DAY 1: CUSCO – WIÑAYWAYNA – MACHU PICCHU (11km)

We will pick you up from your hotel early in the morning and take you straight to the train station in Ollantaytambo, in the Sacred Valley of the Inkas. The journey from Cusco to Ollantaytambo will take about an hour and 30 minutes and if the weather is good along the way, you’ll see majestic, snow-capped peaks and farmland. From Ollantaytambo, we’ll board the train to KM 104 which will take approximately one hour.

Once at KM 104 (2,200 m/7,217 ft), we will begin our walk. First passing the bridge over the Urubamba river or Willkamayuc which translated from Quechua means Sacred River. Upon reaching the checkpoint, you will need to show your I.D. e.g. passport, certificate of foreign registration or national I.D card.

About a 15-minute walk away is the first archaeological center and the Choquesuysuy Chachabamba site that are hidden in the semi-tropical forest. After stopping here, we will begin the ascent up to Wiñaywayna (2,650 m/8,694 ft) which will take approximately 4 hours. Along the way, we will pass by waterfalls and different types of orchids whilst taking in beautiful views of the Sacred Valley below. At Wiñaywayna, you’ll see a perfect example of Inkan-style agriculture through the several circular terraces that lie along its slopes. The site has more than 20 buildings, including the Rainbow Temple and the Fertility Temple.  The name Wiñaywayna comes from a beautiful orchid that is abundant in the area and means Forever Young. We’ll stay here for around an hour and have lunch before continuing with the hike.

The second part of your tour consists of walking for 2 hours across an Andean plateau, climbing stone stairs and passing tombs, to reach our destination, Inti Punku or Puerta del Sol (2,720 m/8,923 ft). In the time of the Inkas, Inti Punku functioned as an access and control point to the citadel of Machu Picchu. If it is a clear day, you will have a stunning panoramic view of Machu Picchu and the surrounding valley. We will walk to the site of Machu Picchu (2,490 m/8,169 ft) and then take a one-hour walk to Aguas Calientes/Machu Picchu town (2,160 m/7,086 ft), where we will spend the night in a pension. If you are not too tired, you can visit the hot springs that are 15 minutes from the town, for 10 soles per person. Aguas Calientes also has a variety of bars and restaurants, as well as an ATM in case you need to withdraw money.

DAY 2: MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO

We will wake up very early, have breakfast, and board the first bus at 05:30 a.m., arriving at the entrance to Machu Picchu at 06:00 a.m., in time for sunrise. We will have a guided tour lasting around 2.5 hours where we’ll pass by some of the most important sites within Machu Picchu: the Royal Mausoleum, the 3-window Temple, the Main Temple, the Sacred Square, and the famous Inti Huatana. After the tour, you will have around 4 hours of free time to explore Machu Picchu at your own pace.

Afterwards, we’ll return to Aguas Calientes and take the train back to Cusco, arriving around 8:30 p.m.