Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

Itinerary

Day 1: Cusco – Ollantaytambo – Km. 104 – Chachabamba – Wiñaywayna – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes

Early pick up from your hotel for transfer to the train station in Ollantaytambo. We will jump off at KM 104, (20 minutes before Aguas Calientes town) to start our hike. After presenting passports and documents at the control point, we will start our hike, crossing the bridge over the Urubamba River and heading west.

We first visit the site of Chachabamba, a stone altar that is still used by the inhabitants of the area to worship the sun and the mountains. From here we continue south where a gradual climb up the mountain begins. Before entering a cloud forest, the trail goes west, continuing uphill to an open meadow.

After walking for about 3 hours, the path descends into an incredible forest with a beautiful waterfall, then we reach the archaeological site of Winaywayna. You will be impressed by the beauty of this place as well as the great engineering work developed by the Incas. After enjoying a snack at Winaywayna, we will continue through the cloud forest, full of bromeliads, orchids and ferns. As we trek the last part of the path we’ll pass many stone stairs and tambos (“resting places”).

Finally, we climb about 50 stairs to arrive at Inti Punku (“Gate of the Sun”). From this amazing view point, you will be able to observe this Wonder of the World – Machu Picchu. We descend for 45 minutes to reach a viewpoint from where we can watch the sunset. Finally we descend to the entrance

gate of Machu Picchu where we board the bus to take us down to the town of Aguas Calientes.

THINGS TO DO IN AGUAS CALIENTES: Thermal baths are a good option. (Entrance is 10 soles)

Day 2: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Ollantaytambo – Cusco

Today we will get up very early to take the bus up to the famous Lost City of the Incas. We will start with a comprehensive guided tour of approximately 2 hours through the areas of greatest importance and interest.

Later we will descend by bus back down to Aguas Calientes and board the train to Ollantaytambo. Here a bus awaits you to take you to your hotel in Cusco.

Machu Picchu was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1983. Machu Picchu is a Quechua word that means old mountain and in Inca times it was probably one of the main cities built in the process of conquering the jungle and rich lowlands.

The site is considered a religious and astronomical sanctuary of the Incas, and one of the most brilliant works of architecture and engineering of all time.

Machu Picchu was left abandoned after the arrival of the Spanish and quickly became covered with thick and dense vegetation for the next almost four centuries, until 1911 when the American Historian Hiram Bigham made the scientific rediscovery of the Lost City of the Incas.

Included

• Professional guide in English and Spanish, 2 guides for groups with more than 9 pax
• Entrance to the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu
• 01 Box lunch.
• Oxygen balloon
• First aid kit
• Transfer Cusco – Ollantaytambo – Cusco
• Executive Train (IR) or Expedition (PR) Ollantaytambo / Aguas Calientes / Ollantaytambo
• Descent Bus 1st Day
• Bus Up and Down 2nd day
• Hotel in Aguas Calientes (Double room)

No Included

• Breakfast and dinner first day
• Tips
• Lunch second day
• Extra suggested budget for meals not included: 50.00 USD

What you need to take

• Original Passport
• ISIC card (if you are a student and have booked in advance to qualify for the discount)
• Sleeping bag (can be hired from us).
• Walking sticks (can be hired from us).
• Walking boots.
• Waterproof jacket / rain poncho
• Warm jacket, hat and gloves
• T-shirts
• Comfortable Trousers
• Sun hat, sun glasses, sun block
• Repellent