Inca Trail 2 days

You will be picked up at your hotel around 5.30am (depending on train time) and transferred to the Ollantaytambo train station. We travel by train, on a very picturesque route for 2 and a half hours until we reach kilometer 104 – the start of the trail for us. Shortly after crossing the bridge over the Rio Urubamba we visit the site of Chachabamba which is a lovely ruin with its water channels and fountains. (altitude 2050m) From here, we will hike upwards for about 8km (approximately 4 hours). The trail is well established, but there are still many stairs and the hike is mostly upwards! While this is one of hte easiest treks around the Cusco region, you still need to have a reasonable level of fitness to complete it. After our upwards climb, we arrive at the Inca site Wiñay Wayna (‘Forever Young’) (2680m/8792ft) This is an impressive complex made up of an agricultural center with numerous terraces, a religious sector and an urban sector. Many consider this the most impressive site on the whole Inca Trail. We will have our boxed lunch at Wiñay Wayna.

We will then continue for about one hour further onto ‘Inti Punku’ (The ‘Sun gate’) (2730m/8792ft) from where you will have your first dramatic and impressive view of Machu Picchu (2400m/7873ft). As you are arriving late in the day you may be lucky enough to enjoy the view by yourself! After getting those classic photos, we will walk down the last part of the trail towards the ancient city itself. Before entering Machu Picchu, we will take a side path off the trail to go down to Aguas Calientes, as we will visit Machu Picchu on day 2. We will take the bus down to Aguas Calientes where you will check into your accommodation, and a celebratory dinner before getting to bed early in preparation for the next day’s early start.

Total distance: 13 km (8,08 miles), Estimated walking time 6-7 hours, altitude gain 600m

Waking up early we’ll take the first bus back up to Machu Picchu to enter the site as it opens. We’ll have a 2 hour guided tour of the site during which you’ll learn about the Incas and visit all the most important areas of the citadel. After your tour you’ll have free time to explore the site by yourself and if you have permits to climb either Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain. In the afternoon you will take the train back to Ollantaytambo from where you will carry on by bus back to Cusco.