08 Days / 07 Nights From January to December except February for maintenance Moderate
Towards Machu Picchu, along the ancient Inca Trail you will discover its peculiar architectural features, landscape and the veil of mystery that has woven around it throughout history, which has made it one of the most popular tourist destinations of the planet.
Day 1: Cusco - City Tour
Day 2: Sacred Valley
Day 3: Cusco - Piskacucho Km 82 - Patallaqta - Wayllabamba
Day 4: Huayllabamba - Warmi Wañuska (Dead Woman's Pass) - Paqaymayu
Day 5: Paqaymayu - Runkuraqay - Sayacmarca - Phuyupatamarca - Wiñayhuayna
Day 6: Wiñaywayna - Intipunku - Machu Picchu
Day 7: River Rafting in the Urubamba river
Day 8: Cusco – Back Home
Day 1: Cusco - City Tour
Welcome to Cusco!!!
Upon arrival in Cusco city, we will give you the welcome at the airport and transfer to your selected hotel where you will have spare time for acclimatization and avoid altitude sickness in the future. On this day, at afternoon, you will start your itinerary with the visit of the most important places of the city (city tour). As the first site we’ll visit the main temple of the Incas, we are talking about the Qoricancha Temple of the Sun, then the Main Square and the Cathedral where you will find real unique pipeces of canvas of the Cusquenian School and then continue by bus to visit the archeological centers of Sacsaywaman, Q’enqo, Puca Pucara and finally the Tambomachay, to finally return to the hotel, and you’ll have a free evening.
Day 2: Sacred Valley
Our best day to acclimatize!!!
Ready?? This day is our full day excursion to the famous Sacred Valley of the Incas, so we will start our day at 8:30 am. traveling along this unique valley and taking some photos of the panoramic views. Our first place to visit is the ancient Inca market town of Pisac, where you can buy some souvenirs and help to this local people. Then we will visi the fortress of Ollantaytambo, the only Inca town that was not defeated by the Spanish. You will have a chance to explore the ruins to then take a short way to Chinchero where we are going to visit the typical market too and the archeological site.Finally we are going to come back to Cusco.
Day 3: Cusco - Piskacucho Km 82 - Patallaqta - Wayllabamba
Let’s start the adventure!!!!
This adventure will start at 5:30 am to 6:00 am picking you up from your Hotel. Make sure you carry your original passport & ISIC card if you book like a student. A incredible views will be waiting for us along the Sacred Valley of the Incas that finally takes us to our trailhead at Km. 82 (Piskacucho) of the Machu Picchu railroad, it takes about 3 hours. Along the way, we will stop in Ollantaytambo to stretch our legs, use the bathroom, and enjoy breakfast, before continuing to Piscacucho (2,680 m / 8,790 ft.). There we will meet our camp crew and the porters who will carry our belongings during the four days of the trek. Please once in Piscacucho, you must have your passports in hand to pass the first official Inca Trail check point, and ... Let's start Inca Trail!!! Our real adventure starts crossing a suspension foot bridge across the Urubamba River, and begin our trek with a gentle climb. We have three hours on relatively level terrain as we follow the course of the river, rewarded with unique views of snow - cape mountain Veronica (5,750 m). The easy walk passes through a forest of giant cactus and native bushes. At Miskay we will take our lunch, and then continue hiking towards the extensive Inca settlement of Llactapata and appreciate the impressive farming terraces of this complex. and finally we will spend the night in our campsite at Wayllabamba.
Day 4: Huayllabamba - Warmi Wañuska (Dead Woman's Pass) - Paqaymayu
Today is the challenging day, but don't worry, we can do it my friends!!!
We will wake up at 6:00 am, with hot coca tea brought to your tents, to prepare for today's trek which is considered by many people, the hardest day of the Inca trail. You need complete a steep ascent reaching an altitude of 13779 feet above sea level (4200 masl) at Warmi Wañuska pass.
After the breakfast,we will depart from the campsite at around 07:00 hrs.to start with an uphill hike through Llulluchapampa and it will give us the opportunity to appreciate several species of birds (with luck you may see hummingbirds falcons or some black-chested eagles). From here the trail traverses a beautiful cloud forest full of Polylepis or Queñua's trees before entering the Puna, a zone characterized by treeless grasslands only found at this altitude across the Andes. Walk at your own pace, to catch your breath or to stretch a muscle. The last hard climb takes us the right to the highest pass of the Inca trail at Warmi Wañuska.
Once at the top you will be rewarded with spectacular views of the Andes, surrounding snow-covered peaks. You will also feel a great sense of accomplishment after conquering the Dead Woman's pass. Finally we will continue hiking through the slopes on the left side of the valley all the way to our campsite in Paqaymayu at 11811 feet above sea level (3600 masl).
Day 5: Paqaymayu - Runkuraqay - Sayacmarca - Phuyupatamarca - Wiñayhuayna
Start the adventure after a heartwarming breakfast!!
Today’s hike is exceptionally beautiful because we will pass the most important ruins along Inca Trail of Runkuraqay; Sayacmarca, Phuyupatamarca, Wiñayhuayna and enjoy dramatic views of the Aobamba Valley. Start with a steady ascent to the second highest pass at Runkuracay reaching 12400 feet above sea level (3780 masl) and passing through a circular in control point that occupies a commanding position overlooking the spectacular Vilcabamba mountain range below. Catch your breath and realize the rest of Inca trail is mostly downhill. Be careful with your knees as the descent from the pass to the ruins of Sayacmarca is very steep and you may feel the strain at the end of the day.
Interesting info: The name Sayacmarca means "inaccessible town" and describes the position of the site, perfectly perched on the rocks. The one of a kind Inca trail, now a monumental structure of granite stones, continues through ever-changing layers of cloud forest full of rare orchids, hanging mosses, bromeliads, and tree ferns.
On this day we will past through a Inca tunnel, and then will be waiting for us a gentle climb that will take us to the third pass at 12139 feet above sea level (3700 masl), offering incredible views of several snow-capped peaks including Salkantay (20574 ft./6271m) and Veronica (18865 ft./5750m). Close to the pass you will find the impressive ruins of Phuyupatamarca (Cloud-level Town). A brief explanation of the mysteries of Inca architecture, before continuing along splendid paved Inca road to the impressive agricultural site of Intipata and up to the third and last campsite at Wiñayhuayna (forever young) located at 8856 feet above sea level (2700 masl). Wiñayhuayna, named after a variety of pink orchid that grows here, is the last official campsite before Machu Picchu.
Day 6: Wiñaywayna - Intipunku - Machu Picchu
Today is our big day!!!
Our final day at Inca Trail will start waking up very early around 4:00 am!! why?? to get to the most amazing Inca Gate called Inti Punku (the Sun Gate), here we will see Machu Picchu in a unique way, enjoying the view of the first rays of the sun. That will be a hike of 1-2 hours, with significant upward stretches in the last half. You will be walking in darkness, so a headlight is strongly recommended. The trail is marked and takes about 1½ hours.
The trail contours a mountainside and drops into cloud forest before coming to an almost vertical flight of 50 steps leading up to the final pass at Intipunku (Sun Gate). Suddenly the whole of Machu Picchu.
A final short hike will bring us to the entrance and into the heart of the incas architecture: Machu Picchu!!! , where we will spend the rest of the morning with 2 hours guided tour and some more time exploring on your own. The shuttle bus ticket from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes is included, departs every 15 minutes and will be available for you descend to Aguas Calientes town.
Day 7: River Rafting in the Urubamba river
Let’s enjoyed the adventure!!!
We will pick you up at your hotel, then after one and a half hours drive we arrive on the banks of the Upper Urubamba River, on " CUSIPATA RIVER CAMP," our private campground. Our professional Rafting Guides will give you a safety talk and provide you with all the proper equipment for Rafting. We would be floating for approximately two and a half hours, running class II and III rapids. During the rainy season Dec. to early March, the rapids can be class IV and IV plus.
Afterward, we come back at "CUSIPATA RIVER CAMP", to have our lunch and where a hot Sauna and hot showers will be waiting. As an option you can do ZIP-LINE over four cables across the river. Our return to Cusco should be around 5 in the afternoon. That evening you can look at the pictures of your trip at our office.
Day 8: Cusco – Back Home
Thank you for trust in this tour operator e hope to see you again my friends!!!
Today is our last day is this wonderful city and our farewell, for this reason, our Manager is going to organize an impressive Peruvian lunch in one of the most beautiful restaurant in the city to finally at afternoon transport you from your hotel to airport to back home.
Season: From January to December except February for Inca Trail maintenance
Difficulty: Moderate
From USD $895
More information about dates and prices upon request.Book Now
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