DAY 1

Cusco/Ollantaytambo – KM104 – Aguas Calientes

The 2 day Inca Trail begins at KM104, accessible by train. 

Note: We recommend staying in Ollantaytambo the night before the tour so that you can catch a 06:00 train to KM104. The Cusco train to KM104 leaves around 03:30 and involves an earlier wake-up.

Our team will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the station. The train trip from Ollantaytambo to KM104 is spectacular, with phenomenal views of snow-capped mountains and the river we follow, the Urubamba. We pass farmer's fields and small villages as we descend the Sacred Valley. The flora slowly transforms from verdant pastures to lush jungle, overflowing with orchids and ferns. 

We disembark after a beautiful two-hour journey and notice the warmer air temperature at these lower climes. You can feel the warm breath of Peru’s Amazon rainforest on your skin. This fertile zone produces a vast quantity of plants like yucca and sweet potato.

Our team awaits you; you need only enjoy a delicious breakfast before we start our hike. First, we must pass the Inca Trail checkpoint, where passports and permits are verified before starting our trek. We take care of all the necessary paperwork at the time of booking.

Chachabamba ruins

We encounter the Inca ruins of Chachabamba almost immediately upon crossing the Urubamba river. The Chachabamba archeological site, discovered in 1940, is believed to have religious importance and one of the gatehouses that protected Machu Picchu.

The ruins, situated at 2,150m / 7,054ft, feature ceremonial water baths, a natural rock altar, and a small plaza. 

Hiking to Wiñay Wayna

The short Inca Trail hike begins now, as we set off for Wiñay Wayna (2,650m / 8,695ft), which means ‘Forever Young.’ It’s an uphill climb with some flat parts, and our efforts are sumptuously rewarded on the 3-4 hour route. 

Beautiful orchids, waterfalls, and lovely views of the Sacred Valley abound as we rise up the mountainside. We’ll also be able to see Machu Picchu mountain, but not the main ruins. 

Wiñay Wayna

Wiñay Wayna, Forever Young in Quechua, is one of Peru’s most picturesque Inca archaeological sites, built into a hillside above the Urubamba river. 

Agricultural terraces abound, but it is its Temple of the Rainbow, fountains, and stonework that sets it apart.  Sometimes mist clings to these ruins in the cloud forest, adding to their mystical charm. We hope to have Wiñay Wayna to ourselves as we enjoy lunch with unmatched views.  

Hiking to the Sun Gate, Inti Punku

Bellies full, a gentle 3-mile (4.7km) trail leads us towards Machu Picchu. 

Your first view of Machu Picchu is the most special, which is why we head to the famous Sun Gate, or Inti Punku (2,745m / 9,005ft). As we approach the gate, there is no suggestion of the view that awaits.

Cross through the Inti Punku, and on the other side, the archaeological wonder that is Machu Picchu spreads out beneath your gaze. What was once a fortress to monitor those who entered Machu Picchu now offers its finest view of the ruins, some 300m/985ft below.

The Incas, of course, built more into the Sun Gate than just a watchpoint for people approaching from Cusco. On a ridge above Machu Picchu, its south-easterly location means the sun passes through the gate each summer solstice.

We avoid the early morning crowds by arriving in the afternoon, allowing you time to gaze on Machu Picchu and get the perfect picture. Satisfied, we descend towards the ruins but then fork right. We’ll then catch a bus at the Machu Picchu entrance down to Aguas Calientes and our hotel.

Dinner is included at a local organic restaurant, followed by a refreshing sleep before tomorrow's extensive tour. 

Distance: 6.3 miles / 10 km

Elevation: 2,150m-2,650m-2,750m-2,040m in Aguas Calientes.

(7,054ft-8,695ft-9,005ft-6,692ft in Aguas Calientes).

Hiking time: 4-5 hours

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

DAY 2

Machu Picchu — Ollantaytambo/Cusco

Today we explore the Lost City of the Incas — Machu Picchu.

It’s an early start because we want to enjoy sunrise at Machu Picchu. We wake up at 05:30 and have breakfast at 06:00. We’ll board a bus for the 20-minute bus ride to the Machu Picchu ruins entrance, passports in hand for the checkpoint.

Your guide will take you on a two-and-a-half-hour tour around one of the world's most important temples. Have your camera ready.

Highlights include:

• Intihuatana (Sun Clock): Beautiful sundial carved into the rock.

• The Temple of the Sun: Enormous rock and most sacred of all Machu Picchu’s temples.

• Temple of the Condor: A natural rock formation sculpted into a magnificent flying condor image.

• Temple of the Three Windows: A temple in Machu Picchu’s Sacred Plaza.

Huayna Picchu

You need to buy a permit (numbers limited) to climb Huayna Picchu, and it does sell out a long way in advance. Please ask us for more information.

It is well worth the entry fee. It’s an energetic 1-2 hour walk to the top with steep staircases and steel cables to help at points. In wet weather, it can be slippery. Once you make the top, you have a new and wonderful perspective over Machu Picchu. Huayna Picchu also offers access to the Temple of the Moon, one of the three main temples at Machu Picchu.

The peak of Huayna Picchu sits at 2,693m/8,835ft, around 260m/850ft higher than Machu Picchu.

Huayna Picchu is not recommended for people with vertigo or fear of heights. There are some steep stairs and vertiginous areas.

Machu Picchu Mountain

Like Huayna Picchu, you need a pre-bought permit for Machu Picchu Mountain. It doesn’t sell out as fast, but it is still recommended to buy the ticket as soon as possible.

The Machu Picchu Mountain trek is considered to be a moderate to challenging hike. You follow an original stone Inca Trail up to its peak, at 3,082m/10,111ft, which offers breathtaking views of the ruins and the valleys, and is 652m/2,139ft about Machu Picchu.

We recommend around 90 minutes to climb up and an hour to descend. During the wet season, the trail can become more slippery. Again, this is not suitable for people with a fear of heights - in places, the track is very steep and often follows the mountain edge.

Return to Ollantaytambo/Cusco

We return to Aguas Calientes by bus and, if you have time, you may visit the town’s hot springs. It’s well worth paying the entry fee for an hour or two to soak in the warm waters.

Don’t forget to read our FAQs, covering altitude, money, COVID, and more.