Cusco · GUIDED

15 Guided Tours in Cusco Worth Booking Ahead

31 tours  ·  from $2 a head

The good guided tours around Cusco fill up in the dry season, the best ones first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.

Machu Picchu: Inca Trail 2-Day Overnight Guided Tour - From Cusco to KM 104 by train
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Machu Picchu: Inca Trail 2-Day Overnight Guided Tour

1.Inca Trail 2-Day Overnight Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 203 reviews · 2 days · from $585Our pick

This two-day trip pairs a guided hike from KM 104 with a night in a three-star Aguas Calientes hotel and an early visit to Machu Picchu. You pass Wiñay Wayna, reach the Sun Gate, and return for a two-hour tour on circuit 3. Guides such as Walter, Victor, Isao, and Alex have led departures, but names vary.

“The Inca trail hike was one of the highlights of our Peru trip - such a peaceful foresty hike with a great view on Machu Picchu at the end, and interesting facts shared by our guide Victor. The second day was spent only within Machu Picchu and offered plenty of time for more interesting stories about Incas as well as photos. The communication by Alcapa Expedition was amazing too, and they were always available if you needed something. Only thing I can think of to improve is that on the second day we got 4hrs in Aguas Caliente which is a bit long, would have been great to cut this…”

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Full Day Private Guided Tour in Machu Picchu - A private guide gives the ruins their meaning
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Full Day Private Guided Tour in Machu Picchu

2.Full Day Private Guided Tour in Machu Picchu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 115 reviews · 12 to 18 hours (approx.) · from $339Top rated

Travel from Cusco to Machu Picchu by road, tourist train and bus, then explore the citadel with a private guide. The package includes round-trip transport, entry, bus tickets and lunch at Julian restaurant. Guides such as John, Eduardo and Rubí have been praised for their history, patience and photo skills. Expect an early start and a long day.

“Amazing private tour of circuit 1. Tour guide very knowledgeable and fun. Took great pictures at all the best sites”

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Machu Picchu: Group Guided Tour - The first uphill walk and the famous views
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Machu Picchu: Group Guided Tour

3.Group Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 102 reviews · 3 hours · from $30

Join a group of up to 10 for a three-hour Machu Picchu tour in Spanish, English or Portuguese. Local guides such as Eric and Julio lead you through major temples and plazas, explain Inca history with photo material, and help take pictures using a phone. Entry tickets and bus fares are extra.

“Fred was an amazing tour guide. We did Circuit 3 with the Huayna Picchu hike. He took us through the discovery of Machu Picchu and the history of it's people. Thanks again!”

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Cusco: Historical Guided City Tour with 4 Inca Ruins - Qorikancha: Inca stonework beneath a colonial church
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Cusco: Historical Guided City Tour with 4 Inca Ruins

4.Historical Guided City Tour with 4 Inca Ruins

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 99 reviews · 6 hours · from $23

Spend about six hours visiting Qorikancha, Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Puka Pukara, and Tambomachay with a guide in English or Spanish. Morning options include hotel pickup near the main square; an afternoon option starts near the cathedral. Guides such as Luis, Alfredo, and Hyame have led past tours, but your guide may differ. Site tickets cost extra.

“Excellent experience. Romulo was very knowledgeable and helped make the experience well worth it”

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Machu Picchu: Private Tour Guide Service - Inside the citadel: viewpoints, temples and palaces
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Machu Picchu: Private Tour Guide Service

5.Private Tour Guide Service

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 90 reviews · 2 hours

Meet your private Spanish- or English-speaking guide in Aguas Calientes, then take the 30-minute bus ride to Machu Picchu. Inside, spend about two hours exploring the viewpoint, temples, palaces and other key buildings. Guides have included Roberto, Gregory and Sara, whose tours have covered Inca architecture, local plants, stories and photo stops.

“Our guide, Hector, made our time at Machu Picchu absolutely magical. He was so kind and friendly and provided so many interesting facts about Machu Picchu. He also took some amazing photos and videos for us and knew all the good spots to take them. I would definitely recommend booking this tour since it made the process so much easier and we learned so much about Machu Picchu.”

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Machu Picchu: Tour Guide Service & Entrance Ticket Circuit-2 - Circuit 2: a guided route through the citadel
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Machu Picchu: Tour Guide Service & Entrance Ticket Circuit-2

6.Tour Guide Service & Entrance Ticket Circuit-2

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 90 reviews · 3 hours · from $160

This three-hour experience pairs your Machu Picchu Circuit 2 entrance ticket with a live English- or Spanish-speaking guide for a tour of about 2.5 hours. Guides such as Edgar, Frank and Jose have helped visitors understand Inca architecture and customs, take photos and coordinate the meeting. You must arrange your own transport to the sanctuary.

“Great English and communication.super nice and took great photos.Highly recommend .very sweet”

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Machu Picchu Private Archaeological and Historical Guided Tour - History, archaeology, and local perspective
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Machu Picchu Private Archaeological and Historical Guided Tour

7.Machu Picchu Private Archaeological and Historical Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 86 reviews · 3 to 4 hours (approx.)

Walk Machu Picchu with a private guide for about three hours, from a high lookout to temples, plazas, and the Intiwatana sundial. Guides such as Eric and Sophia bring Inca history to life, help with photos, and adjust the pace to your group. Pickup is offered from a hotel or Aguas Calientes train station. Entry and bus tickets cost extra.

“Very nice tour, with experienced guide and explanations that make bring another look to the place and its history make even more interesting!Auto-translated”

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From Cusco: Machu Picchu Full-Day Guided Tour - The train to Aguas Calientes
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From Cusco: Machu Picchu Full-Day Guided Tour

8.Machu Picchu Full-Day Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 81 reviews · 1 day · from $465

Travel from Cusco to Ollantaytambo, ride the train to Aguas Calientes, then take the bus up to Machu Picchu for a guided visit. Your guide explains the Inca city’s landmarks, including the Temple of the Sun and agricultural terraces. Round-trip transport, standard train tickets and entry are included; meals are not.

“The day before the trip someone came to our hostel to give us the tickets and explain everything about the tour. Our guide at Machu Picchu was very informative and spoke good english. The time there fitted well.”

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From Aguas Calientes: Machu Picchu guided tour with tickets - From Aguas Calientes to the citadel
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From Aguas Calientes: Machu Picchu guided tour with tickets

9.Machu Picchu guided tour with tickets

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 72 reviews · 3 hours · from $155

From Aguas Calientes, meet your guide at your hotel or the train station, ride the 25-minute bus to Machu Picchu, and tour the citadel for three hours. Admission and bus tickets are included. Guides such as Ericson, Julio and Fred have led visitors through the terraces, sundial, Condor Temple and other key sites. Lunch and train travel are not included.

“Eric was excellent! He was patient and explained everything in circuit 2 in a way that made it so interesting! He was flexible and took care of us very well. We had awesome weather thanks to “Pachamama” (Mother Nature) as Eric explained. Thankyou Eric!”

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Full-Day Trek to Humantay Lake from Cusco with Guide - Is $29 good value?
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Full-Day Trek to Humantay Lake from Cusco with Guide

10.Full-Day Trek to Humantay Lake from Cusco with Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 66 reviews · 14 hours (approx.) · from $29

Leave Cusco at 4:00am for Mollepata and Soraypampa, then hike about 90 minutes to Humantay Lake. A bilingual guide explains the lake’s importance to the Incas. Breakfast, lunch, round-trip transport, and first aid supplies are included; the 20-sol entrance fee is extra.

“Tough but AMAZING hike and experience! I struggled as I was not quite adjusted to the altitude yet but the tour guide was patient and helpful during the climb. It’s a long ride up and down and the hike is a little intense but the views and the lagoon were totally worth it!! Would recommend for a day trip in Cusco!!”

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From Cusco: 4-Day Manu National Park Guided Tour - Pilcopata: a first walk and a basic overnight
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From Cusco: 4-Day Manu National Park Guided Tour

11.4-Day Manu National Park Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 48 reviews · 4 days · from $427

Travel from Cusco through Andean valleys and cloud forest to Manu National Park on a small-group trip for up to 10. Look for monkeys, macaws, caimans, and forest wildlife with a bilingual guide, then stay three nights in basic lodges. Expect long road transfers, simple comforts, and a schedule that can change with weather.

“Wow C'était super ! J'ai eu beaucoup de chance car je suis partis pendant la saison des pluies ( le 1 février ) et il a très peu plu. Du coup il y avait pas du tout de touristes ! On avait l'impression d'être seuls. Nous étions que trois dans la voiture. Notre guide Ciro était fabuleux. J'ai énormément parlé avec lui. ( très bon anglais ) Il a beaucoup de connaissances de la faune et la flore. Il n'a jamais arrêté de chercher les animaux pour nous. D'ailleurs nous avons vu beaucoup d'animaux grace à lui. Pendant que d'autres guides étaient sur leur téléphone... La nourriture était top et…”

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Machupicchu Guide Service - Is $60 good value for a private guide?
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Machupicchu Guide Service

12.Machupicchu Guide Service

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 42 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $60

Meet your private guide in Aguas Calientes, get a customized plan and briefing the night before, then travel by tourist bus to Machu Picchu for a guided visit of about two to four hours. The guide fee is $60 per person; bus fare and entry tickets are extra. Joan is one guide named in particularly warm praise, but confirm who will lead your tour.

“Joan was absolutely brilliant. His energy is great, he’s very knowledgeable, enthusiastic, friendly and helpful. The only issue I had was the operator at ViaTour who said the tickets for macchu picchu were included but they weren’t, we bought them separately.”

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Private Tour Guide in Machupicchu from Aguas Calientes. - How much time to set aside
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Private Tour Guide in Machupicchu from Aguas Calientes.

13.Private Tour Guide in Machupicchu from Aguas Calientes.

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 40 reviews · 3 to 4 hours (approx.)

Meet your private guide in Aguas Calientes, then take the 25-minute bus ride to Machu Picchu for a guided visit of about two to three hours. Your route follows the circuit on your entry ticket. José and Edward are among the named guides, with José noted for a patient, fun manner and Edward for finding good photo spots.

“We had Jose as our tour guide, and really enjoyed out time with him. He was patient, fun and informative. So glad we met him!”

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2 Day Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu Guided Tour from Cusco - Evening train to Aguas Calientes
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2 Day Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu Guided Tour from Cusco

14.2 Day Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu Guided Tour from Cusco

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 33 reviews · 2 days (approx.) · from $679

Spend two days travelling from Cusco through the Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu, with stops at Pisac, Urubamba and Ollantaytambo. The package includes a guide, train, Machu Picchu entrance, bus ride and one night in Aguas Calientes. Guides Alex, Jorge and Jessica have led tours, though your guide may differ.

“Writing this review and catching up on all other reviews as we are going through COVID-19. Hope the staff at Machu Picchu Peru Tours are doing well!”

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Cusco: City and Nearby Ruins 5-Hour Guided Tour - Sacsayhuaman’s enormous fitted stones
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Cusco: City and Nearby Ruins 5-Hour Guided Tour

15.City and Nearby Ruins 5-Hour Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 30 reviews · 5 hours · from $22Best value

Explore Cusco’s historic center and four nearby Inca sites with a Spanish- or English-speaking guide and included transport. The five-hour afternoon outing visits Coricancha, the Plaza de Armas and Cathedral, Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Tambomachay and Puka Pukara. Entrance fees cost extra. A guide named Peto has been praised for his enthusiasm, but your guide may differ.

“The tour was in spanish and not english as it was supposed to be. Scam.”

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