Multi-day trip

From Cusco: Machu Picchu 2-day Budget Tour by Car

3.2 / 5

46 reviews

Activity provider: Haku Travel E.I.R.L
Multi-day trip

From Cusco: Machu Picchu 2-day Budget Tour by Car

Activity provider: Haku Travel E.I.R.L

From US$ 150 per person

Enjoy a 2-day budget tour that makes its way to Machu Picchu by car. Explore stretches of mountains to reach Aguas Calientes and take a guided tour of the ancient Inca city.

About this activity

Cancellation policy
This activity is non-refundable
Covid-19 precautions
Special health and safety measures are in place. Check your activity voucher once you book for full details.
Duration 2 days
Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide
English, Spanish
Pickup included
• Pickup from hotels and hostels in central Cusco. The local partner will contact you to inform the exact pickup time depending on your location. • Please note, pickups from Airbnb or private apartments are not included. If it is your situation, the local partner will coordinate an alternative pickup location.
Private group available

Experience

Itinerary
48 hours
  • Cusco

  • Sacred Valley (scenic drive, scenic views on the way)

  • Santa Teresa District (lunch)

  • Central Hidroelectrica Machu Picchu, Peru (hiking)

    • Optional
    • Extra fee
  • Aguas Calientes (free time, overnight stay)

  • Hot spring

    • Optional
    • Extra fee
  • Aguas Calientes (hiking)

  • Machu Picchu (guided tour, sightseeing, sunrise)

  • Huayna Picchu (hiking)

    • Optional
    • Extra fee
  • Montaña Machu Picchu, Peru (hiking)

    • Optional
  • Central Hidroelectrica Machu Picchu, Peru (hiking)

  • Aguas Calientes (hiking)

  • Cusco

Pickup included
Main stop
Other stop
Highlights
  • Enjoy an affordable option to visit the iconic Machu Picchu including
  • Take in stunning panoramic views throughout the journey
  • Discover the different villages and climatic changes in the Andes
  • Get a guided tour of Machu Picchu and the surrounding sites
Full description
Journey to the iconic Machu Picchu on a 2-day tour specially designed to be an affordable alternative that takes you over scenic mountains, past indigenous villages, and through lush jungles hikes. Make your trip more comfortable by upgrading to options that include hotels in Aguas Calientes and additional bus and train add-ons. DAY 1: Cusco - Santa Teresa - Hydroelectric - Aguas Calientes Pickup at 7:00 AM from hotels and hostels in central Cusco. Head through the Sacred Valley and appreciate different villages and climatic changes in the Andes. Arrive at Santa Teresa around 1:30 PM where a typical lunch will be served. Then, continue the tour until arriving at Hydroelectric around 3:00 PM. From here, start a walk on the train tracks through a native jungle to Aguas Calientes, about a 3 hours trek. You can choose add-on a train to Aguas Calientes at the checkout if you don't want to do the walk. At Aguas Calientes, your guide will show you to your accommodation (if option is selected). You also have the opportunity to go relax optionally at the hot springs (this activity can only be paid on spot) or take a stroll around town before dinner. DAY 2: Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Hydroelectric - Cusco Get up early in the morning and 4:30 AM to start the walk towards Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas. The steep walk up will last approximately 1:30 hour, and the objective is to appreciate the sunrise from the Inca citadel and be the first to arrive. The walk up to Machu Picchu requires a fair physical condition — you can also choose add-on a bus to Machu Picchu at the checkout, if you don't want to do the walk. Get a 2-hour guided tour of Machu Picchu and the surrounding sites. Enjoy free time to take photos and look around the citadel. If you chose one of the extra hikes to one of the mountains you will split ways with the group to go by yourself to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain — you can choose add-on these hikes at the checkout. Leave Machu Picchu and return to Aguas Calientes at around 11:30 AM (walking or by bus, depending on if you choose add-on at checkout). Once in Aguas Calientes, start the walk back to Hydroelectric where your guide will be waiting to gather the group to return to the city of Cusco — again, you can choose add-on a train to Hydroelectric at the checkout, if you don't want to do the walk. Be back in Cusco around 9:30 - 10:00 PM. The drop-off will be in San Francisco square in the historic center, near Plaza de Armas. Distances for the whole itinerary: • Distance traveled by car/van Cusco to Hydroelectric: approximately 4 to 5 hours • Trekking Distance from Hydroelectric to Aguas Calientes: approximately 2:30 hours (1-way) • Trekking Distance from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu: 1:30 hours (1-way) • Bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu: 25-minutes (1-way) • Distance traveled by car/van from Hydroelectric to Cusco: approximately 5 to 6 hours
Includes
  • Transfer by shared car/van to/from Cusco and Hydroelectric
  • Lunch at Hydroelectric
  • Dinner in Aguas Calientes
  • Breakfast at the hostel in Aguas Calientes
  • Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu
  • Professional Bi-lingual Guide in Machu Picchu
  • Accommodation in hostel or 3-star hotel (only if option is selected)
  • Breakfast on first day and lunch after the visit to Machu Picchu
  • Train ticket to or/and from Hydroelectric and Aguas Calientes (can be chosen as an add-on at checkout)
  • Bus to and/or from Machu Picchu and Aguas Calientes (can be chosen as an add-on at checkout)
  • Hot springs in Aguas Calientes (can be paid on site)
  • Travel insurance
Not suitable for
  • People with mobility impairments
  • Wheelchair users

Select participants and date

Participants

Date

Important information

What to bring

  • Passport or ID card
  • Comfortable shoes
  • Sunglasses
  • Hat
  • Camera
  • Sunscreen
  • Comfortable clothes
  • Insect repellent
  • Weather-appropriate clothing
  • Flashlight
  • Waterproof shoes
  • Daypack

Not allowed

  • Pets
  • Luggage or large bags
  • Professional cameras
  • Tripods

Know before you go

  • When booking, please provide the passport details (country, number, date of issuance, expiration) of everyone in your group. This information is required in advance in order to confirm your admission ticket to Machu Picchu
  • Please have in mind although this tour offers the cheapest way to visit Machu Picchu, the trip by car is long and can be exhausting for many
  • You can add train and/or bus as an add-on at checkout, for the tour to be less physically demanding for you. Prices are the same if paid on the spot, so if you are not sure when booking, it's possible to decide on the day of the tour
  • The add-on hikes for Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain are subject to availability. The local partner will contact you in case the option you chose is fully booked to offer an alternative or cancellation
  • In high season tickets of the first shift may not be assured. In this case, you will be provided an alternative schedule, which can also generate a change of itinerary
Customer reviews

Overall rating

3.2 /5

based on 46 reviews

Review summary

  • Guide
    3.3/5
  • Transportation
    2.7/5
  • Value for money
    3/5
  • Service
    2/5

Sort by:

Traveler type:

Star rating:

We had an incredible time - Pablo was an amazing guide and he took care of us so much! An unforgettable experience - the hotel they booked for us had a glass top to bottom view of Aquas Calientes and it was beautiful! We will cherish these memories forever - thank you to the team!!

March 31, 2023

Traveling by bus/car was reasonable for the price. The lunch on the 1st day mentioned "buffet" but only allowed 1 serving per guest--I would try to let other travelers know this when mentioning the food options. Also would recommend at least 1 more rest break on the return to Cusco, only stopped once and the driver himself pulled over to go to the bathroom by the side of the road.

Read more

March 31, 2023

A great tour that allows you to get a different experience in visiting of Machu Picchu. If you are in an average physically shape, this tour allows you to enjoy the jungle and all the lush flora and fauna in it. Both guides that accompanied us during the tour went above and beyond to share important info about what we were seeing. This was especially the case with Jimi, our tour in Machu Picchu. The van ride to Hydroelectric is long and can be rough at moments, so make sure to book full two days for this. The accommodation and food were great, especially the dinner. If you are going to Machu Picchu early I would recommend taking the bus up. The climb on the stairs is steep (450 altitude meter in 1,5 km, so average 30% incline), taking 1,30h if you are in good shape. If you miss the walking, i would recommend climbing Huayna Picchu as an option. You can always go down from Machu Picchu by the stairs.

Read more

March 31, 2023

Product ID: 386103