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How many days for Machu Picchu? 4 days, with Cusco and the Sacred Valley around it
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Machu Picchu itself takes half a day, but reaching it takes more: a flight to Cusco at 3,400 metres, the road down into the Sacred Valley, a 1.5-hour train to Aguas Calientes and a bus up to the gate. Give it four days and use the altitude to your advantage. Sleep low in the valley first, see the citadel on the third morning, then end in Cusco once you have adjusted. The key decision is your Machu Picchu entry time and circuit, which sell out weeks ahead in high season.
Short answer
Three days is possible: Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, then Cusco. Four days adds Moray and the Maras salt pans and gives you a full day in Cusco instead of a rushed evening.
The 4-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Fly to Cusco, sleep in the Sacred Valley
Morning. Fly into Cusco and take a taxi or transfer straight down to the Sacred Valley, about 1.5 hours to Pisac or 2 hours to Urubamba. The valley sits at about 2,800-2,900 metres, 500-600 metres lower than Cusco, which helps with altitude sickness.
Afternoon. Climb to the Pisac ruins above the town for terraces curving round the mountain and an Inca cemetery in the cliffs; it is covered by the Boleto Turístico (about S/70 for the partial valley ticket, S/130 for the full 10-day version). Walk down through the terraces in about 1.5 hours.
Evening. Browse the Pisac market for textiles and ceramics, then eat trout or a quinoa soup in Urubamba or Pisac for S/30-50. Drink coca tea and go easy on alcohol the first night.
Pisac's handicraft market is busiest on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays; prices are open to polite bargaining.
Day 2: Ollantaytambo and the train to Aguas Calientes
Morning. Drive 30-45 minutes to Ollantaytambo, a living Inca town with its original street grid and water channels. Climb the Ollantaytambo fortress terraces (covered by the Boleto Turístico) to the unfinished Temple of the Sun, made from six pink granite blocks.
Afternoon. Take the PeruRail or Inca Rail train from Ollantaytambo station to Aguas Calientes (about 1h30-1h45, US$70-150 one way), following the Urubamba river into the cloud forest. Sit on the left side going down for the best views.
Evening. Stay in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo), soak in the town's hot springs (about S/20) and buy your bus tickets for the morning. Dinner costs S/40-70.
Trains limit luggage to about 5 kg per person. Leave the main bags at your Cusco or valley hotel and travel with a small daypack.
Day 3: Machu Picchu at opening
Morning. Queue for the Consettur bus from about 5:00 (about US$24 return for foreigners, 25 minutes up the switchbacks), or walk up in about 1.5 hours. Enter at your timed slot (adult foreign ticket about S/152-160) and follow your chosen circuit; the classic postcard view is from the upper terraces near the Guardhouse.
Afternoon. If you booked it, climb Huayna Picchu (about 1 hour up steep Inca steps) or the higher Machu Picchu Mountain (about 1.5-2 hours) for the view down onto the citadel. Visits last roughly 2.5-4 hours depending on the route.
Evening. Take the afternoon train back to Ollantaytambo and a connecting bus or car to Cusco (about 3.5-4 hours in total), or stay a second night in the valley.
Since 2024, entry is by fixed circuits and timed slots, and you cannot re-enter. Choose a circuit that passes the upper viewpoint if the classic photo matters to you.
Day 4: Cusco: Inca walls, Qorikancha and San Blas
Morning. Start in the Plaza de Armas with the Cathedral (about S/40-50), then walk 5 minutes down Hatun Rumiyoc street to the twelve-angled stone, cut to fit without mortar. Visit Qorikancha (about S/20-30), the Inca Sun Temple with a Dominican convent built on top.
Afternoon. Climb 30 minutes to Sacsayhuamán (on the Boleto Turístico), whose zigzag walls include stones of over 100 tonnes, then walk down to the artisans' quarter of San Blas with its steep lanes and workshops.
Evening. Eat at San Pedro Market for fresh juices and soups for S/10-20, or book a restaurant serving Andean dishes such as alpaca steak and cuy (guinea pig), about S/50-90 a main.
Optional morning detour: Moray (circular Inca terraces) and the Maras salt pans with about 3,000 pools, a half-day tour from Cusco for about S/60-100 plus entry.
Only have 3 days?
With 3 days, go straight to the Sacred Valley on Day 1, take the train to Aguas Calientes on Day 2 and see Machu Picchu on the morning of Day 3, returning to Cusco that night. You lose the Cusco day.
Got extra days?
Hikers can walk the Classic Inca Trail (4 days, permits sell out months ahead and require a licensed operator) or the Salkantay trek (4-5 days). From Cusco, the Rainbow Mountain at about 5,000 metres is a long day trip, and Lake Titicaca is a 7-10 hour bus or train ride south.
Where to stay in Machu Picchu
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Cusco San Blas / Aguas Calientes hostels | Simple rooms near the plaza; in Aguas Calientes, close to the bus stop. | S/70-150 |
| Mid-range | Urubamba / Ollantaytambo | Lower altitude, quiet gardens and short drives to the train. | S/200-400 |
| Mid-range | Cusco historic centre | Colonial houses with courtyards, walking distance to the plaza and the markets. | S/220-450 |
| Comfort | Sacred Valley haciendas / Machu Picchu lodges | Luxury estates in the valley, or the only hotel next to the citadel's gate. | S/1,200-4,000 |
Getting around
Cusco airport is about 20 minutes from the centre by taxi (about S/20-30). Colectivos (shared vans) run from Cusco to Pisac, Urubamba and Ollantaytambo for S/10-20. There is no road to Aguas Calientes: take the train from Ollantaytambo (1h30-1h45) or from Poroy near Cusco (about 3h30). From Aguas Calientes, the Consettur bus runs up to the citadel from about 5:30. A cheaper route is a van to Hidroeléctrica and a 2-3 hour walk along the tracks.
What to eat in Machu Picchu
Andean food is hearty and built on potatoes, corn and quinoa. Try lomo saltado (beef stir-fried with chips), sopa de quinoa, choclo con queso (large-kernel corn with fresh cheese), rocoto relleno (stuffed hot pepper) and Urubamba trout. Cuy is a ceremonial dish, roasted whole. Drink chicha morada (purple corn drink), mate de coca for altitude and a pisco sour. Set lunches (menú del día) in Cusco cost S/12-25.
Best time to visit
April to October is the dry season with clear mornings and cold nights (near 0°C in Cusco in June and July); June to August is the busiest, with Inti Raymi on 24 June. November to March is the rainy season, with green terraces and fewer visitors, but afternoon storms and the Inca Trail closed in February for maintenance. Machu Picchu is often misty early, clearing by mid-morning.
Month-by-month weather for Machu Picchu →
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | S/50 | S/150 | S/600 |
| Food & drink | S/45 | S/100 | S/220 |
| Sights & tickets | S/90 | S/150 | S/280 |
| Local transport | S/60 | S/170 | S/400 |
| Total per person, per day | about S/245 | about S/570 | about S/1,500 |
Approximate 2026 prices in Peruvian soles (about S/3.70 to US$1), with the train, bus and Machu Picchu ticket averaged over the four days; luxury trains such as the Hiram Bingham cost far more.
Before you go
Common questions
How far ahead should I book Machu Picchu tickets?
For June to August and holiday periods, book the citadel ticket 1-3 months ahead, and Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain even earlier, as daily numbers are capped. Buy on the official Ministry of Culture site or through a trusted agency. Then book the train to match your entry time, allowing 1-2 hours from Aguas Calientes.
How do I avoid altitude sickness?
Start low. The Sacred Valley at about 2,800 metres is easier than Cusco at 3,400, so sleep there first. Walk slowly, drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol for the first day and try coca tea. Many travellers take altitude tablets after asking a doctor. Severe headaches, confusion or breathlessness at rest mean you should descend and get medical help.
Do I need a guide inside Machu Picchu?
Official rules require visitors to enter with a licensed guide, though enforcement has varied; guides wait at the entrance and charge about S/150-250 for a small group. A guide explains the temples and the engineering, which are easy to miss. Check the current rules when you buy your ticket.
Can I visit Machu Picchu in a day from Cusco?
Yes, but it is long: a 5:00 departure, about 3.5-4 hours each way by van and train, and a few hours at the citadel. You arrive late morning when it is busiest. A night in Aguas Calientes lets you enter at opening, when the light is best and the crowds are lower.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.