
When choosing the shared service you will form a group with an international mix of fellow travelers. Our typical groupsize is around eight and can be up to a maximum of sixteen people.
We'll make an early morning transfer from our hotel to the railway station, where we'll take a three-hour train ride. The ride has been described as one of the most spectacular rail journeys in the world. The train climbs out of Cusco to a high plateau before following the Urubamba River into the Sacred Valley of the Inca. From here, the train is drawn into the deep and narrow Urubamba gorge, surrounded by sheer mountains and thick forest.
The first day we hike along an original Inca trail, home to many birds and orchids, and we arrive at Machupicchu via the famous Sun Gate.
Note:
For the Inca Trail you need a trekking permit.
All permits between March 1st till June 30 are sold so we can not offer the Inca Trail in this timeframe.
Government rules prohibit to pass on permits in case of cancelations; it is therefore not possible to be placed on a waiting list.
The first availability is July 2nd. (information last updated March 17)
If the Inca Trail is fully booked consider this great trek with lama's to carry your gear 2 day trek to Huchuy Qosqo
We'll begin our walk at Km104 and cross the Vilcanota / Urubamba River. Along an Inca highway, we'll climb away from the river through luxuriant vegetation that is home to hundreds of bird and orchid species. We'll emerge from the cloud forest at Winay Wayna.
Winay Wayna is a beautiful ceremonial site divided into two sectors and fashioned from finely-carved stones fit together with great precision. We'll continue our hike to the Sun Gate, where we'll get our first view of Machu Picchu.
Here, the final stretch of the royal Inca highway will take us to the citadel itself, covered for four centuries by forest and now laid out for our appreciation. From the Sanctuary, we will take the bus to the town of Machu Picchu, where we will spend the night in our hotel.
An early rise will give us ample time for our guided visit of the Machu Picchu citadel. After the tour, which will last approximately 3 hours, there is enough time to explore the ruins by ourselves. In the afternoon, we'll descend to the train station, where the train will be waiting to bring us back to Cusco.
DEPARTURES CUSCO:
Train Cusco to Machupicchu:
1. Vistadome Premium departure 6:10am arrival: 10:00am
2. Backpacker Premium departure 6:50am arrival: 11:00am
RETURN TO CUSCO
Machupicchu to Cusco:
1. Vistadome Premium departure 15:20pm arrival: 19:45
2. Backpacker Premium departure 17:15pm arrival: 21:38
If this train if fully booked you will journey bus to the Sacred Valley and board the train in Ollantaytambo.
Group Size: Typical group size 06 - 08, Maximum 16 persons
Departures: Everyday of the week throughout the year, except in February.
If you have medical problems of which the Guide should be aware, please let him know.
Shared service:
Reservation code Backpacker train: CHA-IT2D-S
Reservation code Vistadome train: CHA-IT2D-S-VD
Private service:
Reservation code Backpacker train: CHA-IT2D-P
Reservation code Vistadome train: CHA-IT2D-P-VD
For private service we please check this section
Note: For the Inca Trail, a trekking permit is required. Permits are
limited to approximately 200 per day, and booking in advance (4-6
months during high season, and 1-2 months during low season) is recommended
in order to secure your reservation.