4-Day Trip from Cusco via Scared Valley to Machu Picchu by train - Peru

Today you’ll be collected from Cusco for a 2-hour journey into the Sacred Valley. You’ll stop in Ollantaytambo, a peaceful village on the railway line to Machu Picchu. Here, you’ll stay a couple of nights in a cosy guesthouse near the centre of the village. You can visit the ancient fortress perched on the hills above the village (especially nice at sunrise), and there are lots of other interesting sites around the area. The town has a lovely relaxed atmosphere and some great places to eat and drink, and you’ll have plenty of free time to take it all in.

This morning, you’ll take the train from Ollanta to Aguas Cailentes, the gateway to Machu Picchu. Packed with travellers coming and going, there’s a lively, excited atmosphere to the town, which is famous for its natural hot springs. Here you’ll stay in simple hotel in the centre of town. Sip on a Pisco Sour, hike into the surrounding hills and try some traditional Andean cuisine.

Today, you’ll be up before the sun to get to Machu Picchu for dawn. Arriving early, you can beat the tourist crowds, take a perch at the viewpoint and wait for the magic to happen. As the sun heats the valley, the wisps of mist wrapped around Machu Picchu will lift, revealing the Lost City of the Incas in its full glory. It’s a moment that you’re unlikely to forget.

Undiscovered until 1911, it’s a vast and spellbinding place which is difficult to compare. You’ll explore the ruins as part of a group, along with an official guide, in keeping with Peruvian Law introduced to protect the site. If you have the time and the stamina, you can climb one of the surrounding peaks before leaving the complex. Afterwards, you’ll take the bus back to Aguas Calientes, where you’ll wait to board your train for Cusco.