Questions about tours from Cusco
Pickup times, train classes, Machu Picchu tickets, refunds and what to bring, as the tour listings state them.
The short answer
Most tours from Cusco pick you up in the historic centre before dawn, and Machu Picchu tours need your passport details at booking. Many treks and Machu Picchu tours cannot be refunded, while several day hikes allow free cancellation up to 24 hours before; check the terms on each tour.
Where each topic is covered
Machu Picchu without hiking: the Machu Picchu day trip, tours with a night in Aguas Calientes and the luxury trains. Time slots, routes and what the tours book at the site: Machu Picchu circuits and tickets.
Treks: the Inca Trail, the short Inca Trail, Salkantay, Lares, Inca Jungle and Choquequirao, all of them on one page under treks compared. If the permits for your dates are gone, see Inca Trail sold out.
Day hikes and day trips: Rainbow Mountain, Humantay Lake and the Sacred Valley. Before you plan the order, read the pages on altitude and acclimatization and the best time to visit.
FAQ
Do tours from Cusco pick you up at your hotel?
Most day tours and treks pick up from hotels in the historic centre. Some use a meeting point instead, such as Plaza Regocijo between 7:45 and 8:00 for one Sacred Valley tour, and some day hikes offer both as separate options.
How early is the pickup?
Early. Machu Picchu day trips set the time by the train, for example 4:00, 6:00 or 8:00, and Inca Trail treks start around 4:20 to 4:30. Collecting a whole group can take 30 minutes or more.
Which trains go to Machu Picchu?
PeruRail runs the Expedition, Vistadome, Vistadome Observatory and the luxury Hiram Bingham. Inca Rail runs The Voyager, The 360°, The Prime and The First Class. Each tour names the train or lets you choose it as an option.
Can the train class on my tour change?
Yes, read the dates. Alpaca Expeditions, for example, gives the Vistadome on tours through January 2027 and the Expedition from March 2027, even where the title says Vistadome.
Is the Machu Picchu ticket included in tours?
On most Machu Picchu day trips and treks it is listed under inclusions, often with a circuit. Not on every tour: on the Quarry Trail you buy it yourself or add it as an option, and Sacred Valley tours leave out the site entries. Check what the listing includes.
Can I cancel a tour from Cusco?
It depends on the tour. Many treks and Machu Picchu tours are sold as final or non-refundable. Several day hikes, such as Rainbow Mountain and Humantay Lake, allow free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Do I need my passport?
For Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail, yes. Operators need your full name, passport number, date of birth and nationality at booking, and you must show the same passport on the day.
How much luggage can I take on the train?
Only a small bag. Train companies limit the weight and do not allow large suitcases. Leave the rest at your hotel or with the operator in Cusco; some treks send a small bag on to Aguas Calientes.
Can children join tours from Cusco?
On many day trips, yes. Some treks set a minimum age, for example 12 on Salkantay Trekking's five-day trek and 8 on the Inca Jungle tour compared on this site. For the high day hikes, check the age and health rules on each listing.
How high are the tours?
Cusco lies at about 3,400 m and Machu Picchu at 2,430 m. Humantay Lake reaches 4,200 m and Rainbow Mountain about 5,000 m, so plan the low tours first.
Do I need cash on a tour?
On some. Entry to Rainbow Mountain and the Red Valley and the hire of a horse are paid in cash in Peruvian soles on the Inka Altitude tour, for example.
Are tips included?
No. The listings leave out gratuities, and several describe tips for the guide or the trekking crew as optional.
How early should I book the Inca Trail?
As early as you can. Permits are limited to 500 people a day including porters, and operators report dates selling out up to six months ahead.
Is the Inca Trail open in February?
No. It closes every February for maintenance. Salkantay, Lares and the train to Machu Picchu are still sold that month.
Not sure which tour fits you?
Two questions, and the finder suggests a tour from Cusco with two alternatives.
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