INCA TRAIL 2D/1N

Your Short Inca Trail Hike to Machu Picchu begins with an early morning transfer from your hotel in Cusco. We will be driving you through the Sacred Valley of the Incas to Ollantaytambo. Here we will be boarding the Aguas Calientes bound train. The 1.5 hours train ride to Km.104 which marks as the trailhead for Short Inca Trail, is a picturesque ride. The train snakes through highland villages and farmlands along the course of Urubamba river. Km 104 is the name given to the trail head after its distance when traveling from Cusco to Machu Picchu. We will be arriving there by 10:00 AM. Your Short Inca Trail permit along with the original passport will be verified here by the local authorities. We will begin the Short Inca Trail hike by crossing a small bridge with a short uphill hike to a lesser known yet a prominent Inca site, Chachabamba.
Chachabamba:
Chachabamba nestles at 2150 meters above sea level (7053 ft.). It is home to a stone altar which the Incas used to worship their supreme God, Inti (Sun) and Apus (Mountain Peaks). Using the sacred coca leaves they used to express their gratitude to mother nature and other entities. Locals here continue the practice following the footsteps of their ancestors. Our local expert will be demonstrating the process during our visit here.
Wiñay Wayna:
After touring Chachabamba, we will continue with the hike for roughly four hours up the hill to Wiñay Wayna. The archaeological site is the most beautiful one on the trail. Wiñay Wayna sits at 2650 meters (8694 ft) above sea level. The complex was built as an administrative center to Machu Picchu. It houses 20 urban areas, farming zones and ceremonial sites. The most prominent part of the complex is the 7 Window temple which was built in honor of the Rainbow. Our local expert will be giving you an immersive tour here. After the tour, we will be stopping at the campsite to unbox our lunch. The campsite is clean and well maintained. You can refill your water bottle here and also use the restrooms before we continue the 2 Day Inca Trail hike to our next stop, Intipunku (Sungate).
Intipunku:
It takes an hour to reach Intipunku from Wiñay Wayna. This section of the trek will take us through lush tropical jungle. From the Sungate, you will get the first view of Machu Picchu citadel snuggled by Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu mountains. Only those hiking the Inca Trail and Short Inca Trail enter the citadel through Sun gate. We will have a brief stop here so you can contemplate the view. Once you have had your fill of the sight of Machu Picchu, we will be exiting the citadel and taking a bus down to Aguas Calientes town where we will be accommodating you in a hotel for the night. Aguas Calientes, as the name suggests, is home to hot springs. You can spend the evening soaking in the natural thermal waters. It is the perfect way to relax your muscles after a full day tour. The town also has plenty of shops where you can possibly shop for souvenirs.

Early in the morning, we will be taking the touristic bus for a ride up the hill to Machu Picchu. Once again, your Machu Picchu tickets will be verified against your original passport. As we enter the citadel, you will witness the golden rays of the rising sun beaming on the walls of Machu Picchu. We will begin the tour with a brief introduction to Inca civilization. We will be visiting the main areas of the citadel like the main plaza, farming terraces and more. After the tour, if you have booked to climb Machu Picchu or Huayna Picchu mountain, our tour guide will be directing you to the respective entrance. Once you have enjoyed Machu Picchu, we will be taking the bus back down to Aguas Calientes. You will have some free time here so you can have lunch or explore the town. Later in the evening, we will be boarding the train back to Ollantaytambo train station. Our representative will meet you on arrival and will be transferring you back to your hotel in Cusco. We will be reaching by 10:00 PM.