Cusco - Machu Picchu - Cusco
This day is designed for travelers who want to see the citadel in a single day without giving up comfort. It starts very early, with pickup at your hotel in Cusco (3,399 m) and the drive through the Sacred Valley to Ollantaytambo station. There you board the Vistadome Observatory, a panoramic train with wide windows, a glass ceiling and an observatory car that turns the journey through the Urubamba valley into part of the show, between mountains, terraces and the river that marks the way.
On arriving in Aguas Calientes, the town at the foot of the citadel, you ride the bus up the Hiram Bingham road to the entrance of Machu Picchu, at 2,430 m. Inside, your professional bilingual guide leads you through the main sectors, following one of the site's official circuits. Visits are organized by circuits and entry is subject to availability, so booking early is key, especially in high season, when spots sell out fast.
With your guide's explanations about the history, the architecture and the meaning of this Inca sanctuary, you'll understand why it is one of the wonders of the world. After the guided part you have time for photos and to explore on your own before starting back. Then you ride the bus down to Aguas Calientes, take the Expedition train back to Ollantaytambo and from there we drive you to your hotel in Cusco at the end of the day, completing the full experience without spending a night outside the city.
