Machupicchu Exclusive Experience

Machu Picchu is the headline, but this private five-day trip is really a broad tour of the Cusco region: city ruins, Sacred Valley towns, a trek past Huchuy Qosqo, and a long day at Rainbow Mountain. Your guide and private transport help connect sights that would take more planning to arrange on your own.

I like two things in particular: a private guide gives you room to ask questions and adjust the pace, and the route reaches well beyond the usual Cusco-Machu Picchu pairing. Past guests have praised guides including Fredy, Cesar, and Paul for their Inca history knowledge, fluent English, and care with logistics.

The main caution is that the package is not as all-inclusive as the headline might suggest. Train tickets, meals not specified, and the tourist ticket are extra, and the operator asks you to contact them before booking to secure a Machu Picchu spot. Confirm the exact route, included transport, and ticket arrangements before you pay.

At a glance

• Private, five-day format: Only your group takes part, with hotel, airport, or Airbnb pickup offered.
• A guide-led Cusco introduction: See Koricancha, Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Tambomachay, and other nearby sights.
• A full Sacred Valley day: Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, and local weaving traditions are part of the route.
• Two demanding outings: Huchuy Qosqo is listed as a six-hour trek, while Rainbow Mountain takes about ten hours.
• Machu Picchu admission included: Train tickets are not, so clarify how you will reach the site.
• Plan the details in advance: Contact Inca Soul Tours before booking to check permits, day order, and what each price covers.

Five days, with a lot to fit in

At $1,199 per person, this is a substantial commitment in time and money. Its appeal is not simply a Machu Picchu entrance ticket. You are paying for a private guide, private transportation, airport or lodging transfers, and several excursions across the Cusco region. That can be good value if you want one operator coordinating a packed trip rather than piecing together separate tours.

The stated duration is about five days and 30 minutes, but the schedule needs clarification. The descriptions suggest a Cusco day, a Sacred Valley day, a trek and Machu Picchu visit, and a Rainbow Mountain day. They do not set out a firm day-by-day timetable, and the listed activity durations add up to more than a simple five-day plan. Ask the operator for the actual order, overnight arrangements, and how the trek and Machu Picchu visit fit together.

The tour is private, so you are not joining a busload of strangers or following a fixed group pace. That flexibility matters on a multi-day trip: you can ask your guide to spend more time on the subjects that interest you, and the operator says the itinerary can be tailored. Still, private does not mean every cost is bundled. Treat the inclusions list as a starting point, not a promise that every transfer, ticket, meal, or overnight is covered.

Cusco’s temples and Inca sites

The first day is described as a stroll around Cusco and its outskirts, with a four-hour city tour. Koricancha, once an important Inca temple and now closely tied to the city’s Spanish colonial story, anchors the visit. The tour then heads to Sacsayhuaman, a major Inca complex above the city, followed by Qenqo, Tambomachay, and other nearby places.

This is a sensible way to begin. Instead of heading straight out of town, you get an introduction to Cusco’s Inca sites and a chance to ask your guide how the places connect. Past visitors have singled out guides such as Fredy and Paul for their command of Inca history and ability to explain it in English. Guide assignments can change, so do not book expecting a particular person unless the company confirms it.

The city tour is listed as four hours, and admission is shown as free for this stop. That does not necessarily mean every Cusco attraction or local entry fee is covered elsewhere in the package. The tourist ticket, or boleto turistico, is specifically excluded, so ask which sites require it and whether you need to buy it separately.

A full day through the Sacred Valley

The second day takes you into the Sacred Valley, with stops at Pisac, Ollantaytambo, and Chinchero. The route is described as a full eight-hour day with several stops along the way. You can expect a mix of archaeological sites, town visits, mountain scenery, and a chance to see local weaving techniques.

The value here is the guide’s interpretation. Inca sites make more sense when someone can explain what you are looking at and how the region’s people lived and worked. The tour also aims to include places beyond the most familiar stops, though the exact extra sites are not named. Ask what the day’s route usually includes and how much time is planned at each main stop.

A full day in the valley is rewarding, but it can also be a long one. Meals are not included unless specified, so confirm whether there is time for lunch and whether the guide will stop somewhere to eat. The price excludes meals not specified, which means you should budget for food rather than assume it is part of the package.

Huchuy Qosqo and the trek to Machu Picchu

Huchuy Qosqo is described as a six-hour outing that follows an original Inca path and passes traditional farming villages before reaching an Inca archaeological site. The tour also describes a route that connects with a two-day Inca Trail and enters Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate, with a chance to see the citadel twice. It says an Inca Trail component can be added.

That description leaves important questions open. It is not clear whether the six-hour Huchuy Qosqo trek is the same outing as the route to Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate, or whether the two-day trail is an optional extension with a different schedule. The Sun Gate route, the Huchuy Qosqo visit, and the separate Machu Picchu tour should not be assumed to be one continuous activity. Ask the company to spell out which route is included in the $1,199 price, how many days it takes, and whether extra permits or camping arrangements are needed.

The listing names glamping equipment as excluded, a useful clue that an overnight outdoor component may apply to some version of the trek. Do not assume camping gear, meals, or overnight lodging comes with the package. If you are considering the longer trail, get a written breakdown of what you must provide and what the operator supplies.

The tour advises that participants have a moderate level of physical fitness. Six hours on a trail is a different sort of day from a guided walk through town, so be honest about your comfort with sustained walking. A guest who took the Huchuy Qosqo trek described it as physically challenging and recommended preparing for the effort. That is practical advice, especially if you are traveling with family or have not done much hiking recently.

Machu Picchu, with the logistics checked first

Machu Picchu is the trip’s centerpiece, and the guided visit is listed at about four hours. The admission ticket and a complete guided tour are included. Your guide can help you make sense of the temples and engineering, rather than leaving you to wander through a famous site without context.

The private format is especially useful here. Past visitors have valued one-to-one help with entry tickets, bus arrangements, and navigating the crowds. Guides named Fredy, Elistan, and Cesar have been praised for clear explanations and patient pacing, including allowing time for better light for photographs. Those names give you a sense of the team’s strengths, but the operator may assign someone else.

There is a catch: the package excludes train tickets, while the operator specifically asks you to make contact before booking so they can secure a place at Machu Picchu. The description also says ticket and bus arrangements can be confusing. It does not clearly state that the bus ticket is included, so ask directly. Confirm the entry date, circuit, time, transport to and from the site, and whether any ticket costs fall outside the advertised price. Machu Picchu permits can be limited, so do not treat the included entrance as settled until the operator confirms your place.

Rainbow Mountain’s long day

Rainbow Mountain is listed as a ten-hour outing, making it the longest single day described. The route is presented as a high mountain trek past herds of llamas and alpacas, alpine lakes, and other hikers. It is a striking change of pace after archaeological sites and town visits, but it calls for stamina and a willingness to spend much of the day outdoors.

The tour includes a guide, private transport, first-aid supplies, and an oxygen tank. Those are useful provisions, but they do not remove the physical demands of the outing. The supplied fitness guidance is moderate, and the day’s length is a good reason to ask the operator about the route, walking time, and how the tour accounts for your group’s pace.

The schedule matters, too. If Rainbow Mountain follows the Huchuy Qosqo trek or Machu Picchu visit closely, you may want to adjust the order or remove an activity. The tour is presented as flexible, so explain your priorities before booking. A fifth day with one major outing may suit you better than trying to squeeze every named stop into a rushed itinerary.

What the $1,199 price covers, and what it does not

The listed inclusions are private transportation, a professional guide, first aid and an oxygen tank, Machu Picchu entrance and guided visit, tours and activities, and transfers in and out. Pickup is offered from your hotel, airport, or Airbnb. That level of coordination can save time, especially if you are new to Peru or would rather not arrange several regional excursions yourself.

The price does not include personal expenses, travel insurance, train tickets, the tourist ticket, meals not specified, or glamping equipment. These exclusions can add up. Before booking, request a total cost estimate that includes your transport to Machu Picchu, meals, local entry fees, and any overnight or trekking gear relevant to your chosen route.

The price is per person, but the group-size limit is not given. Since the activity is private, ask how the price changes with the number of people in your party. For a couple, the cost may feel steep compared with joining shared day tours. For a family or small group, having one guide and private transport over several days may make the higher price easier to justify.

The operator, Inca Soul Tours, has a strong record of guide-led service. Past customers have praised Fredy and other guides for fluent English, Inca history, friendly communication, and careful help with tickets and transfers. There is also praise for tailoring days to a group’s interests. That is the tour’s clearest strength: the guide is not just a narrator at the ruins, but a key part of making a complicated regional trip easier to manage.

Who should choose this trip?

I would consider this tour if you want several Cusco-region highlights in one private itinerary and value having a guide help coordinate the moving parts. It suits people who want a mix of archaeology, local culture, and hiking, and who can handle long days on foot. It may also suit a small group that wants more flexibility than a standard coach tour provides.

I would hesitate if you want a clearly defined, fully inclusive package with every ticket, meal, and overnight covered. The stated route is ambitious, and the Huchuy Qosqo and Inca Trail descriptions need clarification. If Machu Picchu is your only priority, a shorter, simpler arrangement may be a better fit.

Before booking, get the five-day schedule in writing and confirm the Machu Picchu entry, train and bus transport, tourist ticket, meals, lodging, and any trekking equipment. The tour offers the makings of a memorable regional trip, but its value depends on knowing exactly which version you are buying.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The stated duration is approximately five days and 30 minutes. The operator should confirm the day-by-day schedule, since the activities described include several long outings.

What is the price?

The listed price is $1,199 per person.

Is the tour private?

Yes. Only your group participates.

Is pickup available?

Yes. Pickup is offered from your hotel, airport, or Airbnb.

Is the Machu Picchu entrance ticket included?

Yes. Machu Picchu entrance and a guided visit are listed as included. Contact the operator before booking to confirm your spot and entry details.

Are train tickets included?

No. Train tickets are specifically listed as not included.

Are meals included?

Meals are not included unless specified. Confirm any meals covered by your particular itinerary with the operator.

Which places does the tour visit?

The described places include Cusco, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Huchuy Qosqo, and Rainbow Mountain. Cusco stops include Koricancha, Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, and Tambomachay. The Sacred Valley day includes Pisac, Ollantaytambo, and Chinchero.

How physically demanding is the tour?

Participants should have a moderate level of physical fitness. The Huchuy Qosqo outing is listed at six hours, and Rainbow Mountain at ten hours.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience starts for a full refund. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start are not refunded, and changes within that period are not accepted.