Machu Picchu Private Tours

Last Updated on July 21, 2023 by James Bustamante

Machu Picchu private tours are a great way to keep your group small and ensure your experience during your hike is more personal.

Machu Picchu has been one of the most frequented destinations in Peru for the last 15 years, so it makes sense that many travelers will prefer a private tour over a group-focused trip through Peru and, finally, the famous Machu Picchu tour.  

So when you break it down, what are the benefits of a Machu Picchu private tour vs. a group tour, and what are the downsides?

There isn’t one type of tour that is better than the other. Many times travelers have different tastes in how they travel and choose to experience a new culture. All of our tours can be done in a private version or a group tour. Now let’s review the details of a private Machu Picchu tour below.

Benefits of a Machu Picchu Private Tour

So what are the true benefits of taking one of these Machu Picchu tours in private? Well, there can be quite a few.

Below we have a small list of a few ideas which make a case for making private Machu Picchu reservations.

Pros of Machu Picchu Private Tours

• Receive a personalized experience
• More Interaction with the Guide
• Flexibility and schedule changes
• Control over activities
• Privacy

Small Personalized Groups for Machu Picchu Private Tours

A Machu Picchu private tour will only allow the members you choose to have to come along.

This is usually an excellent alternative for families that like to travel together and are looking to keep an eye on their children without the issue of large crowds. 

Many families think this is usually a bit out of their price range, but if your personalized group is large enough, the Machu Picchu tour done on private might have the exact cost as the group version. 

A good number to use in these situations is six. If your group is six members or more, the private version might be a better investment since it will have all the advantages of a private tour at the price of a group setting.

Private tours are designed for your and your group’s interests and preferences, giving you a more personalized experience. Your guide can tailor the tour to your needs and answer your questions in detail.

More Interaction With The Guides

A private tour provides more one-on-one interaction with the guide, allowing for a deeper understanding and appreciation of the destination.

It’s a given that one of the main benefits of Machu Picchu private tours would be the ability to have your very own guide for the duration of the trip. 

This is usually a game-changer for most groups since you won’t have to worry about other members asking too many questions or trying to hijack the tour.

Flexibility and Schedule Changes For Machu Picchu Private Tours

With a private tour, you can customize your itinerary, schedule, and pace. As a result, you can spend more time at places that interest you and skip those that don’t.

One of the significant aspects of taking a private tour in Peru vs. the group version of the trip is the flexibility this provides.

Once an activity has been finalized in an itinerary, it is set in stone for a group tour. This, however, is different when booking Machu Picchu private tours. 

Let’s take a real-world example. Imagine you have scheduled a tour of the Sacred Valley for your family. The tour begins at 8:30 am with a pick-up at your hotel.

Now either you or someone in your small group might be running late for any number of reasons, so you miss the tour, right? 

Since the tour is just set aside for your group, we can delay the start for a while (within reasonable times, of course). This level of flexibility can be a lifesaver when visiting a foreign country.

Total Control Over Activities

Now we move on to being able to change certain activities throughout your Machu Picchu private tours. Let’s say we arrive in Cusco, check into the hotel, and schedule a city tour the following morning. 

The following day someone in your private group suddenly has elevation sickness but does not want to miss the city tour. 

In this case, the entire Cusco tour can be rescheduled for an afternoon or evening tour of the city. This would typically not be possible in a group-style travel package.

Privacy During Your Travel Experience in Peru

Privacy can also be a big factor when traveling. Private tours offer more privacy and intimacy as you are only with your group. This can be especially important for families or couples who want to enjoy their time together without the presence of strangers.

Cons For Private Version of Machu Picchu Tour

The only “cons’ that might come up during a private tour of Machu Picchu will generally be the pricing. As mentioned in our blog post, this might only sometimes be true. Remember that if you gather six travelers for your private group, the price might be the same as the group tour version.  Let’s go over what a Machu Picchu private tour and the rest of a Peru tour package would look like.

Machu Picchu Private Tour Itinerary

Let’s go over what a Machu Picchu private tour as well as the rest of a Peru tour package would look like with this 5-day itinerary.

Peru Private Tour Outline

• Arrival in Cusco – Private Transportation to Cusco Hotel.
• Private Tour of the Sacred Valley
• Private Shuttle to Ollantaytambo Train Station – Train to Aguas Calientes
• Machu Picchu Private Tour – Train to Ollantaytambo – Private Shuttle to Cusco
• Private transport to Cusco airport

Arrival into Cusco – Private Transportation to Accommodations

Upon arriving in Cusco, our driver will meet you at the entrance to the Velasco Astete airport.
This airport, in particular, is relatively small when considering the number of people arriving daily.
The best way to go about the airport is to get your luggage and exit the complex quickly—no need to look for a restaurant or snacks. It’s best to go through the airport process as quickly as possible, so you are not stuck with a large group trying to leave the airport.

Once boarded into your private transport, you will quickly be taken to your hotel in Cusco; the ride will take around 20 minutes.

If your itinerary has you staying in the Sacred Valley for the first few nights, the ride will take longer. The average drive time from Cusco airport to the Sacred Valley is around 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Once we arrive at the hotel, our driver and the hotel staff will assist you with your luggage and allow you to check in quickly. Take the rest of this first day to move around the main square while your body adjusts to the new elevation.

Private Tour of the Sacred Valley

On day 2 of this Machu Picchu private tour would be a visit to the nearby Sacred Valley of the Inca.

This full-day tour is scheduled to begin by 9:00 am at your hotel. We’ll quickly get your group together in the private shuttle set aside just for your tour.  

We move on to visit locations such as Pisac, Urubamba, and Ollantaytambo throughout the tour. 

Our scheduled lunch buffet at 1:00 pm specializes in local Andean food, Coastal Peruvian food, and a few international dishes. 

We urge all of you to try the local delicacies, though Peru has won the best culinary destination in the world travel awards for several years. 

The full-day tour ends at 7:00 pm with an evening drive back to your hotel in the city of Cusco.

Vistadome Train to Aguas Calientes

We will have our driver pick up the group once again by 9:00 am at your hotel.

We’ll have a private shuttle ride to Ollantaytambo train station in order to board the train to Aguas Calientes, also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo. 

Booking a Machu Picchu private tour also automatically upgrades your train ticket to the Vistadome train.  This is a nice upgrade since it provides more seating space and ample views of the surrounding wilderness.

The train to Aguas Calientes has been thought of as one of the most beautiful train rides in the world. 

Upon arriving we’ll have one of our guides greet you at the station and walk you to where you will be staying for the night. 

Take the rest of the day to get to know this small town, there are plenty of local shops and restaurants to visit. 

Machu Picchu Private Tours

Today is a big day. We travel to Machu Picchu on the final leg of this journey. We begin the private tour of Machu Picchu by taking the shuttle up to the entrance of this Inca complex.

Your private tour group will enter quickly, and we will begin the tour of Machu Picchu.  

The time we enter will depend on the schedule you previously selected.

We recommend taking the early shift to photograph the sun rising over the Andes mountain range surrounding Machu Picchu. 

Hikers Tip: We recommend taking additional Machu Picchu hikes like Huayna Picchu or Mount Machu Picchu. Each hike presents an opportunity to see the entire city of Machu Picchu from a bird’s eye view. 

After we have completed a 2-hour long Machu Picchu private tour, you will have the opportunity to wander around the city on your own until around 1:00 pm. 

We then take our shuttle back down to Aguas Calientes, have lunch, and wait for our train back to Cusco. We then check back into the hotel for your final stay in this Andean city.

Private Transport to Velasco Astete Airport

We end your private Machu Picchu tour itinerary with transport back to the Velasco Astete airport. The time of transfer will depend on your schedule. We, however recommend taking a mid-morning flight back to Lima.

Extending your Private Tour

This 5-day itinerary is an example of what a private tour in Peru can look like.

There is always the chance to extend the trip either by adding activities at the beginning, like first visiting the capitol. 

Most 7-day itineraries will take you from Lima to Machu Picchu, and this ensures you have a broad view of the country and not just the highland region.

If you have more available time, try visiting The Amazon rainforest or Lake Titicaca during a full Peru tour package.

Frequently Asked Questions About Machu Picchu Private Tours