Inca Trail To Machu Picchu 1 Day

Cusco – Ollantaytambo – KM104 – Wiñay Wayna – Sun Gate – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes – Cusco

The guide will pick you up at the hotel at 4 a.m. in Cusco for the journey via private transport to the train station in Ollantaytambo. (If you prefer to start in Ollantaytambo, we will pick you up at the hotel at 5:30 a.m.).

Before boarding the train in Ollantaytambo, the guide will provide you with a box lunch to carry. After a train ride of about an hour and 15 minutes, you will get off at the famous Km104, where your hike begins. After crossing the Urubamba River on a picturesque footbridge, you will show your passport at the checkpoint and visit the first nearby Inca site. The first hour and a half is a gentle hike upward, with stops at several viewpoints offering expansive views of the Urubamba River. You will also pass through various microclimates, including cloud forests, so be prepared for damp conditions or even rain at any time of the year. The next hour and a half involves a slightly steeper climb, leading to a beautiful waterfall as your reward at the end.

When you cross the bridge below the waterfall, take some time for photos as you gaze up at the spectacular Wiñay Wayna. These incredible Inca ruins have a fascinating history, and some parts are still hidden by dense jungle. Here, close to Machu Picchu, you will hike through lush subtropical jungle. The guide will share insights about the ruins and the incredible flora and fauna of the area, answering any questions you may have before a short 5-minute walk to your lunch spot.

Enjoy your hearty, gourmet lunch while admiring the tropical flowers around the campground. Be sure to notify us of any food allergies or dietary restrictions when you book!

After lunch, you will have a mostly flat walk to the Sun Gate. Although the one-hour walk involves gentle ups and downs, it ends with a set of steep steps carved directly into the bedrock by the Incas, known as the "Gringo Killers." Once you reach the stairs, you will know you’re almost at the Sun Gate, where you will have your first breathtaking view of Machu Picchu. Take your time to savor the moment and capture photos. There are also a couple of other important Inca sites between the Sun Gate and Machu Picchu, so make sure to go slowly, enjoy your time, and ask your guide questions about these historical places on the final stretch to Machu Picchu.

Once you arrive at Machu Picchu, you will have time to take more photos from the viewing platforms above the site, the "House of the Guardians," where you can capture the famous postcard pictures of Machu Picchu. You will arrive in the afternoon, as the archaeological area starts to empty of tourists, giving you the opportunity to take beautiful photos in the afternoon light with fewer people in your shots. The guide will provide a tour lasting about two hours, where you will see some of the most important parts of Machu Picchu and learn how it is divided into three sectors: agricultural, residential, and religious.

Take your time to enjoy this magical experience before taking the bus down to Aguas Calientes. In the evening at 6:20 p.m., you will take the return Expedition Train to Ollantaytambo and catch our private van to Cusco and your hotel. You will arrive around 10:00 p.m. If you upgrade to the Vistadome Train, you will depart Aguas Calientes at 6:10 p.m.

Meals: Picnic lunch
Difficulty: Moderate to difficult
Note: It is not possible to climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain due to time constraints.