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Tourists posing at Machu Picchu

Trails and Valleys – Short Inca Trek

Bite-sized trip

  • Itinerary:
    Cusco - Machu Picchu - Sacred Valley - Cusco
  • Duration:
    4 days / 3 nights (flexible)
  • Price:
    From £ 985.- pp (excluding flights)
If the idea of camping leaves you cold, try this quicker Inca trek. Spend a day on the Inca Trail, marvel at Machu Picchu and sleep in a comfy bed. You’ll see the Lost City in both the afternoon and morning light, giving you all of the Inca culture with none of the camping. Afterwards, you'll take the train to Ollantaytambo, where you can spend a couple of days taking in the relaxed surroundings of the Sacred Valley.
Machu Picchu Huayna Picchu
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Day 1 – Cusco – Machu Picchu

Today you’ll take the train to the starting point of the ‘Camino Real’ trail, where your guide will be waiting. Setting off at 2300m altitude, you’ll cross a footbridge over the Urubamba river and follow the Inca trading route towards Machu Picchu, passing several small ruins along the way. It’s a relatively tough trek with some uphill sections, so you’ll need a reasonable level of fitness.

You’ll stop for lunch in scenic Winay Wayna, an ancient Inca city tucked between terraced fields and home to some beautifully preserved ruins. Afterwards, the trek continues downhill through shady forests until you arrive at the Sun Gate, where you’ll catch your first glimpse of Machu Picchu before descending to Aguas Calientes. Here you can soak in the local hot springs and stay in a comfy hotel in the centre of town.

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Day 2-3 – Machu Picchu – Ollantaytambo

After a good night’s sleep, you’ll jump out of bed early to head up to Machu Picchu by bus. As the sun heats the valley, the wispy mist swirling across the ruins will lift, giving you a glorious view of the Lost City in the morning light. You’ll take an official guided tour of the site along with your group and hear about the legend surrounding the city.

After exploring the ruins you’ll take the train to Ollantaytambo – tucked away in the Sacred Valley, surrounded by both gorgeous scenery and ancient Inca sites. A cobblestone maze of tiny streets where local life carries on as it always has, it’s a sleepy and beautiful place to explore. Your main luggage will be waiting at a cosy guesthouse near the centre of the village, close to some lovely places to eat and drink, where you’ll spend the next 2 nights.

Ollantaytambo is the best-preserved example of Inca city planning, so it’s packed with fascinating sights. We’d recommend heading up to the Inca fort for sunrise, with sweeping views across the valley as it wakes for the day. Afterwards, you can relax in the sunshine, hike between the terraces or ride horseback through the hills. We’ve left your time here free, since it’s a wonderful place to be lazy and there is a great variety of short hikes and visits to Inca ruins which you can arrange locally.

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Day 4 – Ollanta – Cusco

At the end of your stay, we’ll arrange a private transfer to take you back to Cusco, around 2 hours away.

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Accommodation

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Trails and Valleys – Short Inca Trek

For this bite-sized trip we offer the following options

Peru Aguas Hotel Breakfast Bar
Peru in style hotel accommodation
Peru Aguas Hotel bedroom accommodation
Peru accommodation scenic garden exterior
Peru accommodation double bedroom
Peru accommodation In style hotel exterior at night
Option
1

Upgrade to our In Style accommodation

  • Travel sum:
    From £895 (excluding flights)
  • Included:
    In Style accommodation, excursions, transport and meals as described above

For this bite-sized trip we have an alternative option available for your accommodation. Our In Style version is something a bit more special or unique but still with lots of local flavour! If you would like to upgrade your accommodation for this bite-sized trip select our In Style option below.

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