City Tour, Sacred Valley, Machupicchu and Maras Moray in 5 Days

Machu Picchu is only part of the story. This five-day package links Cusco’s Inca sites, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Maras, and Moray without making you arrange each transfer yourself. I especially like the small maximum group of 15 and the useful mix of guided visits and free time. I also like that the package includes hotels, trains, buses, airport transfers, and the Machu Picchu entrance.

The main concern is the pace. You cover a lot in five days, and Cusco sits at high altitude. One person described being amazed by the sights but said better acclimatization would have made the experience more enjoyable. Plan to take your first day gently, and do not treat the schedule as a race.

Key Points Before You Book

• A full Inca circuit in five days: You see Cusco, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Maras, and Moray in one organized trip.
• Maximum group size of 15: This is small enough for more direct help from the guide than a large coach tour.
• One night in Aguas Calientes: Sleeping near Machu Picchu allows an early visit instead of trying to reach the site from Cusco in one day.
• Big luggage stays in Cusco: You carry only what you need for the overnight stop in Aguas Calientes.
• Machu Picchu Circuit 2 is included, subject to availability: The guided visit lasts about two hours, followed by some time to explore independently.
• The package costs $615 per person: For three nights in Cusco, one night in Aguas Calientes, transport, train tickets, entrance to Machu Picchu, and guiding, that is a practical bundle, though you should confirm hotel category and meal details before paying.

Is $615 a Fair Price for Five Busy Days?

At $615 per person, this package offers solid value if you want convenience. The price includes three nights in Cusco based on double occupancy, one night in Aguas Calientes, round-trip train travel to Machu Picchu, round-trip buses to the site, airport transfers, several guided excursions, and the Machu Picchu entrance.

You also receive a Sacred Valley tour, the Cusco city tour, and the Maras and Moray outing. Booking all of these pieces separately can take time, especially when train tickets and Machu Picchu entry need to fit together. Here, Kantu Peru Tours handles the moving parts.

Still, the price is not fully all-inclusive. An extra ticket for Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain costs $65 per person. Tips are optional. The included meals list says lunch, while the schedule refers to a buffet lunch in Urubamba and breakfast at the hotels, so I would confirm exactly which meals are covered and what level of hotel you are receiving.

The value is strongest for someone who wants a guided introduction to the region rather than a luxury trip or a slow, independent visit. You pay for structure and transport. You give up some control over timing.

Day One: Cusco, Qorikancha, and the Four Ruins

Your first day begins with airport pickup in Cusco. A Kantu Peru Tours representative takes you to your hotel, gives you an introduction to Peru and Cusco, and helps with the arrival transfer. After check-in, you have time to rest and eat a light lunch before the afternoon city tour.

That pause matters. Cusco is high, and even a simple walk can feel harder than expected during your first hours. Do not plan a long evening after the tour. Use the free time to drink water, rest, and get used to the altitude.

The city tour begins at about 1:30 p.m. and finishes around 6:30 p.m. The route includes the Cathedral and Qorikancha, the former Inca Temple of the Sun. Qorikancha is one of the most useful places for understanding how Cusco changed under Spanish rule. The tour then moves to the major Inca sites outside the center.

Sacsayhuaman is the big visual moment. Its massive stone walls show the precision of Inca construction better than any small museum display can. The stones were fitted so closely that even the famous paper-between-the-blocks comparison feels almost inadequate.

Q’enqo follows, along with Tambomachay and Puca Pucara. These sites are less immediately dramatic than Sacsayhuaman, but they help fill out the picture of Cusco as an organized ceremonial and defensive center. You see how close these places are to the imperial capital.

The schedule contains a repeated reference to Qorikancha, so I would confirm the exact route with the guide on arrival. The important point is that the day combines the Cathedral, Qorikancha, and the four nearby Inca sites, with transport back to your hotel afterward.

You sleep in Cusco. Since this is your only full acclimatization day before the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, keep your expectations sensible. The altitude is not a small footnote here. It can shape how much you enjoy the first two days.

Day Two: Alpacas, Pisac, and Ollantaytambo

After checking out of your Cusco hotel, you store your large suitcases and carry only what you need for one night. This is a good arrangement. Aguas Calientes is an overnight stop, and hauling a large suitcase through transfers and onto the train is needless work.

The Sacred Valley outing begins with a drive to Awanacancha, about 30 minutes from Cusco. You see Andean camelids there, including alpacas, llamas, vicuñas, and huanacos. It is a short stop, but it gives you a quick introduction to animals that are central to life in the Andes.

After another short drive, you stop for a view over the Sacred Valley. The trip then continues to Pisac, one of the region’s important Inca archaeological sites. The guide takes you through the main sectors, with about an hour at the site.

Pisac is valuable because it combines grand mountain views with terraces and Inca stonework. The visit is fairly brief, so do not expect a slow archaeological study. You will get the main orientation and a look at the key sectors, then continue down the valley.

Urubamba is the lunch stop. The schedule describes a buffet lunch, with views of corn and quinoa farmland along the route. A buffet can be efficient for a group, especially on a day with several stops, but the package information only specifically lists lunch, so check whether drinks or other items cost extra.

In the afternoon, you reach Ollantaytambo. This is one of the most rewarding stops in the Sacred Valley because the modern town still follows an old Inca street plan. The archaeological site rises above the town, with terraces and steep stone steps. Give the climb your full attention, especially after a long morning.

The schedule allows about an hour at Ollantaytambo before you board the train. That is enough for a guided overview, but not enough for every corner. The guide will point out the main features, while your priority should be staying with the group and keeping an eye on the train departure.

You need your passport for the train and Machu Picchu. After the train ride, a Kantu Peru Tours representative meets you and takes you to your hotel in Aguas Calientes. This handoff is useful because the day includes several changes: bus, tour vehicle, archaeological sites, lunch, train, and hotel transfer.

Day Three: Machu Picchu With Circuit 2

After breakfast, you meet your guide and take the CONSETUR bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu. The bus ride takes about 30 minutes. Keep your passport with you because it is required at the Machu Picchu control point. Without it, you cannot enter.

The guided visit lasts about two hours. The route includes the agricultural sector, quarry, Temple of the Sun, Temple of the Window, and sundial. The package lists Circuit 2, subject to availability. That is an important detail because Machu Picchu now uses fixed circuits, and your route determines which viewpoints and structures you can see.

The guide begins the tour when you are ready, then gives recommendations before leaving you inside the site. You have some time to explore the final part on your own, unless you decide to leave after the guided portion. This balance works well. You get context first, then a little room to look at the ruins at your own pace.

The extra mountain hikes are not included. Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain requires a separate ticket costing $65 per person. If one of those climbs is important to you, arrange it before the trip and confirm availability. Do not assume it can be added casually on the morning of your visit.

After Machu Picchu, you return by bus to Aguas Calientes. You have time for lunch in town, then must reach the train station 30 minutes before the departure shown on your ticket. That warning deserves attention. The train schedule controls the second half of the day, so do not linger over lunch.

The train returns to Ollantaytambo, where a representative assists you with the onward transfer to Cusco. You spend the night back in Cusco. It is a long day, but the overnight in Aguas Calientes makes it more manageable than attempting a same-day trip from Cusco.

Day Four: Moray, Maras, and a Free Cusco Afternoon

The fourth day begins at about 8 a.m. after breakfast at the hotel. The first stop is Chinchero, where you see a presentation on traditional textile production using traditional tools. This gives the day a human element after several archaeological sites. It also helps explain how Andean craft traditions remain part of daily cultural life.

Moray comes next. Its circular terraces sit inside a large depression in the ground. The name is connected to muyu, meaning circular, and the site is often described as an Inca agricultural laboratory. You can see the terraces clearly from the viewing area, though the visit is more about the overall design than wandering through every level.

The tour then continues to the Salinas de Maras. Here, a salty spring feeds thousands of small pools built into the mountainside. Each pool collects water and allows salt to form as the water evaporates. The sight is unusual and photogenic, but the visit also shows a working system rather than just a monument.

The tour returns you to Cusco, leaving the afternoon free. This is one of the best features of the package. After several structured days, you can walk around Cusco, revisit a place you saw on the first day, or simply rest before departure.

The timing also gives you a little flexibility if altitude or fatigue slowed you down earlier. I would use the afternoon for an easy walk rather than trying to add another major attraction. The package has already given you a full dose of sites.

Guides, Group Size, and Daily Practicalities

The group maximum is 15 people. That is not a private tour, but it is small enough for the guide to answer questions and keep track of the group at train stations, archaeological sites, and bus stops.

The guiding is in shared or private service and is offered in Spanish and English. The guide may change from day to day. One particularly useful detail from the available feedback is that the guides were different each day, yet all were well liked. That suggests you should expect specialist handoffs rather than one guide accompanying you through every stage.

The company provides permanent and personalized attention, along with all transfers listed in the schedule. That matters most on Day Two and Day Three, when the trip involves multiple transport changes. Still, keep your documents and tickets close, and listen carefully to meeting times.

The stated tour start time is 10 a.m., while the first city tour begins around 1:30 p.m. Since airport arrival times can vary, confirm your exact pickup time after booking. The package requires at least two people per booking, and you must provide each person’s passport name, number, expiration date, and country.

The tour is near public transportation, and most people can participate. No special accessibility details are provided, so if stairs, uneven archaeological paths, or altitude are concerns, ask the operator before booking.

Altitude Is the Main Thing to Plan For

Cusco is the point where you should take altitude seriously. The feedback includes a clear warning: the sights were impressive, but inadequate acclimatization reduced the enjoyment. That is easy to understand, since the first day includes a city tour soon after arrival.

You do not control the altitude, but you can control your first-day pace. Rest at the hotel, eat lightly if needed, and avoid treating your arrival afternoon as a chance to conquer the whole city. The package does include downtime before the city tour and a free afternoon on Day Four, so use those spaces wisely.

The itinerary is physically active in a practical sense. You climb around archaeological sites, board trains and buses, walk through Machu Picchu, and spend long stretches on the road. The information says most people can participate, but it does not promise an easy route at every site.

Who Will Like This Package Most?

I would recommend it to a first-time visitor who wants the main sights arranged in a logical order. You see both UNESCO World Heritage sites in the program, Cusco and Machu Picchu, while also getting the Sacred Valley, Moray, and Maras.

It suits you especially well if you prefer not to arrange train tickets, hotel transfers, Machu Picchu buses, and airport pickup on your own. The small group size is another plus if you want guidance without joining a large busload.

It is less suitable if you want long, quiet visits at each archaeological site. Pisac and Ollantaytambo receive about an hour each, and the Machu Picchu tour lasts about two hours. You see the highlights, but the schedule does not leave much room for wandering.

It may also be a poor match if you need certainty about every hotel detail or meal. The package says hotels are based on double occupancy and includes a chosen hotel, but the exact category is not stated here. Ask for that information before payment.

Finally, think carefully about the cancellation rule. The booking is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. That makes travel insurance and firm flight planning especially sensible.

Should You Book the Five-Day Cusco Package?

Book it if you want a well-connected introduction to the Cusco region and prefer having the hard logistics handled. The strongest reasons are the small group, the included Machu Picchu transport and entrance, the overnight in Aguas Calientes, and the free time built into the plan.

I would not book it without first confirming the hotel category, included meals, exact pickup time, and Machu Picchu circuit availability. Also, arrive ready for the altitude, not just the sightseeing.

For $615, this is a practical package with a full schedule and strong coverage of the main Inca sights. It is best for an organized first visit, not for a slow trip built around independent exploration.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The package lasts approximately five days and includes airport pickup on arrival and airport transfer on departure.

What accommodation is included?

The package includes three nights in a selected hotel in Cusco and one night in a selected hotel in Aguas Calientes, based on double occupancy.

Is the Machu Picchu entrance ticket included?

Yes. The package includes entrance to Machu Picchu, with Circuit 2 subject to availability.

Is a Machu Picchu guide included?

Yes. A two-hour guided visit in English or Spanish is included in shared or private service.

Are Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain included?

No. An additional ticket for either Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain costs $65 per person.

Do I need my passport during the tour?

Yes. You need your passport for the train and for the Machu Picchu entrance control. The passport name, number, expiration date, and country are required for every participant at booking.

Can I cancel for a refund?

No. The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason.