Day 1: Cusco – Sacred Valley: Pisac, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes

Our tour starts around 8.30 a.m. when we will pick you up from your hotel. Please note, we are able to collect you earlier if requested in advance. We’ll take a minivan over the mountains, to the valley floor, the Urubamba river and the village of Pisac. Here, we will visit a traditional market where you can buy some local souvenirs, and later we’ll drive up to Pisac’s ruin site for you to explore and enjoy the stunning views over the valley. For those who would prefer to spend more time in the market instead of visiting the ruins, just let your guide know so that he/she can organize a time and place to pick you up when the rest of the group returns from the ruin site. From Pisac, we’ll continue on to Urubamba which will be our lunch stop for the day. After lunch, a 30-minute drive takes us to Ollantaytambo, a town surrounded by sacred mountains. This is yet another place to encounter the magnificence of Inkan construction and the beauty of the local people in their traditional dress.

You will then be escorted to the train station to board the valley train to Aguas Calientes, which will take approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. A hotel representative will meet you at the train station in Aguas Calientes and help you settle in to your accommodation. Then there will be time to visit the hot springs today, if you would like to.

Day 2: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu Citadel – Cusco

After eating a very early breakfast at 05:00 a.m. at the hotel, we will board the first bus to Machu Picchu at approximately 05.30 a.m., arriving at the entrance to the citadel at 06.00 a.m., when the gates will open (please have your passport on hand). We will go as early as possible so as to avoid the crowds. We will receive a guided tour of Machu Picchu lasting 2-3 hours which will lead you through all the most important areas: look-out points, temples, housing, best spots, and all archaeological sites with the insights of very capable guides. Afterwards, you’ll have some free time to explore the citadel at your own pace and do any optional hikes e.g. walking up to the Sun Gate, down to the Inka bridge or climbing Huayna Picchu Mountain.
Level: easy. People of all ages are welcome.

Useful Information

• Maximum Altitude: 2,700m
• Minimum Altitude: 2,000m
• Distance Travelled: 6-8km
• Approximate Walking Time: 8-9 hours