The trip begins early in the morning with pickup at your hotel in Cusco. From there, you will be transferred by private van to the Ollantaytambo train station in the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

In the van, there is a mixture of nervousness and excitement. All of us travelers share the same expectation of reaching Machu Picchu on foot, even if we only have two days to do so.

Once at the station, we board the train that takes us to Km 104, the starting point of the short Inca Trail. Here we register at the access control point, show our permit, and, after a brief explanation from the guide, begin the hike.

The first stop is at the archaeological site of Chachabamba, an Inca ceremonial complex where the guide explains its importance in the Inca road network. From there, we begin a hike of approximately three hours, ascending along trails surrounded by subtropical vegetation, until we reach the impressive archaeological complex of Wiñay Wayna.

Wiñay Wayna is one of those places that simply takes your breath away. The perfectly preserved agricultural terraces and Inca houses clinging to the hillside are a clear testament to the architectural mastery of the Incas.

After exploring Wiñay Wayna, we take a break to enjoy our box lunch, recharging our batteries before the final stretch.

We continue our hike along an ancient trail that ascends to Intipunku, also known as the Sun Gate. The excitement upon arriving here is indescribable: from this point, you get your first panoramic view of Machu Picchu, an image that will remain etched in your memory forever.

From Intipunku, we descend to the citadel of Machu Picchu, where we have time to take the classic photo with the citadel in the background.

In the afternoon, we take the bus to the town of Aguas Calientes, where a comfortable hotel room awaits us to rest after the day’s exertions.