DAY 0 - Arrival
- Welcome to Peru!
- We recommend you plan to arrive a day or two before our adventure starts just in case of flight delays, luggage loss and to acclimate.
- You are welcome to stay anywhere you like.
Meals: Not Included
Accommodation: Not Included
DAY 1 - Arrival to Cusco
Welcome to Cusco!
- You can arrive any time today, before 4:00pm is recommended.
- We do also recommended to arrive a day or two before this, just in case of flight delays, luggage loss and to acclimate.
- The hotel costs are included for this night.
- You have the day free to explore the city of Cusco. Cusco sits at an elevation of 3300 meters/11,000 feet.
- There is a group meeting this evening at the hotel to coordinate trip logistics for the next day, meet each other and our guides.
Meals: Not included for this day.
Accommodation: Royal Inca II Apu Huascaran in Cusco.
DAY 2 - Cusco/Ollantaytambo
- We will pick you up at 8:30am from your Hotel, to take you on a 45 minutes drive in private transportation to Pisac archaeological site and market.
- On the way we will stop at Awancancha a Llama Project. Learn all about Llamas, wool and how the locals use the materials.
- The Pisac archaeological site gives insight to the Inca’s advanced masonry skills.
- The Pisac market is also a good reason to make a stop here, where you can find some unique and authentic souvenirs.
- The Inca site remains somewhat mysterious as to what their absolute purpose was, but it seems likely that they were part of a settlement along a vital Inca road with the Amazon rain forest to the east of the mountains, it is generally understood that Pisac provided a connecting point of sorts between the highlands and the jungle.
- After visiting the market and the Inca site, you will be transferred to your hotel located at the Sacred Valley of the Incas in Ollantaytambo.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation Included: Overnight – Ollantaytambo
DAY 3 - Moroy and Maras
- We will pick you up from your hotel at 9:00am and we will drive you to village of Maras and the experimental agricultural terraces of Moray.
- It is believed in this fascinating area the Incas created their own microclimate to adapt plants to this altitude.
- After this, we will make a visit to the salt mines located just below Maras. These mines are still operating and peasants work on them during the day.
- Then you will have a picnic lunch in the Huaypo lake.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation Included: Overnight – Ollantaytambo
DAY 4 - Start of the Inca Trail
- We depart our lodge at 7:00am, we leave our luggage at the hotel, then jump on our shuttle to our trailhead at Piscacucho, on the Vilcanota River.
- Here we meet our team of Peruvian porters, pass through the trailhead control point where passports and trail permits are reviewed (do not forget your passport!), and cross the river on a suspension bridge to enter the park.
- This is it! The start of our 4 day trek to Machu Picchu!
- We hike along the left bank of the powerful Vilcanota River, beneath the impressive snowcapped Nevado Veronica.
- The valley is dry, with Opuntia and Cholla cactus common; where irrigation is possible, we walk adjacent to fields of corn.
- In the rapids below the trail, you may spot Torrent ducks swimming in the eddies as they graze the algae growing on the riverbed.
- We explore the enormous Inca ruins of Llactapata, then turn south and begin to gain altitude, climbing up the narrow side valley of the Cusichaca River.
- Our camp for our first night is on a quiet terrace belonging to a local family in the hamlet of Huayllabamba at 2,954 m or 9,690 ft.
- Hiking Distance: 11.4 km/ 7.2 miles
- Elevation Gain: 300 m/ 984ft
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks, Water
Accommodation Included: Tent Camping
DAY 5 - Wayllabamba Camp/Paqaymayo Camp
- Today we endure the toughest portion of the Inca Trail!
- We climb steeply through fields and intriguing forest of indigenous queuñal and chachacomo trees, then emerge above the tree line and reach Warmiwañusqa (Dead Woman’s) Pass at 4,234 m/ 13,887ft.
- Enjoy magnificent views from the pass to the Huaynay Range snow peaks and distant Inca ruins.
- We descend to our camp at Pacaymayo in the valley below the pass at 3,613 m/ 11,850ft.
- Hiking Distance: 7.7 km/ 4.83 miles
- Elevation Gain: 1,280 m/ 4200ft Elevation Loss: -621m/-2037ft
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks, Water
Accommodation Included: Tent Camping at Pacaymayo
DAY 6 - Paqaymayo Camp/Wiñaywayna
- This morning presents us also with a steep climb to reach the second pass at 3,975 m/ 13,038ft.
- We then follow a fine Inca highway down to the exquisite ridge-top ruins of Sayaqmarka.
- Further on, we pass through a tunnel, and remarkable luxuriant cloud forest vegetation.
- We camp at the superb Phuyopatamarka ruins at 3,679m/ 12,067ft overlooking the Vilcanota River far below. Phuyopatamarka is Quechua for “City above the Clouds”.
- The views from our campsite toward the sacred peak of Salcantay are sublime.
- Hiking Distance: 7km/ 4.5 miles
- Elevation Gain: 362 m/ 1,190ft
Elevation Loss: -296m/ -971ft
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks, Water
Accommodation Included: Tent Camping at Phuyopatamarka
DAY 7 - Wiñaywayna/Machu Picchu
- Good morning! Today we descend steeply for most of the day, following the famed Royal Highway through orchid-rich cloud forest to Winya Wayna ruins.
- The final part of the trail on the east side of Machu Picchu Mountain is a stunningly beautiful traverse on finest Inca stonework through cloud forest, leading to the Gate of the Sun, overlooking Machu Picchu.
- We stroll down into the citadel, and enjoy a walk through of Machu Picchu.
- Take your time collecting photos and memories of this incredible place. Opt in to see the famous Inca bridge before heading down out of the ruins and catching the bus down to the city, Aguas Calientes, our home for the night.
- We will plan a magnificent group dinner after checking into our hotel.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks, Water
Accommodation Included: Hotel in Aguas Calientes
DAY 8 - Machu Picchu Exploration
- We will arrive back at the Machu Picchu gates at 8:00am for an in-depth guided tour of the entire site.
- After the tour, you are free to further explore the site or if you purchased the extra hike up Machu Picchu or Huayna Picchu you will head for your hike.
- We depart Machu Picchu around noon to grab lunch, our bags and catch the train back to Ollantaytambo.
- Our trail ride is a wonderful way to relax, put our feet up and reflect on the journey we just accomplished.
- Once in Ollantaytambo we grab our luggage and take our bus back to Cusco. Expect to arrive in Cusco around 7:00pm.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Snacks, Water
Accommodation Included: Royal Inca II Apu Huascaran in Cusco.
DAY 9 - Rainbow Mountain Tour
- Just as your hiking lets start to think about recovering...Today we will head for our Rainbow Mountain trek!
- We have an early morning, 4:00am and will take our bus to the newly opened and discovered Rainbow Mountains.
- It is around a 3 hour drive and will have a stop for breakfast along the way.
- We will complete the 7km(ish) hike reaching a high point of 5100m.
- Here the views of the incredible and newly famous rainbow mountains are breathtaking.
**Please note about today, reaching an elevation of 5100 meters/16,700 feet is not recommend for anyone with pre existing or existing heart conditions. Even for the most fit person reaching this altitude can be very difficult. There will be an option to hire a horse (additional cost) to help you reach the top of the mountain.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks, Water
Accommodation Included: Royal Inca II Apu Huascaran in Cusco.
DAY 10 - Exploring Cusco and Chocolate Making
- After breakfast we will all go together by shuttle to the famous ruins of Saksaywaman where we will have an amazing view of Cusco and learn about the ancient Incan civilization, walking for about 1-2 hours.
- Once we are finished our Cusco Ruins Tour we will head to a local chocolate factory where will spend the afternoon learning how to make our own chocolate from the plant to the bar!
- This is our final full day and activity together, it is not goodbye but see you laters!
Meals included: Breakfast, Snacks, Water
Accommodation Included: Royal Inca II Apu Huascaran in Cusco.
DAY 11 - See You Later Peru
- You can depart from Cusco at any time today.
- Shuttles to the airport are included in the trip cost.
- Departing from Royal Inca II Apu Huascaran in Cusco.
Meals Included: Breakfast
