INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU

WELCOME TO CUSCO!

Once the capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco is now a vibrant cosmopolitan city set high in the Andes.

Upon arrival, our representative will welcome you and transfer you to your hotel, where you can rest and begin acclimating to Cusco’s elevation of approximately 11,150 ft (3,400 m).

In the afternoon, begin discovering Cusco with a visit to the impressive Qoricancha, the Temple of the Sun. Continue to Cusco Cathedral and its remarkable collection of Cusco School paintings, then finish at San Pedro Market, a colorful mix of aromas, flavors, and local products – including traditional chuta bread, which can be as large as a family-size pizza!

A day of spectacular landscapes, local flavors, and centuries of Inca and colonial history.

Continue to the Maras Salt Mines, an extraordinary open-air complex where salt is harvested from more than 4,000 small terraced pools using techniques passed down through generations.

Travel along the Vilcanota mountain range, with snowcapped peaks in the distance, and pass through the town of Maras, known for its colonial streets and carved doorways bearing the coats of arms of noble families and local leaders from the 17th and 18th centuries. Continue to a local Andean community for a closer look at village life.

Return to Cusco to rest and prepare for the adventure.

Enjoy a spectacular train journey alongside the Urubamba River, followed by an unforgettable hike through the Andes to Machu Picchu.       

Depart your hotel early and transfer to Ollantaytambo train station. Travel by train for approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes to Km 104, where the hike begins near the Vilcanota River. Visit Chachabamba, an Inca ceremonial site with an original stone altar associated with the worship of the sun and surrounding mountains. Continue gradually uphill through lush cloud forest to Wiñay Wayna. After lunch, hike through a landscape filled with bromeliads, orchids, and tree ferns before reaching the entrance to Machu Picchu. From here, take the bus down to Aguas Calientes.

Overnight in Machu Picchu.

Maximum elevation: 2,680 m / 8,792 ft

Minimum elevation: 2,100 m / 6,888 ft

Approximate distance: 7 km / 4.3 mi

Approximate hiking time: 6-7 hours

Travel by bus to Machu Picchu and discover the history of one of the New Seven Wonders of the World as you walk through the legendary Inca citadel.

Early in the morning, take the 25-minute bus ride to Machu Picchu. Explore the ancient pathways with your guide and learn about its history and the story of Hiram Bingham in 1911. Depending on the circuit included with your ticket, your visit may feature the Temple of the Sun, the Pachamama Sanctuary, the quarries, the Intihuatana, and other iconic areas.

In the evening, board the train back to Ollantaytambo, where a private vehicle will be waiting to return you to Cusco.

Overnight at your selected hotel in Cusco.

Until we meet again.

Early in the morning, transfer to the airport for your departure flight.

Thank you for visiting Peru!

END OF TOUR

THANK YOU FOR TRAVELING WITH US!