Day 1: Cusco – Ollantaytambo – Aguas calientes

After picking you up from your hotel in Cusco (3,400 m / 11,154 ft), you’ll make your way to Ollantaytambo (2,800 m / 9,186 ft) train station by private bus, from where you’ll continue your journey to Machu Picchu by train.

This train journey is sure to be one of the biggest surprises you’ll encounter in Peru, the 32 km / 19.88 ml, and one and a half hours fly by, as the glass-roofed train cuts a swathe through the unforgettable landscapes of rural Peru. Green topped mountains, babbling brooks, and perhaps the occasional llama.

Then, once you arrive in Aguas Calientes (2,000 m / 6,551 ft) or Machu Picchu Pueblo, you’ll be taken to your hotel to check in, and you’ll have plenty of time to do activities before your Machu Picchu tour the next day.

One of the things that not many tourists know is the walk to the Waterfalls and gardens of Mandor (1950 m / 6,397 ft), which is a 3-hour walk from the town. This place offers the tranquility, peace, and rest that every traveler needs. This natural habitat features a wide variety of native plants and animals to appreciate.

In case you didn’t know, the name of Aguas Calientes can be translated from Spanish to “hot springs”. And indeed there are hot springs with healing qualities at 15 minutes walk from the Machu Picchu town.

If you walk through the town you will find a great variety of handmade products such as handicrafts, textiles, pottery, silverware, jewelry, alpaca, or vicuña clothing. All these products can be found in the handycraft market located next to the train station. 

There is also a museum, which is located about 30 minutes from the town and 10 minutes from the Ruins Bridge. In this sample of the museum are metal works from the time of the Inca Empire. You can also find other content on display that includes infographics, boards, maps, videos, ceramic collections, and sculptures, among others.

Organizing your trip this way helps break up the travel time to get there, and you can enjoy your Machu Picchu experience at a more relaxed pace.

• Meals included: lunch & dinner
• Mandor Waterfalls altitude: 1950 m / 6,397 ft
• Aguas Calientes altitude: 2,000 m / 6,551 ft

Day 2: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Ollantaytambo – Cusco

On your second day you get up very early to have breakfast at the hotel and to prepare for the highlight of your tour; visiting Machu Picchu (2,400 m / 7,874 ft), the Lost City of the Incas. You’ll go straight to the line to wait for the bus going up to Machu Picchu.

Arriving as the sky brightens, before the tour in Machu Picchu you’ll have the option to walk for an hour up to the Sun Gate (2,700 m / 8,858 ft), with incredible views of the city along the way. On a clear day you can watch the spectacular sun rise over Machu Picchu. This is truly an unforgettable sight. Another option would be heading west from Machu Picchu in a 30 minute walk to the Inca bridge along a narrow path. If you want to do more hiking you can climb Huayna Picchu mountain (2,720 m / 8,923 ft) (tickets must be booked as far in advance as possible). 

After the options, your guide will take you on a 2 hour comprehensive tour of the city before leaving you in Machu Picchu to explore on your own. Your guide will explain how to take the bus from Machu Picchu back to Aguas Calientes for lunch and then take the train to Ollantaytambo and bus back to Cusco. The Epic Peru Adventures team will meet you off the train station and return you safely to your hotel.

Note: Huayna Picchu Mountain tickets are subject to availability

• Meals included: breakfast & lunch
• Minimun altitude: 2,000 m / 6,561 ft
• Machu Picchu altitude: 2,400 m / 7,874 ft
• Huayna Picchu altitude: 2,720 m / 8,923 ft
• Cusco altitude: 3,400 m / 11,154 ft

Transportation and tickets

• Hotel pick up in Cusco
• Private transport to Ollantaytambo Train Station
• Tourist train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes
• Entrance fee ticket to Machu Picchu
• Round trip bus tickets Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu
• Tourist train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
• Private transport from Ollantaytambo to Cusco
• Hotel drop off in Cusco

Accommodation

• One night hotel accommodation in Aguas Calientes 3***

Team

• Pre-departure briefing
• Top-level local Tour Guide
• Personalized service
• Small group tour max 8 people
• Private walking tour in Machu Picchu
• Guaranteed departure

Food

• Lunch & dinner on first day
• Breakfast & lunch on second day

• Gratuities
• Thermal baths in Aguas Calientes
• Travel insurance
• International or local airfare
• Dinner in Cusco
• Hotel in Cusco