Are you in Cusco and haven't booked your ticket to Machu Picchu in advance? Then this last-minute day trip is the perfect solution. We'll travel to Aguas Calientes and take you to the Ministry of Culture office, where you can purchase your tickets in person. You'll also have a tour guide throughout the trip and can enjoy optional activities, such as a visit to the Butterfly House or the hot springs.
Day Trip Options
During the booking process, depending on the time you have, you can choose one of the following options:
2-Day Trip
Day 1: Cusco – Aguas Calientes
We'll pick you up at your hotel in Cusco to travel by bus to the station of Ollantaytambo, where we'll board the train for a spectacular 1.5-hour journey crossing the Andes.
Once we reach Aguas Calientes, we'll immediately head to the official office so you can purchase your ticket to Machu Picchu. You'll have the rest of the afternoon off, where you can relax in the hot springs or visit the Butterfly House.
We'll spend the night in the hotel in the selected category.
Day 2: Machu Picchu – Cusco
Today is the big day! After breakfast, and depending on the schedule of the ticket you bought on the previous day, we'll board the bus toward the lost city of the Incas. Once there, you'll enjoy a 2.5-hour guided tour of the most famous areas of Machu Picchu.
After the tour, we'll return to Aguas Calientes to enjoy lunch at a restaurant before taking the train to Ollantaytambo, and from there, we'll board the final bus to Cusco.
3-Day Trip
Day 1: Cusco – Valle Sagrado – Aguas Calientes
After picking you up at the designated time, we'll head to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. We'll visit the archaeological site of Pisac, its artisanal market, and after lunch in Urubamba, we'll discover the fortress of Ollantaytambo.
In the afternoon, we'll take a train to Aguas Calientes. Upon arrival, we'll head straight to the Ministry of Culture office to manage the purchase of your ticket to Machu Picchu.
Day 2: Aguas Calientes
This day you'll have the day off to enjoy Aguas Calientes at your own pace. You can visit the Butterfly House, relax in the hot springs of Aguas Calientes, or simply rest as we coordinate the last details of your access to the Incan citadel for the next day.
Day 3: Machu Picchu – Cusco
The day has arrived! We'll board a bus to the citadel to enjoy a 2.5-hour guided tour. After admiring the Incan temples and terraces, we'll return to Aguas Calientes to indulge in a tasty lunch before taking the train and bus back to the starting point in Cusco.
Pickup & Schedule
Pickup is included for hotels in the historic center of Cusco. If your accommodation is not in the center, we'll meet at the door of the Cathedral, in the Plaza de Armas. Please note the following times:
- 2-day trip: pickup between 4 am and 6 am
- 3-day trip: pickup at 8 am
Accommodation & Train
During the booking process, you can customize your experience, also choosing the hotel category and the type of train you would like to travel on between Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes:
- Standard category: 2-star accommodations (Hotel Rock Rivers or similar).
- Premium category: 3-star accommodations (Hotel Hatún Inti Classic or similar).
- Tourist class train: Expedition or Voyager (comfortable, panoramic trains)
- First-class train: Vistadome or The 360º (panoramic trains with wider windows, snacks, and music on board)
Important Info
This day trip depends on the daily quota for in-person sales in Aguas Calientes. Therefore, please note the following points:
- The law requires that every trip be purchased personally with your original passport. We assist you in the entire queuing and paperwork process.
- If you choose the first option and there is no quota for the day following your trip to Aguas Calientes, you will need to stay an extra night (going from a 2-day trip to a 3-day trip). The extra night cost and train change penalty are not included in the activity and vary between 51USD and 61USD per person.
- The tour of the citadel will depend on the circuit available for sale at the time of purchase.
- You can monitor how many tickets are available for general purchase at this time: Machu Picchu last-minute tickets.
Routes in Machu Picchu
Depending on availability, you can enjoy different routes through Machu Picchu. You can check out the different routes below:
