We will pick you up early in the morning for our transfer to the Poroy train station (25 minutes outside of Cusco). We will board our train, which takes us through stunning landscapes leading to Machupicchu Historic Sanctuary. We will disembark at Km 104 and begin our walk by crossing the Vilcanota/Urubamba River, where we enter the Sacred Inca Trail. (Make sure you have your passport and ISIC card if you are a student.)

We will start climbing away from the river, first visiting the Inca ruins of Chachabamba and then entering a shaded forest. Emerging from the forest, we will continue with a long walk through open, sun-scorched grasslands before returning to the shade of the trees, where we will stop briefly near a beautiful waterfall. After another steep ascent, we will reach Wiñaywayna, a stunning ceremonial site divided into two sectors, built with finely-carved stones fitted together with great precision. Here, we will have time to rest, explore, and enjoy our box lunches.

Next, we will enter the cloud forest, where the Amazon jungle meets the Andes, passing through abundant vegetation that is home to hundreds of bird and orchid species. Making our way to the Sun Gate, where we will get our first views of Machupicchu. Here, the final stretch of the royal Inca highway will take us to the citadel itself, which was covered by forest for four centuries and is now open for us to admire.

From the sanctuary, we will take the bus to the town of Machupicchu, where we will have time to relax after the hike. We will spend the night at our hotel here.

Overnight in Machupicchu town (Aguas Calientes)
Meals: Box lunch

This morning, after breakfast, your guide will accompany you on an early bus to the ruins to witness the sunrise at Machupicchu. The first buses start leaving at 5:30 a.m. and take about 30 minutes to reach the site. The doors to Machupicchu open at 6 a.m. Here, you will have the chance to enjoy this magnificent place before the crowds arrive later in the morning.

Our professional guide will take you on a detailed tour of the main areas, recounting myths and legends passed down over the centuries and explaining some of the advanced building techniques used by the Incas. After your tour, you will have plenty of time (approximately 3 hours) to explore on your own—perhaps even doing one of the other treks available in the surrounding mountains.

At about 1:30 p.m., it will be time to head back down to the town by bus. There, you will find many restaurants offering lunch. At a convenient time, you will board the return train to Poroy or Wanchaq station. Then, we will transfer you back to your hotel in Cusco, arriving at approximately 8:30 p.m.

Meals: Breakfast
*Our preferred train departures are subject to availability.