5 Days Private Cusco Tour Package Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Cusco - Private Afternoon City Tour

Welcome to Cusco. Your journey begins the easy way, with a private airport pickup and a comfortable transfer to your hand-picked 4-star hotel in the historic city center. Our team will help you settle in, answer your first questions, and make sure everything is ready for the days ahead. Since Cusco is located at high altitude, this first day is designed to be relaxed, smooth, and comfortable.

In the afternoon, your private guide will meet you at your hotel for a personalized Cusco City Tour. You will explore the heart of the ancient Inca capital, starting at the Plaza de Armas, the most important square in the city, surrounded by colonial balconies, churches, and beautiful mountain views.

Continue to the Cathedral of Cusco, one of the most important colonial landmarks in Peru, and then visit Coricancha, the famous Temple of the Sun. This was one of the most sacred places in the Inca Empire, where Inca stonework and Spanish colonial architecture come together in a powerful way.

Later, travel by private transport to the impressive Inca sites above the city. Visit Sacsayhuamán, known for its massive stone walls; Qenqo, an ancient ceremonial site; Puka Pukara, a former Inca military and control point; and Tambomachay, often connected with water rituals. Before returning to your hotel, stop at the Cristo Blanco viewpoint for one of the best panoramic views of Cusco.

This is the perfect first day: light walking, beautiful views, rich history, and enough time to rest before your Sacred Valley experience begins.

• Duration: Half-day afternoon tour
• Meals: Not included
• Entry tickets: Cusco City Tour attractions included
• Accommodation: Hand-picked 4-star hotel in Cusco, such as Costa del Sol or similar
• Difficulty: Easy
• Service: Private airport pickup, private transport, and private guide

Day 2: Private Sacred Valley Tour - Chinchero, Moray, Maras & Ollantaytambo

After breakfast at your hotel, your private guide and driver will pick you up around 7:00 a.m. for a full-day journey through the Sacred Valley. Today is all about beautiful landscapes, living Andean culture, Inca history, and a slower premium travel pace. You will not be rushed from one place to another. Instead, each stop is carefully planned so you can enjoy the experience, take photos, ask questions, and understand what makes the valley so special.

Your first visit is Chinchero, a traditional Andean town known for its mountain views, Inca terraces, colonial church, and strong textile heritage. You will visit a women’s weaving cooperative, where local artisans explain how they wash, dye, spin, and weave alpaca and sheep wool using natural products and ancestral techniques. It is a beautiful way to connect with local culture and support community-based tourism.

You will also explore the Chinchero archaeological site, where Inca terraces and stone walls sit below wide views of the surrounding mountains. Your guide will explain why Chinchero was important during Inca times and how this town still keeps many Andean traditions alive today.

Continue to Moray, one of the most fascinating Inca sites in the Sacred Valley. Here, you will see large circular terraces built into a natural depression in the earth. Your guide will explain how the Incas may have used this place as an agricultural laboratory, creating different microclimates to study crops and improve food production.

Next, visit the Maras Salt Mines, one of the most unique landscapes in Peru. Thousands of small salt pools cover the mountainside, creating a white and golden pattern that has been used by local families for generations. This is one of the best photo stops in the Sacred Valley and a great place to understand how local traditions still continue today.

Around midday, enjoy a chef-prepared picnic lunch in Urubamba, made with fresh local ingredients. This is one of the premium touches of the day: a relaxed outdoor meal surrounded by Sacred Valley scenery, prepared especially for your private tour.

In the afternoon, continue to Ollantaytambo, one of the most beautiful living Inca towns in Peru. Walk through its original stone streets, see its water channels still in use, and visit the impressive archaeological site with large terraces, temples, and mountain views. Ollantaytambo is also the perfect place to spend the night before your Short Inca Trail hike, giving you a smoother and more comfortable start the next morning.

• Duration: Full-day private tour
• Meals: Hotel breakfast and chef-prepared picnic lunch
• Entry tickets: Sacred Valley attractions included
• Accommodation: Hand-picked 4-star hotel in the Sacred Valley or Ollantaytambo, such as Casa Andina Valle or similar
• Difficulty: Easy
• Service: Private guide, private transport, curated stops, and premium picnic lunch

Day 3: Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu - Km 104, Wiñay Wayna & Sun Gate

Today is one of the most special days of the entire journey: your Short Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu. Your private team will pick you up early from your hotel, around 5:00 a.m., and take you to the train station. From there, you will travel by train through the Sacred Valley, following the Urubamba River toward Km 104, also known as Chachabamba, the official starting point of the Short Inca Trail.

At the checkpoint, you will show your original passport and Inca Trail permit. Before starting the hike, enjoy a fresh picnic breakfast prepared for you, so you begin the trail with energy and comfort. Your guide will also give you a short briefing about the route, the pace, the weather, and what to expect during the day.

The hike begins with a visit to Chachabamba, a small but important Inca site hidden near the cloud forest. Your guide will explain its purpose and how it was connected to the ancient pilgrimage route to Machu Picchu. From here, the trail climbs gradually through beautiful Andean scenery, with views of the river, mountains, and tropical vegetation.

As you continue, you will walk along original Inca stone paths and enjoy one of the most scenic sections of the Inca Trail. The pace is private and flexible, with time for breaks, photos, water, and explanations from your guide. This is not a rushed group trek. It is a premium private hiking experience designed to feel safe, personal, and enjoyable.

The main archaeological highlight of the day is Wiñay Wayna, one of the most beautiful Inca sites on the entire trail. Built into the mountainside, this impressive complex has terraces, stone buildings, fountains, and wide views over the cloud forest. Many travelers say this is one of their favorite places in Peru because it feels peaceful, powerful, and less crowded than other sites.

After exploring Wiñay Wayna, enjoy a chef-prepared picnic lunch on the trail. This is another premium detail of the experience: fresh food, carefully prepared by our team, served in the middle of one of the most beautiful hiking routes in the Andes.

In the afternoon, continue toward the Sun Gate, also known as Intipunku. This is the legendary entrance to Machu Picchu used by Inca Trail hikers. When you reach the Sun Gate, you will get your first unforgettable view of Machu Picchu from above. It is one of the most emotional moments of the trip and one of the most special ways to arrive at the citadel.

From the Sun Gate, walk down toward Machu Picchu and enjoy time for photos, wide views, and that first incredible feeling of seeing the citadel in person. Later, take the bus down to Aguas Calientes, where you will enjoy dinner and a comfortable night in a hand-picked 4-star hotel.

• Hiking distance: 13 km / 8 mi
• Hiking duration: Around 6 to 7 hours, depending on pace
• Highest altitude: 2,720 m / 8,923 ft at the Sun Gate
• Meals: Picnic breakfast, chef-prepared picnic lunch, and dinner
• Entry tickets: Short Inca Trail permit and Machu Picchu entry included
• Accommodation: Hand-picked 4-star hotel in Aguas Calientes, such as Tierra Viva or similar
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Service: Private guide, premium trail meals, private support, and curated hiking pace

Day 4: Private Machu Picchu Guided Tour + Belmond Lunch + Vistadome Observatory Train

After breakfast at your hotel, take the bus back up to Machu Picchu for your full private guided tour. Yesterday was about the unforgettable arrival through the Sun Gate. Today is your deeper experience inside the citadel, when you are rested, relaxed, and ready to understand the history, architecture, and mystery of this incredible place.

Your private guide will lead you through the most important areas of Machu Picchu, including its temples, terraces, plazas, viewpoints, water channels, and sacred spaces. You will learn how the city was built, why its location is so important, how the Incas used the landscape, and what makes Machu Picchu one of the most extraordinary archaeological sites in the world.

The visit is designed to be clear, personal, and easy to follow. Your guide will not overwhelm you with dates and facts. Instead, they will bring the site to life with stories, context, and explanations that help you truly understand what you are seeing.

We always aim to secure the best Machu Picchu circuit available for your travel date. If your preferred circuit or entry time is sold out due to official availability, we will book the best official alternative so you still enjoy a complete and meaningful visit.

After your guided tour, enjoy a luxury lunch at Belmond Sanctuary Lodge, Tinkuy Restaurant, located right next to the entrance of Machu Picchu. This is the most comfortable way to finish your visit: no rushing, no searching for a restaurant, and no unnecessary transfers before lunch. Just a relaxed premium meal in the best possible location.

Later, take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes and enjoy some free time to walk around the town, visit the local market, or simply relax before boarding your train. In the afternoon, travel back on the Vistadome Observatory train, one of the most scenic and enjoyable ways to return from Machu Picchu. The train features panoramic windows, comfortable seats, onboard entertainment, a live show, and an observation car where you can enjoy the views of the mountains and the Urubamba River.

When you arrive in Ollantaytambo, your private driver will be waiting to take you back to Cusco in a comfortable private van. You will arrive at your hotel around 7:00 to 7:30 p.m., with the evening free to rest or enjoy a final night in the city.

• Tour duration: Around 2.5 hours inside Machu Picchu
• Machu Picchu altitude: 2,430 m / 7,972 ft
• Meals: Hotel breakfast and lunch at Tinkuy, Belmond Sanctuary Lodge
• Transportation: Round-trip bus between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu, Vistadome Observatory train, and private transfer to Cusco
• Accommodation: Hand-picked 4-star hotel in Cusco
• Difficulty: Easy to moderate
• Service: Private Machu Picchu guide, premium lunch, panoramic train, and private transfer back to Cusco

Day 5: Private Departure Transfer

On your final day, enjoy a relaxed morning at your hotel, depending on your flight schedule. At the agreed time, your private driver will pick you up and transfer you comfortably to Cusco airport. Our team will make sure your departure is smooth, easy, and stress-free.

This final private transfer completes your 5-day luxury Machu Picchu journey, giving you a seamless experience from the moment you arrive in Cusco until the moment you fly home.

• Service: Private hotel-to-airport transfer
• Meals: Hotel breakfast, depending on your flight schedule and hotel policy
• Difficulty: Easy

5-Day Private Luxury Machu Picchu Tour Price

Cusco, Sacred Valley, Short Inca Trail & Machu Picchu - 5 Days / 4 Nights

This is a private luxury tour designed for travelers who want comfort, flexibility, and a premium Machu Picchu experience from start to finish. Your price includes private service, private transportation, hand-picked 4-star hotels, an expert private guide, the Short Inca Trail experience, Machu Picchu entry, premium meals, and the Vistadome Observatory train back to Cusco.

Because this tour is fully private, the final price depends on your group size, travel dates, hotel availability, and any upgrades you choose. We do not mix you with other travelers. Your itinerary, transfers, guiding, and timing are organized exclusively for you and your group.

For the most accurate price, send us your travel date, number of travelers, hotel preference, and any upgrades you would like. Our team will prepare a personalized quote with the best available options for your private luxury Machu Picchu tour.

What Your Private Tour Price Includes

• Private airport pickup and drop-off in Cusco
• Private transportation throughout the 5-day itinerary
• Hand-picked 4-star hotels in Cusco, the Sacred Valley or Ollantaytambo, and Aguas Calientes
• Private expert guide for Cusco, the Sacred Valley, the Short Inca Trail, and Machu Picchu
• Cusco City Tour with main archaeological and cultural highlights
• Sacred Valley tour with Chinchero, Moray, Maras Salt Mines, and Ollantaytambo
• Short Inca Trail permit from Km 104
• Machu Picchu entrance tickets
• Picnic breakfast and chef-prepared picnic lunch on the Short Inca Trail
• Lunch at Belmond Sanctuary Lodge, Tinkuy Restaurant
• Vistadome Observatory train back to Ollantaytambo
• Private transfer from Ollantaytambo back to Cusco

Booking and Payment

• Deposit: US$800 per person to secure your private tour. This deposit allows us to reserve your Inca Trail permit, Machu Picchu entrance, hotels, trains, and all key services for your selected travel date.
• The remaining balance can be paid online or at our office in Cusco by credit card, PayPal, or wire transfer.
• Once your booking is confirmed, our team will send you all important details, including hotel information, pickup times, packing recommendations, and your pre-departure briefing schedule.

Student and Child Discount

• US$30 off per eligible traveler

This discount applies to children under 17 and students under 25 with a valid university ID. To qualify, the student ID must clearly show the student’s name, photo, university name, and a valid expiration date.

• Expired student IDs are not accepted.
• A copy of the student ID must be sent at the time of booking.
• If the official authorities reject the student ID, the adult rate will apply.

Optional Luxury Upgrades

You can make this private Machu Picchu tour even more special with optional upgrades. These can be added depending on availability and your travel style.

• Upgrade to 5-star or luxury boutique hotels
• Upgrade to the Hiram Bingham luxury train
• Add Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain tickets, subject to availability
• Add a private porter or extra support assistant for the Short Inca Trail
• Add a professional photographer for your Machu Picchu experience
• Add extra nights in Cusco, the Sacred Valley, or Aguas Calientes

Request Your Private Quote

Ready to experience Cusco, the Sacred Valley, the Short Inca Trail, and Machu Picchu in one private luxury journey? Contact our team with your preferred travel date and number of travelers, and we will prepare a personalized quote for your 5-day private Machu Picchu tour.

5-Day Luxury Machu Picchu Tour Packing List

What to Pack for Cusco, the Sacred Valley, the Short Inca Trail & Machu Picchu

Packing for this private luxury Machu Picchu tour is simple. You will travel comfortably with your main luggage during the hotel portions of the trip, but for the Short Inca Trail and train journeys, you only need a practical daypack with the essentials. This allows you to hike light, move easily, and enjoy the trail without carrying unnecessary weight.

Since this is a premium private experience, our team will help you keep the logistics smooth. For your convenience, we can arrange for a small overnight bag of up to 5 kg / 11 lb to be sent by train to your hotel in Aguas Calientes. This way, you can hike the Short Inca Trail with only your daypack and still have clean clothes and personal items waiting for you after the hike.

Please request the small bag transfer service in advance so we can organize it properly before your Inca Trail day. Your guide will also explain what to carry during your pre-departure briefing, so you feel fully prepared before the hike begins.

Packing Essentials

These are the most important items to bring for your 5-day Cusco, Sacred Valley, Short Inca Trail, and Machu Picchu experience.

Original passport

Plastic Rain Coat

Toiletries

Warm down jacket

Peruvian soles cash

Good-quality daypack

Water bottle

Power bank

Lip balm

Sunscreen

Hand sanitizer

Wet wipes and tissues

What to Wear on the Short Inca Trail

The weather can change quickly in the Andes, so we recommend comfortable hiking clothes and light layers. You may start the day cool, feel warm while hiking, and need a rain jacket later in the afternoon.

High-top hiking boots

Hiking crew sock

Comfortable underwear

Moisture-wicking shirts

Quick-dry hiking pants/trousers

Fleece

What to Carry in Your Daypack

Your daypack should be light and practical. Keep your passport, water, rain protection, sun protection, camera or phone, and any personal medication with you during the hike. Everything else can stay in your main luggage or small overnight bag.

Waterproof and windproof jacket

Sun hat or cap with neck cover

Sunglasses

Buff or bandana

Insect repellent

Camera + extra batteries

Trekking poles

Personal Medication

Small Overnight Bag for Aguas Calientes

If you request the 5 kg / 11 lb bag transfer, we recommend packing only what you need for one night in Aguas Calientes after the Short Inca Trail. This may include clean clothes, toiletries, sleepwear, chargers, and any personal items you want at the hotel.

• Maximum recommended weight: 5 kg / 11 lb
• Sent by train to your hotel in Aguas Calientes
• Must be requested in advance
• Ideal for clean clothes, toiletries, and personal items after the hike

What TreXperience Provides

To make your experience easier and more comfortable, TreXperience provides the key services and support needed for your private Short Inca Trail and Machu Picchu journey.

Trekking poles

Plastic Rain Coat

Backpack Rain cover

Packing Tips for a More Comfortable Trip

• Keep your original passport with you, as it is required for the Inca Trail checkpoint and Machu Picchu entrance.
• Dress in layers so you can adjust easily to changing weather.
• Use comfortable hiking shoes that are already broken in.
• Bring a rain jacket or poncho, even during the dry season.
• Carry only what you need for the hike; traveling light makes the Short Inca Trail much more enjoyable.
• Bring a refillable water bottle to help reduce plastic waste.
• Pack personal medication, sunscreen, sunglasses, and insect repellent in your daypack.

5-Day Private Luxury Machu Picchu Tour - Travel Information

This travel information is designed to help you understand how this private luxury tour works before you book. You will find practical details about the route, permits, altitude, weather, luggage, the Short Inca Trail, Machu Picchu entry, meals, safety, and the premium service included throughout your journey.

Cusco, Sacred Valley, Short Inca Trail & Machu Picchu 5-Day Luxury Tour - FAQs