Lima-Cusco-Machu Picchu Route: Executive Transport Guide 2026

The classic route:

Step 1: Lima (sea level, 154 m)
- Arrive at Jorge Chávez Airport (LIM)
- 1-2 days in Lima for gastronomy and culture
- Executive transfer to/from airport

Step 2: Flight to Cusco (3,400 m)
- 1h 20min flight from Lima
- Airlines: LATAM, Sky Airline, JetSMART, Viva Air
- Multiple daily flights, first departure ~5:30 AM

Step 3: Cusco (3,400 m)
- 1-2 days for acclimatization and city exploration
- Inca and colonial heritage (UNESCO World Heritage)

Step 4: Sacred Valley (2,800 m)
- Lower altitude — better for acclimatization than Cusco
- Ollantaytambo, Pisac, Urubamba, Moray, Maras salt mines
- Executive ground transfer from Cusco: 1-1.5 hours

Step 5: Train to Aguas Calientes (2,040 m)
- Departure from Ollantaytambo station
- 1h 30min scenic rail journey through the Urubamba gorge
- PeruRail or Inca Rail services

Step 6: Machu Picchu (2,430 m)
- 25-minute bus from Aguas Calientes to the citadel entrance
- Timed entry tickets required (book months ahead)
- Return same route: bus → train → Ollantaytambo → Cusco/airport

Flight options Lima (LIM) → Cusco (CUZ):
- LATAM Airlines: 8-10 daily flights, most reliable schedule
- Sky Airline: Budget option, 3-4 daily flights
- JetSMART: Low-cost carrier, growing Cusco service
- Flight time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Price range: $50-200 USD one way depending on class and advance booking

Best flight strategy:
- Morning flights (5:30-8:00 AM): Best weather for landing in Cusco. Afternoon flights are more prone to delay due to Andean weather.
- Seat selection: Left side of the plane (window) for stunning Andean mountain views on approach.
- Cusco airport operations: The airport closes at night and in heavy weather. Always have a backup plan for delays.

Cusco Airport (Alejandro Velasco Astete - CUZ):
- Located just 5 km from Cusco's Plaza de Armas (city center)
- Transfer to city center: 15-25 minutes
- Transfer to Sacred Valley (Urubamba): 1-1.5 hours
- Small airport with limited facilities — exit quickly and meet your driver

Transportes Ejecutivos coordination:
- Lima airport → flight → Cusco airport pickup seamlessly coordinated
- Flight monitoring on both ends
- Oxygen available in vehicles for altitude-sensitive passengers

Cusco is the ancient capital of the Inca Empire and a UNESCO World Heritage Site with one of the richest concentrations of colonial and pre-Columbian architecture in the Americas.

Altitude reality: 3,400 m (11,150 ft)
- Most visitors from sea-level cities will feel the altitude
- Symptoms: shortness of breath, headache, fatigue, mild nausea
- Acclimatization takes 24-48 hours
- Coca tea (mate de coca) is widely available and helps

Must-see in Cusco:
- Plaza de Armas: Central square flanked by the Cathedral and La Compañía church
- Sacsayhuamán: Massive Inca fortress above the city, stones weighing 100+ tons
- Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun): Most important Inca temple, now with Santo Domingo convent built on top
- San Pedro Market: Central market with fresh juices, local food, and artisan goods
- San Blas neighborhood: Artisan quarter with steep cobblestone streets and galleries
- Inca walls: Original Inca stone walls visible throughout the historic center, including the famous 12-angle stone

Executive transport in Cusco:
- Airport → hotel: 15-25 min
- City center → Sacsayhuamán: 10-15 min
- Cusco → Sacred Valley (Ollantaytambo): 1.5-2 hours
- Cusco → Chinchero: 30-40 min

The Sacred Valley of the Incas (Valle Sagrado) stretches along the Urubamba River between Cusco and Machu Picchu. At 2,800 m altitude, it is lower than Cusco and ideal for acclimatization.

Ollantaytambo:
- Stunning Inca fortress with agricultural terraces rising above the town
- Living Inca town — original street layout and water channels still functioning
- Train station for departures to Machu Picchu (Aguas Calientes)
- From Cusco: 1.5-2 hours by executive transfer

Pisac:
- Famous Inca archaeological complex on a mountaintop
- Pisac Market: One of Peru's best artisan markets (especially Sundays)
- From Cusco: 45 min - 1 hour

Urubamba:
- Valley town serving as a base for luxury Sacred Valley hotels
- From Cusco: 1-1.5 hours

Moray and Maras Salt Mines:
- Moray: Circular Inca agricultural terraces, possibly an experimental farming laboratory
- Maras: Pre-Inca salt evaporation ponds still producing salt today (3,000+ terraced pools)
- Combined circuit from Cusco or Urubamba: half-day excursion

Chinchero:
- Traditional Andean village with Inca ruins and colonial church
- Textile demonstrations with natural dyes and traditional weaving techniques
- Site of the future new Cusco international airport (under construction)
- From Cusco: 30-40 min

Getting to Machu Picchu is a multi-step process. No roads lead directly to the citadel.

Step 1: Train to Aguas Calientes
- Departure point: Ollantaytambo station (most common) or Poroy station (near Cusco, limited service)
- PeruRail options: Expedition (standard), Vistadome (panoramic windows), Hiram Bingham (ultra-luxury with brunch/dinner)
- Inca Rail options: The Voyager, The 360°, The First Class
- Journey time: 1h 30min from Ollantaytambo
- Price range: $60-500 USD round-trip depending on class
- Book 2-4 weeks ahead in peak season (May-October)

Step 2: Bus to Machu Picchu citadel
- From Aguas Calientes bus station to the entrance gate
- 25-minute ride up a winding mountain road
- Operated exclusively by Consettur
- Price: ~$24 USD round-trip
- First bus: 5:30 AM (for sunrise at the citadel)

Step 3: Machu Picchu entry
- Timed entry tickets required — 4 circuits available, each with a specific route
- Circuit 1: Classic Machu Picchu panorama (most popular)
- Huayna Picchu climb: Separate ticket, limited to 400 people/day, sells out months ahead
- Entry fee: ~$50-65 USD depending on circuit
- Maximum 4,500 visitors/day (strict enforcement since 2024)

Book everything in advance: Train tickets, bus tickets, and Machu Picchu entry permits should be purchased 1-3 months ahead in peak season.

Day 1: Arrive Lima
- Jorge Chávez Airport → Miraflores hotel (executive transfer, 30-50 min)
- Afternoon: Miraflores walk along the Malecón
- Evening: Dinner at Maido or Astrid & Gastón

Day 2: Lima → Cusco
- Early morning flight (6-7 AM recommended)
- Cusco airport → hotel (executive transfer, 15-25 min)
- Light afternoon: Coca tea, gentle exploration of Plaza de Armas
- Early dinner at MAP Café or Cicciolina
- Critical: Rest and hydrate. Do not exert yourself on day 1 in Cusco.

Day 3: Cusco city + Sacred Valley transfer
- Morning: Sacsayhuamán and Qorikancha visits
- Midday: San Pedro Market lunch
- Afternoon: Executive transfer to Sacred Valley hotel (Urubamba or Ollantaytambo, 1.5h)
- Evening: Settle into valley accommodation at lower altitude

Day 4: Sacred Valley + Machu Picchu
- Morning: Moray + Maras salt mines circuit (half-day)
- Afternoon: Train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (1.5h)
- Evening: Aguas Calientes overnight, dinner at Indio Feliz

Day 5: Machu Picchu + Return
- 5:30 AM first bus to citadel (sunrise experience)
- 3-4 hour guided visit to Machu Picchu
- Return bus to Aguas Calientes → train to Ollantaytambo
- Executive transfer Ollantaytambo → Cusco airport or hotel
- Evening flight back to Lima (or extend trip)

Lima:
- Belmond Miraflores Park: Oceanfront luxury, rooftop pool with Pacific views
- Country Club Lima Hotel (San Isidro): Historic 5-star, Lima's most prestigious address
- JW Marriott Lima: Larcomar location, cliffside ocean views

Cusco:
- Belmond Hotel Monasterio: Converted 16th-century monastery, oxygen-enriched rooms
- Palacio del Inka, Luxury Collection: Inca-era building on Plazoleta Santo Domingo
- JW Marriott El Convento Cusco: Converted convent in the historic center
- Inkaterra La Casona: 16th-century colonial manor, exclusive 11-suite boutique hotel

Sacred Valley:
- Explora Valle Sagrado: All-inclusive luxury with guided explorations
- Belmond Hotel Rio Sagrado: Riverside luxury between Urubamba and Ollantaytambo
- Sol y Luna Lodge & Spa: Bungalow-style luxury with Andean gardens
- Tambo del Inka, Luxury Collection: Direct access to a private train station to Machu Picchu

Aguas Calientes / Machu Picchu:
- Belmond Sanctuary Lodge: The ONLY hotel at the Machu Picchu entrance gate. Eliminates the early bus ride. Book months ahead.
- Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel: Cloud forest eco-lodge, 5 acres of gardens

Transportes Ejecutivos coordinates all inter-hotel transfers along the route.

Understanding altitude sickness (soroche):
Cusco sits at 3,400 m (11,150 ft) — higher than most visitors are accustomed to. The air has approximately 35% less oxygen than at sea level.

Common symptoms (mild):
- Headache, shortness of breath during exertion
- Fatigue, difficulty sleeping the first night
- Mild nausea, reduced appetite
- Onset: 6-24 hours after arrival

Prevention strategies:
- Spend 1-2 days in Lima first (sea level) before flying to Cusco
- Acclimatize in the Sacred Valley (2,800 m) before Cusco (3,400 m) — some itineraries go directly from the airport to the valley
- Hydrate aggressively: 3-4 liters of water per day
- Coca tea (mate de coca): Traditional remedy, widely available. Mild stimulant that helps with symptoms.
- Avoid alcohol for the first 24-48 hours
- Eat light meals — heavy food increases discomfort
- Move slowly — don't rush up stairs or hills on day 1

Medical options:
- Acetazolamide (Diamox): Prescription medication for altitude prevention. Consult your doctor before travel.
- Oxygen: Available in many hotels and in our executive vehicles
- Clinics: Cusco has altitude-specialized clinics for severe cases

Luxury hotels like Belmond Monasterio offer oxygen-enriched rooms — an excellent investment for altitude-sensitive travelers.