Pick up from your hotel around 4:00 am (confirmed one day before) -2 hours’ drive in a private van to the train station in Ollantaytambo. Here we board the train and travel by train for 1 hour and 45 minutes to Km 104 (the start of our trek). It is worth the effort of getting up early and taking this train, which allows you to enter this park and begin your hike early.
At Km 104 after submitting passports at entry checkpoint control, we began our hike near the Vilcanota or Urubamba River. After walking for less than 10 minutes we will find the Incan ruins of Chachabamba, a stone altar -site that was used to worship the sun, the mountains, and nature. After visiting Chachabamba, we continued the path south and started a gradual climb to the mountain, before entering a cloud forest, overgrown, then The trail left the forest and went west while continuing uphill in an open meadow. After walking 3 hours, the road descends into an amazing forest. Here you will find a beautiful waterfall, then we get to see the lower part of the ruins of Wiñaywayna. Appreciate the beauty of this place, the architecture and design are amazing, stone canals and fountains, the tranquility and stories from our expert guide. After lunch at Wiñaywayna Incan town, we will continue our hike in the afternoon into the cloud forest, filled with bromeliads, orchids, and tree ferns. As we walk the last part of the trail, we pass many impressive features such as the stone stairs and resting places. Before you reach the (Inti Punku) the famous Gate of the Sun, you will need to climb 60 steep stone stairs. From here, you can see spectacular views of this wonderful Machu Picchu citadel surrounded by mountains and a dense forest. Then we keep descending for another 45 minutes to arrive at a mirador near the -Guardian House, a breathtaking view of most of the citadel with temples and constructions built in white granite rock, plazas, and terraces. After having enough time, we start descending to the entry of Machu Picchu. We board the bus to Aguas Calientes. Our official guided tour and exploration day will be the next day. Accommodation, rest, plans, and arrangements for tomorrow. The thermal baths are a good choice (bring your bathing suit and 20 Soles pp ).
Overnight at Hotel Susana Inn. (If you would like to upgrade accommodation in Aguas Calientes town, see our info and let us know so we can reserve it for you.)