One day Inca Trail Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley

The most famous trek in Peru is the Inca Trail, a five-day hike from Cusco that culminates at the ruins of Machu Picchu. But for those with scheduling constraints, there's one-day, abridged version of this trail that allows folks to experience all the stunning scenery in a mere 24 hours.

The tour starts early in the morning with a train from the town of Ollantaytambo, a couple hours from Cusco, to Km 104. The train ride affords stunning views of canyons and the Sacred Valley before the scenery changes into mountainous, semi-tropical cloud forest. Passengers will disembark the train at Km 104 and begin the approximately seven-hour hike along a challenging uphill path towards Machu Picchu.

The first archeological site on the route is Chachabamba, which the Incas used as a gatekeeping point for this entrance to Machu Picchu. Then it's a three-hour ascent to Wiñay Wayna (2,732 meters/ 8,964 feet), an ancient rest area for Incan travelers. A boxed lunch will be served here amid superb views of the massive green mountains and native orchids. The trail then becomes gentler and continues through the cloud forest to Intipunku (the "sun gate") where hikers will glimpse their first panoramic views of Machu Picchu. A half-hour descent leads to the famous ruins of Machu Picchu, where hikers will have a short break and an opportunity for photos.

For those that are short on time, after the 2 hr visit to Machu Picchu, you will head back to Cusco (via the trail from Ollantaytambo).  If you have another day to spare, you can over night in Aguas Caliente, and have a bit more time in Machu Picchu the next day before heading back to Cusco.