A Classic Machu Picchu Adventure

Days

6+

Activity Level

Moderate

Host City

Cusco, Peru

From

$2,995 USD

A Sacred Valley Journey

Join The Explorer’s Passage (TEP) on an unforgettable journey to Peru, where you’ll experience the best of the Andes, Cusco, and the legendary Machu Picchu. This adventure will take you on a tour of Cusco’s famous landmarks, such as the awe-inspiring Sacsayhuaman ruins and the fascinating Qorikancha temple.

You’ll embark on an exciting Inca Trail Express trek, which offers a unique opportunity to follow in the footsteps of the Inca people. Hike through rugged terrain, picturesque valleys, and high mountain passes, all while experiencing the breathtaking scenery of the Andes. After completing the Inca Trail Express route, you’ll arrive at the legendary Machu Picchu citadel where you’ll explore this remarkable site in-depth, learning about the rich culture and history of the Inca people. You’ll also have plenty of time to take in the stunning views and capture unforgettable photos of this incredible wonder of the world.


Explore Machu Picchu with TEP

Trip Highlights

Discover Cusco, the high-altitude city that was once the heart of the Inca Empire. Steeped in history and rich culture, Travel & Leisure Magazine described it as “a living monument to Inca history.”

Enjoy a full-day guided tour of the Sacred Valley, exploring the ancient agricultural terraces of Moray, witnessing the stunning Maras salt ponds, and climbing the Inca fortress terraces in Ollantaytambo.

Hike the Inca Trail Express – exploring the spiritual centers of Chachabamba and Wiñay Wayna and looking down on the magnificent Machu Picchu ruins from Inti Punku

Customize your ideal trip to Peru! Want to visit Rainbow Mountain, or experience the culinary delights of Lima? Perhaps you would like to spend more time in the Scared Valley? No problem. We can weave your interests and your timeframe into our existing itineraries so that every detail of your trip unfolds the way you want it to. Keep scrolling down to learn more about our various trip customization options!

Let’s Plan Your Trip Today:


TRIP COST

From $2,995 USD per person
Our Peru trips are all-inclusive, crafted with the intent of providing you with an unforgettable adventure travel experience.

*More info. on pricing

More questions? Read more about pricing here

Start dates

Custom dates are available every month, except February (when the Inca trail closes for archaeological/ecological maintenance).

To inquire about a custom date,
please contact us!

Duration

Starts at 6 Days / 5 Nights  (hiking on the Inca Trail for 1 Day) 

Accommodations

Relax in comfort & luxury

max. group size

No minimum or maximum

*All Private Groups

ACTIVITY LEVEL

Easy*

6 Day / 5 Night Trip Daily Overview

Sample Trip Itinerary

Custom trip itineraries are available for any size group. Please contact us for a complete detailed itinerary.

Inca Trail Express Route map

Want more information? Download a detailed itinerary.

Itineraries include detailed descriptions of each day, tips on travel arrangements, regional highlights, and more. It’s the perfect resource to help you choose!

Request Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Cusco, Peru

Bienvenidos a Peru! Upon arrival at Cusco International Airport, you will be greeted by a member of our team. Experience the scenery and history in the beautiful capital city of Cusco as you are then transported to your hotel. This afternoon and evening, after settling in to your hotel, you will have free time to explore this extraordinary high-altitude city (~11,000 feet / ~3,350 meters above sea level). Later, you will enjoy dinner with a special VIP guest at one of our favorite restaurants in Cusco. Additionally, your guide will coordinate with you to provide a detailed pre-trek Inca Trail Express briefing on Day 1.

Accommodations: Novotel Cusco, Belmond Palacio Nazarenas, or Palacio del Inka

Day 2: Cusco

After a hearty breakfast, embark on a private half-day tour of Cusco. Discover this UNESCO World Heritage Site’s highlights by van and on foot. Visit the archaeological sites of Sacsayhuaman, Tambomachay, Pukapukara, and Q’enqo, and explore the Cusco Cathedral and Qorikancha temple. Experience the unique blend of ancient and modern Cusco, where traditional attire and bustling city life intersect. Enjoy the rest of the day exploring the city and savoring its culinary delights at your leisure.

Accommodations: Novotel Cusco, Belmond Palacio Nazarenas, or Palacio del Inka

Day 3: Sacred Valley Tour

After breakfast, embark on a full-day tour of Maras, Moray, and Ollantaytambo with a restaurant or picnic lunch. Begin with a visit to Moray, an ancient agricultural site with circular terraces designed to create diverse microclimates for crop experimentation. Next, enjoy a picnic lunch amid stunning mountain scenery. Explore Maras, known for its striking salt ponds where locals mine salt from thousands of colorful terraces. Learn about traditional salt extraction and taste the renowned Maras salt. In the afternoon, visit Ollantaytambo, a town preserving its original Inca street layout. Climb the terraces of the Inca fortress for breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. Return to your accommodation for dinner and rest before starting the Inca Express trail tomorrow.

Accommodations: Casa Andina Premium Valle Sagrado Hotel & Villas, Sol y Luna, or Tambo del Inka

Day 4: Inca Trail Express Hike

After breakfast, we will meet our private transportation and head to the town of Ollantaytambo, where we’ll board the train. The train will chug alongside the Urubamba River in the Sacred Valley; we’ll see a noticeable change in our surroundings as we enter the verdant and misty cloud forest of the Machu Picchu Sanctuary. We’ll disembark at KM104 and cross a hanging bridge that spans the mighty river, and visit the ruins of Chachabamba, which is believed to have been a spiritual center dedicated to water deities. Now it’s a 3-hour ascent to a second important spiritual center, Wiñay Wayna. These ruins are built into a steep slope on the way up to the Sun Gate. After we explore for a bit, we’ll cut across the ridge above Machu Picchu to reach Inti Punku, Gate of the Sun. This is a dramatic moment, as we look down on the magnificent Machu Picchu ruins spread out far below, gaining a glimpse into a mystical, forgotten world. We’ll spend the night in a hotel in the village of Machu Picchu.

Daily trekking distance: approximately 7.3 miles / 11.7 kilometers (i.e. ~6 hours of hiking)

Accommodations: El Mapi, Belmond Sanctuary Lodge, or Machu Picchu Pueblo

Day 5: Machu Picchu

Now that you have experienced the beautiful Inca Trail, you will hike Huayna Picchu in the morning which will be followed by lunch. Then you will have time to explore the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu (7,972 feet / 2,430 meters above sea level) on a three-hour guided tour. As part of the enhanced experience, you will do the Circuit 2 tour route (the longer route through the citadel). Having the privilege of wandering the various sectors and entering some of the houses and temples will really bring this iconic site to life and leave you with a sense of reverence and awe for what the Inca were able to achieve so long ago. This will be followed by an option of either a standard scenic train ride or a luxury train ride on the Hiram Bingham to Ollantaytambo Station. From there, you will be transported by private vehicle to your hotel in Cusco.

Accommodations: Novotel Cusco, Belmond Palacio Nazarenas, or Palacio del Inka

Day 6: Final Day in Peru

Today you will enjoy your last morning in Peru before being transferred by private vehicle from your hotel to Cusco International Airport for your flight home.

Accommodations: N/A

Create your OWN Unique Experience

Customizing Your Peru Adventure

Are you interested in another activity or destination in Peru? Planning to spend extra time in the region, or interested in specific travel dates? Want to visit Rainbow Mountain, or experience the culinary delights of Lima? Perhaps you would like to spend more time in the Scared Valley? No problem. As experts in tailored trip planning, we can weave your interests and your timeframe into our customizable itineraries so that every detail of your extraordinary trip unfolds precisely the way you want it to. Click the options below to learn more:

While in/around Sacred Valley, you can choose to add on one or several of the following activities:

  • Maras Salt Mines
  • Urubamba
  • Pisac
  • Moray
  • Huchuy Cusco
  • Ollantaytambo
  • Classic Inca Trail
  • Chinchero
  • Salkantay Trail
  • Lamay Community
  • Amaru Community

In addition to their time in Peru, many travelers choose to add in other nearby destinations to their trips, including (but not limited to) some of the following:

  • Lima
  • Amazon Jungle
  • Lake Titicaca
  • Paracas
  • Arequipa
  • Huacachina
  • Nazca

With The Explorer’s Passage, you can choose between a wide variety of trips all throughout South America and Antarctica as noted below:

  • Argentina 
  • Galápagos Islands
  • Chile
  • Bolivia
  • Brazil
  • Uruguay
  • Paraguay
  • Antarctica
  • Columbia

Contact us today to get started customizing your dream trip to Peru!

Hear what travelers are saying:

5-Star Review Average on TripAdvisor! Read More >
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“Our family of six worked with Jeff and Sarah at The Explorers Passage to plan our visit to Machu Picchu, specifically the Inca Trail Express. TEP is an invaluable partner in handling all logistics including permits, transportation, entry passes, accommodations, itinerary and most importantly a local guide. Our guide, Neptali, was the absolute BEST and we thoroughly enjoyed our time with him. He made all the difference. Jeff and Sarah provided all the pre-trip support and guidance to ensure our trip was a success, and on-the-ground support if needed. They went above and beyond to make recommendations for our time in Cusco too. Our trip was flawless thanks to their organization. Our experience with TEP exceeded all expectations. We highly recommend using them for your next adventure!”
– Caroline C.
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“We cannot praise The Explorer’s Passage enuf! We had a trip/experience of a lifetime on their Machu Picchu and Inca Trail adventure. The planning process was a breeze, the pre-hike necessary conditioning was well explained, arriving in Cusco and finding our guide and driver was easy, the Cusco City tours were fabulous and the trek was utterly AMAZING! Our Guide Neptali was the BEST. He is very knowledgeable, he’s kind, he’s funny, and he is calm and takes charge in a crisis. The porters and the chefs were wonderful. It was all around a 5 star experience. Definitely recommend this adventure!”
– Angie P.
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“From the moment we contacted Explorer’s Passage to discuss our Inca Trail Adventure, we knew we were working with an exemplary company, we had a fabulous experience with everyone involved, particularly the owner Jeff Bonaldi. There was not one thing I would change about this trip…..the accommodations, the transportation, the drivers, the restaurants, the porters, the guides (Wilbur was the kindest, smartest, most interesting guide and his Quechuan heritage and pride contributed so much to our experience of this amazing culture)…I could go on and on. Book with Explorer’s Passage…you will receive top-notch attention and advice and be in excellent hands throughout your adventure. We hope to book further adventures with Explorer’s Passage.”
– Cindy M.
relax in comfort and luxury

Trip Accommodations

Each night you can relax in the comfort and luxury of 5+ Star premium accommodations – featuring some of the finest resorts in Peru. Alternatively, 3.5 / 4 Star and 5 Star hotel packages can be reserved instead (see below).

5+ Star Accommodations

Belmond Palacio Nazarenas | Cusco, Peru

Bedding down in a former convent isn’t necessarily what you might expect. Lovingly restored, 17th-century architecture gives each artistic room and suite a distinctly colonial feel. Recline on a four-poster bed splashed with hand-embroidered silk coverlets. Bathe beneath hand-painted frescos using soap perfumed by the Palacio’s own flowers. Some suites feature original Inca stonework; others boast balconies with hypnotic views of Cusco’s distant, mist-wrapped mountains. 

Belmond Palacio Nazarenas website

Belmond Sanctuary Lodge | Aguas Calientes, Peru

Sitting in the shadows of the Lost City, our lodge is an oasis of calm before or after a day exploring Machu Picchu. Unwind with a yoga session, take part in a traditional shaman ceremony in the garden, or sip muña tea in the Tampu Bar. Tranquility, wonder and beauty are at the heart of our unique experience. Cool botanical fabrics are offset by cherry-colored woods. King-sized beds provide space to unwind. Outside your windows, the mountains ripple into the distance.Signature dishes like a Jungle Landscape salad or Sacred Valley grilled trout evoke the Andean setting. Take a seat and let our authentic menu kickstart your Peruvian adventure.

Belmond Sanctuary Lodge website

Sol y Luna | Urubamba, Peru

Each of their forty-three casitas is surrounded by gardens filled with flora native to the Sacred Valley and all face the Andes Mountains where the Incas believed their gods dwelled. Within each sanctuary, an outdoor terrace leads into the high ceilinged living space with terra cotta tile floors and some of our favorite Sacred Valley artifacts, Spanish colonial style furniture, a king size bed or two double beds made with goose feather duvets and Peruvian pima cotton sheets, and a spacious marble bathroom with deep soak bathtub.

Sol y Luna website

5 Star Accommodations

Palacio del Inka | Cusco, Peru

Located in the heart of Cusco, Palacio del Inka is walking distance to shopping, restaurants, and museums. It is also located across from the Koricancha, the most sacred temple in the Inca Empire. The spacious rooms are exquisitely appointed, combining Peruvian art, handcrafted furnishings, as well as state-of-the-art technology. The on-site restaurant, Inti Raymi, serves particularly authentic Andean specialties, with ingredients organically grown in the Sacred Valley. Take advantage of the full service spa that draws on the ancient healing mysticism of the Andes.

One of the finest hotels in Peru and part of Starwood Resorts’ Luxury Collection, the Palacio del Inka is a 16th century mansion once occupied by Gonzalo Pizarro, half-brother of Francisco Pizarro (the Spanish conquistador who conquered Peru).

Palacio del Inka website

Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo | Aguas Calientes, Peru

Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel is an intimate Andean village with terraced hills, waterfalls, stone pathways and 83 whitewashed adobe casitas tucked away in the cloud forest. The property has 12 acres of exquisite natural beauty, where 214 bird species – such as the golden-headed quetzal and the iconic Andean cock-of-the-rock – as well as the world’s largest native orchid collection (372 species) have been registered. The hotel also features an on-site restaurant overlooking the river, as well as a relaxing spa and sauna.

Additionally, the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Resort was rated the #3 hotel in Central and South America in Travel and Leisure’s 2015 World’s Best Awards.

Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo website

Tambo del Inka | Urubamba, Peru

Escape to a luxurious and mystical journey at Tambo del Inka, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa. This hotel in Peru is nestled in the heart of the Sacred Valley and stands as a doorway to the vast cultural richness of this region. You’ll love lingering in your elegantly designed hotel room or suite with mesmerizing views of the Andes and the Vilcanota River from a private balcony. Savor the dining options available, with on-site restaurants featuring organic ingredients and local products.

Tambo del Inka website

3.5 / 4 Star Accommodations

Novotel | Cusco, Peru

The centrally located Novotel Cusco hotel is the perfect base for exploring this historic city and its surrounding wonders. Nestled in the heart of Cusco, the hotel seamlessly blends colonial charm with modern comforts. The architecture reflects a harmonious fusion of old and new, and this unique style extends into the spacious, elegantly appointed rooms, each equipped with free Wi-Fi to keep you connected during your stay. After a day of adventuring through the vibrant streets and ancient ruins of Cusco, unwind in the serene ambiance of the hotel’s lush courtyard. Relax under the shade of the canopy on the patio of this beautifully restored colonial house while sipping a traditional coca tea.

Novotel website

El Mapi | Aguas Calientes, Peru

Step into the smart, contemporary and cozy confines of El Mapi, amidst the picturesque Machu Picchu Pueblo. Discover an efficient, lively and friendly atmosphere, welcoming guests expecting an unfussy, down-to-earth break. The flowing lobby creates a sense of vitality. Lofty ceilings, panoramic windows and an open café allow natural light to filter between tall eucalyptus dried branches, creating an ambience of order and wellbeing. Relax in a pleasant and wholesome ambience after your enlightening visit to Peru’s most famous destination: the Machu Picchu archaeological site!

El Mapi website

Casa Andina Premium Valle Sagrado Hotel & Villas | Urubamba, Peru

The hotel is located in the Sacred Valley of Cusco. It’s only a 30-minute bus drive away from the City of Cusco. It’s a cozy environment in the middle of the Urubamba Valley. Ideal if you want to relax and be close to the main tourist attractions of the valley. Alma Restaurant & Bar offers a breakfast buffet and a wide range of dishes. The hotel has games for children and they can also feed the sheep. The hotel organizes “pachamancas” [traditional Peruvian dish made with the aid of hot stones, of lamb, mutton, pork, chicken or guinea pig, marinated in spices].

Casa Andina Premium Valle Sagrado Hotel & Villas website

we’re always happy to help

Frequently Asked Questions

The Inca Trail Express route is a one-day hike that ends at the UNESCO site of Machu Picchu deep in the Peruvian Andes. This trek starts at a location known as KM 104. To get to KM 104, you take a car from Cusco to Ollanta Station, then you board a train to KM 104. The trek is approximately 7.3 miles (11.7 km) long.

Yes. At the end of the Inca Trail Express Hike you enter into Machu Picchu via Inti Punku (Gate of the Sun). Our Classic Machu Picchu Adventure package also includes a guided tour of this famous site, as well as a hike up Huayna Picchu.

The Inca Trail Express starts at KM 104 which is near the starting point of the final day of the Classic Inca Trail hike. This route ends when you reach Machu Picchu.

The Sun Gate, or Inti Punku, is the most famous entry point to Machu Picchu. Archaeologists believe it was reserved for the most important nobles and royalty during the Incan period, and was heavily fortified for that reason. Today, it marks the finale of both the Inca Trail Express and the Classic Inca Trail routes. Trekkers pass through the Sun Gate on the last day of hiking and catch their first glimpse of the Machu Picchu citadel.

The Inca Trail Express hike isn’t as demanding as the Classic Inca Trail route, mainly because it takes just a single day and doesn’t involve any backcountry camping whatsoever. That said, the route does traverse more than 10,000 feet (3,048 m) above sea level, which means you’ll need to be acclimatized properly.

There are plenty of things to do in Cusco. The city was once the capital of the Incan Empire and is now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its mix of ancient monuments and grand Spanish colonial architecture. You’ll certainly want to explore the nearby archaeology sites of Sacsayhuaman and Pukapukara, and be sure to take some time to wander the Plaza de Armas. That’s home to the lovely Cusco Cathedral and many wonderful restaurants and shops.

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Trip Support

MACHU PICCHU TRIP Support

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