Trip Details
Tour Overview:
- Price: US$210.00 per person
- Duration: 2 Days / 1 Night
- Difficulty: Moderate Medium
- Departure: Daily
- Type: Walking tour
- Group: Shared
- Travel Guide
- About us
- Inca Trail Availability
- Payments
- best
Inca Jungle Treks
Discover Machu Picchu by Car and Train: A 2-Day, 1-Night Adventure
Experience an affordable yet unforgettable journey to Machu Picchu with this 2-day, 1-night tour. Combining car travel and a scenic train ride, this circuit offers breathtaking landscapes and a low-cost route to the ancient citadel, making it an ideal choice for travelers seeking both comfort and adventure.
Tour Overview:
As dawn breaks over Cusco, your adventure begins. At 6:00 AM, you’ll be greeted and picked up from your hotel or Airbnb, setting the tone for an exciting journey ahead. By 6:15 AM, you’re on a shared tourist vehicle, leaving Cusco behind and heading toward the Hydroelectric. The road unfolds with striking vistas of the Andes, guiding you through traditional villages and lush valleys.
After a scenic drive, lunchtime arrives around 1:00 PM. You pause to savor a meal, refueling before continuing the journey. By mid-afternoon, you reach the Hydroelectric site. Energized from lunch, you lace up your hiking boots and set off on a three-hour trek through the verdant landscape, gradually ascending toward Aguas Calientes.
As the sun begins to set, approximately by 6:00 PM, you arrive in Aguas Calientes. The town greets you with its warm, welcoming charm. You make your way to the main square near the revered Inca statue, where your guide awaits. Together, you head to your assigned accommodation. By 7:00 PM, you gather for a communal dinner, sharing stories and tips for the next day’s adventure.
The second day dawns with anticipation. At 6:00 AM, you enjoy a hearty breakfast in Aguas Calientes, preparing for the journey ahead. By 7:00 AM, you set out on foot, ascending from the town toward the legendary Machu Picchu. The trail leads you through misty paths and ancient stone steps as you approach the citadel.
Arriving around 9:00 AM, you meet your guide at Machu Picchu. For the next two hours, they unravel the mysteries of this ancient sanctuary, pointing out awe-inspiring architectural feats and sharing tales of Incan life. After the guided exploration, you have free time to wander, photograph, and fully absorb the majesty of Machu Picchu.
When midday approaches, you begin the return walk to Aguas Calientes, retracing the steps that brought you here, soaking in the natural beauty one last time. With some free time in Aguas Calientes to relax or explore, you prepare for the journey back. At 6:20 PM, you board the train for an expedition from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo. The rhythmic clack of the train tracks accompanies a scenic ride through the mountains, and by 8:05 PM you arrive at Ollantaytambo.
From Ollantaytambo, a shared tourist transport whisks you back to Cusco, and by approximately 9:30 PM, you find yourself back in the heart of the city, filled with memories of an extraordinary adventure.
The group service for the Machu Picchu by Train and Car 2-Day Tour delivers a budget-friendly shared experience for explorers eager to connect with fellow adventurers. Designed for groups of 8 to 15 participants, it includes coordinated pickup from Cusco hotels, shared tourist vehicles to the Hydroelectric trailhead, a guided three-hour hike to Aguas Calientes, overnight accommodation in a standard hotel, a two-hour guided tour of Machu Picchu, and return via train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo with bus transfer back to Cusco. This setup ensures reliable logistics, cultural insights from an English-speaking guide, and communal meals, all while promoting eco-conscious group travel with controlled environmental impact.
| Service Type | Price per Person (USD) |
|---|---|
| Group Service (8-15 people) | 350 |
The private service transforms the Machu Picchu by Train and Car 2-Day Tour into an exclusive, all-inclusive escape customized for your group’s pace and preferences. It provides dedicated transportation in a private vehicle from Cusco to the Hydroelectric site, a personal guide for the hike and Machu Picchu exploration, upscale lodging in Aguas Calientes, and priority train seating with seamless transfers. Benefits encompass flexible scheduling to avoid crowds, in-depth historical narratives tailored to interests, enhanced safety with undivided staff attention, and superior comfort through gourmet meals and premium amenities, making it perfect for families or couples seeking intimacy amid the Inca wonders.
| Number of People | Price per Person (USD) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 750 |
| 2 | 500 |
| 3 | 450 |
| 4 | 420 |
| 5 | 400 |
| 6+ | 380 |
Bookings for groups of 6 or more on private services earn a 10% discount, aligning with agency incentives to foster larger party explorations. Students under 25 with valid ID receive a 15% reduction on group tours, a common perk to encourage young travelers’ access to Peru’s heritage sites.
Enhance your 2-Day Tour with direct access to the Inca citadel, incorporating guided hikes, train journeys, and circuit explorations. These add-ons include entry fees and round-trip bus from Aguas Calientes, priced as extras per person.
Trains deliver a mesmerizing rail passage through the Sacred Valley’s canyons and rivers to Aguas Calientes, blending comfort with Andean vistas. PeruRail and IncaRail provide options from Ollantaytambo (1.5 hours) or Cusco via bimodal (bus-train combo). Schedules suit early arrivals for optimal light at Machu Picchu. Prices are round-trip per person; add $50 for Cusco departures.
Gercetur’s circuits regulate foot traffic to safeguard Machu Picchu’s ruins, distributing visitors across paths that highlight Inca ingenuity in architecture and agriculture. Entry times range from 6 AM to 3 PM, with 2.5-4 hour visits; all include lower citadel access. Prices cover adult foreign entry; add $24 for round-trip bus. Discounts apply for students and children.
These upgrades pair citadel entry (Circuit 3) with ascents to sentinel peaks, unveiling 360-degree panoramas and spiritual Inca significance. Trails demand moderate fitness, with steep stairs and exposure; restricted to ages 12+ and 400 daily spots per mountain (Huayna Picchu) or 800 (Machu Picchu Mountain). Prices are additional to base entry; book early for slots.
Towering at 3,082 meters, this “Old Mountain” presents a gradual yet demanding climb through cloud forest, revealing expansive Urubamba Valley vistas and Inca watchposts, underscoring the site’s astronomical alignments. Less crowded than its counterpart, it emphasizes reflective solitude. Round-trip: 3-4 hours; elevation gain: 650 meters.
Peaking at 2,693 meters, the “Young Mountain” boasts a thrilling, vertiginous trail with sheer drops and the enigmatic Temple of the Moon cave, embodying Inca reverence for sacred heights. It grants the archetypal aerial postcard of Machu Picchu amid sheer cliffs. Round-trip: 2-3 hours; elevation gain: 260 meters.
What to Bring: Comfortable shoes, bathing suit, towel, rain poncho, sun hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, toiletries, snacks, and water.
Optional Services:
To qualify for the student discount on Inca Trail Permits, travelers must meet the following requirements:
Student IDs will not be accepted for the discount under the following conditions:
This information is crucial for travelers seeking to benefit from discounted permits for the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu.
“Imperial Travel Peru” is a 100% Peruvian-owned tour operator based in Cusco, with extensive experience in hiking, adventure tours, and customized travel packages. As a completely local company, we’re dedicated to providing travelers with authentic, high-quality experiences.
Our vision as a local company is to deliver personalized travel and hiking journeys, managed exclusively by experienced local professionals, with a strong focus on HIGH-QUALITY and PERSONALIZED SERVICE.
We are proud of our reputation as a travel agency that upholds RESPONSIBLE and SUSTAINABLE practices benefiting both the environment and local communities.
We treat our team like family and ensure they receive fair wages. We are incredibly proud of each member of our team! Their dedication makes it possible for us to provide the top-notch service that our many travelers appreciate.
At “Imperial Travel Peru,” we understand that our reputation and the feedback from our travelers are essential for gaining the trust of future adventurers. You can check out honest reviews from our guests on TripAdvisor, Facebook, and Google to see why we’re a reliable choice for creating your Peruvian adventure.
To ensure a more personalized experience at “Imperial Travel Peru,” we keep our group sizes to a maximum of 8 travelers. This approach allows us to offer a tailored experience, unlike companies that operate with larger groups.
Our guides are our pride. They’re highly knowledgeable and professional, fluent in English, and deeply passionate about Inca culture and history. Each guide is committed to ongoing personal and professional development, allowing them to share accurate insights and fascinating theories about Andean heritage. They are friendly, athletic, and well-educated, with backgrounds in Archaeology, Tourism, Botany, History, or Anthropology.
Hiking with “Imperial Travel Peru” ensures a fulfilling experience. Our porters are here to make your journey comfortable and memorable. They carry your equipment, prepare meals, set up camps, and attend to your needs so you can relax and enjoy the adventure. Along the way, you’ll connect with local people, explore stunning sites, and discover historic Inca villages.
We provide our porters with essential equipment at no cost: jackets, sun hats, warm hats, shirts, pants, hiking boots, comfortable bags, canteens, back support belts, sleeping bags, mattresses, and travel insurance. Our porters come from remote communities, and by hiring them, we help improve their economic conditions and support their children’s education. We treat our porters like family!
Our team—guides, cooks, porters, muleteers—and our equipment make “Imperial Travel Peru” stand out from the competition. During our hikes, we provide:
“Imperial Travel Peru” is committed to giving back to isolated communities. We support social projects and prioritize hiring local staff.
We are proud to support local communities not only by providing employment but also by offering assistance to their families. This holistic approach benefits our employees from the Peruvian Andes and their loved ones, strengthening our connection to the local heritage.
At Imperial Travel Peru, we believe every journey should be as unique as the traveler. Nestled in the heart of Peru, we specialize in curating unforgettable experiences that blend ancient history, vibrant culture, and breathtaking landscapes.
