Sacred valley & Short Inca trail 3 days
Tour Overview
Enjoy the 3-Days Guided Adventure to the Sacred Valley and the Short Inka Trail to Machupicchu
This is a perfect Experience exploring the best of the Sacred Valley and take the short Inka Trail hike which will bring you to Inka ruins and through the Sun Gate for your first look at Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu is without a doubt the highlight of any traveler’s trip to Peru. But reaching the famed citadel by foot along the original Inca Trail brings a whole new perspective to this mystical experience.
Overviews
- Tour service: History, Culture, Hiking and Adventure
- Duration: 03 Days
- Considerations: The hike itself on Day 01 will take about 6 – 7 hours; so we recommend to be in reasonably fit
- Distance on the Inka Trail (Day 2): 11km/ 8 miles
- Elevation: 2030m (6660ft) – 2650m (8690ft)
- Departure Point: Customer’s Hotel in Urubama, Ollantaytambo or Cusco City
- Ending Point: The Same or a different Hotel
- Pick-up Times: To be Confirmed
- Difficulty: Easy to Moderate (you should be able to walk stairs up and down)
- Group Size: Private 2 – 6 travelers (Bigger groups, please contact us)
Itinerary
Day 1: Full Day Sacred Valley Experience
We visit the amazing circular Inca terraces of Moray, unique among the Inca sites of the Sacred Valley, believed to be an elaborate agricultural laboratory. We visit the famous Salt Mines of Maras, where locals, since pre-Inca times, have obtained salt by evaporating warm salty water from the nearby spring.
At the end of the day we explore Ollantaytambo, known as a living museum due to its old houses still inhabited by locals, including the Sun Temple and the many terraces of this site. This is also where we board the train to Machu Picchu Town, or Aguas Calientes, home of the hot springs.
Tip: if you are not a fan of getting up very early in the morning, we recommend staying in Ollantaytambo so you skip the 2-hour drive from Cusco to the Ollantaytambo train station.
Day 2: Hotel – Train to Km 104 – Hike to Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes
The trip starts at your hotel in Cusco, Ollantaytambo or Urubamba, where you are picked up early in the morning. We then drive to the Ollantaytambo train station and board the train that takes us to the start point of the trail (about 1.5 hours).
Our trek takes us along the most impressive stretch of the Inca Trail. Covering 10km of the trail, our journey begins at the bottom of the valley and works its way up along an original Inca trail to the Inca site of Wiñay Wayna. As we make our way to Machu Picchu, we pass through the lush and verdant cloud forest that covers the mountain, seeing a variety of plants, flowers and birds along the way.
After a full day of trekking, we arrive at the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) in the late afternoon for our first views of Machu Picchu spread out on the mountain below. After passing through the Sun Gate, we carry on along the trail to the Machu Picchu citadel – the light at this time of day is great for photos, and with fewer tourists on site, it’s a perfect time to take pictures. We then catch the shuttle bus down to Aguas Calientes town in the valley below, where we check into our hotel.
Day 3: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes – Hotel
Waking up early, we take the first bus back up to Machu Picchu to enter the site as it opens. We have a 3-hour guided tour of the site, learning about the Incas and visiting all the most important areas of the citadel.
After the guided tour, you may have some free time to explore the site by yourself, and – if booked in advance – you can climb either Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (please confirm in advance so we can secure these extra tickets).
In the afternoon, you take the train back to Ollantaytambo, where you will be met by our driver and taken to your hotel in Cusco or the Sacred Valley.
Inclusions
Included
- Fluent English/Spanish speaking local guide
- Inca Trail permit and Machu Picchu admission ticket
- Round trip transfers from your hotel to the train station
- Train ticket to Km 104 and return train to Ollantaytambo
- 3-way shuttle bus tickets: Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu
- One night accommodation in a hostel in Aguas Calientes (after Day 1 of the Inca Trail)
- Box lunch and dinner on Day 1
- Breakfast on Day 2
Not Included
- Meals not mentioned above
- Travel insurance
- Gratuities
Pricing
Private tour price (per person, USD)
We only run private hikes (up to 4 people, averaging just 2 travelers guaranteed) so we can offer a highly personalized service.
Faqs
Is this the same as the Classic 4-day Inca Trail?
No, this is the Short Inca Trail. Instead of four full days of trekking, you cover the final stretch of about 10 km of the original Inca Trail from Km 104, reaching the Sun Gate and Machu Picchu in a single day.
How far in advance should I book?
Inca Trail permits, including the Short Inca Trail, are limited and sell out months in advance, especially during the June-August high season, so early booking is recommended.
Is accommodation included?
One night in a hostel in Aguas Calientes is included, after the Day 1 hike. Accommodation before or after the tour is not included.
Is the Machu Picchu guided tour included?
Yes, Day 2 includes a 3-hour guided tour of the citadel after entering early with the first bus up from Aguas Calientes.
Can I add Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain?
Yes, if booked in advance, since these tickets are limited and separate from the standard entrance.
What meals are included?
A box lunch and dinner on Day 1, and breakfast on Day 2. Other meals, travel insurance and gratuities are not included.
How difficult is the trekking portion?
Moderate. You cover roughly 10 km of trail on Day 1, climbing from the valley floor up to the Sun Gate, which is a good option for those who want the Inca Trail experience without committing to the full four-day Classic route.
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