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

Cusco’s stone temples, the Sacred Valley’s Inca terraces and Machu Picchu all fit into one tightly planned four-day trip. I like the small group of no more than 15, which should make it easier to hear your guide and keep the day moving, and the overnight in Aguas Calientes, which puts you near Machu Picchu for the early visit.

One important catch: despite the all-included wording, Machu Picchu admission tickets are excluded and depend on availability through Peru’s Ministry of Culture. The itinerary also calls the experience both four and five days in different places, so confirm your actual dates and lodging before booking.

What to know before you book

• Cusco’s four main Inca sites: The afternoon city tour includes Korikancha, Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay.
• A full Sacred Valley day: You visit Pisaq and Ollantaytambo, with a buffet lunch in Urubamba before taking the train to Aguas Calientes.
• A guided Machu Picchu visit: The planned tour lasts about two and a half hours, but entry tickets for circuits 1 or 2 are subject to availability and are not included.
• A small group: The maximum group size is 15, a useful limit for guided visits and meeting up between stops.
• Some meals are covered: The package includes three breakfasts and two lunches. Other meals are at your own expense.
• Plan ahead: The experience is booked an average of 289 days in advance, a good reason not to leave arrangements until the last minute.

Four days from Cusco to Machu Picchu

This is a quick, guided introduction to the region’s biggest draws, not a slow-paced visit with long stretches of free time. You get a city tour on arrival day, a full day in the Sacred Valley, a morning at Machu Picchu and a final morning left open around your flight.

That structure is useful if you have limited time and want transport and guiding arranged for you. It also means the second day is long, and much of your schedule depends on fixed departure times, train travel and Machu Picchu ticket availability.

The tour costs $750 per person. That price covers a lot of the logistical work, including airport pickup, guided excursions and transport described in the itinerary, as well as some meals. But the package is not literally all-inclusive: meals beyond those listed are extra, and the Machu Picchu entry ticket is specifically excluded. Before you pay, ask what accommodation is included, which train and bus services are covered, and whether any fees beyond the stated exclusions apply.

Day 1: Temples, fortifications and a gentle start

A representative from Chullos Travel Peru meets you at the airport and transfers you to your hotel. The morning is free, giving you time to rest and acclimatize before the 2:00 PM pickup for the city tour. I like that pause in the schedule. Cusco is not a place to arrive exhausted and immediately race through a full day of sightseeing.

The tour begins at Korikancha, the Temple of the Sun, before continuing to Sacsayhuamán. Plan on roughly an hour with a guide at the great Inca site, where enormous fitted stones and broad terraces give you a sense of the scale of Inca construction. The guided context matters here: the site is more than a dramatic set of walls, and a good explanation helps connect the stonework to the city you have just left.

Next comes Qenqo, a ritual center built around a rocky outcrop. The route takes you into the rock formation, which gives this stop a different feel from the open terraces at Sacsayhuamán. Puca Pucara follows, identified as a military construction, then Tambomachay, where water was central to ceremonies and worship.

The tour returns to Cusco at about 7:00 PM. This is a substantial afternoon, but it leaves the morning free and gives you a first look at several sites without asking you to arrange separate transport. The itinerary’s first stop is Korikancha, even though the tour description also names Plaza de Armas, so confirm the exact meeting and stop sequence with the operator.

Day 2: Pisaq, Urubamba and Ollantaytambo

Pickup is scheduled for 8:00 AM, followed by about an hour and a half on the road to Pisaq. The guided visit lasts around an hour. This is your first major Sacred Valley site, and it sets up the day’s shift from Cusco’s urban temples to the valley’s archaeological remains and agricultural terraces.

From Pisaq, the route follows the Willka Mayu, or Sacred River, toward Urubamba. A buffet lunch featuring Andean dishes is included here. That is a practical break in a long day, and it gives you a chance to sit down before the afternoon visit. If you have dietary needs, ask about the meal arrangements before departure, since no specific alternatives are listed.

After lunch, you continue to Ollantaytambo for a guided visit of about an hour. The sights highlighted include the Temple of the Sun, the Intihuatana, the Princess Baths and the agricultural terraces. This is a compact visit, so your guide’s pacing and explanations will shape how much you take in. You then head to the station for the train to Aguas Calientes, where you spend the night before Machu Picchu.

The operator says the guide will come by your hotel in the evening to explain the next day’s arrangements. That briefing is especially useful because the early bus, entry time and ticket circuit all affect your visit. Keep the evening relatively clear so you can listen, check your meeting details and get some rest.

Day 3: Machu Picchu, with a ticket caveat

The day starts early with a bus ride up to Machu Picchu. Once inside, the guided visit is planned for about two and a half hours. That gives you a structured introduction to the site, followed by free time in Aguas Calientes for lunch before the return journey.

The main point to settle before booking is admission. Machu Picchu tickets for circuits 1 or 2 are not included in the listed inclusions and are subject to availability. Peru’s Ministry of Culture is the only authorized ticket seller, and the tour says tickets are purchased according to what is available. Other circuits may be offered for an additional charge, depending on availability.

If no entry tickets are available, the stated policy is a full refund for the tour package. That is a significant safeguard, but it does not remove the uncertainty: you may plan a trip around Machu Picchu and still find that entry is unavailable. Ask Chullos Travel Peru to explain the ticket process, the circuit being sought, and how any additional charge would be handled before booking.

After your free time in Aguas Calientes, you return by train to Ollantaytambo. A Chullos representative is due to meet you there and transfer you by vehicle back to your Cusco hotel. This coordinated handoff is valuable after a long day, when sorting out onward transport on your own would be one more thing to manage.

Day 4: An open morning before departure

The final morning is free, depending on your flight time. The itinerary names Cusco Cathedral, but does not describe a guided visit there, and the listed admission is free. Treat this as open time rather than a scheduled cathedral tour unless the operator confirms otherwise.

There is also an optional tour focused on Peruvian gastronomy and preparing a Pisco Sour. It is an add-on, not part of the stated package, and is described as lasting about three hours. If your flight is later in the day, it may be worth asking whether the timing works. Do not assume it is included in the $750 price.

What the $750 covers, and what it does not

The package includes airport pickup, the Cusco city tour with guide, transport and city-tour entrances, plus the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu portions described as included. It also lists three breakfasts and two lunches. The itinerary includes train travel to and from Aguas Calientes, a bus up to Machu Picchu and transfers between Ollantaytambo and Cusco, but the broad inclusion wording makes it sensible to confirm exactly which services and fares are covered.

Accommodation is described as part of the overall tour overview, but the included list does not spell out hotel names or standards. One reported Cusco stay was at La Casona Real, described as a Spanish-villa-style property with comfortable beds and a good location. That is a useful example, not a promise that you will stay there. Ask for the confirmed hotels, room arrangements and the Aguas Calientes lodging details before booking.

Not included are meals that are not listed and the Machu Picchu tickets for circuits 1 or 2. These exclusions matter when comparing the price with a trip you arrange yourself. The package may be good value if you want airport pickup, guides, transport and the main route coordinated, but you should budget for extra food and get a clear answer about admission and any possible circuit surcharge.

Guides, group size and day-to-day comfort

The group is capped at 15 people, which is small enough to feel more personal than a large coach tour while still being a group experience. You will be moving between several stops, so be ready to follow the guide’s timing rather than lingering as long as you like at each site.

Chullos Travel Peru has received particular praise for keeping people updated about meeting points and tickets, and for friendly guides. Those are not small details on a trip with airport transfers, trains and an early Machu Picchu start. Still, no individual guide names are provided, so you cannot request a particular person based on the information available.

The hotel experience can also shape how restful the trip feels. A comfortable, well-located Cusco hotel was noted in one account, but properties may vary. Confirm lodging details rather than treating a past stay as part of the guaranteed package.

Who should choose this tour?

I would consider this trip if you have four days, want the main Cusco-area sights in one plan, and prefer a guide to handle the route between archaeological sites. The mix is especially useful if you are visiting the region for the first time and want context at places such as Sacsayhuamán, Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu instead of simply arriving, taking photos and moving on.

It is less suitable if you want a slow itinerary, lots of independent time, or certainty that you will enter Machu Picchu on your chosen date. The ticket caveat is the key decision point. If you are set on visiting the citadel, confirm ticket status before committing to flights and other nonrefundable plans.

The cancellation policy allows a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience begins. Cancellations made within 24 hours are not refunded, and changes inside that window are not accepted. The local time governs the cutoff.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you value a coordinated four-day route, a group capped at 15, and guided visits across Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. The airport pickup, train and transfer arrangements can save you a good deal of planning, and the guide-led visits add context to a packed schedule.

Before booking, get written confirmation of your hotel, included transport, Machu Picchu ticket status and any extra charge for a different circuit. If the operator cannot give you a clear answer about the entry ticket, weigh that uncertainty carefully. The rest of the trip is well suited to a short visit, but Machu Picchu access is the part that can make or break your plans.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The itinerary describes a four-day experience. Some tour wording calls it five days, so confirm the exact dates and duration with Chullos Travel Peru before booking.

What is the maximum group size?

The group is limited to 15 people.

Is the Machu Picchu entrance ticket included?

No. Tickets for circuits 1 or 2 are listed as not included and are subject to availability through Peru’s Ministry of Culture.

What happens if Machu Picchu tickets are unavailable?

The stated policy is a full refund of the tour package if no Machu Picchu entry tickets are available.

Which meals are included?

The package lists three breakfasts and two lunches. Other meals are not included.

Does the tour include airport pickup?

Yes. Airport pickup and transfer to the hotel are listed as included.

Is accommodation included?

The tour overview describes accommodation as included, but the inclusion details do not name the hotels. Confirm the properties and room arrangements with the operator.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience starts for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded.