Entry rules require visitors to Machu Picchu to be accompanied by an authorized guide, and many independent travelers who book their own train, bus and entry ticket still need to arrange one. This is a guide-only service for exactly that situation. The guide meets you at your hotel, Airbnb or station in Aguas Calientes, or at the main gate of Machu Picchu, and leads a private tour of about two to three hours for your group of up to eight people. The route is adapted to the circuit printed on your ticket, and the tour ends inside the citadel. The booking page says the tour does not include Machu Picchu admission or bus transport from Aguas Calientes, although the inclusions section lists tickets, so the page is inconsistent; assume you must buy your own ticket and bus tickets and confirm with the operator. Guides speak English and one other language. The rating is 5.0 from more than six hundred reviews, and free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before.
A guide matters because the site has little signage. The circuits that regulate movement through the citadel since 2024 are one-way, the time inside is limited, and a guide helps you spend it well, explaining the Temple of the Sun, the Intihuatana stone, the royal sector and the agricultural terraces and answering questions on the spot.
Booking privately means the pace is yours, which is valuable in a crowded site. The guide adapts the walk to your circuit and your entry time, so provide each person's entry time, the train arrival details and your hotel location when you book, as the operator requires.
Know the limits. The service cannot create tickets: if the tickets are sold out, access cannot be arranged through this guide. You need a valid passport number and details for every traveler at booking. The booking page recommends moderate fitness and is not suitable for people with serious heart conditions, and it is not wheelchair accessible.
One recent review reported a missed pickup, which the operator attributed to a duplicate booking and a cancellation notice, so confirm the meeting point and keep the operator's contact details. Machu Picchu entry rules and circuits have changed in recent years and may change again, so check what your ticket includes before you arrive.
Who it suits
Independent travelers, families who want a bespoke pace, photographers and anyone who wants a guide who can answer detailed questions. Combine it with the plain train ticket and a night in Aguas Calientes. If you prefer an all-in-one package, the two-day tour or the day trip by train in this guide bundles the guide with transport, and the main Machu Picchu entry explains the ticket choices.
What to expect
The experience
A private guided visit inside Machu Picchu for your group, meeting in Aguas Calientes or at the gate and adapting to the circuit on your ticket. Entry and bus tickets are bought separately.
Best time
Match it to your entry slot; early slots are cooler and quieter, with softer light on the terraces.
How long
Two to three hours, depending on your circuit, pace and interests.
Tips
Provide passport details, entry times, train arrival and hotel location when booking, buy your tickets in advance and confirm the meeting point with the guide.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Independent travelers who have their own ticket and train and want a private guide for the citadel.
- Families
- Excellent: a private pace and the chance to tailor the explanation to children.
- Couples
- A personal introduction to the site without joining a large group.
- Pair with
- A night in Aguas Calientes, the train and a Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain climb.
- Time needed
- Two to three hours at the site, plus travel.
Good questions
Is the entrance ticket included?+
The booking page says admission and bus transport from Aguas Calientes are not included, though one section lists tickets. Assume you must buy your own and confirm with the operator.
How many people can join?+
The price is per group of up to eight people, and the tour is private.
Where do we meet?+
The guide can meet you at your hotel or the train station in Aguas Calientes, or at the Machu Picchu main gate.
Which circuit will we follow?+
The guide adapts the tour to the circuit printed on your ticket.
What if tickets are sold out?+
The guide cannot arrange entry. Buy your tickets before you book the guide.
