Short Inca Trail

You will be picked up from your hotel in Cusco at around 4am (depending on the location of your accommodation) and taken to the train station in Ollantaytambo. If your hotel is in the Sacred Valley or close to Ollantaytambo, you will be picked up around 5:30am. (It is recommended that you stay the day before the start of the trek closer to the train station in Ollantaytambo; this will save you 1.5 hours travelling from Cusco).

From Cusco it's 1 hour and 30 minutes by bus to the train station in Ollantaytambo, where we will board the first trains and travel along the Urubamba River until we reach Km 104 - Chachabamba (in the cloud forest). We will go straight to the checkpoint in Chachabamba to start our short Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu. Please note that you will need your original passports to pass through the checkpoint.

Our first stop is the beautiful Inca site of Chachabamba, where our expert guide will introduce you to Inca history and Machu Picchu. After exploring the site, we will hike along an ancient Inca trail to Machu Picchu for approximately 7 hours.
The first section is a gradual climb for 4 hours until we reach Wiñaywayna (the place that never gets old), one of the most beautiful Inca sites of the classic Inca Trail. We will take some time to explore this stunning archaeological site while enjoying spectacular views of the Andes. A packed lunch and refreshments will be provided and once fed and energised we will continue our trek to the Sun Gate (Intipunku) to catch our first glimpse of the citadel of Machu Picchu - a truly unforgettable sight. We will arrive at the Sun Gate around 3pm or 4pm, when the crowds have left Machu Picchu and we will be able to enjoy this place with few people around.

From the Sun Gate we hike downhill for another hour to the Machu Picchu viewpoints, with breathtaking views. We arrive at Machu Picchu in the afternoon and have the unique opportunity to see the citadel almost empty. The perfect photo opportunity! We then travel by coach to Aguas Calientes, where we will have dinner in a local restaurant and spend the night in a 3-star hotel.

Dinner is served in the best restaurants in town and our hotel is also in an exclusive location. It has private bathroom, hot showers, WiFi and beautiful views.

On the last day of our adventure, we get up early to prepare for the highlight of the trek: a visit to Machu Picchu, the lost city of the Incas. Breakfast is served at the hotel and we board the first buses to Machu Picchu. Arriving as the sky clears, we visit the incredible views of the city. On a clear day we can see the spectacular sunrise over Machu Picchu.

Our guide will take you on a 2 to 3 hour comprehensive tour of the city before leaving us in Machu Picchu to explore on our own or take an extra hike to either Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Montaña (tickets must be booked well in advance). We will explore Machu Picchu's most remarkable sites with a private guide, visiting the temples, palaces and agricultural terraces and learning about the city's history.

Optional: After the Machu Picchu tour you can hike down the original Hiram Bingham trail to Aguas Calientes. On the way you will visit the Machu Picchu Museum and the Butterfly Station and enjoy fantastic views.

After the tour of Machu Picchu we take the bus back to Aguas Calientes for lunch. You will have time to explore the town, choose a restaurant of your choice and buy souvenirs in the local market. Later in the afternoon you will board the panoramic train and return to Cusco by bus. The team will meet you at the train and bring you safely back to our hotel. Arrival in Cusco is around 7:30 p.m.