Lares Trek + Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 3D/2N | Ipsay Pass + Sun Gate

You’ll wake up early and take the train to Kilometer 104, the starting point of the Short Inca Trail. Begin with a visit to Chachabamba (starting altitude 2,100 m / 6,900 ft), then hike gradually upward through historic Inca paths as the scenery shifts into cloud forest and opens onto views of the Urubamba Valley. You’ll reach Wiñay Wayna, one of the most impressive sites on the route, famous for its agricultural terraces and dramatic mountainside location. After a boxed lunch, continue to Inti Punku (2,730 m / 8,792 ft), the highest point of the hike and the iconic gateway where you’ll enjoy your first unforgettable panoramic view of Machu Picchu. You’ll then descend to Aguas Calientes to rest for the citadel visit the next day.
Hiking distance: 10 km (6.3 miles). Difficulty: moderate.

You’ll take the bus up to the entrance of Machu Picchu and walk 15 minutes to the main viewpoint to begin the visit with a stunning perspective of the sanctuary. Explore temples, terraces and the Inca quarry while your guide explains the history and meaning of this sacred site, connecting what you experienced in Lares and on the Inca Trail to the grandeur of the citadel. You can also add the Machu Picchu stamp to your passport as a souvenir. At midday, you’ll start the return journey by train and ground transport back to Cusco, ending an unforgettable mountain adventure.