2-Day Inca Trail Express Trek to Machu Picchu from Cusco

Day 1:
Your adventure begins the night before you leave, with a mandatory trip briefing at the tour office in Cusco at 5pm. The next morning, get picked up at your Cusco hotel at 4am for a 90-minute drive to the Ollantaytambo train station.

After a train ride to "KM 104" of the Inca Trail, begin the trek with a 4-hour uphill hike. With your small group's private guide, arrive at the archaeological site of Wiñayhuayna and learn about the culture and history of the site. After an open-air lunch, continue hiking to the Inti Punku (Sun Gate) where you'll be rewarded with breathtaking views of the majestic Machu Picchu citadel. Head by bus to the town of Aguas Calientes to spend the night before returning to explore Machu Picchu the next day.

Day 2:
Have breakfast at your hotel before taking a tourist-class bus back up to Machu Picchu first thing in the morning for a guided tour with a professional, bilingual guide. Hear about the history and culture of Machu Picchu before exploring the citadel on your own, hiking up to Huayna Picchu, or returning to the Inti Punku.

Return to Aguas Calientes by tourist-class bus for lunch at your own expense. Visit the local marketplace, where you can shop until it's time to return to Ollantaytambo by train. The last leg of your journey is a bus from Ollantaytambo to Cusco. Get dropped off at Cusco's Plaza San Francisco before making your own way to a hotel or hostel of your choice.