CLASSIC INCA TRAIL 2 DAY TREK TO MACHUPICCHU – ITINERARY
DISTANCE: 12km – 8 mi
DURATION: 2 days
WHEN TO GO: Can be done year round.
ALTITUDE: 2200m to (2700m first day)
DIFFICULTY: Easy
TREK FEES: None although you have to pay to enter Machu Picchu on the final day of the trek
WHEN TO BOOK: AS FAR IN ADVANCE AS POSSIBLE, AS SOON AS YOU KNOW THE DATES OF YOUR INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS. SINCE THE NUMBER OF THE TREK PERMITS IS LIMITED TO 500 PEOPLE PER DAY (200 TOURIST PLUS 300 TREKKING STAFF). THE TREK PERMITS ARE ISSUED ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVED BASIS UP UNTIL ALL THE PERMITS HAVE BEEN SOLD OUT.
DAY 1. - Train ride from Cusco and hike from Km 104 to Wiñaywayna – Machupicchu – Aguas Calientes; 6 hours; 9 km; 6 mi.
We will pick you up at your hotel in Cusco at 5:40 a.m and take you to the San Pedro station. The train usually departs Cusco at 06:15 for the 4 hours train ride to the starting point of your trip at km 104 (104 km along the railway from Cusco to Aguas Calientes).
After registering at the km 104 Ranger stations, we will look around the first Inca Archaeological site Chachabamba, and them we will hike up for 3 hours to the second Inca ruins of Wiñaywayna through mixture cacti vegetation and cloud forest, the refreshing waterfall and fantastic views of Urubamba River. You will enjoy the sunset at the Sungate before entering in Machupicchu, where afterwards you will take the bus down to Aguas Calientes to spend the night in a hostel.
DAY 2. - Early breakfast at 5:30a.m to go up by bus to enjoy Machupicchu for the second time. This time you will see the sunrise at the classic postcard view point (Watchman house) and will later discover the mysteries surrounding Machupicchu. Your guide will take you on a 2 hour tour around this important Inca site and you will have an additional 4 hours free time to climb up to Huayna Picchu & explore the temple of the moon before heading down to Aguas calientes to board your train back to Cusco.
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