Cusco, Peru: Machu Picchu Guided Visit w/Lunch. After breakfast at the hotel, meet your driver for a quick transfer to Ollanta Train Station and board the train to Aguas Calientes. Along the way, soak in the landmarks of the Sacred Valley, including the famous hanging bridge marking the start of the Inca Trail. As the train hugs the Urubamba River, also known as the Vilcanota, it winds through a canyon and descends to Aguas Calientes, the town nestled at the foot of Machu Picchu Mountain.
From the station, join your guide on a minibus up the winding road to Machu Picchu, the Sacred Citadel of the Incas and one of the New Wonders of the World. This breathtaking marvel of pre-Hispanic engineering reveals itself slowly, chosen by Inca Pachacutec as a royal retreat and place of reverence for his mummified remains. Known as the “Old Mountain,” Machu Picchu is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its beauty is unmatched by any title.
As you explore, marvel at the granite buildings that seem to rise organically from the mountainside, blending with the Andean landscape. Wander through the site, perhaps stopping at the Royal Mausoleum, following the path to the Inca Bridge, or climbing the steps to reach Intihuatana. Or just pause to take in the views, encircled by the Urubamba and with Mount Salkantay standing sentinel in the southeast.
After a well-paced guided tour, we’ll enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before boarding the train back to Cusco. Upon arrival, you’ll be transferred to your hotel.
