Short trails

Day 1: Cusco – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes
At 10:00 we pick you up from your hotel in Cusco and take the bus for about 2 hours to reach Ollantaytambo. From here, we first have a little break and afterwards we take the train to Aguas Calientes; the Machu Picchu town. The train ride takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes but it will be done soon since you can enjoy the beautful surroundings which the train crosses. After arrival in Aguas Calientes we go to our hotel, take lunch and have time to visit the busy yet small city with more than enough sighseeings. Perfect for tourists to look around, and for example buy some souvenirs. At 17:00 we have a brief informative talk to tell you everything about the coming day. We also provide you with the guidelines for visiting Machu Picchu; the goal of our trip!

Day 2: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco
In case you have morning entrances to Machu Picchu, you will get up early in the morning to board the bus to Machu Picchu at 05:40. We recommend this early get-up for you to watch the sunrise over the Inca Capital; the best view! At 06:20 we arrive at the control point of Machu Picchu, here we show our ticket and in case you are a student, your valid student card as well as your ticket. At arrival, we have some free time. A lot of people use this to see the sunrise from the Inti Punki or Sungate, a truly spectacular view. After free time, you can enter Machu Picchu itself through a guided tour which lasts 2 hours. Most likely you can join a guided tour – please ask your tour guide the day before. You can also choose to visit the city by yourself for a maximum of 2 hours. Remember that after the guided tour you cannot enter the park again. You can also climb up the Huaynapicchu Mountain, where one can experience spectacular views of all of Machu Picchu, the valleys and mountains that surround it or visit the Temple of the Moon or the impressive Inca Bridge.

In the afternoon, at 17:40, we meet in the town of Aguas Calientes to take the train back to Ollantaytambo. We arrive here at around 20:30 and take the bus straight to Cusco where we arrive at around 22:30.

Note
This travel itinerary is very detailed. Because of circumstances – weather, time to pick up people, South American culture – we cannot guarantee that you will carry out this itinerary perfectly. Moreover, the above description of ”day 2” is based on the first morning entrances to Machu Picchu. Because of limited spots, we cannot guarantee morning entrances to Machu Picchu. This travel itinerary should be used as a guideline.

• Pick-up from Cusco hotel by bus to the train station of Ollantaytambo and back
• Round-trip train ticket from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu and back
• Night at a hotel in Aguas Calientes
• Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu
• Professional, English speaking guide

• Lunch in Aguas Calientes, starting from $10
• Entrance fees to the hot springs in Aguas Calientes
• Bus up and down from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu (12 USD one way)
• Access to the Machu Picchu mountain or Huayna Picchu mountain. Take a look at the FAQ page for more information (60 Euros)
• Tips

Day 1: Cusco – Hydroelectrica – Aguas Calientes
We will pick you up at 7:30 a.m. from your hostel with our bus. After a brief stop in Ollantaytambo, we continue our journey until we can see the snow-capped Mountain Veronica and Salkantay. From this place we will begin our descent through the forest area to Santa Maria and later through the Aobamba river valley to Santa Teresa. We will make a stop for lunch whereafter we continue our journey by bus to Hydroelectrica. From Hydroelectrica onwards we have to walk 11 km (approximately 2 hours) before we arrive around 5 p.m. at Aguas Calientes, also known as the Machu Picchu village.

Day 2: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu –  Hydroelectrica – Cusco
You will wake up around 3 a.m. and have to leave the hostel around 03:45 a.m. to be able to climb the 1.200 stairs to the Machu Picchu. This will be around 4 a.m. You have the opportunity to leave your backpacks at the beginning of the entrance for around 6 dollars. Normally, everyone starts this hike on his own – of course you can arrange with the people from your group to go together. Most likely, the guide will not join this morning walk.  For those who do not want to walk, buses go up to Machu Picchu for 12 dollars.

The early wake makes sure that you will have the opportunity to see the sunrise. A lot of people decide to watch the sunrise from the Inti Punku or Sungate, an assured spectacular view! You can do this easily by yourselves by following a clear path up. After free time, you can enter Machu Picchu itself through a guided tour which lasts 2 hours. It is also possible to visit the Inca town by yourself. Normally this is for a maximum duration of 2 hours, but sometimes it is possible to stay longer. In the city, you will come across places like “Inti Watana”, “The Temple of the Condor” and “The Sacred Rock”.

You should start hiking downwards from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes and on to Hydroelectrica at around 11 a.m. Over there, our tourist bus will wait for to transfer you to Cusco. The buses leave Hydroelectric at 3:00 p.m. and take around 6-7 hours to bring you back to central Cusco.

Note
This travel itinerary is very detailed. Because of circumstances – weather, time to pick up people, South American culture – we cannot guarantee that you will carry out this itinerary perfectly. This travel itinerary should be used as a guideline.

• Transfer by bus from Cusco – Hydroelectrica
• Night at a hostel in Aguas Calientes
• Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu
• Professional, English speaking guide
• Lunch in Santa Teresa
• Dinner in Aguas Calientes

• Bus up and down from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu (12 USD one way)
• Access to the Machu Picchu mountain or Huayna Picchu mountain. Take a look at the FAQ page for more information (50 Euros)

Student price – 2D/1N Machu Picchu by train: €299,-*
Adult price – 2D/1N Machu Picchu by train: €319,-

Student price – 2D/1N Machu Picchu by bus: €189,-*
Adult price – 2D/1N Machu Picchu by bus: €209,-

* You need to be in possession of a legit student card. This student card has to be valid until you have visited the Machu Picchu. Furthermore, the current year in which you study has to be visible on the student card. If not, you will get in trouble at the entrance of the Machu Picchu.

• Original identification documents (passport, ID)
• Student ID (optional)
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Flashlight (extra batteries)
• Binoculars (optional)
• Repellent
• Extra money
• Small backpack & rain cover
• Personal medication kit
• Clothing – we’re in the mountains, so prepare for rapid temperature changes!
  • Jacket
  • Fleeces
  • Gloves/scarfs/hats for the cold blooded
  • Thermal clothing
  • Raingear
  • Small towel
  • Swimwear 
  • Socks (warm)
  • Shirts
  • Shorts
  • Underwear
  • Walking shoes or good sandals