Group service
Machu Picchu
Hike | Patrimonio
View 4 images
Inca Trail Trek 2 Days / 1 Night
The Inca Trail Trek 2 Days is one of the most searched experiences for travelers visiting Cusco, and while this tour is not a trekking route, it offers an excellent cultural introduction to the Inca world before or after that adventure. This full-day experience combines the most important archaeological sites of Cusco with the impressive Pisac Archaeological Complex in the Sacred Valley. Starting from the ancient capital of the Inca Empire, the tour is designed to showcase the richness of Inca history, architecture, and spirituality in a comfortable and well-organized itinerary.
From impressive stone constructions to sacred ceremonial centers, this journey allows you to explore the essence of the Andes in just one day, making it ideal for travelers who want a complete cultural overview of the region.
Show more +Duration
2 days – 1 night
Season
March to November
Difficulty
Medium
Altitude
2050m to 3250m
Include
Your reservation includes
Transportation, Tickets, and Guides:
- Transfer from Cusco to Ollantaytambo by vehicle
- Train ticket from Ollantaytambo to Km 104
- Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes bus ticket (first day)
- Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu round-trip bus ticket (second day)
- Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytambo tourist train ticket and vehicle to Cusco
- Entrance ticket to the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu
- Professional English-speaking guide For a bilingual Spanish-English guide, contact us.
Food and Accommodation:
- 1 dinner on the first day and 1 breakfast on the second day (vegetarian option available)
- 1 night accommodation in Aguas Calientes in a 3 or 4-star hotel
First Aid:
- Oxygen tank
- First-aid pharmacy for any emergency
Your booking does not include
- Breakfast, lunch on the first day and lunch on the second day in Aguas Calientes
- The included entrance ticket is only for Machu Picchu. Entrance to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain is not included and must be booked well in advance, as spaces are limited (only 400 people per day). It is not possible to purchase only the entrance to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain; it must always be purchased together with the Machu Picchu entrance ticket. If you wish to add entrance to one of these mountains, the additional cost is USD 70 per person.
- Walking steaks. If you wish, you can rent them at our agency
- Entrance to the hot springs of Aguas Calientes (20 soles/person)
- Tips for the staff.
Learn more
- Accessibility: from March to January (Inca Trail is closed in February). High season – March to January.
- Price: Contact us specifying the hike you are interested in.
- Group: Several types of services are possible: private and small group (maximum 8 people).
- Day 1: Cusco – Km 104 – Wiñayhuayna – Aguas Calientes
- Day 2: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco
Itinerary
Day 1: Cusco – Km 104 – Wiñayhuayna – Aguas Calientes
Cusco (3,250 m) – Km 104 – Wiñayhuayna (2,650 m) – Aguas Calientes (2,040 m)
12 km – 6 hours of walking
Around 4:30 am, hikers are picked up by the guide at their hotel. The trip begins by minibus and travels through the Sacred Valley of the Incas to the town of Ollantaytambo. There a train awaits for us that follows the course of the Vilcanota River and takes us to Km 104, the starting point of our walk.
The adventure begins! We set off to discover a first archaeological site: Chachabamba, located at an altitude of 2,270 m. It is a vast terraced agricultural area where products were stored before being transported to Machu Picchu. We continue our way up the mountainside and enjoy a magnificent view of the Urubamba River. Along this tour, we discover different species of wild orchids, fragrant flowers, hanging ferns, etc.
Along the way, you will find the Wañayhuayna site (2,650 m), a fabulous urban construction perched on a rocky outcrop, overlooking the Urubamba valley. Wañayhuayna in Quechua means “Always young”; It is also the name of a native variety of orchids. We have lunch in this fabulous place where we enjoy an extraordinary view.
Arrival at Inti Punku and Aguas Calientes
In the afternoon, we continue down the mountainside, through beautiful misty forests, towards the Inti Punku, “Sun Gate”. Machu Picchu is then offered to us in all its splendor.
Stimulated by the extraordinary pleasure we felt in front of the Inca city, we start the last part of the road that will allow us to admire the prestigious citadel from all angles. This is the perfect time and place to take photos and keep a lasting memory of the hike (from the upper terraces of the upper part of Machu Picchu). Next, we go to the main entrance of the enclosure. The actual visit will not take place until the next day. For the moment, we head to the town of Aguas Calientes at the foot of the sanctuary of Machu Picchu where we will settle in a hotel for the night. The whole group meets in the evening at a restaurant, the opportunity to plan with the guide, the visit of Machu Picchu for the next day.
Day 2: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco
Aguas Calientes (2,040 m) – Machu Picchu (2,430 m) – Cusco (3,250 m)
After breakfast, we take one of the first transfers to Machu Picchu, enjoy the dawn and the unforgettable discovery of the site. The same guide who accompanied the group all the way, leads the visit of Machu Picchu for 3 hours, this time at the bottom of the site (we don’t go back to the top today). Among all the wonders of the lower part of the site, we discovered the Main Square, the circular Tower, the Sacred Sundial, the Royal Apartments, and the Temple of the Three Windows. So many opportunities to learn more about the Inca way of life, their beliefs, their cults and their religious ceremonies.
It should be noted that the discovery of Machu Picchu is subject to visiting circuits, designed by the Ministry of Culture, which visitors must scrupulously respect and that do not allow them to return.
Lunch time
For lunch at the Machu Picchu site, there is only one expensive restaurant, while in Aguas Calientes you will find restaurants accessible to all budgets. A shuttle bus departs every 15 minutes from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes. In the afternoon, the return train takes you from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo. The journey takes 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Departure time may vary depending on the number of seats available at the time of booking. Then, the route from Ollantaytambo to Cusco is done in one of our vehicles that will drop you off at your place of accommodation in Cusco.
If you opt for the ascent to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (optional visit), here are some important recommendations:
Tickets for these climbs must be purchased in advance, at the same time as booking the tour (please note that the number of places are limited).
Additional information
Please note
Travel and health insurance
We strongly recommend that you have insurance for cancellation, interruption, lost luggage, delay, emergency medical evacuation, and medical care. Carry copies of insurance throughout your trip. Welcome to Peru cannot be held responsible for any accidents or loss of personal property attributable to trekkers.
Tips
For the guide and staff accompanying you, tips are always welcome.
What can I take with me?
- Passport: all participants must carry it with them
- Travel insurance certificate
- Backpack between 30 and 40 liters, with waterproof layer
- Walking shoes
- Socks
- Short-sleeved or long-sleeved shirts
- Rain poncho and hat. The temperature is very cold and it can rain. In this case, wet clothes don’t have time to dry. Therefore, it is necessary to bring a change of clothes.
- Waterproof jacket
- Long or short pants because the temperature varies a lot and very quickly
- Swimsuit and sandals for the Aguas Calientes showers and thermal baths
- Sunscreen and mosquito repellent lotion
- Disinfectant gel
- Cantinflora
- Toilet paper
- Personal medication. All hikers must declare if they have an illness
- Camera
- Front camera We recommend that you carry two sets of batteries
- Appetizers and cereal bars
- Money in soles.
Reservation
A non-refundable deposit must be made to confirm the booking. The deposit will be used as follows:
- Entrance to the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu
- Bus tickets from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes
- Round-trip train ticket Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytampbo
- Application fees.
For any booking, the financial advance must be accompanied by a copy of your passport, as well as all your personal details: full name, passport number, nationality, age, gender.
A purchased ticket cannot be resold. Entrance fees to archaeological sites, bus and train tickets are nominative and non-refundable.
Decreasing rate from 5 people, please contact us.
Payment methods: See our General Terms and Conditions of Sale.
Booking confirmation
The balance must be paid in dollars or soles (local currency). Full payment must be made no later than 2 days before the start of the trek. In case of non-payment of the balance within the specified time, Welcome to Peru reserves the right to cancel the reservation. The deposit previously paid and invested in the preparation of the trek is non-refundable. Once the balance is paid, no refund is possible because the final budget for the entire trek is definitely invested.
Important notes
It may turn out that the changes occur the day before or the day of departure, depending on:
- Bad weather
- Road conditions
- Strikes that may disrupt the organization of the walk or make it dangerous.
In these circumstances, Welcome to Peru offers you an alternative: either different dates or tours. But this choice is made within a limited framework: the date of the entrance tickets to Machu Picchu and that of the train tickets cannot be renegotiated with the different companies. Train schedules are also subject to change and depend on Peru Rail. They are confirmed after paying the full price of the trek.
All tourists must bring their personal crew.
Tourists are obliged to inform us of their state of health and must bring their own medication.
Price
Price varies by group size. Get a price quote or ask for a price now
Book now
Tour: Inca Trail Trek 2 days / 1 night
Group service
Tour guide
Hike, Bus & train
Hotel
Meals
Group service: Fixed departures, in a maximum group of 8 passengers.
Show more +
