Pre-Trek Briefing (6:30 pm, Machu Picchu Team Office, Cusco)
The day before starting the trek, a briefing is held at 6:30 pm at our office in Cusco, where you’ll meet your guide and the rest of your group. During this session, your guide will cover the technical details of the trek, confirm exact pick-up times, and hand out your printed train tickets and Machu Picchu entry tickets. You’ll also receive your duffel bag, in which you can pack up to 7 kg of personal belongings to be carried by horses, and your guide will explain how to store any extra luggage with Machu Picchu Team. You only need to bring your passport for check-in — no other items are required. After the briefing, you can settle any outstanding balance on your tour and rent trekking poles if you haven’t already booked them.
Transportation from Cusco to Santa Teresa
Transportation from Cusco to Santa Teresa is included. You’ll travel with your group and guide in a comfortable, safe vehicle departing from the Machu Picchu Team office, ensuring a smooth start to your adventure.
Duffel Bag Service (7 kg)
At the briefing, you’ll receive a duffel bag for up to 7 kg of personal belongings. Our team transports these bags by vehicle throughout the trip, so they’re waiting for you at each campsite — letting you hike with just your daypack. At the end of the trek, you can leave the duffel bag at our Cusco office for pick-up.
Professional Tour Guide Included
The trek is led by certified professional guides experienced in mountain excursions, including the Llactapata route specifically. Your guide accompanies you throughout the trek and also leads your Machu Picchu tour, following the circuit and schedule on your ticket. Guides carry a first aid kit and an oxygen tank for emergencies, and are fluent in both English and Spanish.
Zipline in Lucmabamba Included
The Lucmabamba zipline is fully included in your trek. After arriving in Santa Teresa, you’ll cross 5 cables spanning breathtaking landscapes, plus a thrilling suspension bridge crossing — an exciting addition to your adventure.
Round-Trip Transportation for the Zipline and Hot Springs
Round-trip transportation to the zipline activity and the Santa Teresa hot springs is included, ensuring smooth, hassle-free transfers between activities.
Overnight Accommodations
- Night 1 – Sky Star Crystal Domes: Spend your first night in our exclusive Sky Star Glass Domes, featuring transparent panoramic walls and ceilings that offer spectacular views of the surrounding mountains, natural landscape, and night sky. Each dome is equipped with a comfortable mattress, pillow, and sleeping bag to ensure a warm and restful stay. The domes are normally arranged for two guests but are spacious enough to accommodate groups of three or four travelers who wish to stay together.
- Night 2 – Hotel in Aguas Calientes: Your final night is spent in a comfortable hotel in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo), giving you time to rest before visiting Machu Picchu the next morning. Rooms include a private bathroom, hot shower, Wi-Fi, towels, and basic toiletries. Rooms are typically arranged for two guests, with triple or family rooms available for those who wish to stay together, subject to availability.
Meals Included
The trek includes 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 2 dinners, prepared by our chefs who accompany the group throughout the journey. Meals are made with fresh, high-quality ingredients, designed to be nutritious and energizing to keep you fueled for the trek.
Vegetarian and Vegan Dining
We offer vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options at no additional cost — just let us know your dietary preferences when booking.
Machu Picchu Entrance Ticket Included
Your Machu Picchu entry ticket is included, and we secure the best available circuit at the time of booking:
- First preference: Circuit 2 (Llaqta Machu Picchu / Classic Route 2-A), which includes the iconic panoramic viewpoint and covers about 70% of the citadel.
- Second option: Circuit 2-B (Lower Terrace), which also includes the classic viewpoint and covers about 60% of the citadel.
- If neither is available, we’ll book the best alternative circuit available.
We recommend booking 3 to 4 months in advance to increase your chances of securing Circuit 2-A or 2-B.
Machu Picchu Guided Tour
Your package includes a professional guided tour of Machu Picchu lasting approximately 1 to 2 hours, depending on the entrance time and official circuit assigned to your ticket. The guiding service is included regardless of your circuit or schedule, even if you purchased your Machu Picchu entrance ticket independently. Depending on the regulations of your assigned route, you may also have up to 30 minutes to enjoy the scenery and take photographs from the authorized areas before leaving the citadel.
Return Trip from Machu Picchu
- Train option: Trains typically depart at 2:30 pm, 2:55 pm, or 3:20 pm, depending on availability. You can reach the station on foot (about 1 hour) or by bus ($12), with time beforehand to explore Aguas Calientes and have lunch. Plan to arrive at the station at least 30 minutes before departure. The train to Ollantaytambo takes about 1.5 hours; from there, a Machu Picchu Team transfer takes you back to Cusco by car (about 2 hours), dropping you off at Plaza Regocijo around 6:30 pm.
- Car option: This route begins with a 3-hour hike from Machu Picchu to the Hidroeléctrica station, starting no later than 11:00 am — a 30–40 minute descent followed by 1.5–2 hours of flat walking along the train tracks. Plan to reach Hidroeléctrica by 2:30 pm to catch the 3:00 pm car. The drive back to Cusco takes 6–7 hours, arriving around 10:00 pm at Plaza Regocijo.
Free Luggage Storage
Machu Picchu Team offers complimentary luggage storage for any items you don’t take on the trek, at our office one block from the Plaza de Armas in Cusco. You can drop off your bags the day before or the morning the trek begins, since the vehicle to the trailhead stops by the office to collect them. Storage is available daily, including Sundays, from 4:00 am to 10:00 pm; for security reasons, access outside these hours isn’t available.
Emergency Provisions
For your safety, every guide carries an oxygen bottle and a fully stocked first aid kit, ready to assist at any point during the trek.
End of Tour
The tour concludes at the Machu Picchu Team office in Cusco, where you can pick up any luggage left in storage. Arrival times back in Cusco depend on your return option: approximately 9:00–10:00 pm for the car route, or around 7:00 pm for the train route.
