Overview
Embark on a thrilling full-day adventure to Machu Picchu. This tour takes you through breathtaking landscapes, from lush cloud forests to stunning mountain vistas. Begin your journey early in the morning with a scenic train ride to the starting point of the trail. As you hike, you’ll encounter ancient Inca archaeological sites, diverse flora, and fauna. After a challenging yet rewarding day of trekking, you’ll arrive at the iconic Machu Picchu. Spend time exploring the mystical ruins and absorbing the rich history of this UNESCO World Heritage site before returning to your starting point.
Highlights
Tour Type:
History, Culture
Recommended For:
Everyone, especially families with young children
Itinerary
We will pick you up at 3:00 am and drive for 1.5 hours to the village of Ollantaytambo, located in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. From there, we will take the train to Aguas Calientes, enjoying the beautiful scenery along the way. Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, we will board a shuttle bus to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, the "Lost City of the Incas." This magnificent site is renowned for its Inca architecture, featuring a complete town with various quarters, plazas, alleys, buildings, astronomical observatories, and terraces. Rediscovered on July 24, 1911, by the US explorer Hiram Bingham, Machu Picchu is a marvel of ancient engineering. During our guided tour, we will learn about the Inca civilization and the fascinating history of this sacred place. After the tour, you will have free time to explore Machu Picchu on your own. Later, we will return to Aguas Calientes for lunch at a local restaurant. At 2:55 pm, we will take the train back to Ollantaytambo, where our transfer staff will pick us up and take us back to our hotel in Cusco.
NOTE: It is not possible to visit Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain on this tour, as the visit to the citadel occurs during the second shift of Machu Picchu visits, which does not allow for mountain climbs.
INCLUSIONS
📦 What Is Included?
🚗 Transportation
- Transportation from Cusco to Ollantaytambo.
- Train ticket from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes.
- Machu Picchu shuttle bus (round trip).
- Train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo.
- Transportation from Ollantaytambo back to Cusco.
👥 Local Guides & Team
- Guided visit to Machu Picchu with a professional guide fluent in English/Spanish.
- All our trekking guides have a minimum of 3 years of guiding experience and are certified.
📝 Tickets & Briefing
- Machu Picchu entrance ticket is included.
- Briefing: You will have a meeting with your guide in our office to review all the details of your tour. The orientation will be held between 5:00-7:30 pm at our office in Cusco the day before departure.
❌ What Is Not Included?
🍴 Meals & Activities
- Meals are not included. You can visit a local restaurant in Aguas Calientes for lunch (not included).
- Entrance to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain: It is not possible to visit Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain on this tour, as the visit to the citadel occurs during the second shift of Machu Picchu visits, which does not allow for climbs to the mountains.
📝 Other
- Tips for your guide.
- National or international flights.
- Travel insurance.
- Other activities not mentioned in this itinerary.
FAQs
If you are a student, you may be eligible for a $20 USD discount. However, you must meet the Peruvian government requirements, as the discount is applied to the cost of your Machu Picchu ticket and is not something that we are able to negotiate.
To be able to receive the discount, please sent us after your booking a photo of both sides of your student card, and another photo of your passport. We can help you check if all the requirements are fulfilled. It must be an original student ID, given from the university in PVC material and include university information, personal student information, student picture, expiration date valid only for one year, and must coincide with the year that student visits Machu Picchu.
You also need to bring your original student card with you the day you visit Machu Picchu. You will also need to bring the card with you and verify it at the Machu Picchu checkpoint.
Please check if your student card includes the following requirements:
The best way to prepare yourself for this trekking experiencee is easy: spend at least 2 to 3 days at a high-altitude place like Cusco, so your body gets used to the high altitude. If you have already been to a high altitude destination before arriving to Cusco, we still recommend you spend at least one full day in Cusco to rest, recuperate from your trip, and enjoy the beautiful views of the city before your trek.
Additionally, taking good care of your body helps deal with the extra pressures that altitude creates. We recommend you to eat healthy food, drink lots of water and stay away from alcohol. Chewing coca leaves, drinking coca tea helps to alleviate any discomfort associated with the altitude.
Congratulations, adventure awaits you! We sent you a confirmation e-mail with more details about your trekking adventure. The day before your departuer at 5:00 pm, please stop by our office located in Portal Espinar Nro 163 to receive the informative briefing. Our professional guide will tell you everything about your trek and clarify last questions you may have.
Previous hiking experience is recommended but not required. Our guides are trained to support hikers of all fitness levels and experience, ensuring that no one is left behind. Most importantly, make sure to acclimate yourself to the altitude before your trek.
Yes, you can leave extra luggage in our office free of charge. Just let us know if you have any fragile or technological items that require special care, and we’ll ensure they are handled appropriately.
The minimum group size is 4 people and the maximum group size is 15 people. There will be an assistant guide for groups over 12 people.
Please feel free to review our Terms & Conditions and let us know if you have any questions or requests regarding our cancellation policy, which is available on our website.
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