Cusco is one of the most magnificent ancient cities in the world, being the Inca capital and the gateway to Machu Picchu. From use as an astronomical observatory to a sacred site meant to connect to the divine, it’s no wonder why it’s one of the new Seven Wonders of the World.

As you can imagine, there are a ton of different tours you can take here – however, if you really want to maximize your experience, I recommend you take a proper tour. I’ve gone ahead and detailed the 5 top Machu Picchu tours from Cusco that are well worth your time and money. Let’s jump right in!

Best Machu Picchu Tours

	Machu Picchu: Inca Trail 4 Day Hike with Panoramic Train	More Information & Tour Booking	2-Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu with Panoramic Train
Location:	Hotel pickup and drop-off included	Hotel pickup and drop-off included	Hotel pickup and drop-off included
Start:	4:30 AM	5:00 AM	4:00 AM
Duration:	4 days	14 to 15 hours	2 days
Includes:	All transportation, duffle bag up to 7 kilos carried by porters, pro guides, chef, porters, 3 nights of camping, camping gear, entrance to Inca Trail and Machu Picchu, bus to Aguas Calientes, panoramic trains, lunch (3), dinner (3), and breakfast (4)	Transportation and transfer, train tickets, admission tickets to Machu Picchu, bus up and down to Machu Picchu, professional tour guide, transportation to the train station both ways from Cusco	Professional highly-trained mountain tour guides, 1 night stay at 3-start hotel in Aguas Calientes, entrance ticket to Inca Trail and Machu Picchu, bus up and down Machu Picchu, panoramic trains to return, breakfast (2)
	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking

Quick Answer: The 5 Best Rated Machu Picchu Tours For 2025

1. Machu Picchu: Inca Trail 4 days hike with Panoramic Train
2. Full Day Tour to Machu Picchu from Cusco
3. 2-Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu with Panoramic Train
4. 2-Day Tour: Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu by Train
5. 2-Day Tour from Cusco: Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu by Train

Machu Picchu Tour Reviews

1. Machu Picchu: Inca Trail 4 Day Hike with Panoramic Train

Starting things off on the right foot, is the most comprehensive tour of its kind, that will take you on an immersive journey right into the mystical Andes.

The Machu Picchu: Inca Trail 4-Day Hike with Panoramic Train experience is a journey through history, culture, and incredible landscapes, with expert guides there to guide you and ensure you stay safe.

This opportunity to go on one of the planet’s oldest pilgrimage routes – the Inca Trail – takes you through numerous little villages, panoramic views by train, and of course, incomparable views of the legendary Machu Picchu.

Start out by being picked up right at the crack of dawn at your hotel, and enjoy a smooth, comfortable journey, making your first stop in the enchanting village of Ollantaytambo for a tasty breakfast!

After making a stop at the stores to ensure you have everything required for your hike before making your way to the Inca Trail! We had a team of porters and chefs to help us carry our bags, setting off on a relatively calm 3-hour hike, and stopping at interesting Incan ruin sites along the way.

After enjoying a delicious lunch and sleeping at our Ayapata campsite inside tents, we woke up early to some fresh coffee and a hearty breakfast to fuel up for the hardest hike of the journey.

After a few hours of trekking, we arrived at the jaw-dropping Dead Woman’s Pass, where we soaked in the views but also had the chance to partake in a traditional ceremony to honor the mountain spirits: the Apus.

After, we headed down into the valley for a well-earned lunch followed by expiration of the Runkurakay ruins as our guides regaled us with fascinating historical commentary.

The next 2 days were filled with even more discoveries, checking out incredible terraces, ruins, Andes vistas, and camping with llamas! The last day we hiked to Machu Picchu, and got to see it laid out before us right as the golden sun breaks over the mountains: also known as the “Sun Gate”.

This journey is incomparable, and if you’re able to go through with a relatively strenuous hike, I can’t recommend it enough!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

2. Full Day Tour to Machu Picchu from Cusco

Perhaps you’re curious about really diving deep into the history and culture surrounding Machu Picchu, but don’t have the time for a multi-day tour.

The Full-Day Tour to Machu Picchu from Cusco is a fantastic alternative, letting you experience the awe-inspiring beauty of Peru’s most famous archaeological site in just a single day without sacrificing comfort.

Combining adventure with convenience, you have everything you need for a memorable day out with expert guides and all the details worked out for you.

Your tour starts off early in the morning with a convenient pickup right from your hotel lobby, where you’ll then transfer to the train that takes you all the way to Machu Picchu.

You’ll ride through the gorgeous Sacred Valley with amazing landscapes surrounding you, and your guide there to regale you with fascinating stories that bring this legendary region to life. Ride up into the clouds, and transfer to a bus that takes you on to your 3-hour guided tour to the Machu Picchu Fortress.

Our guide did a fantastic job of explaining the historic site to us as we journeyed along, revealing the captivating secrets of the Incan civilization, as well as their values and way of life.

Some of the highlights for me were the Temple of the Sun, the Intihuatana stone, and the breathtaking panoramic vistas of the surrounding mountains. The pace of the tour felt just right – allowing us for ample time to explore without feeling rushed.

After our guided tour, we headed back to the charming town of Aguas Calientes, where we had even more time to explore at our leisure, grabbed a tasty lunch, and took some photos. I enjoyed Aguas Calientes just as much as Machu Picchu, so definitely look forward to this portion as well!

After, we boarded the train again and the private transportation took us back to our hotel, so when I say they had everything covered, I mean it!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

3. 2-Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu with Panoramic Train

Maybe you’re on the hunt for a tour that’s somewhere in-between the previous 2 tours: longer than a day but shorter than a 4-day adventure.

The 2-Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu with Panoramic Train experience is a nice compromise, offering the perfect gateway to one of the world’s most famous destinations.

This 2-day experience offers the thrill of the Inca Trail without the heavy commitment of the common 4-day trek, making it an ideal choice for those who’d like to see Peru’s rich culture, natural, beauty, and history, without giving up too much time.

The tour starts off at the crack of dawn, with your guides picking you and the rest of your group up right at your hotel, driving through the beautiful Sacred valley and arriving at the Ollantaytambo train station to start things off.

Next, hop on the train and enjoy a relaxing journey of 1.5 hours to the trailhead, where you’ll show your passport and enjoy a tasty, freshly-prepared breakfast by the chefs.

After fueling up, you’ll set off for the first Inca site of Chachabamba and then do the 4-hour uphill hike on the Inca Trail: it’s a bit challenging but incredibly rewarding.

Enjoy lunch, the Sun Gate with its amazing views of the Citadel, then take the bus down to Aguas Calientes for dinner and a good rest at a cozy, 3-star hotel with WiFi, great views, hot water, and private bathrooms.

The next day, get ready to head up to Machu Picchu for the inexplicable experience of witnessing dawn break over the site before going on a 2-3-hour tour.

Our guide shared all kinds of interesting stories about the city’s history before we had leisure time to explore as we saw fit before heading back to Aguas Calientes, and taking the train back to Cusco.

The train is the Vistadome, which has huge windows ideal for soaking in the magnificent natural scenery of the Sacred Valley: the perfect way to top it all off.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

4. 2-Day Tour: Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu by Train

Next up is yet another 2-day experience ideal for travelers interested in Peru’s fascinating history and stunning landscapes but don’t want to commit to the intensity of a 4-day trek.

You can cover a ton in just a couple of days while still going about it in a comfortable and convenient way, combined with an action-packed itinerary. The 2-Day Tour: Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu by Train excursion offers that in spades, combining beautiful scenery with a bit of luxury.

This journey starts off at 7:30 am which I did appreciate as it was a bit later than the others began, which allowed me to keep some semblance of my sanity and sleep in a bit more.

This tour will take you through the legendary Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, with archaeological visits to Pisac, Urubamba, and Ollantaytambo, with all breakfast, transport, and accommodations taken care of.

You could go about all this yourself, but it’s guaranteed to cost a lot more, take much more time, and be quite the hassle trying to coordinate everything perfectly!

After taking a beautiful train ride out through the Sacred Valley, we stopped at Awana Kancha to learn about Peruvian textiles before making other stops to learn firsthand about Incan agricultural tools.

I had a great time at local markets and restaurants before we ended our day in Aguas Calientes in our comfy hotel, resting up for the next day at Machu Picchu. After a hearty breakfast with local produce and ingredients, we headed up to the incredibly impressive Incan citadel of Machu Picchu for a guided tour!

The guided tour went through everything in-depth, but in a way where we were consistently engaged and excited to see each section. After, I enjoyed our free time to explore as we saw fit, which was cool because there were a couple of parts I wanted to go back and see more in-depth.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

5. 2-Day Tour from Cusco: Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu by Train

Last but not least, is the 2-Day Tour from Cusco: Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu by Train. Yes, I know we’ve done a couple of 2-day trips already, but this one differs in that you’ll also get to see the Salt Mines, Moray, and other sites most others don’t offer.

This is an incredibly well-organized tour that relies on pristine planning to maximize sightseeing without ever feeling like you’re being rushed through.

This small-group tour maxes out at just 10 participants, which creates a very intimate, personalized experience far superior to the big group tours that I feel almost do such a spiritual place like this a disservice.

Just like with the others, you’ll benefit from roundtrip transfers quite literally door-to-door to and from your hotel so there’s no need to worry about booking any kind of additional transportation.

After being picked up around 7:45 am, you’ll set off through the stunning Sacred Valley of the Incas while your guide shares fascinating stories about the history and geology of the area.

We arrived first in Chinchero, where we visited a local family who shared their weaving traditions with us, and we even got to see their cute little alpacas and took photos with them as we gave them some breakfast!

After stops at Moray and the stunning Salinas de Maras (salt ponds), we took a break for a delicious Peruvian buffet lunch before exploring the terraces and ruins of Ollantaytambo while learning about the Spanish invasion that took place here.

After a well-rested night at our hotel in Aguas Calientes, we woke up to a tasty breakfast and headed to the bus station for our journey up to Macchu Picchu for our 3-hour guided tour through the city squares and main streets.

Learning about and seeing this wonder firsthand is truly indescribable, especially with such knowledgeable and friendly guides there to lead the way.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience