Sky Lodge & Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

Venture into one of Peru's most breathtaking places: the Sacred Valley, where you will explore the beautiful Peruvian Andes with a day tour. First, you will visit the historic town of Chinchero (3,762 m, 12,342 ft) and a site that presents exceptional expressions of stonemasonry in the midst of a town that keeps ancient traditions ancestral customs alive. It was constructed by Tupac Inca Yupanqui around 1480 and consists of a collection of architectural spaces: pre-Columbian walls, enclosures, platforms, staircases and altars. The center of Chinchero is also unique because it mixes an archaeological complex within a town made from Inca foundations and walls.

Next, you’ll head to the fascinating circular ruins of Moray. While some think it was a landing pad for alien spaceships, it’s more likely is that the Incas built it as an experimental agricultural centre. Concentric circular terraces allowed them to simulate different facing slopes and different growing temperatures to see what crops would grow where.

Following Moray, we’ll venture deeper into the Urubamba valley to a precious gem that’s off the beaten path to the hordes of people visiting Machu Picchu every day: The Maras Salt mines, or salt evaporation ponds. A myriad of salt crusted terraces precariously nestle against the steep mountain sides, while a steady stream of mineral rich water trickles down with a silent gargling that somehow defies time. The ponds have been in use since the Inca times and before, and they are what make Maras truly unique.

Finally, you will visit the impressive fortress of Ollantaytambo (2,792 m/9,160 ft). These magnificent ancient ruins provide a great vantage point over the Sacred Valley. Originally the royal estate of Emperor Pachacuti during the Inca Empire, this site later served as a stronghold for Manco Inca Yupanqui in the final resistance effort against the Spanish conquistadors.

You will stop for lunch on route to Ollantaytmbo (not included) at a buffet restaurant offering a variety of Peruvian and international foods near the town of Urubamba.

Your day will ultimately conclude at Pachar, a little community near the town of Ollantaytambo, where your Sky Lodge adventure begins! First, you’ll need to rock climb your way up the mountain cliff. While it might sound challenging (no experience is needed), the climbing up and down from the hotel is an experience itself! To get up to the capsule-hotel, you will go through a via-ferrata, or a designated climbing path equipped with cables, stakes and embedded rungs. When you leave, you can either go back the way you came, or by ziplining! The views from the pods are incredible at night as well as in the daytime - they're perfect for stargazing.

For dinner, you will enjoy a gourmet meal served in your panoramic hanging capsule. From within, you can admire the amazing view of the valley and the stunning night sky.

• Meals: Breakfast

• Accommodation: Sky Lodge

• Lowest elevation: 3,400 m/11,154 ft

• Highest elevation: 3,700 m/12,139 ft

• Tour duration: 5-6 hours

• Difficulty: Moderate

Enjoy a delicious coffee this morning before breakfast while enjoying the wonderful view.

After breakfast, we’ll reach the top of the circuit where we start the exciting zip-lining downhill from one line to another for about 2 hours. Once that adventure concludes and we reach the bottom of the valley, we'll head to Ollantaytambo, where your 2-day, 1-night Short Inca Trail journey begins. We’ll take the train from Ollantaytambo to KM 104, where the Inca Trail starts.

The valley turns into a canyon and the scenery begins to change as the cloud forests appear on our approach to the city of Machu Picchu. We will disembark the train at Km 104 and start the hike along a challenging 3-hour uphill trail. This trek is short and manageable.

The ancient Inca Trail takes us uphill all the way to the magnificent archaeological Inca site of Wiñay Wayna, a Quechua name meaning “forever young.” This ruin is built into a steep hillside overlooking the Urubamba River and valley, and it consists of upper and lower housing complexes connected by a staircase and fountain structures. Above and below the houses, the man-made agricultural terraces are still visible today. Wiñay Wayna will be also the perfect spot to enjoy our delicious boxed lunch, with incredible views of the massive green mountains and orchids.

After lunch, the trail gets a little easier and continues all the way to the famous Sun Gate (2,720 m / 8,920 ft), where we arrive at Machu Picchu through its real main entrance. Here, we will have our first glimpse of the marvelous city. We’ll take the bus down to the town of Aguas Calientes (2,040 m / 6,691 ft), where you will check into your hotel. Dinner will be at a great local restaurant in town (drinks not included).

• Meals: Breakfast/Box Lunch/Dinner

• Accommodation: Hotel

• Lowest Elevation: 2,040 m / 6,691 ft

• Highest Elevation: 2,720 m / 8,920 ft

• Distance to walk: 13 km/8 miles

• Approximate walking time: 6-8 hours

• Difficulty: Moderate 

We will catch an early bus up to the magnificent city of Machu Picchu to enjoy the city at a quieter time of day when there are fewer people. After the 25-minute bus ride (2,430 m/7,972 ft), your expert tour guide will lead you in a walking tour of Machu Picchu. The guided tour has an average duration of 2 hours.

Afterward, you will still have some time to explore other places you did not see with your guide. If you think you’ll want an additional uphill challenge, you have the option to climb the mountain of Huayna Picchu as well. (Huayna Picchu reservations need to be made in advance and are not included in the trek price.)

At the end of your visit, you will take the bus down to Aguas Calientes for lunch and then board the train to Ollantaytambo. On arrival, you will be met by private transport and you’ll return to your hotel in Cusco (2-hour drive).

• Meals: Breakfast

• Accommodations: Hotel

• Lowest Elevation: 2,040 m/6,691 ft

• Highest Elevation: 2,430 m/7,972 ft

• Difficulty: Easy

After breakfast at your hotel, one of our representatives will meet you at your hotel and take you to the airport for your journey home or on to your next destination.

• Meal: Breakfast

Note: This itinerary is subject to change without prior notice according to weather conditions, strikes, roadblocks, or other events which are beyond our control. At Action Treks Peru we will always do our best to follow the itinerary as closely as possible.