Explore the historic Inca citadel of Machu Picchu and hike up the dizzying Huayna Picchu Mountain on this day trip from Cusco.
Tour Details
On the day of your tour, we'll pick you up from your hotel in Cusco between 4 and 4:30 am. The early start will be well worth it, as a day packed full of adventure and amazing sights awaits us!
We'll head to Ollantaytambo, where we'll catch a train heading to Aguas Calientes. This hour-and-a-half-long journey along the railway will take us through the spectacular landscapes of the Peruvian Andes, which we'll get to enjoy thanks to the large windows and glass ceiling of the train carriages.
At around 7.40 am, we'll reach Aguas Calientes and catch a bus from the town up to the entrance of Machu Picchu. Once inside the incredible Lost City of the Incas, we'll direct you to Huayna Picchu so you can hike up to its dizzying peak yourself. You'll have 4 hours to walk around the mountain and enjoy the unparalleled views from its 2,500 metres in height.
After the hike, we'll meet back up for a guided tour of the lower section of the archaeological site. Our 3-hour tour will delve deep into the fascinating history of this Inca citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Following the tour, we'll take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes, and you'll then have almost five hours of free time to explore the town at your leisure. You can eat at a local restaurant and explore the traditional handicrafts market!
It'll then be time to catch the train back to Ollantaytambo, after which we'll head to Cusco where you'll be dropped off at your hotel after this 19-hour tour.
Panoramic Train
This excursion from Cusco to Machu Picchu takes place on a train with tourist class (Expedition or Voyager train).
Hotel Pickup
Pickup will take place between 4 and 4:30 am from hotels in Cusco's historic centre. If your accommodation isn't located in the centre, we'll meet up at the entrance of the Cathedral, in the Plaza de Armas.
Stations & Duration
Trains to and from Cusco can run from either Poroy station (30 minutes from Cusco) or Ollantaytambo station (1 hour and 30 minutes from Cusco), depending on availability. During the rainy season (December to March) the Poroy station is closed, so we'll travel by bus to Ollantaytambo. We'll email you once your booking has been confirmed with the exact pickup time from your hotel and the station from which you'll take the train.
The duration of the transfers will vary depending on the station you board the train. The journey between Poroy and Aguas Calientes takes about 4 hours, and the journey between Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes takes 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Important
In case the activity is cancelled due to strikes or unfavourable weather conditions, we'll give you an alternative date for the tour. If it's not possible to reschedule, please note that you'll be refunded the full amount of the activity, with the exception of the entrance fee to Machu Picchu (S/ 200 (US$ 53.92) approx), which is non-cancellable.
For this activity, we'll offer the following route. Below, you can check the maps of the routes:
If you wish to visit the platform where the cover photo was taken, please note that there is an entrance fee of US$ 60 per person for Route 1. Additionally, hiring a guide is optional. If you choose to do so, the local provider will inform you about the payment process at the destination, as it will depend on the number of interested participants and their preferred languages.
Day Trip to Machu Picchu
Please note that tickets to Huayna Picchu Mountain sell out very quickly. If there is no availability on your desired date of travel, or you would simply prefer a more standard trip to Machu Picchu, please check out our Day Trip to Machu Picchu.
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