Itinerary
- Day 1
Cusco to Machu Picchu via Inca Trail
Your pickup happens around 4:30 AM from the Cusco hotel, so you'll want to be ready and have some coffee before heading out. The drive to Ollantaytambo takes a couple hours, then you board the train to Km 104 where the Inca Trail officially starts. Once you get there, you'll walk through Chachabamba ruins with your guide before heading into the cloud forest. The hike through that section runs about 2-3 hours and can be steep, but the scenery makes it worth it. By the time you reach Wiay Wayna, lunch is waiting with views of the river below. After eating, the terrain levels out considerably as you make your way toward the Sun Gate. That's where you get your first real view of Machu Picchu in the distance, which is pretty special. From there you descend into the ruins themselves, then catch a bus down to Aguas Calientes where you'll spend the night. Check-in happens later in the evening once you've settled in.
- Start point
- Hotel Cusco El Cuadro, Cusco, Cusco 08002, Peru (from your hotel, 04:00 - 04:10)
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at Wiay Wayna with views of Urubamba River and Sacred Valley), Dinner
Included Activities
- Hotel pickup and drive to Ollantaytambo train station
- Train journey to Km 104
- Pass through Inca Trail checkpoint
- Visit Chachabamba archaeological site
- Guided hike with flora and fauna commentary
- Visit Wiay Wayna archaeological site
- Lunch at Wiay Wayna
- Hike to Sun Gate (Inti Punku)
- Descent to Machu Picchu ruins
- Bus transfer from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes
- Hotel check-in at Aguas Calientes
Landmarks Chachabamba Wiay Wayna Sun Gate (Inti Punku) Machu Picchu Urubamba River 
- Day 2
Machu Picchu to Cusco
Start with an early breakfast at your hotel in Aguas Calientes, then head to the bus station to go up to Machu Picchu. Your guide takes you through a 2-hour walking tour covering the main sections and explaining the history. If you've already purchased the add-on ticket for Huayna Picchu Mountain, your climbing time starts at 10 AM and takes about 90 minutes round trip. Otherwise you'll keep exploring other areas of the site at your own pace. By midday you're back on the bus heading down to Aguas Calientes. From there it's the Expedition train departing for Ollantaytambo, then a private van for the drive back to Cusco. Your arrival time in Cusco depends on which train you booked, but plan on getting back sometime in the evening.
- End point
- Hotel Cusco El Cuadro, Cusco, Cusco 08002, Peru (We drop you at your hotel, 07:00 - 07:15)
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Early breakfast at hotel
- Bus transfer to Machu Picchu
- 2-hour guided walking tour of Machu Picchu
- Bus transfer from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes
- Expedition train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
- Private van transfer from Ollantaytambo to Cusco hotel
Optional Activities
- Climb Huayna Picchu Mountain (additional cost, begins at 10 AM)
- Continue exploring Machu Picchu (if not climbing mountain)
Landmarks Machu Picchu Huayna Picchu Mountain 
