6-Day Private Tour from Lima: Cusco, Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is only part of the story. This six-day private tour links Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu with one arranged plan, private transport, hotels, train tickets and English-speaking guidance. I like the personal service, especially the chance to shape the pace with your own guide. I also like the mix of famous sights and ordinary local life, from San Blas and San Pedro Market to lunch in a rural home.

The main drawback is the tight schedule. You fly from Lima to Cusco, visit several major sites, take a train to Aguas Calientes, tour Machu Picchu, then return to Cusco before flying back to Lima. Domestic flights are not included, and the high-altitude pace may feel demanding. Still, for travelers who want the key sights handled by a private team, this is a strong and well-supported introduction to southern Peru.

Key things to know before booking

• Alvaro, Fidel, Carlos and Eduardo receive special praise: Guides and drivers are described as warm, attentive and easy to spend time with.
• The tour uses a private vehicle: Your group travels with its own driver and guide instead of joining a large coach.
• Maras and Moray add real variety: Salt terraces, circular Inca terraces and a rural lunch break give the Sacred Valley day more character.
• Machu Picchu includes guided and free time: You get a two-hour visit with a guide, followed by time to explore independently.
• The package covers the costly pieces: Five hotel nights, breakfasts, excursions, Machu Picchu entry, buses and round-trip train travel are included.
• Flights and some extras remain yours to arrange: Lima to Cusco, Cusco to Lima and the optional Huayna Picchu hike cost extra.

What this six-day Peru tour actually covers

This is a private six-day, five-night trip beginning at Lima’s J Chavez International Airport and ending with a transfer to the Cusco airport for your flight back to Lima. The plan is designed for two or more people, with accommodation based on double occupancy.

You spend one night in Lima, then move to Cusco for the main portion of the trip. The route includes a city tour, the Sacred Valley, an overnight in Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu and a return to Cusco. That structure works well if your priority is seeing Peru’s best-known Inca sites without managing each hotel, transfer and ticket yourself.

I see the biggest value in the coordination. Train times, private road transfers, Machu Picchu entry and hotel changes can be awkward to arrange separately. Here, a guide or driver meets you at each major stage. One account describes the final airport transfer in useful detail: the guide stayed until check-in, baggage drop and the move toward security were complete. That sort of help matters when you are tired and still handling an unfamiliar airport.

The tradeoff is that you have little spare time. Day 2 is mostly a transfer day, and Day 5 begins early enough to fit Machu Picchu and the return to Cusco. You should book this as a focused sightseeing trip, not a slow holiday.

Day 1: A simple Lima arrival

Your private driver meets you at Lima’s international airport and takes you to your hotel. There is no sightseeing scheduled, which is sensible after an international flight.

The first night gives you a buffer before the move to Cusco. One account describes a comfortable Lima hotel with breakfast and a Pacific Ocean view, though hotel names are not specified and exact properties may depend on availability. The included accommodation is described as comfortable and locally selected, with helpful staff.

This night is mainly about rest and organization. Keep your passport handy, confirm your next-day flight details and ask about the pickup time. The operator requires your flight information, passport name, number, expiry date and country for all participants.

Day 2: Flying from Lima to Cusco

The Lima to Cusco flight takes about one hour, but the day involves more than the flight itself. Your driver takes you to the Lima airport, and a guide and driver meet you on arrival in Cusco before transferring you to your hotel.

The rest of the day is free. That is valuable because Cusco sits at high altitude, and a quiet afternoon gives you time to settle in rather than rushing straight into a long tour. The plan does not promise a scheduled activity on arrival, so use the time to rest and keep your plans light.

The domestic flight is not included in the tour price. You must provide the flight details, and the same applies to your return flight from Cusco to Lima on Day 6. When comparing the $1,383.34 per-person price with other packages, add both domestic airfares before deciding what represents good value.

A welcome arranged in Cusco was a particularly nice touch for one couple: coca tea, fresh fruit and cookies were offered after arrival, along with a short orientation. That welcome is not listed as a formal inclusion, so consider it a possible courtesy rather than a guaranteed feature.

Day 3: San Blas, Qorikancha and San Pedro Market

The Cusco walking tour begins in San Blas, a traditional neighborhood known for old stone and colonial-era houses and families involved in folk art. The scheduled visit lasts about an hour.

San Blas gives you a different first look at Cusco than the grand central plaza. It is a good setting for seeing the city as a lived-in place, with narrow streets, historic buildings and local craft traditions. The route includes walking, so wear shoes with good grip. Cusco’s streets can be uneven, and the gradual pace described in the feedback is useful for taking photographs and adjusting to the altitude.

Next comes Qorikancha, the Temple of the Sun. This was one of the city’s most important Inca religious sites, and it is a key stop for understanding how Inca construction and Spanish colonial building exist side by side in Cusco. Admission is included.

Your guide is especially helpful here because the value is not just in seeing stone walls. You want someone to explain what the temple meant, how it fit into the Inca city and what changed under Spanish rule. A Japanese-language account praised the balance between detailed explanations and time to look around independently. That is exactly the right rhythm for a site like Qorikancha.

The final stop is Mercado Central de San Pedro. You will see produce, fruits found in Peru and the everyday commerce of Cusco. The market visit is less polished than a museum, which is the point. It gives you a practical glimpse of local food and shopping habits.

The afternoon is free after the market. One detailed account used it for local restaurants and shopping. I would protect that open time rather than add another formal activity. The tour already gives you a full morning of history and daily life.

Day 4: Maras, Moray and Ollantaytambo

Day 4 is the most varied road day. You leave Cusco for the Sacred Valley and visit the salt terraces of Maras, the circular terraces at Moray and the archaeological site of Ollantaytambo before boarding the train to Aguas Calientes.

At Maras, the appeal is both cultural and visual. The town retains traditional clothing and historic buildings, while the nearby salt terraces spread across the hillside in a striking pattern. Admission is included. The site is also described as being off the main path, so it offers a quieter contrast to Machu Picchu.

Moray is known for its enormous circular agricultural terraces. The tour presents them as an Inca agricultural laboratory, a useful way to understand why the site matters beyond its unusual shape. You can see how the Incas worked with altitude and terrain rather than treating the land as an obstacle.

The itinerary lists Maras, Ollantaytambo and Moray as separate stops, and the precise order may vary with road conditions and the day’s arrangements. The important point is that all three are included. You should also expect a full day on the move, with road travel, walking and a later train departure.

Lunch is served in a local home, with vegetarian food available if requested at booking. One account describes a picnic-style meal with an excellent rural view, while another specifically praised lunch in the countryside as one of the trip’s best moments. This is more than a convenient meal stop. It breaks up the monuments with a chance to see how the valley feels away from the main sites.

Ollantaytambo brings the Inca story into a town that still has a strong historic layout. The ruins include temples and terraces, and the site is included in the tour price. The stop also makes practical sense because Ollantaytambo is the departure point for your train.

From the station, the train ride to Aguas Calientes takes about one and a half hours. Round-trip train travel and the bus to Machu Picchu are included. You spend the night in Aguas Calientes, also called Machu Picchu Pueblo, before the main visit.

This is an efficient arrangement. Staying near Machu Picchu means you are not trying to travel from Cusco, see the site and return all in one day. It does mean another hotel change, so pack a small overnight bag if possible and keep the rest of your luggage easy to manage.

Day 5: Machu Picchu, then back to Cusco

Machu Picchu receives about two hours of guided touring. The visit covers the Temple of the Sun, the Temple of the Condor, aqueducts, houses and the Sacred Terraces.

A private guide makes the largest difference here. The ruins are visually powerful, but without context you can easily spend your time moving from one photo stop to another. A guide can adjust the explanations to your interests, answer questions and decide when to lead closely and when to let you look on your own.

The tour also gives you free time after the guided portion. The listed options include a short trek to the Sun Gate, a visit to the Inca Bridge and, at extra cost, the optional Huayna Picchu hike. The Huayna Picchu option is listed at $15 per person, but entrance is not part of the basic package. Confirm the current rules and availability before you count on adding it.

Do not assume every extra walk will fit comfortably. The day already includes the site visit, the return to Aguas Calientes, the afternoon train and a private transfer back to your Cusco hotel. If you want an additional hike, ask the operator how it fits with your assigned entry time and train schedule.

The included Machu Picchu entrance, bus and train tickets are a major part of the package value. The site has controlled entry arrangements, and having the main transport already handled removes much of the guesswork. Your guide and driver also provide continuity at the end of a long day.

You return to Cusco by train and private vehicle. One account specifically praised the driver for waiting patiently at the Cusco end of the journey. That matters because train arrivals can be tiring, and you still have a hotel transfer before the day is done.

Day 6: Transfer to Cusco airport

The final morning is straightforward. Your private team takes you to the Cusco airport for your domestic flight to Lima, where you arrive in time for an international connection.

The tour information does not include the Cusco to Lima airfare, so leave enough margin when booking your international ticket. The operator asks for your flight details in advance, which helps coordinate the airport transfer.

This final transfer is another small benefit of a private itinerary. You are not finding a taxi after breakfast or guessing which terminal process comes next. At the same time, you should still allow extra time for your own flight check-in and any changes made by the airline.

Guides, drivers and the value of private travel

The strongest praise is reserved for the people handling the trip. Alvaro is repeatedly described as warm, flexible and able to explain Cusco, the Inca period, Spanish rule, modern Peru and the archaeological sites in clear English. Fidel and Carlos are also praised for being funny, attentive and good company, while Eduardo is described as informative without taking away too much free time.

Those names do not guarantee who will be assigned to your group, but they show the kind of service the company aims to provide. The private format means your group is the only group participating, so you can ask for a slower walk, more time for photographs or a change in emphasis when practical.

That flexibility is the real reason to choose private travel here. A large group tour may cost less, but you will have less control over pauses, questions and meal timing. If you are traveling with family, have mixed walking speeds or care about detailed explanations, the extra cost may be worthwhile.

The private format does not remove every logistical issue. The schedule still depends on flights, train times, site entry rules and hotel availability. It also requires a minimum of two people, and the price assumes two people sharing a room.

Is $1,383.34 per person good value?

At $1,383.34 per person, the price covers five nights of accommodation, five breakfasts, lunch, private transport, a professional English-speaking guide, excursions, Machu Picchu entry, the partial tourist ticket, the round-trip train and the bus to the site.

That is a substantial bundle. The train, Machu Picchu transport, hotels and private vehicle would be expensive and time-consuming to organize independently. You are also paying for airport pickups and a guide who stays with the trip through several changes of location.

The price looks less attractive if you already have hotels, airport transfers or train tickets arranged. You must also add the two domestic flights from Lima to Cusco and back, plus any optional Huayna Picchu entry. International flights are not included.

I would compare the full trip cost, not just the headline price. Include airfare, meals beyond the included lunch and breakfasts, optional activities and any extra hotel costs. For a private six-day plan with the major transport and admissions arranged, the package offers solid value, especially for first-time visitors to Peru.

Who should book this private itinerary?

I would recommend it to first-time visitors who want to see Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu without handling every reservation themselves. It also suits couples, families and small groups who prefer a private guide to a fixed large-group schedule.

It is a good match if you value explanation and personal attention as much as sightseeing. The guides can make the difference between simply seeing Qorikancha or Machu Picchu and understanding why those places matter.

You should think twice if you want long stays in each destination. The plan gives you only one free afternoon in Cusco and moves quickly between hotels and trains. It also may not suit anyone who dislikes early starts, road transfers or a tightly arranged timetable.

At booking, provide dietary requirements, request vegetarian meals if needed and specify single or matrimonial beds. Send the requested passport information promptly. Cancellation terms are strict: a full refund requires cancellation at least 44 full days before the start, a 50 percent refund applies from 14 to 44 days, and cancellations within 14 days are nonrefundable.

Should you book the six-day Peru tour?

Book it if you want Machu Picchu plus the surrounding story, not just a quick visit to the famous ruins. Maras, Moray, Ollantaytambo, San Blas and San Pedro Market give the trip a better balance, while the private guide and driver keep the complex transport manageable.

I would choose it for convenience, personal attention and strong coverage of the main sights. I would not choose it for a slow-paced Cusco holiday, and I would price the domestic flights before making the final decision.

The best reason to book is the human side of the service. Guides such as Alvaro and drivers such as Carlos and Fidel are described as making the trip feel friendly rather than mechanical. If that kind of steady support matters to you, this is a well-planned way to see southern Peru in six focused days.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at J Chavez International Airport in Lima, Peru, where a private driver meets you after arrival.

How long is the tour?

The experience lasts approximately six days and includes five nights of accommodation.

Are domestic flights included?

No. The Lima to Cusco flight on Day 2 and the Cusco to Lima flight on Day 6 are not included. You must provide the flight information to the operator.

Is the tour private?

Yes. Only your group participates, with a private van, professional driver and English-speaking guide.

What accommodation is included?

Five nights in selected hotels are included, based on double occupancy. You must specify whether you need a single or matrimonial bed.

Are Machu Picchu entry and transport included?

Yes. Entrance to Machu Picchu, round-trip train travel and the bus to Machu Picchu are included.

Is lunch included?

One lunch is included, and it takes place during the Sacred Valley day. Vegetarian meals are available if requested when booking.

Is the Huayna Picchu hike included?

No. The optional Huayna Picchu hike is listed at $15 per person and is not included in the base tour price.