Inca Trail Trip, Trek to Machu Picchu

Your exciting journey to Machu Picchu kicks off with a 4 a.m. pickup from your hotel. You'll then make your way to the train station, embarking on the 6:10 a.m. train from Ollantaytambo.

The train ride offers stunning views of the Urubamba River valley and the surrounding mountains. After about two hours, you'll arrive at Km 104, where your trek begins.

The first day of the trek is relatively easy, with a gradual ascent through farmland and forest. Along the way, you'll pass by several Inca ruins, including the Llaqtapatta and Winay Wayna ruins.

After about three hours of hiking, you'll reach the campsite, where you'll enjoy a delicious lunch prepared by the camp chefs. After lunch, you'll have time to relax and explore the campsite before continuing your trek.

In the afternoon, you'll continue hiking to the Sun Gate (Intipunku), where you'll get your first glimpse of Machu Picchu. The views from the Sun Gate are truly breathtaking, and it's the perfect place to take a photo to commemorate your achievement.

From the Sun Gate, it's a short descent to Machu Picchu itself. You'll arrive at the Machu Picchu ruins in the late afternoon, when most of the day trippers have left. This gives you plenty of time to explore the ruins at your own pace and take in the incredible atmosphere.

After exploring Machu Picchu, you'll take a bus down to the town of Aguas Calientes, where you'll check into your hotel. In the evening, you'll enjoy a delicious dinner at a local restaurant.

On the second day of your trek, you'll wake up early to catch one of the first buses to Machu Picchu. The bus ride takes about 20 minutes, and you'll arrive at Machu Picchu just in time to witness the breathtaking sunrise.

After watching the sunrise, you'll join your guide for a two-hour guided walking tour of Machu Picchu. During the tour, you'll learn about the history and culture of the Incas, and you'll see some of the most iconic landmarks of Machu Picchu, such as the Temple of the Sun, the Intihuatana (Sun Stone), and the Sacred Plaza.

After the tour, you'll have ample free time to explore Machu Picchu. If you have tickets to Huayna Picchu, you can take the opportunity to ascend the mountain. Huayna Picchu is a steep mountain with stunning views of Machu Picchu and the surrounding mountains. The round-trip hike takes about an hour and a half.

After exploring Machu Picchu, you can choose to take a bus or walk down to Aguas Calientes. The bus ride takes about 20 minutes, and the walk takes about an hour and a half.

If you walk down to Aguas Calientes, be sure to start early so that you have enough time to get back to the train station for your departure. The train ride to Ollantaytambo takes about two hours.

Upon arriving at the Ollantaytambo station, our team member will be on hand to welcome you and provide transportation back to Cusco.