Machu Picchu 2-Day Itinerary
This plan assumes you've already spent two nights in the Sacred Valley, that you have a Circuit 2 ticket for an early entry slot, and optionally a second ticket with Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain. Times are approximate. Match them to your own train and entry hour.
Day 1: Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes
- Morning: walk up the terraces of the Ollantaytambo fortress, early before the tour buses from Cusco. Lunch in the town square.
- Early afternoon: train from Ollantaytambo. Sit on the left side heading downstream for the better river views as the valley narrows into cloud forest.
- Mid-afternoon: check in to your hotel in Aguas Calientes. Buy your bus tickets for the morning if you haven't already, and find where the queue starts.
- Late afternoon: walk out to the site museum near Puente Ruinas, or soak in the hot springs at the top of town.
- Evening: early dinner and an early night. Lay out your passport, tickets, rain jacket and water.
Day 2: the citadel
- Before dawn: join the bus queue. Allow at least an hour before your entry slot, more in peak season.
- First slot: enter on Circuit 2. Go up to the viewpoint first while the clouds are still moving through, then follow the route down past the Temple of the Sun, the Intihuatana and the Temple of the Condor. Use the toilets before you go in, because there's no re-entry.
- Mid-morning: leave, then re-enter on your second ticket for Huayna Picchu or the mountain. Either takes the rest of the morning.
- Midday: bus down, or walk the stone steps to Puente Ruinas, which takes about an hour going down.
- Afternoon: late lunch in town, collect your bags and take the afternoon train back to Ollantaytambo or Cusco.
If you only have one ticket, drop the second visit and spend the extra hours slowly. The citadel is better when you stop and sit on a terrace for twenty minutes than when you race the route. For choosing the circuits, see our tickets guide. For a third day, add the Sun Gate or the one-day version of the Inca Trail.