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3-Day Machu Picchu Tour: Mysteries of the Incan Empire

3-Day Machu Picchu Tour: Mysteries of the Incan Empire

$950 per person
3 Days 2 Nights
12+ Age
Adventure
Cultural
Cusco
Family
Machu Picchu
Nature
Peru
Photography
Short tour

📸 3-DAY MACHU PICCHU TOUR – MYSTERIES OF THE INCAN EMPIRE

Ancient Icons. Andean Life. A Journey Beyond the Postcard.

This is not your average Machu Picchu tour. This is an immersive, three-day expedition that blends legendary landmarks with authentic Andean culture—perfect for travelers and photographers who want to go deeper into the real Peru.

DAY 1 – SACRED VALLEY HIDDEN GEMS & THE TRAIN TO MACHU PICCHU

Your journey begins with a scenic drive through the Sacred Valley, stopping at places most travelers miss. You’ll meet Andean women in the weaving town of Chinchero and photograph their stunning traditional clothing while learning the stories behind their centuries-old techniques.

Next, you’ll explore a secret viewpoint over the valley—an ideal place for wide compositions and quiet portraits of local shepherds going about their day. After lunch by a tranquil lake, you’ll continue to the Maras Salt Mines. This surreal, geometric landscape offers endless opportunities for both minimalist and documentary-style photography.

In the afternoon, you’ll board the train to Aguas Calientes. We’ll take care of all logistics, so you can relax and enjoy the ride. Upon arrival, you’ll check into your hotel and meet your cultural guide for a short briefing about the big day ahead.

Optional Add-On: Have your photographer guide accompany you all the way to Machu Picchu for dedicated photo mentorship.

DAY 2 – SUNRISE AT MACHU PICCHU & RETURN TO THE SACRED VALLEY

Start your day early to reach Machu Picchu before the crowds. Enter the site at dawn, when soft light paints the stone in gold and mist still clings to the peaks. You’ll receive a guided tour rich in insight, history, and Andean cosmology—then enjoy free time to explore and photograph on your own terms.

After descending from the site, you’ll have lunch in Aguas Calientes and return to the Sacred Valley by train in the afternoon. From the station, a private transfer will take you to your boutique hotel. After a long but unforgettable day, you’ll have time to relax, download your photos, or simply enjoy the peaceful Andean atmosphere.

DAY 3 – COMMUNITY LIFE, PORTRAITS & THE TRUE HEART OF PERU

The final day is dedicated to the soul of the Andes. After breakfast, you’ll visit a remote Quechua community nestled in the mountains. Along the way, you’ll stop at a traditional market to pick up some offerings for your hosts.

Once in the village, you’ll spend time with a beautiful local family who welcomes you into their home. There’s no performance here—just real people sharing their way of life. You’ll visit the local school, interact with the children, and enjoy a delicious home-cooked lunch.

Afterward, you’ll explore the surrounding highland lakes, joined by members of the family dressed in traditional attire—perfect for powerful, respectful portraits and wide, story-driven compositions. The day ends with heartfelt goodbyes and a return drive to Cusco, where your journey concludes with full memory cards and an even fuller heart.

💰 Tour Pricing

💲 Private Tour for 1 person – $1580 USD
💲 2 people – $900 USD per person
📩 Group rates available upon request

➕ Add-On Options

  • Huayna Picchu Mountain Hike
  • Photographer Guide to Machu Picchu
  • Single Room Supplement

📷 Recommended Photography Gear

  • Mid-range zoom for flexibility
  • Prime lens for portraits
  • Telephoto for landscapes and salt mines
  • Tripod (forbidden at Machu Picchu) + ND & CPL filters for long exposures and reflections
  • Headlamp for early starts

📅 Book Your Journey into the Heart of the Incan Empire

📧 Email: [email protected]
🌐 Website: www.andeanphotoexpeditions.com

3 Reviews
  • Departure/Return Location
    Your Hotel in Cusco
  • Departure Time
    Please be ready before 8:00 AM
  • Return Time
    Approximately 18:30 (In 3 days)
  • Dress Code
    Clothes for all conditions (the weather can be unpredictable in the Andes, it’s best to be prepared!) Comfortable walking shoes. Although no strenuous hiking is involved its always recommendable to wear sensible footwear.
  • Included
    Accommodation
    Entrance Fees
    Guide
    Lunch
    Meals
    Photo Assistance
    Transport
  • Not Included
    Extras
    Insurance
    Local Flights

From our gallery

Discover Our Way to Machu Picchu

Tour Plan

1
1st Day - Departing from Cusco
8h00 - Pick-up from hotel or hostel and begin our drive into the Andes.
9h00 - Stop in Chinchero to pick up some local empanadas to eat later for lunch.
9h45 - Stop at our secret landscape location. Here we get an incredible view over the sacred valley and also if we are lucky, a chance to meet and photograph some of the local farmers and shepherds who work on these lands.
10h45 - Stop at a local textile market in Chinchero, here we get to learn about the textile process of dyeing and weaving and also can have full portrait sessions with the ladies there wearing local traditional clothes.
12h00 - Lunch at Laguna Huaypo, after lunch we can spend time shooting at this beautiful lake framed with huge mountains.
13h00 - The Salineras de Maras, here you can find many opportunities for awesome photography, from small details to big landscapes and the locals seen working in this otherworldly place.
14h00 - Leave the Salineras and begin the drive to Ollantaytambo.
15h00 - Arrival in Ollantaytambo, from here we drop you off to take the scenic train to Aguas Calientes solo. Have no fear we will make all arrangements for your hotel and tour of the lost city of the Incas.
If however you would like your photographer guide to attend with you to compliment your visit to Machu Picchu let us know and we can provide this as an optional add-on as your local guide at the site will not be a photographer.
17h00 - Arrival in Aguas Calientes, check into your hotel and free time to relax and explore the town.
19h00 - Your local guide for the following morning will meet with you to brief you on the upcoming day (at the lobby of your hotel). Afterwards we recommend getting a good night’s sleep and getting ready for the following day.
2
2nd Day - Machu Picchu
4h00 - An early start this morning to begin queuing for the bus up to the site of Machu Picchu.
6h00 - Gates open to the site, your guide will give you a 2h30 guided tour of the location. Once the tour is over you will be free to continue exploring some more if you like.
12h00 - Return from the site down to Aguas Calientes for some lunch and to relax a while.
15h00 - Hop on the train back to Ollantaytambo.
16h30 - Arrival in Ollantaytambo where we will be waiting to pick you up in our private transport and transfer you to a hotel right in the heart of the Sacred Valley, here we will be able to eat some dinner and relax for the evening.
3
3rd Day - Community Visit
7h00 - Time to get up and grab some breakfast at the hotel.
8h00 - Leave the hotel and make a quick stop in Calca to visit the central market, here we can buy a few things to take with us to the community.
10h30 - Arrive in the community and meet with our hosts
11h30 - Visit the local school, meet and spend time with the children there. Plenty of opportunities for great photos around the school.
13h00 - Return to our host’s home for lunch of homemade delicious local food and portrait sessions with the family, all wearing full traditional clothes.
14h30 - Visit lakes above town for landscape shots with some of the Quechua family members.
16h00 - Return to our family to say goodbyes.
16h30 - Begin drive back to Cusco.
18h30 - Arrival in Cusco and drop-off at hotel.

Tour Location

Discover Machu Picchu

More than 7,000 feet above sea level in the Andes Mountains, Machu Picchu is the most visited tourist destination in Peru. A symbol of the Incan Empire and built around 1450AD, Machu Picchu was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007.

10 Interesting Facts about Machu Picchu

10. In the Quechua Indian language, “Machu Picchu” means “Old Peak” or “Old Mountain.”
9. Machu Picchu is made up of more than 150 buildings ranging from baths and houses to temples and sanctuaries.
8. The compound contains more than 100 separate flights of stairs. Most of the individual staircases were carved from one slab of stone.
7. Although many of the stones that were used to build the city were more than 50 pounds, it is believed that no wheels were used to transport these rocks up the mountain. Rather, it is thought that hundreds of men pushed the heavy rocks up the steep mountain side.
6. Many different theories exist about Machu Picchu’s purpose—a royal estate and a secret ceremonial center among them.
5. The Incas were some of the best masons in the world. The structures were so well built with a technique called ashlar (stones that are cut to fit together without mortar) that not even a knife blade can fit in between stones.
4. Machu Picchu was only known locally until Yale Professor Hiram Bingham re-discovered the site in 1911. His book, The Lost City of the Incas, was based on his findings.
3. A long-standing dispute between Peru and Yale University has existed over the artifacts collected by Bingham during his exploration of the site. Yale maintains that they own the items while Peru insists they were given on loan.
2. Machu Picchu was an astronomical observatory, and its sacred Intihuatana stone accurately indicates the two equinoxes. Twice a year, the sun sits directly over the stone creating no shadow.
1. Unfortunately, most cities built by the Inca civilization were destroyed by the Spanish conquest. Machu Picchu was in a hidden location—invisible from below—and not found, making it one of the most well-preserved Inca cities and an archeological gem.

Tour Reviews

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Comments

  • Matias F.
    16/03/2018

    Amazing places and experience, top notch guide and photos
    I will not describe the tour as it would take from the surprise. I will only say that Dan is an amazing guide, kind and caring in his approach. He takes you to great places and is always open to give a nice story or advice (he’s a professional photographer after all!).
    The tour was extremely well designed, far from the mainstream tourism and its crowded sites. Dan will take you to these nice hidden spots where you will take the most amazing pictures. He also has a very responsible approach to tourism, including the local communities without exploiting them.
    Thanks again Dan, it was a unique trip.

    Overall Tour organization Destination Value for Money
  • Bozena L
    18/02/2022

    Exceptional trip with an amazing guide!
    It was our first trip to Peru and South-America which thanks to our guide Dan was our best experience so far!
    Before our trip, Dan helped a lot creating the itinerary such that it would suit our needs. He answered all our questions and bought our Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu tickets on forehand.
    During our trip, he was an amazing guide who shared his passion for Peru with us. He has a great knowledge of the country and its culture which he showed by taking us to the most amazing places in Peru, also visiting several local families and communities.
    Thanks to Dan we saw the best and most beautiful places of Peru, which a ordinary tourist would surely miss! Many thanks for this amazing trip Dan!

    Overall Tour organization Destination Value for Money
  • Marco
    05/01/2023

    Great trip
    May 2022 • Solo
    Traveling with Dan was pleasant, eventful and rich of personal experiences: this is twice as much remarkable for me, because I always travel alone, and like to plan my trip by myself. Dan has rare ‘people-skill’, both with the ‘locals’ (he can struck a pleasant conversation with anybody, get precious local information, and get accepted in everybody’s home when necessary) and with clients (he always there when you need him, and he discretely disappears when it is the time for you to have the space of a ‘personal’ experience, either with people in the street or with the beauty of the environment). These are the most important qualities for a guide. The trip organisation was seamless, and his personal attention to my satisfaction and enjoyment was heartwarming. His network – drivers, hotels, restaurants.. – is excellent, and everybody loves him. He has special connections with Peruvian people living in remote villages, he introduced me to some of them, and shared with the locals moments of their life. Priceless, for me. The destinations were all well selected, a special experience for each of them. I came back with lots of beautiful photos, and desire to be back soon.

    Overall Tour organization Destination Value for Money

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