Cusco or Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu

Itinerary

Cusco/Ollantaytambo - Machu Picchu

After breakfast we'll collect you from your hotel in Cusco or Ollantaytambo, where you'll take the train to Aguas Calientes. The ride takes you through a valley and into the Urubamba River canyon, then into the cloud forest as you near the Machu Picchu sanctuary. Stopping at Aguas Calientes you'll take a 25-minute bus ride up to the Machu Picchu ruins. This 15th-century Inca citadel is located at 7,970 ft (2,430 m) and is a masterpiece of engineering that served as a sanctuary and retreat for the Incan Emperor Pachacutec and his royal court. Machu Picchu, is considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and is one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. Machu Picchu was abandoned 100 years after construction and remained largely hidden to the outside world until the early 20th century. If there's time, hike up to Machu Picchu Mountain for a bird's eye view of the citadel. Afterward, a tour guide will show you around the site and explain the different buildings and curious corners of the building complex. After a 2-3 hour tour, take the bus back to Aguas Calientes to connect to your train to Ollantaytambo and your connecting transfer to Cusco.