day 1
Inca trail Express
- Food: Box Lunch
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Total Distance: 12 km / 7.5 mi
- Estimated walking time: 6 to 7 hours
- Maximum altitude: 2,720 m. / 8,924 ft.
We will pick you up from the hotel between 3:30 to 4:00 AM depending on the location of your accommodation. Then, we will begin the trip to Ollantaytambo. Where, we will board the train to the starting point of the Inca trail at Km.104 or chachabamba. The trip lasts one hour and ten minutes.
After passing the checkpoint, we will begin the one-day Inca Trail tour to Machu Picchu. We will ascend gradually for three hours to Wiñay Wayna. It is an Inca archaeological site at an altitude of (2,650 meters above sea level).
From here, you will have a charming view of some archaeological sites that are part of the Classic Inca Trail. After enjoying these historical sites, we will walk to the camping area for lunch
Then, we will walk towards the Intipunku or Puerta del Sol. This is the highlight of the Inca Trail. You will have an exclusive view of Machu Picchu from this place. Then, we will descend for an hour to the citadel.
In Machu Picchu, you will have a two-hour guided tour. On this tour, you will visit sites such as the main square, the ceremonial center and other important places. Afterwards, you will have free time to explore and take photographs on your own.
Afterwards, we will take the charter bus from Machu Picchu to the town of Aguas Calientes. If you wish, we can guide you to one of the restaurants in Aguas Calientes for dinner.
After dinner, you will board a train back to Ollantaytambo. In Ollantaytambo, our bus will be waiting to bring you back to Cusco. We will drop you off at your hotel in Cusco between 10:30 and 11:30 pm, this will depend a lot on the train time chosen to return.
What is this day like? check our photos
WHAT INCLUDED?
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- Pre-trip information: One day before the start of the trip, you will have a meeting with the guide to receive detailed information. The meeting can be in a group at our office or at your hotel, and will be held at 6:00 p.m.
- Transportation: We will pick you up in a private vehicle from your hotel and take you to the Ollantaytambo train station, where you will take the train to Km 104.
- Train ticket: Includes train ticket from Ollantaytambo to Km 104.
- Experienced guide: You will have a professional licensed guide for the Inca Trail, who will explain the culture and environment along the route and keep you safe and comfortable during the hike.
- TICKETS TO MACHUPICCHU
- Entrance to Machu Picchu.
- Entrance to the Inca Trail.
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided, as well as snacks (with vegetarian, vegan or special options at no extra cost).
- Snacks: Snacks include local fruits, cookies, chocolates, candies, etc. that will be delivered at the beginning of each day in a cloth bag.
- Cloth bag for snacks: To avoid the use of plastic bags that pollute the environment, we will provide a cloth bag for your snacks.
- Medical kit: Our team will carry a first aid kit, which includes an emergency oxygen bottle.
- Train tickets: Train tickets from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo are included (Peru Rail “Expedition” service at 6:20 p.m., subject to availability).
- Transportation: Private transportation from Ollantaytambo train station to your hotel in Cusco is included (day 2).
- 24-hour customer service: A 24-hour telephone service is available to facilitate communication and preparation with the travel agency.
- Memorable experience: We will provide you with an unforgettable experience.
- Bus ticket Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes
NOT INCLUDED
- Lunch and dinner in Aguas Calientes.
- Day pack.
- Hygiene products: a small towel will be provided before each meal to wash your hands.
- Personal clothing and equipment.
- Travel insurance.
- Tips for our staff: keep in mind that our agency staff is well paid, so feel free to tip or not as you wish.
- Additional costs or delays beyond the control of the administration (landscape, bad weather, modification of the itinerary due to a security problem, illness, change in government policy, political instability/strike, etc.).
Additional Services
- Trekking poles ($15.00 USD)
- Budget lunch in Aguas Calientes ($15.00 USD)
- Lunch at Sanctuary Lodge ($45.00 USD)
- Extra porter for 14kg ($80.00 USD)
- Upgrade your train service to “Vistadome” for the return trip ($50.00 USD)
- Upgrade your train service to “Vistadome Observatory” for the return trip ($75.00 USD)
- Camping upon request ($50.00 USD)
- Assistance with hotel reservations (standard and luxury) throughout Peru
- *Note: “Machu Picchu mountain” refers to the peak/mountain opposite the Machu Picchu archaeological site.
Recommendations:
- Travel insurance: A highly important requirement to cover any unexpected events during travel, such as medical assistance, extended stay due to illness or accident, baggage loss, or forced trip cancellation due to protests or natural disasters.
PACKING LIST
- Original Passport
- Valid STUDENT CARD (if booked as a student)
- Immigration card (delivered on the plane upon entering Peru)
- Good backpack (the smaller, the better)
- Water storage: the water tank such as Camelbaks or bottles are good for this walk.
- Water for the beginning of your walk. We will stock you at lunch.
- Comfortable hiking boots (light with good soles)
- 1 wick / hiking shirt and hiking pants
- Nice shirt and pants for Machu Picchu day: remember that you will always treasure these photos, wear something you love
- 2 sets of underwear that include a pair of hiking socks
- Waterproof jacket / rain poncho
- Sun hat
- Bathing suits for hot springs (Optional on your own in Aguas Calientes)
- Sunscreen cream
- Insect repellent
- Personal medication
- Personal first aid kit
- Camera
- IPhone / iPod for music
- Flashlight with spare batteries
- Extra money for souvenirs, drinks and tips.
RECOMENDATIONS
- Book your Inca Trail Expedition as soon as possible since permits sell out quickly.
- Arrive at least 1 day before your Expedition as it will serve as a prior acclimatization to your hike.
- Remember that the city of Cusco is at an altitude of 3400 meters above sea level.
- Check your personal items that you will be taking on the trip.
- Visit us at our main office located in the Historic Center of the city of Cusco, 1 day before your hike at 7:00 pm, to receive an informative talk about the journey led by the Tour Guide.
- This will help you be much more informed, secure, and ready for your tour.
- Leave the luggage you won’t take on the Expedition for free at our main office storage.
- Don’t forget to carry your updated Personal Documents as they will be required by Peruvian authorities at the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu checkpoints.
WILL THE INCA TRAIL BE FOR ME?
- Definitely YES! The Inca Trail is one of those things that nobody should miss the opportunity to do, at least once in a lifetime; whether you’re a woman or a man, young or old, in good or bad physical condition… the Inca Trail is simply for EVERY
F.A.Qs
- How to know if it is Inca Trail Tour is for me? The 2-day Inca Trail tour to Machu Picchu is one of the original preserved roads of the Inca era where not everyone manages to buy the quota, it is made for every passenger that you can walk without having to do a lot of training just really want to walk, but that you can mobilize alone, However, you always recommend having a little time in Cusco to acclimatize yourself by the altitude of the city of Cusco before starting the Inca trail .
- What is the best time to do the Inca Trail tour? The climate in the Andean region is marked by two seasons: the best dry season (from April to October) and the rainy season (from November to March). Keep in mind that, despite being a rainy season, on the same day there may be rain and sun rising, cloudy skies and even a lot of sun.The Inca trail opens from the first day of March of each year until the end of January by day, tourists from all over the world come to visit Machu Picchu 365 days a year. The months with the highest influx of tourists are from April to September. Machu Picchu is in the jungle, so its climate is warm and humid. Temperatures vary between 8 º and 20 º C. It is advisable to wear clothes for cold and heat.
- IS THE INCA ROAD TOUR CLOSED IN FEBRUARY? Since it is a rainy season the road is closed for maintenance.
- HOW MANY DAYS BEFORE I NEED TO BE IN CUSCO TO ACLIMATE ME? It is very important to be well accustomed to the altitude before straining on a hike. so that you can acclimatize and avoid possible problems with altitude sickness while you are on the hike.We can help you organize day trips and other tours of Cusco for acclimatization: City tour Cusco – Half day tour / City Tour Matinal Tour Valley Sacred – Full day tour If you have already been in another area of Peru of high altitude before arriving in Cusco, we recommend that you have a full day in Cusco to rest, recover from your trip and enjoy the sights and sounds of Cusco before leaving for the walk.
- How is the reservation process: FIRST To make a reservation, send us an email reservassakura@hotmail.com to check availability and receive personalized reservation forms: All customers must complete a Passenger Details form at the time of booking. Go to the reservation This form is prepared with the following information (OF EACH PARTICIPANT in your group). We cannot buy any Salkantay Trek Classic permit or ticket 5 days without the following information: * Personal information (full name, exactly as in your passport): * Gender * Passport number * Date of birth (dd / mm / yyyy) * Nationality Once you make your reservation we will reserve as quickly as possible for the large number of Operators looking to get space for the whole year.SEGUNDO, Sakura Expedition will ask to complete a reservation form with all the details and then a deposit of $ 200 per person . Once we have all the deposits and details, we will reserve your permits. When the permits are in our hands, we will send you your confirmation invoice indicating that everything is 100% confirmed and will be guaranteed.
- BEFORE TRAVELING, WILL I RECEIVE TRAVEL INFORMATION? One day before the departure of your trip, you will receive detailed information with your Guide, this may be group or personal in your Hotel
- UPDATE OF PASSPORT NUMBERS The government will only allow us to change passport numbers if we have a copy of the new passport and the previous passport. If you no longer have your previous passport, any government identification document will be accepted, provided the name is the same. Also, make sure your passport does not expire after six months and less during the course of your trip.
- HOW TO GET TO CUSCO Most people will arrive in Cusco by air. Remember that Cusco airport is only for national trips. If you come directly from abroad through Lima, you must get your bags in Lima and check them again for your flight to Cusco. Four airlines fly back and forth between Lima and Cusco. That includes LATAM Airlines, AVIANCA Airlines, Sky airlines. All offer similar schedules, but we generally recommend LATAM or AVIANCA airlines. They tend to be the most formal when unexpected flight cancellations or delays occur.
- CAN I SPEND AN ADDITIONAL NIGHT IN AGUAS CALIENTES ? Of course, if you agree to take the same train from Aguas Calientes that is part of your original itinerary, which is usually at 18:20 at night, then there is no additional charge To return the train one day. If you need us to insure your hotel or another visit to Machu Picchu, this will have an additional cost. If you choose to spend another night in Aguas Calientes, be sure to inform the Sakura Expeditions office at least one month in advance, so that your train ticket is purchased for the correct day.
- DO YOU NEED WALK BOOTS? We always recommend hiking boots. Those who have ankle support are helpful, especially for the inexperienced hiker. Because you will be going down so many steps created by the Incas, now uneven and at different heights, the additional support helps protect the ankle.
- SHOULD I USE WALK STICKS? The canes are always useful for hikers, and are recommended for this hike. There are so many stairs that will go down and all made by the Incas. They vary in height and are not all straight. The use of canes can help relieve knee pressure by making this part of the path. In addition, they will help you climb the mountain too. For those who bring their own, make sure you have rubber tips, or the rangers will not allow you to use them. You can buy rubber tips in Cusco if you forget before leaving.
- THE PENDING BALANCE? It would be highly appreciated if you pay in cash at our office (US dollars or Peruvian soles) here in Cusco. We have many ATMs in the historic center to withdraw money.
- HOW MANY LITERS IS THE WALK BACKPACK RECOMMENDED? Generally, a backpack of 30 to 60 liters is enough.
- CAN I LEAVE MY LUGGAGE IN YOUR OFFICE? Of course! During the trip, your main luggage can be stored in our office or in your hotel, both free of charge.
- DO YOU TIP? Tipping is part of the tradition of any trek to Machu Picchu. While it is true we pay good salaries to our entire team, anything extra is always appreciated. Keep in mind that this is not mandatory and that you should never feel pressured by this.
- Is it better privately or in a group? We recommend that if you want to enjoy the 2-day Inca Trail tour more, do it privately with fewer people. You will have the opportunity to have more time and walk at your own pace without rushing, your guide will pay more attention. We also recommend it for older people or people who are not used to walking much.
Map Inca trail express full day
