Explore Peru with This Three-Day Machu Picchu Itinerary and Travel Guide: Tips and Highlights
- Emma Hamrick
- Oct 12, 2024
- 9 min read
Updated: Mar 3
A trip to Peru is incomplete without a stop at Machu Picchu, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. This ancient Incan city, perched high in the Andes, is more than just a destination—it's a journey into history, culture, and breathtaking landscapes. While Machu Picchu itself is a marvel, the adventure through the Sacred Valley, Ollantaytambo, and Aguas Calientes elevates the experience to something unforgettable. Picture yourself wandering through ancient ruins, gazing at towering peaks, and immersing in the vibrant energy of bustling markets.
This three-day Machu Picchu itinerary and travel guide will help you navigate the perfect balance between discovery and relaxation as you explore the rich history and stunning natural beauty of this incredible region. But be warned—planes, trains, buses, and automobiles are all part of the adventure! For those looking to get the most out of their trip, I highly recommend enlisting a tour guide to ensure you make the most of your time.
Whether you're a history buff, a photography enthusiast, or just someone eager for a new cultural experience, this Machu Picchu itinerary will set you on a path toward an adventure like no other. Let’s dive in!
The Ultimate Machu Picchu Itinerary and Travel Guide
Day 1: Exploring the Beautiful Sacred Valley
Morning – Fly to Cusco
If you’re traveling from outside of South America, there’s a good chance your Peru trip is originating in Lima (Check out my Lima guide if it is!). From Lima, it’s an easy hour-long flight to Cusco to start your journey to Machu Picchu. The flights typically run around $100 with several daily departures on LATAM.
Mid-Morning – Depart from Cusco and Drive to the Sacred Valley
The Cusco airport is relatively small and we had no issues quickly finding our bus for the Sacred Valley. Our tour included a planned lunch and “Mother Nature Ceremony” to pause and acclimatize to the altitude. It’s beneficial to enjoy lighter meals and drink coca tea to help lessen the effects of the altitude.
Afternoon – Meet Llamas, Alpaca and Vicuna
Our tour group stopped at Manos De La Comunidad, but there are several locations on the road to Pisac that allow for up-close encounters with llamas and alpacas. This location also had vicuna, a species of camelids native to South America known for having extremely soft wool. While admittedly a little tourist-trappy, I enjoyed getting to meet the animals, watch local artisans weaving on-site, and shop the wares made by said artisans. Budget around an hour and a half to spend here.
Late Afternoon – Visit Pisac Market
If you’re looking to visit the classic “artisan markets” you see all over Pinterest, the Pisac Market is a must-stop. There are countless stalls of vendors offering a range of goods. Our tour made a point to stop at a silver jewelry shop for a demonstration. This is probably an hour-long stop tops, but the town is vibrant and worth a stop as you acclimatize to the altitude.
Evening – Check-in at Hotel, Eat Dinner and Rest Up!
You’ll notice that this day’s schedule has been light, and that’s fully intentional. The next two days are jam-packed, so take the evening to enjoy a nice dinner and get some good rest. We stayed at the Sonesta Posadas Del Inca, an absolutely gorgeous location set on the site of a former monastery. This was one of my favorite hotels in Peru with a great on-site restaurant. I wish I would’ve had more time to explore, but some reactions to the altitude prevented me from doing so (Read more about that here).
Day 2: Visiting Ollantaytambo, Riding PeruRail, and Visiting Machu Picchu
Morning – Visit Ollantaytambo Ruins
An early morning hotel breakfast and quick check-out are required to optimize this day of adventure. The first stop is the Ollantaytambo ruins. Photos of Ollantaytambo, a stunning Incan fortress, simply cannot do it justice. Located just minutes from the train station to Machu Picchu, this site offers an introduction to Incan architecture and grounds visitors in the history of the Inca people. You’ll do a fair amount of stair climbing here, which is also a good opportunity to gauge the impact of elevation on your respiratory system. Plan to spend around an hour exploring this site and taking in the views.
Mid-Morning – Board PeruRail to Aguas Calientes
If you’re traveling without a guide, allow extra time to navigate the crowded Ollytatambo train station. Once on board the train, settle in, enjoy the complimentary Peruvian snack boxes and coca tea, and take in the stunning scenery during the hour-and-a-half-long journey to Aguas Calientes. We took PeruRail's Vistadome which included the special “Cultural Presentation” that provided an opportunity to enter the observation train car/lounge to enjoy Peruvian music, dancing, and alcoholic beverages for purchase. My boyfriend and I were pulled in as part of the action and danced with the dancers for several minutes (an experience I simultaneously loved and felt humiliated by). I highly recommend paying the extra $10 to enjoy the experience as it allowed for some unique photo ops on the back of the train. Upon arrival to the Aguas Calientes station, we dropped our bags with porters and prepared for our journey to Machu Pichu.
Afternoon – First Visit to Machu Picchu (Circuits 3 & 4)
Machu Pichu operates on extremely strict timed entry tickets. This itinerary requires two separate entrances, each costing around $50 if you’re paying on your own. Circuits 3 & 4 are considered the “easier” circuits for visitors weary of their athletic abilities. I wouldn’t recommend the trip for anyone with severe mobility issues, but individuals with baseline levels of fitness should be able to enjoy Circuits 3 and 4 without too much hassle. The site requires that you visit with a guide, which can be picked up at the entry gates. The site limits the length of time visitors can stay per visit, so expect to spend around two hours per entrance walking around and taking photos.
When we arrived to the Machu Picchu gates around 2pm, the site was generally clearing out which allowed for some great moments of tranquility as we took in the sights. Take your time to experience every angle of the incredible architecture, and snap photos to your heart’s content. The lower circuits include walks through the living quarters, as well as “lower” views of the citadel. The platform at the entry point provided the backdrop for some of my favorite photos from our visit.
Late Afternoon – Explore Aguas Calientes
After your bus ride down from Machu Picchu, take some time to wander around the city of Aguas Calientes. We enjoyed walking alongside the rushing river and taking in the small gardens along the banks. Take a walk along the train tracks to the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel and grab a drink at their bar, or walk around the tranquil resort. Continue your adventure through town to check out the sculptures and impressive bridges over the river. If you have extra time, you could also visit the hot springs or a massage parlor for a moment of relaxation. We missed both, but a person in our tour group shared that the massage was one of his favorite ever at an incredibly reasonable price ($30 for an hour).
Evening – Check-in at Hotel, Eat Dinner and Rest Again
We stayed at the El Mapi by Inkaterra, located within the heart of Aguas Calientes. Our tour guide mentioned that the El Mapi and the Santuario Machupicchu Hotel were the two best “reasonably priced” hotels in the area, and the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo hotel was the most luxurious. Having stayed at the Inkaterra Hacienda Concepcion in the Amazon Rainforest, I can attest the Inkaterra brand offers the most comfortable and massive beds ever with incredibly solid in-resort restaurants. Be sure to get to bed early today, as tomorrow’s itinerary requires and early morning. But word to the wise; the city of Aguas Calientes doesn’t sleep until the early hours of the morning. If you’re planning to stay in the city center, consider packing some earplugs to block out the sounds of music from the bars and restaurants below.
Day 3: More Machu Picchu!
Morning – Early Morning Visit to Watch Sunrise at Machu Picchu (Circuits 1 & 2)
If you’re staying overnight in Aguas Calientes, a visit to Machu Picchu at sunrise is absolutely warranted. Our entrance was scheduled for 6am, so after our early morning hotel breakfast, we boarded our bus. This visit, we opted for the more challenging Circuits 1 & 2. These circuits afford you the opportunity of seeing that “postcard” shot of Machu Picchu from higher up, but also requires some more strenuous stair climbing at altitude which might not be suitable for visitors with medical conditions or those who struggle with hiking. The mornings in Machu Picchu frequently include cloudy skies which make for cool photos of the mountain emerging from the mist. That said, you’re more likely to encounter difficult views of the site in the early morning because of these weather conditions (The Globus tour group that visited with our guide the week before us couldn't see the mountain at all!). I also felt that we were competing with heavier crowds in the morning as many of the Inca Trail hikers arrive at the site for sunrise. We were lucky with beautiful weather on our visit which made the early morning totally worth it. As with the afternoon visits, expect to spend around two hours taking in the views.
Mid-Morning – Souviner Shopping and The Best Lunch You’ll Ever Eat
After a quick clean-up and dropping suitcases with bell services after hotel check-out, enjoy another hour or two of free time in Aguas Calientes. This is the perfect time to swing by one of the countless souvenir shops for gifts for friends and family back home. Many of these shops offer “passport stamps” for Machu Picchu, but before you add some ink to your passport pages, you may want to double-check that this won’t invalidate your passport.
After some shopping, it’s time to find a bite to eat. Maybe I worked up a massive appetite from climbing the ruins, or maybe my previously alluded to travel illness was finally wearing off when I visited. Either way, I cannot say enough good things about Restaurant Bistro Bar Indio Feliz. This was quite literally the best meal of our trip. I enjoyed French Onion Soup, a “DIY” fettuccini pasta, and a delicious cream-puff-like dessert. My travel companions raved about their fish dishes and the alcoholic beverages offered. The colorful décor only added to the ambiance. Be sure to put this restaurant on your Machu Picchu “must-do” list.
Afternoon – Train Ride Back to Ollantaytambo
The train back from Aguas Calientes is mostly a rinse and repeat of the train ride up. Once again, it’s advisable to get to the station early as the lack of signage and hectic environment can complicate the boarding process. Once on board, all train cars are treated to a “fashion show” of alpaca garments. Travelers ticketed with the PeruRail Vistadome ticket will once again have the opportunity to enjoy the observation car, cultural presentation, and alcoholic beverages for purchase.
Late Afternoon – Drive Back to Cusco with Stop at MachuQolqa Viewpoint
Our tour group arranged a bus ride back to Cusco on our behalf. The ride takes around four hours with some interesting views of the Urubamba River Valley and Andes Mountains. We especially enjoyed our 15-minute bathroom break at the MachuQolqa Viewpoint. The roadside stop seems to be in active development with a nearby Zip Line recently constructing a viewing platform and photo spot for this gorgeous mountain backdrop (Sidenote: This was probably the sketchiest construction I’d ever seen with this floating platform with no railing offering no protection from a 50 foot fall below). Stop by, snap a few photos, and carry on with your journey.
Evening – Check-in at Hotel, Eat Dinner and Reflect on Your Journey
This action-packed day wraps up with a check-in at a hotel in Cusco. If you’re like me, you might be fully exhausted from this travel day, but if you have energy left, feel free to check out my forthcoming Cusco guide for inspiration on what to do in town.
More to Explore in Peru
If you're wondering what to wear on a Machu Picchu adventure, check out my packing list and outfit look book. While Machu Picchu might be the crown jewl of the country, there's plenty more to explore. Visit my guides to the Amazon Rainforest, Lima, and Cusco.
Wrapping It Up
A journey to Machu Picchu is more than just a visit to an ancient wonder—it's an immersion into the heart of Peruvian culture, history, and natural beauty. This three-day itinerary through the Sacred Valley, Ollantaytambo, and Aguas Calientes offers a balanced mix of adventure, relaxation, and education, ensuring that you experience the very best of the region. Whether you’re soaking in the panoramic views, marveling at Incan engineering, or savoring local cuisine, each step of the way brings new discoveries. While the logistics may seem daunting, the rewards are unforgettable. Take your time, embrace the altitude (and coca tea!), and savor every moment of this magical trip. Safe travels, and enjoy every view from the heights of the Andes to the depths of its rich culture!
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