Tour Location: Cusco, Peru, with historical highlights such as the Sacred Valley, the Inca Trail, the majestic Machu Picchu.
Tour Type: Enjoy for couple days the historic sanctuary of Machupicchu the section of the 2-day Inca Trail.
Total Hiking Distance: 11 KM / 6.8 miles
Suitable For: Passengers who enjoy hiking and are in reasonably good shape.
Difficulty: Moderately challenging hike.
Considerations: Inca Trail authorization is required. All entrance tickets are included.
Itinerary
Day 1 Short Inca Trail To Machu Picchu
This day will start early in the morning with a pickup from your accommodation in Cusco, at approximately 04:20 AM. Then, we will head to the train station to take the 06:10 AM train towards Aguas Calientes town. The train route follows the Urubamba River, offering spectacular views of near farming lands, snow-capped mountains, and the mighty Urubamba River. The train journey will last approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes and will take us directly to the beginning of the hike, commonly known as KM 104, located at 2,150 meters above sea level (7, 052 Ft).
Once at the trailhead, we will have time to get ready for the day’s hike. At this spot, you will meet your porters who will provide you a snacks and water during the hike. Make sure to bring your original passport, because this is the first check point along the Inca Trail. After that, you will visit the first Inca site, named Chachabamba, the first Inca control point to get in the Inca Trail, therefore you will have a brief guided tour to understand its importance. Also, we will take a moment for a group photo.
After the archaeological site, the hike will take us to a gentle uphill climb until it joins the Classic Inca Trail. Along the hike, you will appreciate wonderful views of Machu Picchu Mountain, Urubamba River, and other surrounding Inca sites. You will also pass by some waterfalls, a great opportunity to cool off if the weather is hot. The trail boasts some flat areas as well as some short uphill and downhill stretches. It also features sections with narrow steps, but they are not hazardous. After walking for about 3 hours, you will arrive at the most beautiful Inca site throughout the Inca Trail, Wiñay Wayna (Forever Young) at 2,650 masl (8, 692 Ft). Here, you will visit and appreciate the stunning sites, water fountains, shrines, and agricultural terraces. The backdrop of Wiñay Wayna will also impress you, dropping off a cliff, with beautiful mountains surrounding the area in perfect harmony.
From Wiñay Wayna, we will keep hiking for 10 more minutes to stop at the campsite of the same name to recharge your body energy and our porter will be happy to bring lunch. After a short nap, we will continue with the hike.
From this spot, the hike becomes easier, passing through a lush forest typical of the high jungle area, leading us to the Sun Gate, from where you will have an impressive and picturesque view of Machu Picchu. Here, you will have enough time to enjoy the beauty of the surrounding landmarks before continuing our descent to Machu Picchu and Aguas Calientes town. A great advantage of this hike is the time we arrive at Machu Picchu, owing to most other travelers will have gone home at those hours. This will leave the views of Machu Picchu almost empty.
From Machu Picchu, we will take the bus to Aguas Calientes and head to your hotel. After some rest, we will gather as a group and head to one of the best restaurants in Aguas Calientes. After dinner, we recommend going to bed early to make the most of the next day.
Included:
- Private guide
- Train expedition service
- Porter during the hike
- Entrance Tickets: Included
- Bus Machupicchu Aguas Calientes Town
- Accommodation: 3-star hotel
- Meals: Breakfast (at the hotel), lunch, and dinner
Not Included:
- Some expenses
- Tips
Día 2 Machu Picchu - Ollantaytambo - Cusc0
This is the most important day of your journey. To make the most of the day, we suggest that all our groups have an early breakfast to take one of the first buses towards the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu (starting from 5:30 AM). The hotel will store your luggage while you are at Machu Picchu. Thus, you only need to carry your personal backpack with all the essentials for your visit to Machu Picchu. The bus ride from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu will take approximately 30 minutes.
Once at Machu Picchu, your tour guide will introduce you to the beautiful Machu Picchu. where you will enjoy the sunrise and the enigmatic landscape around Machu Picchu. In addition, your tour guide will take you through the main sectors of the citadel for a total of 2.5 hours. During this guided tour, you will learn more about the history and culture of the Inca Empire. At the end of the tour, If you have arranged an additional hike, such as Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, your tour guide will show you the entrance gate to these hikes.
We recommend starting your return to Aguas Calientes at least 2 hours before your train’s departure from Machu Picchu. Your tour guide will inform you about the train schedule before your return. The train ride from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo will take approximately 2 hours. In Ollantaytambo, our staff will be awaiting for you at the station’s exit gate, ready to take you back to Cusco in a private vehicle. The return trip to Cusco will take about 2 hours, and the day’s service concludes at your hotel in Cusco.
OPTIONS
The Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain are additional hikes available once inside Machu Picchu. Any of the additional hikes can be done after your guided tour in Machu Picchu and must be arranged in advance. Both hikes are subject to availability and have an additional cost of USD $75 per person.
Included:
- Private Guide
- Bus tickets: round trip
- Meals: Breakfast (at the hotel)
- Entrance Tickets: Included
- Train back to Ollantaytambo
- Private transportation Ollantaytambo to Cusco
- Accommodation: 3-star hotel
Not Included:
- Lunch
- Tips
- Some expenses