
Short Trail to Machu Picchu - 1 day tour
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 1 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Short Trail to Machu Picchu - 1 day tour worth booking?
Short Trail to Machu Picchu - 1 day tour is a 20-hour experience in Cusco, Peru, from $350 per person. It scores 43 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 5/5 rating across 1 reviews. This booking is non-refundable, so pick your date carefully. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 43 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (1)
- Duration
- 20 hours
- From
- $350 per person
For those who are coming for a ‘blitz’ visit, we offer the one day tour to Machu Picchu. The whole route is done by bus and train, so no walking is needed. Except of course while visiting the ruins themselves!
What you get
- Round-trip train ticket from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu and back
- Pick-up from Cuzco hotel by bus to the train station of Ollantaytambo and back
- Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu
- Professional, English speaking guide
About this experience
For those who are coming for a ‘blitz’ visit, we offer the one day tour to Machu Picchu. The whole route is done by bus and train, so no walking is needed. Except of course while visiting the ruins themselves!
What's included
Included
- Round-trip train ticket from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu and back
- Pick-up from Cuzco hotel by bus to the train station of Ollantaytambo and back
- Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu
- Professional, English speaking guide
Not included
- Lunch in Aguas Calientes, starting from $10
- Entrance fees to the hot springs in Aguas Calientes
- Bus up and down from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu (12 USD one way)
What you'll see and do
Machu Picchu
Early in the morning around 4:00 a.m. we will pick you up from your hotel in Cuzco and transfer you on a tourist bus to Ollantaytambo train station, where the train will take you to the station of Aguas Calientes in about 1.5 hours. When we arrive there, we will take the bus for about 30 minutes up to the Inca city of Machu Picchu. After leaving our backpacks (for 5 dollars), we will have free time with beautiful sights on the Machu Picchu ruins. After the free time, we are allowed to enter Machu Picchu itself for a maximum duration of 2 hours, due to new regulations. You can either join a guided tour or visit the town by yourself. During the stay, you can visit important archaeological sites such as the agricultural sector, the main plaza and the Inti Watana. After 2 hours – at around 1 p.m. – we will take the bus back down to the town of Aguas Calientes. Here we have time to eat something (it is possible to pre-book lunch with us), and visit the little, picturesque town. In the afternoon we will board the train back to Ollantaytambo station, where we are waiting for you with transportation to Cuzco. We will be back in Cuzco around midnight.
120 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
- Languages
- en, es
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 16 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- PaRa Travels
Know before you go
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos





Traveler reviews
1 verified traveler reviews for Short Trail to Machu Picchu - 1 day tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Would recommend!!!
We had an amazing experience doing the Machu Picchu trip with PaRa Travels. We had very limited time to make the trip from Cusco. Everything was very well arranged and they were very adaptive to our wishes for the trip. When we arrived at the airport of Cusco someone was waiting for us to drop us off at the hotel; we got a lot of information about our travel to Aguas Calientes, which all went very smooth. Once we arrived by train, our guide was waiting for us and took us to the wonderful Machu Picchu. Our guide told us a lot of stories about the Inca’s and off course the stonework in Machu Picchu. On our way back, which again went super smooth due to the very clear explanation of the guides, we were picked up to be driven to the hotel. Since everything was so well organised we could enjoy the country of Peru to its maximum for the limited time we had.
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 20 hours
- Free cancellation
- Non-refundable
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $350 to $370
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 0
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Why this scores 43
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Short Trail to Machu Picchu - 1 day tour: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Cusco.
How much does Short Trail to Machu Picchu - 1 day tour cost?
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Prices start at $350 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Cusco usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Short Trail to Machu Picchu - 1 day tour take?
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Plan for about 20 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Cusco is not rushed.
Is Short Trail to Machu Picchu - 1 day tour worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 43 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 1 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable culture & history in Cusco, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Short Trail to Machu Picchu - 1 day tour?
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No. This experience is sold on a non-refundable basis, so only book a date you are confident about. Similar experiences in the city do offer free cancellation if flexibility matters more than price.
Is Short Trail to Machu Picchu - 1 day tour suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 20-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Short Trail to Machu Picchu - 1 day tour?
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Around 0 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Cusco can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Cusco and add a light layer if any part of the 20-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Short Trail to Machu Picchu - 1 day tour start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Cusco within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Cusco?
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On Outty we rank every Cusco experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Sacred Valley Full Day Tour, Peruvian Cooking Class Cocktails and Market Tour in Cusco, Cusco: Rainbow Mountain & Red Valley Premium Day Trip with Meals. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Cusco?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Cusco?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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