PERU - MACHU PICCHU EXPRESS 5 Days

This itinerary visits Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley and the historic town of Cusco.

More than 7,000 feet above sea level in the Andes Mountains, Machu Picchu is the most visited tourist destination in Peru. ”A symbol of the Incan Empire and built around 1450AD, Machu Picchu” means “Old Peak” or “Old Mountain.” It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007. Machu Picchu receives over half a million visitors a year, more than 2,500 every day.

Tips:

Many visitors select a tour operator for the excursion. They provide a competitive price and manage the various components of your trip including local transportation, specific guides and tickets. They are well worth hiring so you‘re not dealing with the hassle of planning every step and any unexpected problem that may arise.

• Recommended Tour Operators are listed in many travel guides.

• Peru travel guide books.

• Research tour operators, hotels, restaurants and more.

• Visitors from most countries in the Americas and Western Europe do NOT need a tourist visa to enter Peru.

• Lima airport has a hotel located at the terminal. This proves beneficial when you arrive in Lima in the late evening and your connecting flight to Cusco is in the early morning.

• Best location to base yourself is in Urubamba or Ollantaytambo rather than Cusco. The reason is Cusco is higher in elevation resulting in cooler temperatures and more likely to have altitude sickness when first arriving from Lima.

• Getting to Machu Picchu:

  • Begin your adventure in Cusco where the easiest approach to Machu Picchu is by train along the Urubamba Valley and to Aguas Calientes.

    • Aguas Calientes, (also known Machu Picchu Town or Machu Picchu Pueblo) is the gateway to the nearby Inca ruins of Machu Picchu. The town center is full of restaurants & shops.

  • There are two (2) rail companies that operate trains from Cusco to Machu Picchu Station located in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Town).

    • PeruRail and Inca Rail. Both offer high quality services.

    • Peru Rail offers more daily departures to Machu Picchu compared to Inca Rail.

  • Learn more about the PeruRail train ticket and the Inca Rail train ticket.

• Once in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Town), hop on the shuttle bus up to the entrance of the ruins. The ride up takes 35 - 40 minutes.

  • Bus tickets can be purchased in person or online. There is no fixed schedule on the bus ticket. It is first come-first serve. It is common to wait for 1-2 hours before getting on a bus.

  • Read more on purchasing shuttle bus ticket in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Town).

• <Remember a tour operator can handle all the necessary planning of the entire trip>

• Alternatively, from the train station at Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Town) you can opt to take a steep strenuous walk up to Machu Picchu – expect it to take 90 minutes to two (2) hours.

  • The distance to Machu Picchu from town is 9 km (5.5 miles). The elevation change is 390 meters (1300 feet).

• Machu Picchu’s elevation is 2,430 meters (8,000 feet) above the sea level.

• Aguas Calientes (MachuPicchu Town) is at a elevation of 2,040 meters (6700 ft.) above the sea level.

The Classic Inca Trail:

• Visitors in good physical condition and extra time may opt for the classic 24-mile trek. <Tour packages>

• Read more on the Inca Trail.

• Download the All Trails app on your smartphone. Essential for any trek in Peru.

  —This is a physically and mentally demanding four (4)-day route. On the final morning of the trek, many groups stop to watch the sunrise over Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate (Inti Punku).

  Peru’s regulations for visiting Machu Picchu.

• Visitation times are divided into a morning ticket (6:00AM to 12:00PM) and an afternoon ticket (12:00PM to 5:30PM). The entrance will close at 4:30PM. With the two distinct entrance periods, visitors will be permitted to stay up to 4 hours within the ruins.

• We recommended strongly to purchase entrance tickets in well in advance.

• You are allowed one exit and re-entry during your visit, which you can use to go to the bathroom.

  • There are NO restrooms beyond the main entrance.

• Wear long pants and long sleeves. Biting insects (sandflies, mosquitoes, etc.) are common. Insect repellent helps but is not always the case.

Altitude Sickness:

• The city of Cusco is located at 3,400 meters (11,100 ft.) above sea level. Visitors may feel slightly ill or dizzy due to altitude sickness.

• We strongly recommend to rest at least one(1) full day in Cusco / Sacred Valley region so your body can get used to the altitude.

  • There is plenty to see. Take advantage of this time to visit sites in the Cusco city center first, and avoid engaging in activities that require physical exertion. It is suggested that visitors eat light meals and avoid alcohol for the first couple of days.

• Best suggestions to avoid altitude sickness.

DAY 1

• Arrive in Cusco and transfer to your hotel in the Sacred Valley.

• Cusco Airport: Information and useful tips.

  • Domestic flights from Lima (1 hour approx.)

• You should try to set aside 24-48 hrs. in the Sacred Valley to acclimate to the new altitude before you begin the journey to Machu Picchu.

• The Sacred Valley of the Incas was a key area of settlement to the Incas. The Sacred Valley served as a buffer zone, protecting Cusco from the fierce jungle tribes who from time to time raided the highlands. Today the Sacred Valley remains a lush agricultural region supplying the city of Cusco with much of its produce such as maize, fruit and vegetables. <Detailed Map>

  • Visit the village of Pisac, with its famous market. On market days, the locals wear traditional dress selling local fruit and vegetables as well as handicrafts. Pisac is located one (1) hour from Cusco.

  • Visit Moray and the Maras Salt flats.

    • Moray is an archaeological site. The site contains unusual Inca ruins, consisting of several terraced circular depressions.

    • Maras Salts flats are well known for its salt evaporation ponds.

• Overnight in Urubamba.

• Driving distance: Cusco —> Urubamba. 90 minutes.

DAY 2

• Explore the Sacred Valley of the Incas and afterward continue to Aguas Calientes (info) (Machu Picchu Town). Journey by train or with your tour group.

  • Learn all about the Sacred Valley.

  • <Detailed Map>

  • Discover Ollantaytambo, which is dominated by a giant Inca fortress.

  • Ollantaytambo is an attractive little town (about 2.5 hours by bus from Cusco). The town has been built on top of original Inca foundations and is the best surviving example of Inca town planning.

  • In the late afternoon board a train in Ollantaytambo bound for Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Town).

• Overnight in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Town). <Where to stay>

• Optional Extra Day: Experience some exceptional horse riding expeditions high in the Andes. <Read more>

DAY 3

• Visit the highlight of the trip— Machu Picchu, a stunning display of ancient architecture with incredible surroundings!

• Enjoy a guided tour of the ruins and monuments such as the Main Square, the Circular Tower, the Sacred Solar Clock, the Royal Quarters, the Temple of the Three Windows and the Cemeteries.

• <Map>

• Optional: Climb Huayna Picchu.

  • The Huayna Picchu hike, featured in photos of Machu Picchu, offers a challenging climb with incredibly rewarding views. The strenuous effort leads to breathtaking panoramas of the ruins, making you feel as if you're soaring over one of the world's most beautiful landscapes.

  • You will need a permit. Without one you will not be allowed into the entrance of the hike. This permit can be purchased on your own or by a official tour operator. < Check Availability>

    Can you visit Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu on the same day?

    • YES, Machu Picchu opens from 6 am to 5 pm. You would need to stay all day, therefore you will need to purchase three (3) entrance tickets: from 6 am to 10 am; from 10 am to 2 pm and from 2 pm to 5 pm.

      • Each Machu Picchu ticket allows you to stay a maximum of 4 hours from the moment of admission.

• In the late afternoon you will journey to Urabamba.

• Overnight in Urubamba

• Train time: Machu Picchu —> Urabamba, 2.5 hrs.

DAY 4

• Explore Cusco.

• Cusco is a beautiful city peppered with contrasts between the indigenous culture and the modern western world. Once the capital of the Inca Empire, it is known for its Spanish colonial architecture and Incan remains.

• Most visitors visit the historic Old Town of Cusco. The plaza is especially lively and beautiful at night, with people strolling about and the buildings lit with spotlights.

• Take a sightseeing tour through Cusco, the heart of the Inca Empire.

  • Top attractions.

• Visit the fascinating Coricancha Temple of the Sun, the 12-Angled Rock and the Cathedral, built on the ruins of an Inca Palace.

• If time permits make a quick visit to the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, the ancient site of Puca Pucara & the Water Temple of Tambomachay.

• Overnight in Cusco.

  • Urabamba —> Cusco, 1 hr

    
    
    

DAY 5

• Depart Cusco to your next South American destination or return home.

Climate Guide

Source: Perurail

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