Begin your once-in-a-lifetime journey by rising early! At 4am, the guide will come to your Cusco hotel to pick you up. Our luxurious, private journey to Ollantaytambo allows you to relax or perhaps go to sleep. When you arrive at the train station, the guide will place a lunchbox inside your daypack. After the train leaves Ollantaytambo at 6:10, you will have a little more than an hour to take in the views and eat breakfast (not included).
At the well-known Km104, where the journey starts, get off the train! (6,560 feet/2,000 meters) above sea level. Once you’ve crossed the Urubamba River on a charming footbridge, present your passport at the security checkpoint and go to the first Inca site in the vicinity. There is a gradual ascent for the first 1.5 hours. Make stops at several viewpoints along the route to enjoy vast views of the Urubamba River. Travel through a variety of microclimates, such as cloud forests, so be prepared at any time of year for dampness or even rain. The trek gets progressively steeper for the next hour and a half, but at the finish, you’ll be rewarded with a stunning waterfall!.
Make sure to snap some pictures when you cross the bridge beneath the waterfall and find yourself looking up at the magnificent Wiñay Wayna! 2,600 meters or 8,500 feet above sea level Some of these incredible Inca ruins are still obscured by the thick vegetation, and they have an intriguing past. You are hiking through gorgeous sub-tropical vegetation this close to Machu Picchu. The tour will discuss the amazing local flora and animals in addition to the ruins.
Enjoy your leisurely, sumptuous meal while taking in the tropical floral displays around the campsite. Make sure to let us know when you book if you have any dietary restrictions or food allergies!.
After lunch, you have a largely easy trek to the Sun Gate. The hour-long hike ends with a steep flight of steps called the Gringo Killers that the Inca dug right into the bedrock. Encountering Machu Picchu for the first time will be an amazing sight as you round the corner from the Sun Gate. Take some time to capture the moment and enjoy it. The final hour of descent from the Sun Gate offers photo ops of Machu Picchu. Ask your guide about these historical locations on your approach to Machu Picchu. Between the Sun Gate and Machu Picchu, there are a few more significant Inca monuments.
Meals included: Box Lunch, dinner in a restaurant in Aguas Calientes
Distance: 12 kms/7.5 miles
Time: 6hrs approximately
3* Accommodations: Ferre Hotel Machu Picchu or similar
4* Accommodation: El Mapi or Tierra Viva Machu Picchu upgrade (superior room)
Difficulty: moderate
