2 Day Inca Trail Tour

DAY 1: 

CUSCO – CHACHABAMBA – WIÑAY WAYNA – MACHU PICCHU – AGUAS CALIENTES

We will pick you up from your Cusco hotel early in the morning (about 5 am) and then drive to the train station in Ollantaytambo where we will take the train to Kilometer (Km) 104, which takes about 3 hours. Km 104 is an unscheduled train stop, so you will probably feel a twinge of satisfaction that the train is stopping especially for you – and by knowing you are about to see things that no one else gets to see!

At Km 104 we will get off the train and pass the Inca Trail checkpoint, where we will see our first archaeological center called Chachabamba (2,170 m / 7,170 ft). These ruins were one of the last shelters that the Incas used before they reached Machu Picchu. This site was also used as a religious and administrative center and features several historic buildings.

From there we will gradually ascend for 2-3 hours, climbing Inca stone steps while our guide points out different flora and fauna along the trail. We will then pass a tall waterfall before arriving at the archaeological site called Wiñay Wayna at (2,650 m / 8,700 ft), which is named after an orchid and means “forever young” in Quechua. We will climb to the top of the ruins and enjoy lunch with an incredible view of Wiñay Wayna and the Sacred Valley. This large site sits on a mountainside and features experimental terraces that the Incas used to grow different crops and test which conditions were best. We will visit a sacred temple dedicated to the rainbow with seven windows. With any luck, we’ll see beautiful rainbows through those windows. This temple also features functioning water channels to delight you and cool your fingers.

Once we finish our tour here, we will continue our hike for about 1 ½ hours on a relatively flat section of the Classic Inca Trail with small ascents and descents along the way. At about 5 pm we will reach the Sun Gate (2,720 m / 8,920 ft) which is called Intipunku in Quechua. This is where we will have our first view of Machu Picchu. From there we will head down to the ruins to take the bus down to Aguas Calientes. Upon arrival to Aguas Calientes, you will check in to your hotel. The natural hot springs in town are an unbeatable way to spend a late afternoon/early evening if time is available before dinner. Dinner will be at Indio Feliz.

DAY 2: 

AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO

You will have breakfast at your hotel and then we will take a very early bus (5:30 am) along the winding road to Machu Picchu to see the sunrise. Once there you will be given a 2 hour walking tour of the site. Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes you will board the expedition train to Ollantaytambo. From Ollantaytambo you will travel by private van to Cusco and we will drop you off at your hotel. Arrival time in Cusco depends on the time of your train ticket.