Inca Trail Express - 1 Day

The 1-day Inca Trail offers the unique opportunity to walk along the original network of Inca trails to Machu Picchu in just one day, without camping. During approximately 7 hours of hiking, you will cover the final section of the traditional Inca Trail, visiting archaeological complexes such as Wiñay Wayna and passing through high-mountain and cloud forest landscapes. The route culminates with your arrival at Machu Picchu through the historic Sun Gate, experiencing the same panoramic view that Inca travelers had more than 500 years ago.

INCLUDES:

• Orientation briefing (prior to the departure date).
• Transfer to the Ollantaytambo train station.
• Train ticket from Ollantaytambo to Km 104.
• Professional bilingual guide (English – Spanish).
• Box lunch.
• Inca Trail entrance ticket (in Machu Picchu, entry is limited only up to the viewpoint).
• Bus ticket down from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes.
• Train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo.
• Transfer from the Ollantaytambo station to the city of Cusco.

NOT INCLUDED:

• Overnight stay in Aguas Calientes.
• Hotels in Cusco and Aguas Calientes.
• Services not mentioned.
• Entrance to Machu Picchu.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

• The total hiking time is approximately 7 hours. We recommend wearing trekking shoes.
• Bring a small backpack with a camera, hat, sunscreen, a warm jacket, sunglasses, insect repellent, and a bottle of water.
• The hike is at high altitude, so make sure you feel comfortable and properly acclimatized.
• Bring a waterproof jacket.
• Personal hygiene items.

Our Camino Inca Express tour starts early, and we will pick you up at around 3:30 a.m. to transfer you from your hotel in Cusco to the train station in the district of Ollantaytambo, where we will board the 5:00 a.m. train. The train ride will last approximately 90 minutes, and along the way you will be able to enjoy the Andean landscapes surrounding the Sacred Valley, as well as views of the Vilcanota River.

We will stop at KM 104 in Chachabamba, where we will cross the bridge and enter the Inca Trail network. At this point, after we have our tickets and passports checked at the control point, we will begin our trekking along the sacred trail. Hiking uphill, we will arrive at the first archaeological site. From here, we will enjoy a beautiful view of the archaeological center of Chachabamba and Choquesuysuy, a small archaeological complex that belongs to Machu Picchu and is hidden in the surrounding semi-tropical forest.

After visiting this archaeological site, we will begin an ascent, and along the way we will find orchids, mushrooms, and a variety of epiphytes (plants that grow on other plants, attached to the trunks and branches of trees and shrubs) and lithophytes (plants that grow on rocks), which thrive thanks to the inter-Andean climate and air vapors typical of the tropical forest. Continuing on, we will enjoy the Inca Trail hike, taking in the first panoramic view of Wiñaywayna from beautiful viewpoints. On the way, we will pass by the Phuyuwachi waterfall , a natural water formation that comes from the heights of Phuyupatamarka, where we will observe a variety of wild flora and native birds of the region. After approximately 3 hours of hiking, we will reach the well-preserved remains of Wiñaywayna, located at 2,650 m a.s.l. (8,694 ft) and 5 km southeast of Machu Picchu. It is an archaeological site with a ceremonial and productive complex, with an architectural layout belonging to the Inca culture and serving as a control center for access to Machu Picchu. The name Wiñaywayna comes from an orchid that is abundant in the area.

After this visit and a short rest, we will continue hiking until we arrive at around 2:00 p.m. at Intipunku, or the “Sun Gate”, the entrance gate to the citadel. After a congratulatory hug and the joy of having completed the Inca Trail route, we will take some time to rest, enjoy the beauty of the surroundings, and take in from this point the first view of Machu Picchu and everything that surrounds it.

Finally, we will cross the ridge that leads to our destination, descending and walking through the archaeological center that, in modern times, is a delight for every visitor. After an overview and orientation about the Machu Picchu citadel, we will take the tourist bus that will take us down to Aguas Calientes, from where we will board our train back to Cusco, concluding our one-day Camino Inca Express tour. This is a tour that offers a wide variety of experiences. Enjoy all the options that CuscoPeru.com has for you on this unforgettable journey from Cusco to the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.

HIKING LEVEL

The hiking level of the CAMINO INCA EXPRESS 1 DAY is classified as level 3 to 4:

• Level 1: Easy, on flat terrain, with no major difficulty.
• Level 2: Mixed, between flat terrain and gentle slopes.
• Level 3: Less flat terrain, with steeper slopes.
• Level 4: Terrain with steep and rugged slopes.

INCLUDES:

• Orientation briefing (prior to the departure date).
• Transfer to the Ollantaytambo train station.
• Train ticket from Ollantaytambo to Km 104.
• Professional bilingual guide (English – Spanish).
• Box lunch.
• Inca Trail entrance ticket (in Machu Picchu, entry is limited only up to the viewpoint).
• Bus ticket down from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes.
• Train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo.
• Transfer from the Ollantaytambo station to the city of Cusco.

NOT INCLUDED:

• Overnight stay in Aguas Calientes.
• Hotels in Cusco and Aguas Calientes.
• Services not mentioned.
• Entrance to Machu Picchu.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

• The total hiking time is approximately 7 hours. We recommend wearing trekking shoes.
• Bring a small backpack with a camera, hat, sunscreen, a warm jacket, sunglasses, insect repellent, and a bottle of water.
• The hike is at high altitude, so make sure you feel comfortable and properly acclimatized.
• Bring a waterproof jacket.
• Personal hygiene items.

IMPORTANT:

• TRAINS: Our service includes the EXPEDITION or VOYAGER Train for the round trip; you can upgrade to the VISTADOME Train category for an additional USD 40 per person, only for the return trip.
• HOTELS: You can choose packages based on the type of Hotel, you can also opt for Hotels that are not listed in our offer, before confirming you must inform us of the hotel you prefer and we will add it to the package.
• If you wish to upgrade to the VISTADOME OBSERVATORY Train, there is a fee of USD 60 per leg/segment.
• PRIVATE: Consult with one of our advisors if you want any of the services in private.

To start your reservation process please send us the following information:

• Name and surname:
• Passport No.:
• Nationality:
• Date of birth:
• Sex:
• Phone:
• It is very important your information about your hotel in the city of Cusco, so we can pick you up there at the beginning of the tour..

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