Machu Picchu Itineraries
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Top Machu Picchu Travel Packages
Top Machu Picchu Experiences
- Trekking the legendary Inca trail, an original trading road used by the Incan Empire itself and a rite of passage for travelers for well over a century.
- Taking in the classic Machu Picchu vista for the first time at sunrise as mist slowly reveals dramatic cliffs, soaring mountains, and the ruins themselves.
- Climbing up either Huayna Picchu or Montaña de Machu Picchu for a challenge that is rewarded by towering views over the ruins below.
- Exploring Cusco, the former imperial capital of the Incans and today home to beautiful religious art and vibrant night life.
- Dropping by some of the less visited but equally impressive sights of the Sacred Valley, such as the old salt mines of Maras or the other-worldy ancient circles of Moray.
- Enjoying a rest in Ollantaytambo where you can experience a beautiful colonial square hemmed in by quaint alleys below and massive Incan ruins on every mountain top above.
Classic Machu Picchu Itineraries
Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Perhaps the most classic Machu Picchu trip, walking the Inca Trail is a bucket list item for many. This is a challenging trip, but the reward is well worth the effort. Most Inca Trail treks take 4-5 days, though this varies.
Day 1-2, Cusco: Explore Cusco and get acclimated to the altitude. Visit cultural sites and museums to learn about the Inca before visiting Machu Picchu.
Day 3-8, Inca Trail: Embark upon the Inca trail.
Day 9-10, Machu Picchu: Arrive at the picturesque Sun Gate before the first wave of crowds. Take an in depth guided tour of the ruins, and spend free time exploring on your own. Climb the challenging Huayna Picchu for iconic pictures.
Historical Machu Picchu
One of the biggest draws of Machu Picchu is its historical significance. Most tours will touch on this, but some dive deeper than others into the archaeological history and cultural history of the incredible site.
Day 1-3, Cusco: Explore Cusco and get acclimated to the altitude. Visit cultural sites and museums to learn about the Inca before visiting Machu Picchu.
Day 4, Agua Calientes: Take the famous Scenic train ride to Agua Calientes. Spend the night and prepare to rise early to catch the dawn bus to Machu Picchu.
Day 5-6, Machu Picchu: Take an in depth guided tour of the ruins, and spend free time exploring on your own. Climb the challenging Huayna Picchu for iconic pictures.
Day 7, Ollantaytambo: On your way back to Cusco, stop in Ollantaytambo another historically significant Inca site.
Day 8, Lima: Depart from Lima
OR
Day 2-6, Official Treks: Strike out upon one of three treks, Lares, Salkantay, or Inca, on your way to the site.
Machu Picchu and the Galapagos
Many tour companies combine a trip to Machu Picchu with a tour of the Galapagos. Typically these tours range anywhere from two weeks to a full month.
Day 1-2, Cusco: Take time to adjust to the altitude. Visit Plaza de Armas, and explore the Old Inca Capital.
Day 2-3, Agua Calientes: Take the famous VistaDome scenic train ride to Agua Calientes. Along the way stop in Pisac to visit the market. Continue to Ollantaytambo for a tour of more Incan ruins before arriving in Agua Calientes. Spend the night and prepare to rise early to catch the dawn bus to Machu Picchu.
Day 4-5, Machu Picchu: Take an in depth guided tour of the ruins, and spend free time exploring on your own. Optional: climb the challenging Huayna Picchu for iconic pictures.
Day 6-7, Cusco to Lima: Return to Cusco and take a short flight to Lima - the jumping off point for your Galapagos cruise. Take a walking history tour of the city: San Francisco Church, Plaza de Armas, Government Palace.
Day 8, Quito: Leave Peru for Ecuador and head to Quito. Explore the city and see La Compania. Take a drive to the Equatorial Line Monument, where you can straddle the hemispheres.
Day 9-13, Galapagos Cruise: Enjoy a cruise of the Galapagos islands. Take in the history of Darwin’s time on the islands, which led to his groundbreaking evolution theories. Get up close and personal with wildlife as incredible and diverse as what you would see on a trip to Costa Rica, and learn about the delicate ecology on the islands from an expert.
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Machu Picchu Reviews & Ratings
H
Howard
Feb 2025
Inca Trail Trek
Arturo was great. Will definitely recommend home to...
T
Trusted Customer
Feb 2025
Inca Trail Trek
Our guide Arturo was excellent. He was so knowledgeable...
A
Adrian
Jan 2025
Inca Trail Trek
Arturo was a fantastic leader and guide. Knowledgable, helpful, caring, experienced and amusing. This was my 11th Explore holiday and Arturo is up there with the bes...
T
Trusted Customer
Nov 2024
Machu Picchu and Galapagos
A great combination of sight seeing and nature. Loved every minute.
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