Wonderful Cusco 5-Day Tour with Entrance to Machupicchu

Machu Picchu is the headline, but this five-day Cusco tour adds two very different sides of the region: Inca sites in the Sacred Valley and a high-altitude trek to Vinicunca, the Mountain of Colors. It is an ambitious itinerary, with a train journey, guided ruins, and an early mountain start packed into a short stay.

I like two things in particular: the mix of cultural stops and big scenery, and the way the $610 package groups hotel nights, key transfers, Machu Picchu transport, and several meals. Guides Guido and Melissa are mentioned by name in past trip accounts, though you should not assume either will lead your departure.

The main drawback is the pace. Day 4 starts around 4:00 am and climbs to 5,033 meters, while hotel quality can vary, so check the property offered before booking. This suits you best if you are comfortable with long days and want a lot of Cusco’s highlights in one organized trip.

Key points to know

• Pisac brings the Inca detail: Terraces, ceremonial baths, a large cemetery, and carved pink granite temples make this more than a quick photo stop.
• Machu Picchu gets a guided three-hour visit: The tour covers major structures, then leaves you some time to walk around on your own.
• Vinicunca is the toughest day: Expect an early start, a long excursion, and an ascent to 5,033 meters.
• The package includes practical basics: Four nights in Cusco, airport transfers, Machu Picchu train and bus transport, and listed meals are included.
• Hotel selection matters: Ask which hotel is assigned. A stay at Montecristo drew a complaint about its buffet, while the operator says it covered extra heating costs there.

Five days from Cusco to the Mountain of Colors

At $610 per person, the package bundles four nights in Cusco with airport transfers, the Sacred Valley excursion, round-trip train travel to Aguas Calientes, the Machu Picchu bus, entry to the citadel, and the Vinicunca outing. It also lists four hotel breakfasts, a breakfast and lunch for the mountain day, and three lunches across the tours.

That is a substantial amount of logistics handled for you, especially the train and bus connections required for Machu Picchu. But the price is not an all-inclusive holiday: airfare and food not specified in the package are excluded. The exact hotel also matters. Ask which property you will receive and what level of comfort to expect, rather than treating the word hotel as a promise of a particular standard.

The itinerary has little slack. You arrive, visit the Sacred Valley, travel to Machu Picchu, tackle Vinicunca, then leave Cusco. That makes it efficient, but it also means you should be ready for early starts and long days rather than expecting a slow introduction to the region.

Day 1: An airport transfer and a night in Cusco

On arrival, a private transfer takes you from the airport to your selected hotel. The first day has no sightseeing listed, which is useful after a flight: you can check in, settle, and prepare for the next morning’s tour.

The package includes four nights at a Cusco hotel, but the supplied information does not name a standard property. Maypi Travel has offered a list of hotel choices, and the hotel experience deserves a little attention when comparing options. One account criticized the buffet at Montecristo; the operator responded that it paid additional heating costs during that stay. Ask what hotel is included in your price, whether you can choose another, and what meals are provided there.

You will want to keep the evening simple. The next day begins with a hotel pickup around 8:00 am, and the itinerary becomes more demanding from there.

Day 2: Pisac’s terraces and the Sacred Valley

The Sacred Valley excursion starts with a drive from Cusco to Pisac, about 32 kilometers away by paved road. The valley is valued for its climate and fertile land, and the tour’s appeal lies in seeing how Inca sites relate to the terrain and settlements around them, not just viewing stonework in isolation.

At the Pisac archaeological complex, expect terraces, ceremonial baths, and a residential area. The site also contains what is described as the largest known Inca cemetery, and the temple area includes pink granite work, ceremonial altars, water features, and the Temple of the Sun.

The itinerary allows roughly three hours for the Sacred Valley stop, with Pisac listed separately as a brief stop. Those timings are not especially clear, so ask how the day is divided between the archaeological site and other places in the valley. Ollantaytambo is part of the broader Sacred Valley route described for this tour, but the schedule does not give a precise visit duration or detailed stop plan there.

Lunch at a tourist restaurant is included. That makes the day easier to manage, though the package does not specify the restaurant or menu. If you are choosing the trip for a deep archaeological visit, clarify the guide’s time at each site; if you want a broad first look at the valley, the organized route is a practical way to cover ground.

Day 3: Train to Aguas Calientes, then Machu Picchu

The Machu Picchu day begins with a transfer to Ollantaytambo station, where you board a tourist train to Aguas Calientes. The package names Inca Rail or Peru Rail, so the operator may use either. From town, a bus takes about 30 minutes on a zigzagging road up to the citadel.

The Aguas Calientes and transport portion is listed as roughly six hours, followed by a three-hour guided visit at Machu Picchu. The guide takes you to the Main Square, Circular Tower, Sacred Solar Clock, Royal Rooms, Temple of the Three Windows, and cemeteries. After the guided route, you have free time to walk around the site before returning to Aguas Calientes.

That guided structure is valuable: Machu Picchu’s stones are impressive on their own, but a guide can help connect the buildings and spaces into a comprehensible visit. Guido is named as a Machu Picchu guide in a past account, but the tour does not promise a particular guide for every departure. One account also singled out Melissa for helping coordinate a multi-tour package. Treat those names as examples of staff associated with the company, not a booking guarantee.

Lunch in Aguas Calientes is included. The schedule says you return to town in the afternoon, but it does not spell out the precise train departure or return-to-Cusco time. Confirm your own day’s timing with Maypi Travel, especially if you have onward plans.

Day 4: A demanding climb to Vinicunca

The Mountain of Colors day is the physical test of the trip. Departure is around 4:00 am, with a drive south from Cusco toward Pitumarca and the small community of Chillca. After breakfast, the walk climbs for about two and a half hours toward Machuraccay, followed by a descent toward the foothills of Vinicunca.

The route continues through mountain scenery and small streams, with the colors changing as the weather shifts. The high point reaches 5,033 meters above sea level. You have time there for photos and video, but the altitude and length of the day deserve more attention than the word excursion might suggest.

The schedule assigns about nine hours to Vinicunca and an hour to Chillca, but the total day also includes a very early drive. A moderate fitness level is recommended. If you have doubts about managing a climb at high altitude, this is the day to discuss honestly with the operator before booking. The tour includes breakfast and lunch for this outing, but not other food beyond what is specified.

There is a small access control organized by local residents at Vinicunca. The tour information does not explain any separate charge, so ask whether anything is payable on site. Most importantly, do not confuse this mountain outing with a nearby add-on to the Sacred Valley: the operator states that Vinicunca involves a much longer drive, around five hours each way.

Day 5: Breakfast, then the airport

The last morning is simple: breakfast at the hotel, followed by a private transfer to the airport at a time arranged with the company. The listed airport transfers are private, which is helpful after a tight itinerary, but you should coordinate pickup details in advance.

This day has no sightseeing scheduled. If you are considering adding another activity, remember that the package already ends with an airport transfer, and the information provided does not set out a flexible departure-day plan.

What the $610 price covers, and what to check

The strongest value is in the connections. The package includes airport-to-hotel and hotel-to-airport transfers, hotel nights, a Sacred Valley tour with lunch, tourist train transport both ways, Machu Picchu bus transport, entry to Machu Picchu, a guided citadel visit, and the Vinicunca outing with meals. Arranging those pieces separately can take time, particularly the train and bus links.

Still, the included list needs a careful read. It names three lunches, along with lunch for the Sacred Valley, lunch for Machu Picchu, and lunch for the mountain excursion. It also lists four hotel breakfasts plus the mountain breakfast. Ask the company to confirm exactly which meals are covered and whether there are any site tickets or local charges beyond Machu Picchu entry.

Airfare is not included, nor is food that is not specifically mentioned. Tour tickets for Pisac and other Sacred Valley stops are not clearly itemized in the package details, so confirm what entrance costs are included before you travel. The group maximum is 30, which can make guiding less intimate than a small-group outing, even though the company also has a record of organized and punctual service.

Who should choose this tour?

This package makes sense if you have five days, want the major sites organized for you, and are happy to trade flexibility for efficiency. It particularly suits people who value door-to-door transfers and a planned route from Cusco to the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, and Vinicunca.

It is less suited to anyone who wants a relaxed schedule, a guaranteed hotel standard, or a private guide. The mountain day is a serious commitment, and the full itinerary includes early starts and substantial transport. If you want time to explore Cusco itself, add nights before or after the package rather than assuming the tour leaves a spare day.

Maypi Travel’s service is repeatedly associated with punctual pickups, attentive coordination, and strong guiding, with Guido and Melissa named in specific accounts. That is encouraging, but ask who is assigned to your departure and what support is available if timings or hotel arrangements need attention.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want the essentials arranged in one five-day package and can handle the Vinicunca altitude and early start. Its best features are the mix of Inca sites and mountain scenery, the included Machu Picchu connections, and the reported attention to punctuality and coordination.

Before paying, confirm the hotel, the Sacred Valley entrance arrangements, the exact meal plan, and the schedule for your Machu Picchu return. If those details suit you, $610 buys a busy, practical route through some of the region’s best-known places. If you prefer a gentler pace, split the itinerary and give yourself more time.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts approximately five days and includes four nights at a hotel in Cusco.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $610 per person.

Is Machu Picchu admission included?

Yes. Entry to the Machu Picchu archaeological site is included, along with round-trip bus transport between Aguas Calientes and the site.

Is train transport to Machu Picchu included?

Yes. The package includes round-trip tourist train travel on Inca Rail or Peru Rail, with transport between the hotel and train station listed as well.

How difficult is the Vinicunca excursion?

A moderate fitness level is recommended. The day starts around 4:00 am, includes a walk of about two and a half hours uphill, and reaches 5,033 meters above sea level.

Are meals included?

The package lists four hotel breakfasts, breakfast and lunch for the Vinicunca excursion, and three lunches. Food not specifically listed is not included, so confirm the meal allocation 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 made less than 24 hours in advance are not refunded.