plan in your inbox?
Get the day-by-day itinerary by email, or ask us anything about this trip. A trip planner replies the same or next business day.
Before you book
Right for you?
Good for you if you want
- Travellers with five days who want Machu Picchu done properly, with an early entry and a night at its foot
- Adding Machu Picchu to a longer trip in Peru or South America
- A gentle start at altitude, sleeping low before Cusco
- Guided mornings with free afternoons
Not for you if you want
- Trekkers: the Inca Trail trip walks to Machu Picchu instead
- Step-free access: Inca sites mean uneven stone steps without handrails
- Travellers who want Lima or several days in Cusco: choose the 9-day train trip
- Anyone who dislikes an early start: Machu Picchu day begins before 5:30 am
Book flights after we confirm your seat.
4 nights
Where you'll stay
Your hotels are named in your trip confirmation.
- Sacred Valley (Urubamba)2 nights
- Aguas Calientes1 night
- Cusco1 night
One price
What's in the price
Included
Accommodation
- 4 nights: 2 in one Sacred Valley hotel near Urubamba, 1 in Aguas Calientes, 1 in central Cusco
- Central hotels of at least a 3-star-plus standard, named when we confirm your dates
- Rooms shared, or your own for a supplement
Transport
- Pick-up and drop-off at Cusco airport (CUZ)
- Our own vehicle and driver in the Sacred Valley and Cusco
- Panoramic-window train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and back
- Every bus ride between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu
- Your main bag carried to the Cusco hotel while you take the train
Your guide
- A See Sight Tours guide for the whole trip
- A licensed Machu Picchu guide inside the site, as the rules require, and local guides where other sites require them
Activities
- Sacred Valley and Cusco: the full Cusco tourist ticket (valid 10 days), covering the Pisac ruins, Moray, Ollantaytambo and Sacsayhuamán, plus the Maras salt pans fee
- Machu Picchu: a 6 am entry with a licensed site guide
- Cusco: Qorikancha and the Cathedral, with a guided walk through San Blas
Meals
- 4 breakfasts
- 4 lunches: Pisac, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes
- 2 dinners: welcome in the Sacred Valley and Aguas Calientes
Not included
- International flights and flights to and from Cusco
- Visa, if your passport needs one
- Travel insurance, with medical evacuation cover for altitude
- Meals not listed: breakfast on day 1, dinners on days 2 and 4, and lunch on day 5
- Drinks
- Tips for your guides and driver
- Huayna Picchu, Machu Picchu Mountain or any second Machu Picchu ticket
- Optional activities, such as the Aguas Calientes hot springs
- Personal expenses
Extras
- Room of your own
- CAD 375 (estimated price)
When you can go
Dates and prices
Pick your start date when you request to book. We check that date and confirm it in your quote.
Prefer to travel without a group or guide? Ask us about arranging hotels, transport and city tours for you to travel independently.
Before you book
Booking terms
Nothing is charged now. Full terms and the cancellation schedule come with your quote, before you accept.
Business addresses
See Sight Tours Trips (USA): 3172 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89108, United StatesSee Sight Tours Trips (Canada): 5305 50 Avenue, #1091, Red Deer, AB T4N 4B6, Canada+1-888-961-6584Guest reviews
What guests say
Reviews from guests on our day tours.
Jane
October 06, 2026
5/5
Susan
October 06, 2026
5/5
Tom L
October 05, 2026
5/5
MandL83
October 05, 2026
5/5
Darren O
October 05, 2026
5/5
Good to know
Questions
What does the price include?
Four nights in central hotels, the train to Machu Picchu and back, a 6 am Machu Picchu entry with a licensed site guide and every bus ride, the full Cusco tourist ticket for Pisac, Moray and Ollantaytambo, the Maras salt pans, Qorikancha and the Cathedral, 10 meals, both airport transfers, our own vehicle and driver, and a See Sight Tours guide throughout.
How big is the group?
The small-group trip runs with 7 to 12 guests. Many Peru trips take up to 16, so with us everyone hears the guide at Machu Picchu and the group fits around one table at lunch.
Who leads the trip?
A See Sight Tours guide meets you at Cusco airport and stays with the group until your flight home. Machu Picchu's rules require a licensed site guide inside the citadel, so one joins us there, and local guides join at other sites where the rules ask for them.
How do you help with the altitude?
We land in Cusco, at about 3,400 metres, and drive straight down to the Sacred Valley, about 500 metres lower, for two nights. Moray at about 3,500 metres is a short visit, Machu Picchu is lower still, and Cusco is only the last night. Walk slowly, drink water and ask your doctor about altitude medicine before you travel.
How fit do I need to be?
Moderately fit. Most days mean 2 to 4 hours on foot over uneven stone paths and steps, and Machu Picchu is about 3 to 4 hours on foot. Each steep stretch has an easier option, such as seeing Moray from the rim or staying on the lower terraces at Ollantaytambo.
I'm travelling solo. What will I pay?
A room of your own costs from CAD 375 more, and we show it before you request to book, with no surprise at the end. If you would rather share, ask when you book and we tell you whether a share is possible on your departure.
When is the best time to go?
April to October. May to September is the dry season, with clear days, cold nights and the most visitors; April and October are quieter, with a few more showers. From November to March the rains bring cloud over the ruins and the odd train disruption, heaviest in January and February.
How does booking work?
Pick your start date and request to book. We confirm your place, the hotels and your Machu Picchu tickets within 24 hours. No payment is taken when you request, and the price is per person sharing a room, with taxes, from CAD 2,210 for the small group.
Can we travel privately or on our own dates?
Yes. Besides the small group, the trip comes as a private trip for your party only, on a date you choose, from CAD 3,980 per person. If you would rather travel independently on your own dates, ask us from the dates section and we quote the same hotels, trains, tickets and guides.
Do I need a visa for Peru?
Most visitors from Canada, the US, the UK and the EU do not need a visa for a tourist stay; check the rules for your own passport. Your passport must be valid for the whole trip, and we need its details when you book, because Machu Picchu and train tickets are issued in your name.
Can we see all of Machu Picchu, and is Huayna Picchu included?
Not in one visit: each ticket covers one circuit, one date and one entry time, with no re-entry. We walk in at 6 am on a circuit that passes the upper viewpoint. A second same-day ticket on another circuit may be possible as a paid extra, which your guide confirms locally. Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain are separate tickets with small daily numbers; ask when you book.
Is there a longer version of this trip?
Yes, two. Lima, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu by Train adds two nights in Lima, a third valley night and a full day in Cusco over 9 days. The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu walks the classic 4-day trail to the Sun Gate. Choose this short break if you have five days or are adding Machu Picchu to another trip.
See Sight Tours has been providing travel services across North America since 2006. Operating in 20 cities across Canada and the USA, the company specializes in small group tours that offer personalized, high-quality experiences for travelers.
Book your Tour
Get in Touch
- Toll Free1-888-961-6584
- Local1-289-271-9767
© 2026 See Sight Tours. All rights reserved.