4-Day: All Included Excursion City Tour, Sacred Valley & MachuPicchu

Machu Picchu is only part of the story. This four-day Cusco package links the city’s Inca sites, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu with airport pickup, hotels, guides, transport, three breakfasts, and two lunches. I like the small maximum of 15 people, which should make site visits easier to follow, and I like the practical hotel-to-hotel handling of the train and transfers.

The main caution is the Machu Picchu ticket situation. Admission is subject to availability through Peru’s Ministry of Culture, and the advertised package does not clearly include the ticket itself. The company says you receive a full refund if no Machu Picchu ticket is available, but you should confirm exactly what is covered before paying.

Key points at a glance

• Four busy days cover Cusco, four nearby Inca sites, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu.
• A maximum group size of 15 gives you a more personal setting than a large coach tour.
• Airport pickup and transport between Cusco, Ollantaytambo, Aguas Calientes, and Cusco reduce the stress of arranging Peru’s complicated connections.
• Day 2 is a long 12-hour outing, with Pisac, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo, and an evening train.
• Machu Picchu admission depends on ticket availability, with circuits 1 and 2 identified as the standard options.
• A previous booking included La Casona Real in Cusco, praised for its old Spanish villa setting, comfortable beds, and central location.

A practical four-day route through the Inca heartland

At $750 per person, this is not a bare-bones sightseeing package. It combines transport, accommodation, airport pickup, guided visits, some meals, and the major rail connection to Machu Picchu. That matters in Cusco, where a small mistake with train times, station transfers, or entrance tickets can create a very expensive headache.

The schedule is compact. You will see a great deal, but you will not have long stretches for wandering, shopping, or slow meals. I would choose this tour if you want the main sights handled for you and prefer a clear plan over independent travel.

The tour is marketed for four days, with arrival and departure built into the schedule. Day 1 begins with airport pickup and ends with the Cusco city tour. Day 2 takes you through the Sacred Valley to Aguas Calientes. Day 3 is devoted to Machu Picchu and the return to Cusco. Day 4 leaves the morning open before your flight.

The experience has a 4.8 rating from 40 published ratings, with 98 percent of customers recommending it. The strongest praise centers on communication, helpful guides, and the quality and location of at least one Cusco hotel, La Casona Real.

Day 1: Cusco sights from Korikancha to Tambomachay

A representative from Chullos Travel Peru meets you at the airport and takes you to your hotel. The morning is free, which is useful after a flight and gives you a little time to adjust to Cusco’s high altitude before the afternoon sightseeing begins.

The city tour starts at about 2:00 PM. The first stop is Korikancha, the Temple of the Sun. This sacred Inca site later became part of a Spanish religious complex, making it an important place for seeing how Inca and colonial Cusco overlap. The supplied schedule does not state how long you spend inside Korikancha, so expect the guide to manage the timing around the rest of the afternoon.

After roughly 30 minutes of travel, you reach Sacsayhuamán. The guided visit lasts about one hour. Its huge fitted stones are the main attraction, and the scale is easier to appreciate with a guide explaining how the site relates to Cusco. You should wear sturdy shoes, since archaeological sites around the city involve uneven ground.

Qenqo follows after about 15 minutes of driving. It is a ritual center cut into a rocky outcrop. The visit is shorter and more atmospheric than a grand architectural site, with passages and carved stone that give it a mysterious feel. This is one of the stops where a guide adds real value, since the remains can be hard to interpret on your own.

The final two stops are Puca Pucara and Tambomachay. Puca Pucara is described as a military construction, while Tambomachay is associated with water worship and is often called the Bath of the Inca. Together, they show that the area around Cusco was more than a ceremonial center. It also had roads, defenses, water systems, and carefully planned sites.

You return to Cusco at about 7:00 PM. The five-hour tour is a good first look at the region, though it is not a relaxed afternoon. Your free morning helps, but you should still plan on a full first day.

Day 2: Pisac, Urubamba, and Ollantaytambo

Pickup is scheduled for 8:00 AM for the Sacred Valley. The full day lasts about 12 hours, so this is the busiest section of the trip. You visit Pisac, stop for a buffet lunch in Urubamba, tour Ollantaytambo, and then catch the train to Aguas Calientes.

Pisac is about 1.5 hours from Cusco. The guided archaeological visit lasts about an hour. The site is known for its Inca remains and its position above the Sacred Valley, giving you a broad view of the surrounding area. Since the schedule names only the archaeological site, you should not assume that a separate market visit is included.

The route continues beside the Willka Mayu, or Sacred River, toward Urubamba. Lunch is a buffet of typical Andean food. Two lunches are included in the package, and this is one of them. Meals not specifically listed are not included, so you should budget separately for other food and drinks.

After lunch, you drive about 30 minutes to Ollantaytambo. The one-hour guided visit covers the Temple of the Sun, the Intihuatana, the Princess Baths, and the terraces. The site is especially useful for understanding how the Incas worked with steep mountain terrain. It is also an important transition point because the train to Aguas Calientes leaves from here.

The train ride takes you to Aguas Calientes, the town used as the base for Machu Picchu. You spend the night there, then receive the details for the next morning’s visit when the guide comes by your hotel in the evening.

This arrangement is one of the tour’s best practical features. You do not have to return to Cusco after a long Sacred Valley day and then make another early start for Machu Picchu. The tradeoff is that Day 2 can feel tiring, especially after several hours on the road and a substantial archaeological visit at Ollantaytambo.

Day 3: Machu Picchu and the return to Cusco

The day begins very early with the bus to Machu Picchu. Early starts are part of the deal here, but they also leave you more time at the site before the return journey. The guided visit lasts about two and a half hours.

The most important issue is your entrance ticket. The information provided says tickets for circuits 1 and 2 are purchased according to availability and that other circuits may cost extra. It also says Machu Picchu admission is not included, despite the broader package description using the phrase all included. I would ask the provider, in writing, whether your quoted $750 includes the actual Ministry of Culture entrance fee, the circuit assigned, and any additional charge for a different circuit.

This is not a minor detail. Machu Picchu tickets are controlled by Peru’s Ministry of Culture, not by the tour company. The provider states that if no ticket is available, you receive a full refund for the reserved tour package. That policy offers protection, but you should still confirm how and when ticket availability is checked.

After the guided visit, you have free time in Aguas Calientes for lunch. Lunch is not listed among the two included meals unless the provider confirms otherwise, so plan to pay for this meal yourself.

You then return by train to Ollantaytambo. A Chullos Travel representative is scheduled to meet you there with a sign showing the company name and drive you back to your Cusco hotel. This final transfer is valuable because the rail journey does not bring you directly into central Cusco.

The day is listed as about seven hours, but the early start, train schedule, and road transfer make it feel like a full travel day. Keep your evening simple. You will have already covered Machu Picchu and a long return route.

Day 4: A gentle finish before your flight

The last morning is free, depending on your departure time. That is a welcome change after three structured days. You can rest, pack, or make a short visit near your hotel.

The schedule refers to Cusco Cathedral as the final stop, but the details say the morning is free and that admission is free. Because the timing depends on your flight, confirm whether the cathedral visit is actually guided or simply an optional nearby stop.

There is also an optional activity focused on Peruvian cooking and preparing a Pisco Sour. It is not part of the stated package, so expect an additional charge if you choose it. This could be a pleasant extra for a later departure, but it should not be treated as part of the included tour.

What $750 buys you in practical terms

The price makes the most sense if you value coordination. Airport pickup, city transport, Sacred Valley transport, train connections, hotel arrangements, guides, and return transfers are all bundled together. Independent travelers can arrange the same broad route, but they would need to manage each part separately.

Included meals are three breakfasts and two lunches. The wording also lists the City Tour and Sacred Valley as included, along with entrances for the City Tour. Machu Picchu is described as all included in one section, but the admission ticket is separately marked as not included and subject to availability. That contradiction deserves clarification before booking.

Accommodation details are not fully specified in the supplied information. One past booking included La Casona Real in Cusco, described as an old Spanish villa with attractive furnishings, comfortable beds, and a good location. You should ask which hotels are included for your dates and whether the same property is guaranteed.

The maximum group size of 15 is a strong point. You still may share a vehicle and guide with other people, but a group this size is easier to keep together at archaeological sites. It also gives you a better chance to ask questions than you would on a large bus tour.

Guides, communication, and the small-group advantage

The most praised part of the service is the human support. The guides are described as friendly and well informed, and the company is credited with keeping customers updated about meeting places and tickets. That kind of communication matters most on Day 2 and Day 3, when a missed transfer can disrupt the entire route.

A guide is particularly useful at Machu Picchu. The stones and terraces are impressive, but the site can be difficult to understand without context. A two-and-a-half-hour guided visit gives you a framework before your free time in Aguas Calientes.

No individual guide names are provided, so I cannot promise a particular person. The company does, however, assign representatives for airport pickup and the Ollantaytambo return transfer. Look for the company sign at the station, as instructed.

Who should choose this Cusco package?

I would recommend it to you if this is your first visit to the Cusco region and you want the major sights arranged in one purchase. It suits people who want guides, preplanned transport, and a small group without committing to a long hiking trip.

It is also a good fit if you have limited time. In four days, you cover the core sights around Cusco and the Sacred Valley, then reach Machu Picchu without having to research every connection yourself.

I would be more cautious if you prefer slow travel. Day 2 is long, Day 3 starts early, and the route leaves little room for independent exploration. It may also not suit you if you want a specific Machu Picchu circuit, since the standard availability is tied to circuits 1 and 2 and other options may cost more.

Altitude is another practical consideration. The free morning on Day 1 helps, but you should not expect a full adjustment period before sightseeing begins. If you know you need extra time at altitude, an independent schedule with more rest may be kinder.

Booking questions worth asking before payment

The free cancellation policy allows a full refund when you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes inside that window are not refunded or accepted, so keep the cutoff in mind.

Before booking, ask for clear answers to these points:

• Is the Machu Picchu entrance fee included in the $750?
• Which circuit will be assigned?
• What happens if only a higher-priced circuit is available?
• Which hotels are included in Cusco and Aguas Calientes?
• Are the two listed lunches the Sacred Valley buffet and another meal?
• Is the Cathedral visit included, guided, or optional?

These questions are especially important because the package uses all included language while also excluding Machu Picchu admission. A written answer will prevent confusion.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a tightly organized first visit to Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu, with airport pickup, guides, small-group transport, and hotel arrangements handled for you. The strongest value is not just the number of stops. It is the reduced stress of moving between Cusco, Ollantaytambo, Aguas Calientes, and Machu Picchu.

Do not book until you clarify the Machu Picchu ticket cost and hotel details. If those terms are satisfactory, the $750 price is reasonable for a compact, supported route with a maximum of 15 people. If you want longer visits, more free time, or complete control over Machu Picchu circuits, build the trip yourself instead.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately four days and includes airport pickup, sightseeing, accommodation, meals, transport, and a free final morning before your flight.

What is the maximum group size?

The group can include a maximum of 15 travelers.

Is airport pickup included?

Yes. A Chullos Travel Peru representative is scheduled to meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel.

Which meals are included?

The package includes three breakfasts and two lunches. Meals not specifically mentioned are not included.

Is the Machu Picchu entrance ticket included?

The supplied details mark the Machu Picchu ticket as not included and subject to availability. They also state that tickets are purchased through Peru’s Ministry of Culture, generally using circuits 1 or 2. Confirm the exact cost with the provider before booking.

What happens if Machu Picchu tickets are unavailable?

The provider states that you receive a full refund for the reserved tour package if no Machu Picchu tickets are available.

How long is the Sacred Valley day?

Day 2 lasts approximately 12 hours and includes Pisac, a buffet lunch in Urubamba, Ollantaytambo, and the train to Aguas Calientes.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations and changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded or accepted.