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Trails and valleys (2 day Inca trek)Route: Cuzco - Machu Picchu - Sacred Valley - CuzcoMachu Picchu, the lost city of the Incas hidden away high in the Andes, is an absolute high point to any Peru trip. Ardent trekkers will follow the four-day 33km Inca Trail Trek up through the Andes to the ruins but, there’s also a shorter, 2 day Inca Trail hike alternative. You’ll skip the highest passes, only covering the less strenuous part of the Trail and still getting that real Andes trekking experience. You can spend the other two days of the Inca Trail hike exploring the Sacred Valley of the Incas at your own pace. The villages in the valley have a very relaxed atmosphere and the temperatures are very mild. There’s no set itinerary for your two days in the Sacred Valley on this Peru trip, so you decide what you want to see and do, but we've included a couple of suggestions to help you on your way. This 2 day Inca Trail hike is one of our favourites and it's very popular with travellers looking for a shorter, or less intense alternative to the Inca Trail. If you want to visit the Valley and Machu Picchu without any trekking, take a look at our Machu Picchu by train tour or Sacred Valley tour. All our suggested Peru holidays involve a trip to Machu Picchu in some format so take a look if you are looking for some inspiration of where to go before or after. |
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4 days / 3 nights Departure daily on request. Trail is closed in February. |
Accommodation |
3 nights in double room with shower/toilet, breakfast included (browse our photos here). |
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Price |
£397 per person - comfort level 3 £440 per person - comfort level 4 Both based on 2 people sharing |
Includes |
Transport, excursion Inca Trail, English-speaking guide, entrance fee Machu Picchu, lunch on Day 1 |
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Transport |
All transport by minibus, scheduled bus and train from hotel in Cuzco to Ollantaytambo. |
Excludes |
Transport from Ollantaytambo back to Cuzco. |
Day 1: Cuzco - Winay WaynaOn day one of your Inca Trail hike, you'll leave the rest of your bags at the hotel reception in the morning. You’ll be given your lunch box during the transfer so leave some room in your bag for it. From the hotel you’ll be transferred to Poroy train station where you’ll catch the 7.30am train. The train station in Cuzco is no longer in operation so Poroy is the nearest, just 15 minutes from Cuzco centre. The train goes straight up into the mountains at a snail’s pace and, after 3 hours, you’ll arrive at post 106, the starting point of this two-day ‘Camino Real’ trail. Tell the train driver where you want to get off because there’s no station here so it’s not an official stop; you literally jump off the train onto the tracks. Your Inca Trail hike guide will be waiting for you by the bridge across the river. |
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A quick briefing by your guide and your Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu is about to begin. Setting off at 2300m altitude, you’ll cross a footbridge across the Urubamba river. It’s an easy start, even for novice trekkers. For the first couple of hours, you’ll follow the endless steps of the former Inca trading route from Cuzco to Machu Picchu, passing several small ruins that were once resting points on the route. Around 1pm you’ll arrive at Winay Wayna, an ancient Inca city in the middle of the Inca terraced fields. This is your lunch stop for the day, so take off your backpack and enjoy a hard-earned rest. Munching on your packed lunch and looking out across the Andes, you realise why the Inca city remained hidden until it was discovered by accident in 1911. Surrounded by the towering mountains and endless green valleys, you feel rather small by comparison. By all means, snatch a quiet moment on your Inca Trail hike to soak up the warm sunshine and take in the awe-inspiring views. |
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After lunch you'll continue this Peru trip as your guide shows you around the ruins of Winay Wayna, before continuing on the next leg of your 2 day Inca trek (about 4 hours). This part of the trail passes through a more densely overgrown area so you’ll be walking in the shade. The guide can tell you all about the plants and wildlife on the way. Finally, you’ll arrive at the ‘Sun Gate’ Inti Punco, where you suddenly catch your first glimpse of Machu Picchu. Nothing can prepare you for the magical sight of the ancient city complex spread out below you and, no matter how many pictures you’ve seen before, it’s even more beautiful in real life. From the viewpoint, it’s another hour downhill to the entrance of the Machu Picchu complex. The sun is already low in the sky and now’s not the best time to do the whole background talk on the ruins. Instead, your guide will probably hang back a little to let everyone enjoy their first impressions of the majestic ruins. After a while, you’ll head on down to the entrance of the ruins, where you’ll find the bus waiting to take you to Aguas Calientes. Everyone visiting Machu Picchu has to pass through this small town, also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo. After an intense day on your Inca Trail hike, crawl into the soft comfy bed in your small posada in the centre of town. |
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Day 2: Machu Picchu - OllantaytamboOn day two of your 2 day Inca Trail hike, you’ll need to be up early in order to see Machu Picchu in relative quiet before the crowds of tourists arrive. After you’ve handed in your backpack at the entrance, your guide will take you on a two-hour tour past the ruins.Wandering among the remains of what must have been a thriving city on your Peru trip, you get a good idea of the daily life in this remote Inca complex. The terraces, temples and houses show you how sophisticated the Incas were for their time but, whatever led to the decline of this once magnificent Inca city still remains a mystery. Scientists and archaeologists maintain different theories on the origin and history of Machu Picchu, none of which have ever been proven. |
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After the guided tour, there's plenty of time to wander among the endless basalt walls on your own. When you can tear yourself away from the ruins, pick up your rucksack at the entrance, where you’ll find the bus waiting to take you to Aguas Calientes. It's a fun little town even though it's swarming with tourists on their way to (or back from) Machu Picchu. Along the train tracks, you'll find several souvenir stalls and plenty of places to grab a quick bite to eat before boarding the train at 3.30pm. The train pulls into Ollanta(ytambo) around 5.30pm. Most travellers will stay on the train and continue on to Cuzco but this traditional Peruvian village is your final destination for day two of your Inca Trail hike. From the station, it's a 10 minute walk to the village where you'll find your posada with flower garden and hammocks. The posada is basic but well maintained. If you prefer we can upgrade you to our comfort option on your Peru holiday. Just let us know on your Quote Request Form. |
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Ollanta lies in the Sacred Valley, halfway between Aguas Calientes and Pisac. The valley gets its name from the many sacred Inca sites found in the area. Most tourists only stop here briefly to visit the fort at Ollanta before travelling on to their next destination, but we can assure you the sleepy atmosphere of this town is what makes it such a charming part of your Inca trail hike. It’s a pleasant place to spend the night and all roads in the Sacred Valley lead to Cuzco so you won’t have a problem arranging your own transport here. (Local buses are frequent and cost around US$2 per person). |
Day 3: Ollanta - UrubambaEarly in the morning on the third day of this Peru trip, you'll head up to the Inca fort for a wonderful view across mountains, terraces and the village as it slowly wakes up. The fort is the only citadel in the area where the Incas managed to fend off the Spaniards by riddling them with arrows.Once you’ve done exploring the fort, head back to the village to see the unique courtyards. The original layout as designed by the Incas has remained intact: the village is divided into blocks, each with its own entrance to a central courtyard with houses on all sides. The countryside around Ollanta is very scenic and its a good chance to relax after your Inca Trail hike. The valley lies in a bowl in between the high mountains, which means it has a mild climate with lots of sunshine and the area is very green and fertile. |
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One of the best ways to see the area around Ollanta on your Peru trip is on horseback. The horses are very tame and know the way past waterfalls, playing dogs, llamas, a sports day parade. We came across it all. You can book a two-hour horse ride for around US$7 at the hotel reception. If you like you can extend your Inca Trail hike module with an extra night in stay in Ollanta (please mention on the Quote Request Form), or head on to Urubamba later in the afternoon. In the central square of Ollanta you’ll find several ‘collectivos’, minibuses that leave once they have enough passengers. It’s a fun way to travel with the locals. The road follows the banks of the Urubamba river, and on the right you can catch a glimpse of the Las Salinas salt pans. The 20 minute drive to Urubamba costs around US$1,- per person. |
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At Urubamba bus station, take another taxi (US$2 for a 5-minute drive) to your accommodation. On day three of your Inca Trail hike, you’ll be staying in a converted 16th Century Franciscan monastery just outside the village. The monastery has a small chapel, several peaceful courtyards and a real clock tower (which, luckily for your sleep patterns, is no longer in use). The comfortable colonial-style rooms have a private bathroom with shower/toilet, TV and air-conditioning. There’s a cosy fireplace in the dining room. Urubamba is surrounded on all sides by snow-capped mountain peaks and the atmosphere here is very relaxing. In the evening, head to restaurant Los Geranios in the village to try the Rocoto Relleno, a local specialty of peppers filled with minced beef and vegetables. Wash it down with an Inca Kola and you’ll feel like a proper local. |
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Day 4: Urubamba - CuzcoUrubamba is a good base for several outdoor activities in the Sacred Valley. You’ve got the whole day; buses and collectivos leave Urubamba for Cuzco until 6pm. The trip takes about 1 ½ hours so you’ll be back in Cuzco around 7.30pm, where your Inca Trail module comes to an end.Instead of outdoor sports, you could plan a cultural day and take the collectivo or local bus to Pisac. The ruins at Pisac rival Machu Picchu and are open daily, though on non-market days they’re surprisingly quiet. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays the market is filled with small stalls selling clothing, pottery, jewellery and various other crafts. There’s also a market on the other days, though it is a lot smaller. From Pisac main square, collectivos and local buses leave for Cuzco until 6pm. (1 hour, US$1 per person). We can always book an extra night for you in Ollantaytambo or Urubamba if you’d like to spend a bit longer in the valley during your Peru trip. If you'd like to make your stay in Urubamba even more special, take a look at our Sacred Valley eco lodge option. |
What to pack for your Inca Trail hike:
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You can leave the rest of your luggage at the hotel in Cuzco.
Important:
Permits for the trail are becoming increasingly limited, so we strongly advise you book at least 2 months ahead and make sure your passport number valid for your Peru trip is the same at the time of booking. Without a valid, corresponding passport number we cannot make a reservation and you will not be admitted to the trail.
Should you need to apply for a new passport, give us your old passport number at the time of booking and ask your local authority to return the old (invalid) passport to you together with your new passport. It's not completely according to the guidelines so it's at your own risk.
Entrance fees to the Trail are subject to change. Changes are imposed by the government without prior notice so please understand that we need to recalculate any altered fees where applicable. The Inca Trail modules can only be booked in combination with one or more of our other modules.
Inca Trail hike - Accommodation (Click to enlarge)
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