Date(s) October 9th, 2023 - Oct 10th, 2023 November 9th, 2023 - Nov 10th, 2023 December 9th, 2023 - Dec 10th, 2023
Number of people
For many hikers, climbing Huayna Picchu is one of the highlights of a visit to Machu Picchu. The views of the Citadel and surrounding landscape are extraordinary from the top and well worth the climbing effort!
Machu Picchu may be the thing to draw you in, but the breathtaking cloud forests, ancient Incan ruins, and awe-inspiring panoramas will stick with you for a lifetime. Make a short stop in Ollantaytambo and spend the night at a hotel in Aguas Calientes with a freshly prepared celebratory dinner. Get some rest and enjoy the striking sunrise above the Andes and a three-hour guided walking tour with an English-speaking guide before returning to Aguas Calientes.
Day 1: Cusco – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes
Depart Cusco at 8 am and travel to Chinchero by bus for a quick look around. From here, your private transport takes you to Ollantaytambo, the royal estate of Emperor Pachacuti who ruled the area in the 15th century. Your guide will give you a tour of these interesting ruins before giving you some free time to do some shopping or wander the streets of this unique village. You need to be at the Ollantaytambo train station by 1 pm or 3 pm, depending on your group, to board the Expedition Train. Grab a quick bite at the highly recommended Hearts Cafe.
After a 90-minute train ride through the magnificent Vilcanota canyon, you’ll arrive at Aguas Calientes. Check-in at your hotel and indulge in some souvenir shopping or try out the hot springs that Aguas Calientes is famous for! You will have dinner with your guide and group, before getting to bed early as you will be up before dawn.
Meals: Dinner
Note: You need to buy a Boleto Turistico for $55 to visit these sites, not included in the package.
Day 2: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco
You will be up before dawn to take one of the first buses up to Machu Picchu, beating the crowds and having the opportunity to see this World Heritage site in the early morning light. Enjoy a 3-hour guided tour of the site and spend some time exploring this amazing site on your own before taking the bus back down to Aguas Calientes and returning to Cusco via train and bus. This tour is highly recommended for those that want to experience Machu Picchu at dawn and would like to spend more time at the site.
Meals: Box lunch
Note: Permits for Huayna Picchu cost an additional $15 and need to be organized at the time of booking.
What you get on this adventure:
What’s not included:
The best thing about this tour of Machu Picchu is that it’s suitable for everyone with a normal level of fitness. No prior experience is necessary. However, the city of Cusco is located at 3,400 meters above sea level so you may feel slightly ill or dizzy due to altitude sickness, known as “soroche.” Keep in mind, the weather in summer can be very hot and you’ll also be packing a daypack filled with water and other things you’ll need throughout the day.
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
Storage aboard Machu Picchu trains is limited. Please limit yourself to one carry-on luggage per person. Many travelers need to downsize their belongings to comply with the luggage weight restrictions of each company. Fortunately, many hotels offer complimentary luggage storage for guests. Keep your extra items at your hotel in Cusco and collect them after visiting Machu Picchu.
Each passenger can carry a bag or backpack with a maximum weight limit of 11 pounds (5 kg). The luggage cannot exceed 62 inches (157 cm) in height, length, and width.
Group sizes and prices:
Min. age requirements:
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
To get to Cusco, most people fly into Cusco International Airport. From there, you can rent a car or take a shuttle service to your accommodation.
Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet, usually at your accommodation in Cusco. At the end of your adventure, you will return to Cusco via bus and train.
Generally, Peru is safe to visit. Like all countries, it has some bad neighborhoods, crime and political instability. However, there is no need to be concerned about political unrest.
We had a chance to catch up with our local guide Roland Llave, co-founder of CrossoverPeru Tours, who shared a few thoughts on the current political climate in Peru: “At the core, these protests are a way for the people in South America to express themselves and fight for what they believe in. We recognize this might be unnerving for travelers, but this is part of our culture.”
Roland let us know that the protests have stopped for now. Roads, airports, and lives are back to normal. As always, there is potential for more unrest because, as he mentioned, protesting is part of their culture and how they honor their beliefs and rights. If you have any concerns about traveling to Peru or South America, please reach out and we will help you navigate the best option for your travels.
57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.
We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, guides and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Peru, please refer to the Peru Travel websites or the U.S. Embassy in Peru websites.
Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!
