Inca Trail Express: 2-Day Journey to Machu Picchu

This short 2-day Inca Trail is perfect for those who wish to experience the famous Inca Trail to Machu Picchu but have little time, it allows you to visit the most magnificent ruins such as Chachabamba and Winawayna, and then enter on foot through the Sun Gate as the Incas did and have a guided tour of the famous Machu Picchu.

Duration: 2 days
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights

Cusco - Kilometer 104 - Aguas Calientes

Winay Wayna - Starting the 2-day Inca Trail hike from Cusco at 4:00 am, we embark on a scenic 1.5-hour drive to Ollantaytambo for breakfast, followed by a train ride to kilometer 104, the trail’s starting point. The 15km trek along the Classic Inca Trail through the Sacred Valley features Inca sites and a variety of flora. A highlight is visiting Winay Wayna, where we enjoy a mountain-view picnic. As we pass through a lush cloud forest, participants may spot various plants, flowers, and wildlife. Arriving at the Sun Gate in the afternoon offers stunning views of Machu Picchu with fewer tourists, perfect for photos. After capturing the iconic Guard House shot, a bus takes us to Aguas Calientes, where you have free time until dinner, with optional activities like a dip in the hot springs, ending the day with an overnight stay at the hotel.

Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Ollantaytambo - Cusco.

Machu Picchu - On the second day, the main attraction is the magical Machu Picchu experience. Starting with a hotel pick-up, you walk to the bus station for the 05:30 am departure to Machu Picchu, a scenic 30-minute ride. Upon arrival at the sanctuary, a passport and Machu Picchu checkpoint precedes a guided tour that delves into the history, geology, architecture, and biodiversity of this new wonder of the world. The visit lasts about 2 hours, followed by an optional hike to Huaynapicchu Mountain for those who have booked this separate entrance ticket at $65 per person. After returning to Aguas Calientes, lunch is provided before heading to the train station for the journey back to Ollantaytambo. Our driver will be waiting at Ollantaytambo to take you back to Cusco, with a drop-off at your hotel around 19:30.

What's Included
  • 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 2 dinners (vegetarian option available)
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
  • Access fees to the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(91 Ratings)
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_timwright1001
Sep 26, 2024
Great two day tour of Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. - We had an absolutely frantastic couple of days on the AB Tour to Moray, Maras, Ollantaytambo and Machu. Picchu. Our guide was Robbo and our driver, Mario. Everything was nicely timed and we knew exactly the times and places we would be collected and dropped. Robbo texted and called to confirm what was happening the night before travel and early morning before any pick up. A key feature this tour was early pick-ups which meant that when we arrived at the main sites we were ahead of the majority of tourists, so the sites were quiet, views were unimpaired and our photos were easy to take without other people blocking views. This was particularly true of Machu Picchu where we had very good early (~6 AM) site access. Robbo had great knowledge of the history of the sites, the people and the wider history and culture of Peru. We got great photos and Robbo was very helpful taking very good photos of us in the best locations. The timing of travel between sites (including the train to/from Agua Calientes) was kept tight but it always seemed relaxed the way Robbo and Mario organised things. We really enjoyed our two day tour of some incredible sites and our experience was certainly greatly enhanced by AB Tours fronted by Robbo and Mario. We would certainly recommend this to others.
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291dhavals
Sep 22, 2024
Sacred valley day tour. - Great experience on the sacred valley tour with Jonathan. He was very knowledgeable and patient in his demeanor. Highly recommend this tour
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Namitrs
Sep 22, 2024
Great experience - We did a Sacred valley tour with Jonathan and he was a great guide and had lot of knowledgeable information that he shared with us. Thanks a lot
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Kelly
Sep 21, 2024
Book with AB expeditions - Beautiful experience. Javier is an excellent guide and very knowledgeable about the mountain and Inca history. Would definitely recommend booking with ab expeditions. I have nothing bad to say about this experiences
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Peterev979gn
Sep 21, 2024
An amazing experience with a great guide and tour operator! - We can't say enough about this tour and especially about AB Expeditions. We had originally signed up for the four-day trek with friends, however because of a knee injury my wife suffered just two days before our departure we had to make a new plan. We called AB and they immediately set us up with a nurse who came to our AirB&B for an evaluation - the nurse was there in less than an hour... on a SUNDAY! When it was determined she would need more help, they transported her, by ambulance, to the hospital for an x-ray, consultation with a doctor, ordered a special knee brace to be delivered to her before she left the hospital and arranged for two 90 minute PT sessions. The total bill for all of this was $260 US. Amazing! AB Expeditions then scrambles to arrange a two-day trek for us and set it all up so we'd meet our friends exactly when they arrived from their four-day hike. The two-day trek is amazing, and has plenty of challenging hiking on the Inca Trail. While we didn't get to experience the camping part of the four-day, we did get to do part of the trial and it was manageable even with a slightly wonky knee. Our guide, Rosel, was excellent! As a former teacher he had great insights into the history and culture we were seeing and put it all into context that made the experience more worthwhile. Rosel has done over 940 of the 4 day treks and countless shorter hikes, so he really knows that trail. Further, he had an innate sense of our abilities on the path, sensing when we needed rest or just encouragement. One of the young staff set off at the same time we did (and promptly left us in the dust) so by the time we got to our lunch stop he had set out a remarkable spread, which set us up for the rest of the day of hiking. We saw other tour operators who seemed to have larger groups to herd and we could see that it was sometimes frustrating for both the hikers and the guides. For reference we are fit 60 year olds, each with a few joint issues. We trained for months for this trip and would encourage anyone our age to do the same - it's worth it. Bottom line: We had an amazing experience and can't say enough about the trip and this tour operator. Highly recommended!
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Daftlupin
Sep 19, 2024
Great visit to Machu Pichu with AB expeditions. - We did the 2 day hike to Machu Pichu and couldn’t be happier. A super well organised company, local owned and employing local people. The trip was magical and completely enhanced by our lovely, knowledgeable, brilliant guide, Amilcar. We had a delicious lunch half way round freshly prepared and very healthy and tasty. The two visits to MP were very different; one in full sunshine and one in cloud and rain! But good to see the place with such different atmospheres. We feel we learned a lot and have lots of great photos taken by Amilcar to take home Thoroughly recommend these guys!
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Johnathan
Sep 17, 2024
Once in a lifetime Experience - Our tour guide Jacob was excellent. Very knowledgeable, patient and made the Machu Pitchu experience come alive. Would highly recommend ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ +
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Michellehz4787nt
Sep 17, 2024
Inexperienced to informed! - Jacob was an exceptional guide on the Inca Trail, making our trek an unforgettable experience. His thoughtfulness was evident in every detail, from ensuring everyone was comfortable to arranging an impromptu birthday celebration at the restaurant we were eating at. I feel like we made a friend! Jacob's vast knowledge enriched my experience and I feel a greater understanding of the Incan culture. Moreover, his eye for capturing Instagram-worthy pictures allowed us to preserve our adventure with stunning, memorable photos. If you’re looking for an informative and engaging guide who goes above and beyond, Jacob is the perfect choice.
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Alinasb7179iq
Sep 16, 2024
Tour guide with photography skills! - My husband and I had a lovely trip to Machu Picchu. The tour company set us up with a fantastic tour guide, Giovanni Berdejo, who took excellent care of us. He escorted us the entire time and provided us with detailed and clear explanations of the history of Machu Picchu. He was an excellent tour guide. But on top of being an excellent tour guide, he took BEAUTIFUL photos of us the entire time. He knows his way around both android and iphone cameras and used settings I didn't even know existed on my phone camera. Some of our best pictures were taken by Giovanni. Thank you!
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Diljots613
Sep 13, 2024
Highly recommend - We had a very memorable and wonderful experience with AB expeditions. Our tour guide Bernie was very knowledgeable about the Inca trail, the culture of Peru and wildlife. We learnt so much helping us appreciate the experience a lot more. Samuel the cook made delicious food and went above and beyond to provide a wonderful lunch. Everything went perfectly with our experience, and it was a privilege to be able to explore the beautiful land.
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