1 Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. 04:00 – 04:30 AM | Hotel Pickup in Cusco – Transfer to Ollantaytambo Your adventure begins early in the morning with a hotel pickup in Cusco. We’ll drive through the Sacred Valley in a private tourist transport to the Ollantaytambo train station (approx. 2 hours).

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2. 06:10 AM | Scenic Train to Km 104 (Chachabamba) Board the tourist train (Expedition, Vistadome, or 360° depending on service booked) for a panoramic 1.5-hour journey along the Urubamba River. We’ll arrive at Km 104, the official starting point of the Inca Trail.

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3. 07:30 AM | Starting Point – Chachabamba Archaeological Site (2,100 m / 6,927 ft) After passing the checkpoint, we’ll begin the trek with a guided visit to Chachabamba, an Incan ceremonial and agricultural site that once supplied food to Machu Picchu. Your guide will explain its importance before we continue.

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4. 08:00 AM – 11:30 AM | Ascent to Wiñayhuayna (2,650 m / 8,747 ft) We’ll climb the original Inca stone steps for about 3 hours, surrounded by lush cloud forest full of orchids, bromeliads, exotic birds, and perhaps even the rare spectacled bear. Our destination is the stunning Wiñayhuayna, “Forever Young,” one of the most beautiful and well-preserved archaeological sites on the Inca Trail. Explore its terraces, temples, and ceremonial areas with your guide.

   30 min

5. 12:00 PM | Box Lunch in Nature Enjoy a nutritious box lunch in the middle of this unique environment while resting and taking in the surrounding scenery.

   1 hAdmission included

6. 01:00 PM – 02:00 PM | Trek to Inti Punku (Sun Gate – 2,730 m / 8,956 ft) We continue walking on the ancient stone path for about 1.5 hours until we reach the legendary Inti Punku (Sun Gate), the original entrance to Machu Picchu. From here, you’ll witness your first breathtaking panoramic view of Machu Picchu—a once-in-a-lifetime moment.

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7. 02:00 PM – 04:00 PM | Machu Picchu (2,400 m / 7,874 ft) Descending from the Sun Gate, we’ll officially enter Machu Picchu through the upper trail (circuit 1B). Here you can take your first photos of the citadel. If you booked a guided tour inside Machu Picchu, we’ll continue with one of the available circuits (2A, 2B, or 3B depending on availability). During this 2-hour guided tour, your guide will explain the history, architecture, and mysteries of the Inca civilization.

   3 h

8. 04:00 PM – 05:00 PM | Descent to Aguas Calientes Take the shuttle bus down to the town of Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo). Depending on your service, you may enjoy a dinner in a local restaurant before boarding your train.

   1 h

9. 06:00 PM – 08:00 PM | Train Back to Ollantaytambo Board your return train to Ollantaytambo. Relax and enjoy the scenic ride after an unforgettable day.

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10. 08:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Return to Cusco At Ollantaytambo, private tourist transport will be waiting to drive you back to Cusco. You’ll arrive at your hotel between 9:30 and 10:00 PM, completing your 1-day Inca Trail experience.

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Cancellation

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

Reviews

Ratings come from 6 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Know before you go

How it compares in Cusco

• Its from-price is 477% above the median of the 1358 day trips we list in Cusco.
• Its length is typical for the group.
• By number of reviews it ranks 470 of 1358.

About Cusco

Cusco, the old Inca capital high in the Peruvian Andes, blends massive stone walls with colonial churches and is the gateway to Machu Picchu.

The Plaza de Armas is the heart of the city, framed by the cathedral and the Jesuit church of La Compañía. Inca stonework survives throughout the centre, most famously at the Qorikancha, the sun temple on which the Spanish built a monastery, and in the twelve-angled stone on Hatun Rumiyoc street. San Blas, the artisans' quarter, climbs steeply with workshops and cafés.

Top-ranked sights in Cusco: Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo Ruins.

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