City Tour and Machu Picchu 3 Days – 2 Nights

Machu Picchu is the headline, but Cusco sets the stage. This three-day trip combines airport transfers, a Cusco sightseeing circuit, a guided visit to Machu Picchu, train travel, and two nights of lodging for $379 per person. I like the way Aremika Travel handles the major moving parts, especially the long chain of transfers between Cusco, Ollantaytambo, and Machu Picchu.

I also like the built-in introduction to Cusco, with Sacsayhuamán, Q’enqo, Puka Pukara, and Tambomachay packed into the first afternoon. The main drawback is the pace: Day 2 begins at 4:00 a.m. and ends around 10:00 p.m., so this is an efficient trip, not a restful one. You should also budget for the Qoricancha entrance, the partial Cusco tourist ticket, meals, and a taxi after the final transfer.

The five details that matter most

• A 4:00 a.m. start gets you moving toward Machu Picchu early, but Day 2 becomes a very long day.
• The 2.5-hour guided visit covers the key areas of Machu Picchu, including the Guardian’s House, Temple of the Sun, Three Windows, quarry, and agricultural and urban sectors.
• The $379 price includes the main transport and entry costs, including the train, Machu Picchu admission, shuttle bus, transfers, guide, and two nights of lodging.
• Cusco’s four-ruin circuit gives you useful historical context before the main visit, with Sacsayhuamán as the clear centerpiece.
• Personal support is a strong part of the service, with airport pickup, hotel transfers, and staff attention praised repeatedly, including guide Carina and reservation contact Tomas.
• Extra costs are easy to miss, especially the PEN 20 Qoricancha ticket, PEN 70 partial tourist ticket, meals, and the taxi from Plaza San Francisco to your hotel.

What the $379 package really covers

At $379 per person, this is a useful package if you want the main arrangements made for you. It includes airport, hotel, and ground transfers; two nights at Killaly Inn or Kunan Hostel; an English- or Spanish-speaking guide; the Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu train; Machu Picchu admission; and the bus from Machu Picchu town to the citadel.

That list matters because the trip has several handoffs. You need to get from Cusco to Ollantaytambo, board the correct train, reach the bus station in Machu Picchu town, enter the citadel at the right time, return to the train, and get back to Cusco late at night. Having a person meet you at each stage can be worth more than a small saving on a do-it-yourself arrangement.

The package is not all-inclusive. Food is handled by prior arrangement with the guest, so you should clarify meals before departure. The Qoricancha entrance costs PEN 20 per person, and the partial tourist ticket for the four-ruin city tour costs PEN 70 per person. These are modest additions, but the advertised price is not the final price.

The accommodation is listed as Killaly Inn or Kunan Hostel. Since the exact property can vary, I would confirm the name, room setup, breakfast details, and location before paying. The tour does include two nights, but the description does not specify room categories or whether breakfast is included.

Your first afternoon in Cusco

Airport reception and a hotel transfer come first. That opening transfer is especially useful in Cusco, where arriving from a lower altitude can leave you tired and short of breath. The plan gives you time to settle in before the afternoon sightseeing begins.

The city tour starts at 1:40 p.m. in Plaza Mayor, historically known as Huacaypata. This is a sensible first stop because the square gives you an immediate sense of Cusco’s Spanish colonial center and its earlier Inca importance.

The schedule refers to the Cusco Cathedral, but the detailed description focuses on Qoricancha, the Temple of the Sun. Qoricancha was built on an Inca foundation and was devoted to the sun god. Inca walls remain visible, and the site is also linked with the opening of the Inti Raymi celebration.

You should check exactly what your guide plans to enter. The Qoricancha admission is not included and costs PEN 20. The description allows two hours for this part of the route, which may include time in and around the main square as well as Qoricancha.

From there, the route moves to the four archaeological sites outside the center. This is a lot to pack into one afternoon, but the stops are close enough to work as a single circuit.

Sacsayhuamán, the afternoon’s big stop

Sacsayhuamán is the site most likely to make you pause. Its huge stones were shaped and fitted with remarkable precision, and some are described as reaching about nine meters high and weighing as much as 350 tons.

The place is tied to worship of the sun and to the annual Inti Raymi ceremony on June 21. Even with only an hour scheduled, you should have time to see the main terraces and stonework and hear why the site matters.

The scale is the point here. At Qoricancha, you focus on surviving Inca masonry within the city. At Sacsayhuamán, you see monumental construction spread across an open hillside. I would pay close attention to the guide’s explanation of how the stones fit together, since that is more useful than simply taking a few large photos.

Q’enqo, Puka Pukara, and Tambomachay

Q’enqo is scheduled for 30 minutes. It is described as a mystical Inca temple associated with religious sacrifices. The short visit makes sense, since this is a compact stop, but you will not have much time to linger.

Puka Pukara follows, with an hour to see its terraces, aqueducts, plazas, and military role. It served as a control and military center, giving the afternoon some variety after the ceremonial sites.

Tambomachay is known for its clear, flowing water and two aqueducts. It is sometimes called the Bath of the Ñusta. The construction uses limestone in a polygonal style, and the site gives you a quieter ending to the ruins circuit.

Admission to the four city-tour ruins is not included. The listed partial tourist ticket costs PEN 70 per person. That extra payment is important to plan for, since these sites are a central part of Day 1 rather than an optional side trip.

After Tambomachay, you return to the hotel with the evening free. I like that the schedule does not add a formal dinner or nighttime activity. You will need the rest before the next morning, and the free evening gives you a chance to eat and prepare for the early departure.

The 4:00 a.m. start for Machu Picchu

Day 2 starts at 4:00 a.m. with transport to Ollantaytambo train station. This is the hardest part of the schedule. You need to be ready before dawn, and the day will not finish until late at night.

At Ollantaytambo, you board the train to Machu Picchu at the time assigned to your booking. The tour includes the tourist train in both directions, but the exact departure times can vary. The return listed here is at 8:20 p.m., so you should expect a very full day.

Once you arrive in Machu Picchu town, a transfer takes you to the Consettur bus station. The bus climbs to the entrance of the historic sanctuary, where you present your tickets and enter with your guide.

This chain of transport is where organized help has its greatest value. You are not left to work out the train, town transfer, shuttle bus, and entry gate alone. The service has received strong praise for punctual transfers and constant attention, and that kind of coordination matters when a missed connection could affect your entrance time.

Inside Machu Picchu for 2.5 hours

The guided visit lasts about two and a half hours. The route includes the Guardian’s House, which gives you the familiar panoramic view toward Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu, along with the stone quarry, Temple of the Sun, Temple of the Three Windows, agricultural sector, and urban sector.

That is a good mix. You see the famous terraces and high viewpoints, but you also get explanations of the city’s working and ceremonial areas. I prefer this kind of visit to a quick photo stop because the ruins make more sense when you understand how the sections fit together.

You then receive about an hour to rest inside the historic sanctuary before taking the bus back to Machu Picchu town. The description does not promise independent exploration beyond the guided route, so you should ask your guide how that free time works under the current entry rules.

The Machu Picchu admission and bus ticket are included. That removes two of the larger costs from the package and makes the $379 rate more appealing.

The long return to Cusco

After the bus ride down to town, you have time before the 8:20 p.m. return train. The itinerary does not specify how much time you have in Machu Picchu town, so ask for the exact train schedule and meeting point.

The train returns to Ollantaytambo, where a transfer is scheduled to take you back toward Cusco. The listed arrival in Cusco is around 10:00 p.m., and the service ends at Plaza San Francisco. From there, you take a taxi to your hotel.

This final detail is easy to overlook. The tour includes transport to Cusco, but not a final hotel drop-off from Plaza San Francisco. After a 4:00 a.m. start and a full day at Machu Picchu, have your hotel address ready and arrange a taxi at the plaza.

The schedule is demanding, but it does give you a complete Machu Picchu visit without requiring a fourth day. If your time in Peru is short, that efficiency may be exactly what you need. If you prefer slow mornings and long meals, you may find it tiring.

Your final morning and airport transfer

Day 3 begins with breakfast at the hotel. If your flight leaves in the morning or early afternoon, the plan is to transfer you to Cusco airport or the land terminal for departure.

If you leave in the evening, the company can schedule an additional service for an extra cost. You may also have free time to explore Cusco on your own, including the traditional San Pedro Market, where regional products are sold.

The listed airport service takes about 30 minutes. Since no exact pickup time is provided, confirm it with the company rather than relying only on your flight time.

How reliable is the support?

The strongest pattern in the service is personal attention. The arrangements include airport reception, hotel transfers, transport to Ollantaytambo, the return transfer from the train, and help around Machu Picchu.

Carina is specifically praised as a pleasant guide, and Tomas is noted for handling reservations directly. One family described the three-day arrangements as well managed, with staff keeping track of each part of the trip. Another customer received help after missing a flight by mistake, including changes to the travel arrangements.

That does not remove the need to confirm details. You should still verify your hotel, train times, entry time, language, pickup points, and extra charges before departure. Confirmation is issued within 48 hours of booking and depends on availability.

The maximum group size is 30 people. That is not a small private tour, so ask if you prefer a smaller group. The available information confirms that most people can participate and that service animals are allowed, but it does not give detailed information about wheelchair access or the physical demands of each site.

Who will like this three-day plan?

I would recommend this package to you if you want the major arrangements handled in one booking and have only three days for Cusco and Machu Picchu. It suits first-time visitors who value airport reception, guided interpretation, and help with the train and bus connections.

It also works well for families. The support is practical, and the staff’s attention has been praised in family bookings. Spanish and English guiding gives you a choice of language, which is useful when historical explanation is a major part of the experience.

I would hesitate to recommend it if you need a slow acclimatization period, dislike pre-dawn departures, or want a full night’s sleep before Machu Picchu. The program is tight, and the return to Cusco is late.

The package has a strong value case because the train, entry, Machu Picchu bus, ground transfers, guide, and lodging are all bundled. Its weak point is not the sightseeing. It is the pace and the small extra costs that you must add to the headline price.

Should you book Aremika Travel’s Cusco and Machu Picchu tour?

Book it if your priority is convenience in a short window. You get a useful Cusco ruins circuit, a guided Machu Picchu visit, two nights of accommodation, and support through a complicated transport day for $379 per person.

Before committing, confirm the exact lodging, train departure times, entry time, meal arrangements, final taxi plan from Plaza San Francisco, and the two extra admission fees. Also remember that the booking is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason.

For an efficient first visit, I find the plan appealing. For a relaxed Andean holiday, I would choose a longer itinerary.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The experience lasts approximately three days and includes two nights of accommodation.

What time does the Machu Picchu day begin?

The transfer begins at 4:00 a.m. on Day 2, taking you toward Ollantaytambo train station.

Is the Machu Picchu entrance included?

Yes. Machu Picchu admission and the bus ticket from Machu Picchu town to the sanctuary are included.

Is the train to Machu Picchu included?

Yes. The tourist train from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu and back to Ollantaytambo is included.

How long is the guided visit inside Machu Picchu?

The guided visit lasts about two and a half hours, followed by approximately one hour to rest inside the historic sanctuary.

What sites are included in the Cusco city tour?

The route includes Plaza Mayor, Qoricancha, Sacsayhuamán, Q’enqo, Puka Pukara, and Tambomachay.

Are the Cusco archaeological site entrance fees included?

No. The partial tourist ticket for the four ruins costs PEN 70 per person. Qoricancha admission costs PEN 20 per person.

Are meals included?

Meals are not listed as included. Food is available by prior coordination with the guest.

Where does the return transfer end in Cusco?

The listed transfer ends at Plaza San Francisco around 10:00 p.m. From there, you can take a taxi to your hotel.