Main Info
Overview and Highlights
Machu Picchu, an Inca citadel located in the Andes Mountains of Peru, is one of the world’s most well-known sacred places. This is a great way to see a little bit of the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu for those who are short of time. The llaqta of Machupicchu represents a work of art, architecture and engineering in perfect harmony with nature and is the most important legacy of the Inka civilization to humanity. It was abandoned during the second half of the 16th century; however, it was never lost since it was visited and inhabited occasionally. There are colonial documents that refer to the Machupicchu llaqta as the “Seat of the Incas” or the “Ancient Town of the Inka named Guaynapicchu”.
What is included
- Transfer as required previously.
- Trains to/from Machu Picchu.
- Entry fee to Machu Picchu (If you wish to climb Huayna Picchu its $80 extra, please advise at booking).
- Bus up and down to Machu Picchu.
- Celebratory meal on night before Machu Picchu visit.
- Box lunch.
- English/Spanish speaking guide service for 2.5 hour guided tour of Machu picchu.
- 1 night accommodation in Aguas Calientes in a basic hotel. This will be a nice, clean and safe hostel with breakfast included and private bathroom. If you wish to upgrade from this hotel, please check out the options listed on our Aguas Calientes accommodation page.
What is not included
- Breakfast on the first morning.
- Dinner on the last night.
- Entrance to the thermal springs.
- Huayna Picchu Entry
- Tips for the guide.
- Extra activities.
- Airfares.
What to bring and advices
- It is really advisable and important that you arrive to Cusco at least 2 days prior the trek, in order to acclimatize to the altitude. Just in case, you can take personal medication, you will find drugstores there are many around the main street Av El Sol or near to the main square of Cusco.
- Please make sure to inform us about your health/food/physical restrictions in advance so we can prepare them for you.
- In case you need to pay the remaining balance, it is advisable to take some cash. You can get some money from the ATM machine that are located in the centre of the City of Cusco.
- Be always ready for rain and cold, take some rain poncho water proof clothes and warm clothes. Proper hiking boots.
- Insect repellent, some mosquitos are really annoyed specially at lower altitude.
- Original Passport is very important to enter to Machupicchu.
Itinerary
In this option you depart Cusco at 8am and travel to Chincheros for a quick look around. From here, your private transport takes you to Ollantaytambo where your guide will give you a tour of these interesting ruins before giving you some free time to do some shopping or wander the streets of this unique village. You need to be at the Ollantaytambo train Station by around 1pm for Expedition train, or 3pm. Lunch is not included, but we highly recommend the hearty organic food and social projects of Hearts Cafe.
Note: You need to buy a Boleto Turistico for $55 to visit these sites, not included in the
package.
After a 1.5 hour train trip through the magnificent Vilcanota canyon, you arrive in Aguas Calientes and are assisted to check in at your hotel. You may like to indulge in some souvenir shopping or try out the Hot Springs that Aguas Calientes is named for! You will have dinner with your guide and group, before getting to bed early as you will be up befor dawn.
• Meals: Lunch.
• Night: Basic hotel at Aguas Calientes.
You will be up before dawn to take one of the first buses up to Machu Picchu, beating the crowds and having the opportunity to see this World Heritage site in the early morning light. You will have a 3 hour guided tour of the site and can climb Huayna Picchu in order to get that famous shot of Machu Picchu. (Permits need to be organised at the time of booking) Spend time exploring this amazing site, before taking the bus back down to Aguas Calientes and returning to Cusco via train and bus. This tour is highly recommended for those that want to experience Machu Picchu at dawn, and would like to spend more time at the site.
Note: Should you want to do a full Sacred Valley tour on day 1, or one of our unique day
hikes then you can do this, but need to take the 7pm train from Ollantaytambo for Expedition services, which means that you arrive in Aguas Calientes near 9pm, which is late to have dinner and an early start the next day. the surcharge for the full day service is $35 per person plus purchase of entry fees. Aguas Calientes upgrade package (optional) This is an upgrade package for treks that
already include a nights stay in a hotel in Aguas Calientes, but you would like to upgrade the standard of hotel, meals and train service. This price doesn’t change depending on the number of people in the group.
** For Prices and detailed description please refer to the Aguas Calientes Upgrades page
** The difference between the Standard option, and the Comfort Plus option, is the standard of the hotel. Standard Option includes - a night 3 star hotel, like Terraza de Luna, Hatun Inti Inn. These
are a nice hotels, with a little more character tha the average Aguas Calientes Hotel - well decorated, and clean. Comfort Plus Option includes - a night in higher price range 3 star hotel, like El Mapi or
Taypikala. Both are new hotels with careful attention to detail. Both packages include the same meals and trains. Dinner at one of Aguas Calientes “best” restaurants, like Indio Feliz or Tree House restaurant. Buffet lunch at Tinkuy Restaurant, located in the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge. With limited eating choices at Machu Picchu hunger tends to send clients to Aguas Calientes; by including the buffet lunch we find that clients can visit Machu Picchu early, then go to the buffet to try lots of different Peruvian (and Western) dishes, and then rest and go back for a second look at Machu Picchu. Return in Expedition train, which gives you the opportunity for a more varied timetable and to return in a nicer train, with big windows in the roof.
• Meals: Not included.
• Night: Not included.
