2-Day Machu Picchu Tour by Minivan from Cusco: Budget Adventure
Recommended by 91% of travelers
Cusco, Peru
- 2 days (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Offered in: English
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Overview
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly way to visit Machu Picchu and have the time to spare, this 2-day minivan tour is the perfect experience. With a small group and hotel pickup in Cusco, enjoy the drive to Hidroelectrica and hike through the jungle to reach Aguas Calientes. Stay overnight at a local hotel and wake up early the next morning to catch the sunrise over the ancient Inca citadel.
- See a UNESCO World Heritage Site and World Wonder
- Enjoy plenty of free time to explore on your own
- Hotel, some meals, and Machu Picchu ticket are included
- A small group means more attention from your guide
What's Included
- Breakfast
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Pick up from your hotel in Cusco
- Hostel night and meals
- Machupicchu entrance for booking with 2 moths in advance, if not contact us, we have more options)
- BILINGUAL GUIDE(Spanish - English)for booking with 2 moths in advance, otherwise you need it private
- All Fees and Taxes
- Private transportation
- Bus down from Machupicchu to Aguas Calientes (every body walk)
- Bus Up from Aguas calientes to Machupicchu (Everybody walk)
- Brekafast first day, Lunch and Dinner the last day
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
Dear customer, you can send me the details of your hotel after the booking, once you get here in Cusco we will brief you about the tour at our office, then the pick up will be from your hotel and you can wait for us between 6:30 am to 7:00 am.
Operating hours.7:00 am
Itinerary
Day 1
CROSSING THE ANDEANS MOUNTAIN BY MINIVAN AND HIKING TO AGUAS CALIENTES
1 Stop
1
Aguas Calientes
10 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Accommodation: Hostel night with private rooms for couples and shared for solo travelers, hot shower, wifi in a quiet area.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Day 2
EXPLORING MACHU PICCHU AND RETURNING TO CUSCO
1 Stop
1
Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu
14 hours • Admission Ticket Included
Accommodation: Not included
Meals: Breakfast
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Near public transportation
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.7
based on 150 reviews
William_M, Aug 2025
What should have been a once in a lifetime experience became the most stressful we've ever had. Initially communication seemed great but it went from bad to worse whilst in Peru. Pick up was late and we had to walk down the street following a woman who didn't tell us what was happening. Luckily I speak Spanish so I understood we were stopping. Driver didn't communicate very much. We stopped in Hidroeléctrica and there was only a thin soup suitable for vegans after specifically requesting this. Not ideal when we had to hike for 4 hours. When we got to the hotel there was no one there to check us in and had to basically check ourselves in as otherwise we'd miss our meet with the guide and dinner. No time to freshen up. We then walked up and down the street for a good 20 mins as the restaurant we were told to meet at didn't exist. The tour guide met us and took us to a place to eat and honestly it was disgusting. We barely ate all day. The tour guide didn't give us any more information apart from to say that actually the trip would start at an hour later which meant that we wouldn't have enough time to get back to hydroelectra hiking. We said this and he said OK but then later that night confirmed the later time. This was because there was an American girl who wanted later and was getting the train. She could have done the earlier time, no issues. The hotel had a glass window instead of a wall so it was light and noisy all night. Then after barely any sleep, we hiked to Matchu Picchu and met the tour guide. The tour guide was 15 minutes late and did not communicate with us when I asked by WhatsApp. We rushed around and spent barely an hour at Machu Picchu as we had to hike back. Whilst there, the guide joyously described in great detail how they skin guinea pigs with graphic pictures even when we had said we were vegan. We appreciate the culture but he went to town on it and I was turning away whilst he smiled in our faces. We then had to power hike back to Hidroeléctrica or we would miss the bus back. Never again will we go with a company like this. Just research it and book yourself. We've requested money back as compensation and they have refused to respond - avoid.
Chelsea_C, Jun 2025
We booked, they accepted and then told us that is we didn’t have tickets to Machu Picchu we would have to take an early train. This train was going to cost more than booking a train ourselves. So we booked ourselves. Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes we met one of their staff briefly for a whole 20 mins who showed us the government building where we needed to stand in line for our ticket then they showed us to our hotel. The hotel had no reservation for us and they had to figure it out. We never saw another employee again. After we figured out the process to get our ticket they said we would have a tour guide meet us in the morning. We couldn’t get ahold of anyone in the morning and had to buy our own bus fare. They said a tour guide would meet us at the entrance, no tour guide met us there. Then they asked us to get off the bus early and walk 3 hours down a train track with our bags to meet the van that would take us back to Cusco. At this point we lost trust in them and decided not to risk walking alone down a train track and expect they would actually have someone waiting for us this time. We used zero of their services and they refused even a partial refund. DO NOT RECOMMEND! If you have spare days and aren’t on a time limit maybe it could work with them but if you don’t have a ticket and you only have 3 days there; save your money and do it yourself! Buy a ticket to Aguas Caliente, go to the government building and order your ticket. This was a waste of money and almost cost us our ticket we purchased to Machu Picchu as we were waiting for our tour guide.
Maria_S, May 2025
Gr8 experience with this travel group! Even though I was born in Lima, Peru, I pretty much grew up in the US and I wanted to take my 25 yr old son back to my country after 48 yrs of being away...we had a BLAST and even though we did get a little bit sick because of the altitude in Cusco, Marisol, Jackie and the rest of the crew at the Tata Hotel did everything to help us check in earlier because of my son being sick. For this reason, I went ahead and upgraded to the bus/train ride to and from Machu Pichu and we had a private tour guide, Vuctor, who was amazing! Gr8 experience and so happy to be able to go back to my birth country! Thanks to Nixon and the whole staff for always communicating with me and answering any questions I had. Even though I do speak Spanish, my Spanish is not as good as it used to be so it was nice that they had people that were able to speak English.
CheukLam_T, Dec 2024
It was a really bad experience. I booked for a TOUR but turns out I actually am doing everything on my own. I changed into a train at the last minute because the tour operator told me the road conditions would be really bad due to rainy conditions and end up paying much more than the original amount. While this is still aceptable, the worst is the whole tour experience. Its actually no difference to having someone to get all your tickets booked and then you have to manage everything yourself. I had to board the train on my own and there is no one to guide at all. Lunch and dinner were at the restaurant but food was okay. The tour operator told me that someone would bring me to dinner and then explain to me what is going to happen on the next day (which is the day to Machu Picchu). Turns out the person to bring me to dinner was late and he was just a waiter of the restaurant. No one told me what is going to happen at all. The tour operator even told me a wrong time that I have to be present waiting at the town center for my guide. I figured it out because my guide to Machu Picchu (which is actually not related to the tour operator at all) sent me a message with a different time. So I asked to confirm and realized the tour operator gave me a wrong time. If I haven't figured it out, I would have missed out going to Machu Picchu:)
Overall there is no one to guide you through anything, so do not expect a tour. The only time where a guide is present is inside Machu Picchu, which is a requirement to visit. But the guide was not from the tour operator as well.
Do not expect a tour. It is rather just a lazy way to have someone to help you sort all the tickets out
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Dear Customer,
We sincerely regret that your experience did not meet your expectations. Your feedback is extremely valuable to us as it helps us identify areas for improvement and provide a better service.
Please allow us to clarify some important points regarding your experience:
-Group organization and timing: We understand your concern about not seeing other travelers during dinner. However, on that specific day, group members had different train schedules and tickets, which resulted in staggered arrivals. This situation was beyond our control, but we did our best to coordinate.
-Guidance and coordination: Our aim is to provide a seamless experience by organizing all tickets and logistics in advance. While some parts of the journey, such as boarding the train, are self-managed, our team strives to ensure clear communication and support.
-Changes due to weather conditions: Safety is always our top priority. The change to a train service was recommended to avoid potential disruptions due to road conditions during the rainy season. We understand this may have caused an additional cost, but it was done to ensure your journey remained safe and on schedule.
We take your comments seriously and are committed to making improvements so that future guests have a more enjoyable and stress-free experience. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
Best regards,
Nixon
Pedro_C, Sep 2024
We booked late. They contacted us and ee had a zoom meeting so we could get the tickets in aguas calientes. Everything went smootlhy. Nice hotel. Yummy breakfast. Be ready for a bumpy long ride on those minivans
Eric_B, Sep 2024
Everything went just as pre planned and explained by the guide, and it was a very good experience, glad I did this instead of paying more for the train. Fred our tour guide was amazing at explaining everything, and both of our drivers felt very skilled!
Randy_B, Sep 2024
Overall the experience was very good. We had some logistic issues with transportation but nothing huge.
Response from Host, Nov 2024
Hello dear Randy,
We're pleased to hear that, overall, you enjoyed the experience. While we always strive to provide a high service, there are some situations out of our control, such as transportation logistics, that may impact the flow of the tour. We appreciate your understanding that these situations, though rare, can sometimes affect the overall timing.
Despite these occasional challenges, we are committed to ensuring that our customers receive a high-quality experience. We're glad you found the service to be good.
Best Regards,
Juan pablo
Robert_A, Jun 2024
Great trip! Juan our organizer really made sure we were comfortable throughout the trip and made sure to message us throughout. It was a quick and easy pick up. The hike to get to Aguas Calientes is a little rough but at least you can hop in the hot springs as soon as you arrive and rest up! Machu Pichu was great and our guide was A+++
Sean_S, Jun 2024
My guide was nice and knowledgeable, even though she was quiet young. The hostel booked was nice and clean, it honestly had the nicest room I stayed in in all of Peru so far.
Zahir_I, May 2024
Nixon and his team gone above and beyond to provide excellent service. I booked the ticket at last minute which does not gurranty entry to macchu picchu. But Nixon had a zoom call with me prior to arrival to Peru and adviced me how to maximise the chance to get the ticket. From arranging train and bus tickets to providing an excellent hotel in Aguas Calientes everything went as planned and I got my ticket for the next day's Circuit 1 guided tour. He always kept in contact via WhatsApp and made sure I was ok and everything was going as planned. Everything was so well organised and I highly recommend this agency for your booking to Macchu Picchu or any trip.
Muchas gracias
Sana_O, May 2024
This tour was a great short trip to Machu Picchu! Just enough time to see everything without getting exhausted. Juan Pablo the tour agent was extremely attentive and professional, went above and beyond to ensure everything was arranged and planned perfectly, checked in often and I felt very well taken care of and safe! The hotel and bus and meals are comfortable, with beautiful stops along the way and great tips/suggestions from the tour guides. This is a truly memorable, once in a lifetime experience, with unreal views!!Thank you for everything!
Oriol_C, Apr 2024
Really nice two days for an express visit to Machu Picchu. We were very well taken care of. Highly recommend the morning hike up the majestic monument. Btw, bring deet, it's a rainforest area, and mosquitos don't mess around!
Tony_R, Feb 2024
This tour was probably the best one I’ve ever booked. The tour operators communicated extremely well and had individual interaction like I’ve never seen. The value for the cost of the tour was off the charts. It was an experience I will never forget
Jasmine_K, Nov 2023
I like traveling actively, so this tour was a perfect combination of physically demanding hiking, nature, history, culture - mentally it felt like much more than just two days. Bearing in mind this is a budget version of the tour that may not mean that everyone speaks perfect English or that there is gourmet food or cell service available always, I really appreciated all the great guidance and communication received from the tour company, along with the option to upgrade hotel, buses and trains. Really means you get to pick your own adventure and level of intensity. We opted to upgrade to train back from Aguas Calientes, so we hiked in one way and got to experience the magnificent views from the train when we went back to Cusco, also highly recommended. Exhausting in all the best ways!
Denise_O, Nov 2023
We took the van and the train. Then the bus up to Machu Picchu. Ulises was an exception guide. He made the trip fun and entertaining. He created a feeling of unity among 10 strangers. We ever went out to lunch after. Loved Machu Picchu!
Mariwell, Oct 2023
I would highly recommend Mega Expeditions if you and your group wanna book a tour to Machu Picchu. Me and my husband just came back from our wonderful, amazing trip in Peru. We ended up of upgrading to a train, another extra night and bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu before we started the trekking due to my husband’s sciatica . (we wanted to do an easy trek.) Mega Expenditions were excellent in communicating with us from start to finish. They are prompt, very helpful, professional. I could go on and on. Bottom line, we felt very important as always. The driver, the guides were excellent as well. After our Machu Picchu we again, booked another tour from them when we get to Cuzco - an ATV tour to Sacred Valley with a trip to Moray Ruins and Salt mines. We had a blast! Guys. thank you and we hope to booking with you again in the near future!
Samiha_K, Sep 2023
Overall an awesome experience! The tour operator was very responsive and attentive to our needs throughout. We were taken care of every step of the way. The guides were very informative and thorough at Macchu Picchu.
One note: We opted out of the minivan + hike experience and arranged taking the train to Agua Calientes instead for an extra cost. We also upgraded to taking the bus to Macchu Picchu vs hiking to it. If you are not prepared for a hike, I would recommend taking the bus up and hiking down. We did this because the minivan does take twice as long and the hike to Macchu Picchu is a strenuous 2 hour uphill venture. Just a few things to be weary of when choosing your experience.
Additionally, due to new government regulations this tour wasn't able to provide us with Macchu Picchu tickets. Instead you have to go to the embassy of culture in Aguas Calientes and buy them there before they sell out. This process took about two hours and we were refunded by the tour
I was satisfied that we were able to make changes on the go and I appreciated the flexibility!
Pro tip: bring lots of water and bug spray for Macchu Picchu!
singhalabhay, Jun 2023
Great trekking experience... we took train on return. Overall it was a great experience. Hostel booked was decent.
James_B, Mar 2020
Nixon helped us arrange a flawless, last-minute trip to Machu Picchu: bus/train tickets as well as entry ticket. We never were able to meet up with the guide, but we were OK with that.
Response from Host, Sep 2020
Hello Dear James. thank you so much for your review, we feel happy you loved the tour. I hope you are ok. take care, stay safe, and sound.
Joanie_H, Aug 2025
That viator charged us extra fees, that the activity cost us nearly $500/person and that we did everything on foot. Communication was slow, resulting in changes of plans. They have not fulfilled their commitment.
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LeandroWagner_M, May 2024
O passeio é muito bom. Acho que poderia melhorar as opções dos locais de paradas para as refeições, pois não são tão boas. A excursão em si vale o preço, se estiver procurando algo mais barato (bem mais em conta do que o passeio de trem). O suporte da empresa é muito bom e estão sempre disponíveis para auxiliar.
Hayat_F, Dec 2023
Diese Reise ist nicht zu empfehlen (es sei denn man hängt nicht an seinem Leben). Die Busse sind in einem miserablen Zustand, die Reifen haben kein Profil und die Fahrer setzten leichtsinnig das Leben der Passagiere aufs Spiel. Die Fahrweise wird nicht an die Witterungsbedingungen angepasst, so dass auch bei schlechtem Wetter mit überhöhter Geschwindigkeit durch die Berge gefahren wird.
Auch wenn eine englische Tour gebucht worden ist, spricht bis auf den Guide auf dem Machu Picchu keiner Englisch. Ohne Spanisch Kenntnisse hat man verloren.
Mit schlechtem Feedback wird auch schlecht umgegangen und es wird nicht auf den Gast, der gebucht hat eingegangen. Im Gegenteil aus der Angst der Reisenden wird noch Geld gemacht und zusätzlich, wenn man nicht mit dem Bus zurück möchte, Zugtickets verkauft. Ein Entgegenkommen ist hier fehl am Platz.
Lasst lieber die Finger davon und fahrt mit dem Zug. Die Fahrt ist auch sehr schön.
Die zwei Sterne gibt es nur für die Führung und das Erlebnis oben auf dem Macchu Picchu
Response from Host, Dec 2023
Thank you for sharing your input with us and we are sorry to hear that you did not have a good experience.
I hope you can see that your situation is the exception as unfortunately the weather and rainy season in this region is something we cannot control. However, we informed you and were honest with the road conditions and offered a train service just to improve your experience. Unfortunately, that day the heavy rains caused damage to the roads and the bridge, but we didn't know that was going to happen.
We are a bit concerned about your comment, as we always tried to help you, even affording 20 USD per person to book the return trains so that you did not have to return in the Minivan.
Regarding our drivers, our team has years of experience driving on such roads, most of the roads you can find in this region are in those conditions. As soon as we heard about your complaint, we took care of those details and arranged a meeting with the drivers to avoid those inconveniences. Even though we know that our drivers are professionals and would not put anyone's life at risk.
luca_i, Jul 2022
L'assistenza è stata molto buona. La cena offerta però pessima, così come l'ostello (camera freddissima e umida)
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