Inca Trail to Machu Picchu: ULTIMATE HIKING ADVENTURE TO A LEGENDARY LOST CITY
7 days
About this activity
Itinerary
Day 1: TO CUSCO, PERU (VIA LIMA)
Stop At: Plaza de Armas, Cusco Peru
Arrive early in the morning at the
airport in Lima and connect with a
spectacular flight over the Andes to Cusco (11,200'). Upon
arrival, we are met and transferred to the Belmond Hotel
Monasterio, a landmark 16th century monastery beautifully
transformed into a luxurious 5-star hotel, close to Cusco’s
central square. Here we drink a cup of maté de coca (the local
herb tea) to help us acclimatize to the high altitude, and take
deep breaths! Lunch is on your own. In the afternoon, we
enjoy a walking tour through central Cusco for a glimpse into the ceremonial heart of the Inca Empire. Our walk includes a
visit to the Coricancha, a sacred Inca temple whose walls were
once covered with sheets of gold, the Plaza de Armas, and the
Baroque cathedral, built on the site of an old Inca palace. We
gather for a Welcome Dinner this evening…D
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Hotel Monasterio
Day 2: SAQSAYHUAMAN / URUBAMBA, SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS
Stop At: Sacsayhuaman, Cusco 08000 Peru
This morning we head up to stunning Saqsayhuaman, a
monumental Inca fortress overlooking the city, to marvel at
the sheer size of this military and religious complex, with its
zig-zag walls of enormous, perfectly fitted stones. We then
drive out to the beautiful “Sacred Valley of the Incas” and Pisac (9,514'), a colonial and modern village above which lies a
majestic Inca fortress overlooking the valley. We explore Pisac
village as well as the towering fortress-ruin of Pisac, which has
some of the finest examples of Inca terracing in existence, still
in use by local inhabitants. Overnight at a lovely hotel in the
valley...BLD
Hiking Details: 2.5 hours
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Hotel Pakaritampu
Day 3: OLLANTAYTAMBO / BEGIN TREK
Stop At: Archaeological Park Ollantaytambo, Ollantaytambo 08676 Peru
We visit the stunning ruins at Ollantaytambo (9,160'), a
major Inca fortress and one of the few places where the
conquistadors lost a battle with the Incas. The lower ruins
consist of beautifully preserved terraces, while the upper
ruins boast some of the finest Inca masonry known today.
The village below the ruins is unique in that the foundations
have survived exactly as the Incas laid them out hundreds of
years ago. The major difference between this and modernday towns is that each block, known as a cancha, is a selfcontained unit with only one entrance onto the street. We
have the opportunity to stroll through these narrow, quiet
streets along with the local inhabitants. In the afternoon, we
drive to our trailhead and begin our trek with a three-mile
hike to a beautifully situated permanent campsite set on the
banks of the river at 8,900 feet and close to the park entrance.
The amenities at this camp include a dining/living room with
indoor toilets and hot showers—and even a wood-fired sauna! We also enjoy panoramic views of the snow-capped Cordillera
Vilcabamba and dazzling Mt. Veronica (18,700'). This is the
staging site of all our Inca Trail treks and is a wonderful spot
to relax and prepare for the trek ahead...BLD
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Inca Trail Trek Camps
Day 4: TREK TO PAUCARCANCHA
Stop At: Paucarcancha Ruins, Machu Picchu Peru
One of the fascinating aspects of this trek is the opportunity
to explore remote Inca sites that can only be reached on foot.
A short walk leads to the park entrance and we're one of the
first trekking groups into the park (which means the crowds
are behind us!). We head north on a trail that brings us to
Willka Raqay, a set of Inca ruins perched high above the
ruins of Llactapata. We then continue up the Huayllabamba
valley, past the village of Huayllabamba to our camp in a
quiet spot near the archaeological remains of an important
check-point, Paucarcancha, on a former Inca crossroads off
the main Inca Trail. The Inca Trail, now a part of the National
Archaeological Park of Machu Picchu, is part of the “royal
highway” found by Hiram Bingham in 1915, four years after
his discovery of the hilltop city of Machu Picchu, when he
returned to clear vegetation from the site. We may pass some
of the trekkers on the classic Inca Trail in the morning, but
once we ascend past Huayllabamba toward our camp, we
have this historic trail largely to ourselves, allowing us to be
immersed in the history and atmosphere of the Incan realm. Near our camp, we can visit the Paucarcancha ruins, which
include a small tambo or resting place, with partially restored
Inca houses surrounded by a wall. Our private camp features
hot showers and indoor toilets...BLD
Hiking Details: 5-6 hours, 7.5 miles, 1,040 feet ascent
Maximum Altitude: 9,840 feet / Campsite Altitude: 9,840 feet
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Inca Trail Trek Camps
Day 5: TREK TO PACAYMAYO / WARMIWAÑUSQA PASS
Stop At: Inca Trail, Machu Picchu Peru
Hiking back to the main trail (most
hiking groups are now ahead of us),
we make a long, uphill climb through
villages, woods, and alongside a stream,
then continue with a slow but steady
ascent up the very steep switchbacks of
the famous Warmiwañusqa Pass (“Pass
of the Dead Woman”) at 13,776 feet.
At the summit (the highest altitude we
reach on our trek), we are rewarded by
sweeping views of a panorama of snowcovered Andean peaks. We descend to our camp at Pacaymayo
at 11,480 feet...BLD
Hiking Details: 6-7 hours, 7 miles, 3,996 feet ascent/2,396
feet descent
Maximum Altitude: 13,776 feet / Campsite Altitude: 11,480
feet
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Inca Trail Trek Camps
Day 6: TREK TO PHUYUPATAMARKA
Stop At: Runkuracay, Machu Picchu Peru
Most trekking groups rush out early on this day, but we take
our time and avoid other hiking groups. Today’s hike brings us to three of the most fantastic ruins on the classic Inca Trail:
Runkuraqay, Sayaqmarka, and exquisite Phuyupatamarka.
After visiting Runkuraqay in the morning, we continue
our ascent along the original Inca Trail. Our second pass is
the Abra de Runkuraqay at about 12,960 feet, with a steep
descent on Inca stone stairs to the pretty ruins at Sayaqmarka.
There are Inca baths here and we can see many varieties
of orchids. The landscape becomes
more lush as we head closer to Machu
Picchu and away from the Urubamba
Valley. Heading uphill again, we cross a
relatively short pass at just over 12,000
feet near wonderful Phuyupatamarka.
Our support staff will have gone
ahead to secure a camp spot above the
ruins of Phuyupatamarka. From our
special camp here, views of Humantay
(19,239') and Salcantay (20,574') are
breathtaking. You’ll feel like you’re at
the top of the world!
Hiking Details: 6 hours, 6 miles, 1,480 ascent/900 feet descent
Maximum Altitude: 12,960 feet / Campsite Altitude: 12,033
feet
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Inca Trail Trek Camps
Day 7: TREK TO MACHU PICCHU / MACHU PICCHU SANCTUARY LODGE
Stop At: Winay Wayna, Machu Picchu Peru
We take our time hiking today, exploring the ruins of
Phuyupatamarka and Wiñay Wayna, the last major site on the
trail before we get to Machu Picchu. After lunch, we make
our long-anticipated hike up to Intipunku, Gate of the Sun.
Here, a magnificent view unfolds before us: the storybook
ruins of Machu Picchu, straddling a green ridge high above
the Urubamba River. This spot has the absolutely classic view
of Machu Picchu, and we will hike down into the ancient city
just as the Incas would have done. Our overnight is at Machu
Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, the only hotel right at the entrance
to the ruins, with breathtaking views of Machu Picchu. The
lodge allows unparalleled access to this renowned site (it's just
50 feet away) and a fantastic sunset view! We gather for our
Farewell Dinner this evening at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary
Lodge...BLD
Hiking Details: 5 hours, 6.8 miles, 4,133 feet descent
Maximum Altitude: 12,033 feet / Machu Picchu Altitude:
7,972 feet
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge
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Day 1: TO CUSCO, PERU (VIA LIMA)
Stop At: Plaza de Armas, Cusco Peru
Arrive early in the morning at the
airport in Lima and connect with a
spectacular flight over the Andes to Cusco (11,200'). Upon
arrival, we are met and transferred to the Belmond Hotel
Monasterio, a landmark 16th century monastery beautifully
transformed into a luxurious 5-star hotel, close to Cusco’s
central square. Here we drink a cup of maté de coca (the local
herb tea) to help us acclimatize to the high altitude, and take
deep breaths! Lunch is on your own. In the afternoon, we
enjoy a walking tour through central Cusco for a glimpse into the ceremonial heart of the Inca Empire. Our walk includes a
visit to the Coricancha, a sacred Inca temple whose walls were
once covered with sheets of gold, the Plaza de Armas, and the
Baroque cathedral, built on the site of an old Inca palace. We
gather for a Welcome Dinner this evening…D
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Hotel Monasterio
Day 2: SAQSAYHUAMAN / URUBAMBA, SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS
Stop At: Sacsayhuaman, Cusco 08000 Peru
This morning we head up to stunning Saqsayhuaman, a
monumental Inca fortress overlooking the city, to marvel at
the sheer size of this military and religious complex, with its
zig-zag walls of enormous, perfectly fitted stones. We then
drive out to the beautiful “Sacred Valley of the Incas” and Pisac (9,514'), a colonial and modern village above which lies a
majestic Inca fortress overlooking the valley. We explore Pisac
village as well as the towering fortress-ruin of Pisac, which has
some of the finest examples of Inca terracing in existence, still
in use by local inhabitants. Overnight at a lovely hotel in the
valley...BLD
Hiking Details: 2.5 hours
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Hotel Pakaritampu
Day 3: OLLANTAYTAMBO / BEGIN TREK
Stop At: Archaeological Park Ollantaytambo, Ollantaytambo 08676 Peru
We visit the stunning ruins at Ollantaytambo (9,160'), a
major Inca fortress and one of the few places where the
conquistadors lost a battle with the Incas. The lower ruins
consist of beautifully preserved terraces, while the upper
ruins boast some of the finest Inca masonry known today.
The village below the ruins is unique in that the foundations
have survived exactly as the Incas laid them out hundreds of
years ago. The major difference between this and modernday towns is that each block, known as a cancha, is a selfcontained unit with only one entrance onto the street. We
have the opportunity to stroll through these narrow, quiet
streets along with the local inhabitants. In the afternoon, we
drive to our trailhead and begin our trek with a three-mile
hike to a beautifully situated permanent campsite set on the
banks of the river at 8,900 feet and close to the park entrance.
The amenities at this camp include a dining/living room with
indoor toilets and hot showers—and even a wood-fired sauna! We also enjoy panoramic views of the snow-capped Cordillera
Vilcabamba and dazzling Mt. Veronica (18,700'). This is the
staging site of all our Inca Trail treks and is a wonderful spot
to relax and prepare for the trek ahead...BLD
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Inca Trail Trek Camps
Day 4: TREK TO PAUCARCANCHA
Stop At: Paucarcancha Ruins, Machu Picchu Peru
One of the fascinating aspects of this trek is the opportunity
to explore remote Inca sites that can only be reached on foot.
A short walk leads to the park entrance and we're one of the
first trekking groups into the park (which means the crowds
are behind us!). We head north on a trail that brings us to
Willka Raqay, a set of Inca ruins perched high above the
ruins of Llactapata. We then continue up the Huayllabamba
valley, past the village of Huayllabamba to our camp in a
quiet spot near the archaeological remains of an important
check-point, Paucarcancha, on a former Inca crossroads off
the main Inca Trail. The Inca Trail, now a part of the National
Archaeological Park of Machu Picchu, is part of the “royal
highway” found by Hiram Bingham in 1915, four years after
his discovery of the hilltop city of Machu Picchu, when he
returned to clear vegetation from the site. We may pass some
of the trekkers on the classic Inca Trail in the morning, but
once we ascend past Huayllabamba toward our camp, we
have this historic trail largely to ourselves, allowing us to be
immersed in the history and atmosphere of the Incan realm. Near our camp, we can visit the Paucarcancha ruins, which
include a small tambo or resting place, with partially restored
Inca houses surrounded by a wall. Our private camp features
hot showers and indoor toilets...BLD
Hiking Details: 5-6 hours, 7.5 miles, 1,040 feet ascent
Maximum Altitude: 9,840 feet / Campsite Altitude: 9,840 feet
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Inca Trail Trek Camps
Day 5: TREK TO PACAYMAYO / WARMIWAÑUSQA PASS
Stop At: Inca Trail, Machu Picchu Peru
Hiking back to the main trail (most
hiking groups are now ahead of us),
we make a long, uphill climb through
villages, woods, and alongside a stream,
then continue with a slow but steady
ascent up the very steep switchbacks of
the famous Warmiwañusqa Pass (“Pass
of the Dead Woman”) at 13,776 feet.
At the summit (the highest altitude we
reach on our trek), we are rewarded by
sweeping views of a panorama of snowcovered Andean peaks. We descend to our camp at Pacaymayo
at 11,480 feet...BLD
Hiking Details: 6-7 hours, 7 miles, 3,996 feet ascent/2,396
feet descent
Maximum Altitude: 13,776 feet / Campsite Altitude: 11,480
feet
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Inca Trail Trek Camps
Day 6: TREK TO PHUYUPATAMARKA
Stop At: Runkuracay, Machu Picchu Peru
Most trekking groups rush out early on this day, but we take
our time and avoid other hiking groups. Today’s hike brings us to three of the most fantastic ruins on the classic Inca Trail:
Runkuraqay, Sayaqmarka, and exquisite Phuyupatamarka.
After visiting Runkuraqay in the morning, we continue
our ascent along the original Inca Trail. Our second pass is
the Abra de Runkuraqay at about 12,960 feet, with a steep
descent on Inca stone stairs to the pretty ruins at Sayaqmarka.
There are Inca baths here and we can see many varieties
of orchids. The landscape becomes
more lush as we head closer to Machu
Picchu and away from the Urubamba
Valley. Heading uphill again, we cross a
relatively short pass at just over 12,000
feet near wonderful Phuyupatamarka.
Our support staff will have gone
ahead to secure a camp spot above the
ruins of Phuyupatamarka. From our
special camp here, views of Humantay
(19,239') and Salcantay (20,574') are
breathtaking. You’ll feel like you’re at
the top of the world!
Hiking Details: 6 hours, 6 miles, 1,480 ascent/900 feet descent
Maximum Altitude: 12,960 feet / Campsite Altitude: 12,033
feet
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Inca Trail Trek Camps
Day 7: TREK TO MACHU PICCHU / MACHU PICCHU SANCTUARY LODGE
Stop At: Winay Wayna, Machu Picchu Peru
We take our time hiking today, exploring the ruins of
Phuyupatamarka and Wiñay Wayna, the last major site on the
trail before we get to Machu Picchu. After lunch, we make
our long-anticipated hike up to Intipunku, Gate of the Sun.
Here, a magnificent view unfolds before us: the storybook
ruins of Machu Picchu, straddling a green ridge high above
the Urubamba River. This spot has the absolutely classic view
of Machu Picchu, and we will hike down into the ancient city
just as the Incas would have done. Our overnight is at Machu
Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, the only hotel right at the entrance
to the ruins, with breathtaking views of Machu Picchu. The
lodge allows unparalleled access to this renowned site (it's just
50 feet away) and a fantastic sunset view! We gather for our
Farewell Dinner this evening at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary
Lodge...BLD
Hiking Details: 5 hours, 6.8 miles, 4,133 feet descent
Maximum Altitude: 12,033 feet / Machu Picchu Altitude:
7,972 feet
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge
Included
- 6x Breakfast
- 7x Dinner
- 6x Lunch
- Accommodation included: 7 nights
- Entry/Admission - Archaeological Park Ollantaytambo
- Entry/Admission - Paucarcancha Ruins
- Entry/Admission - Inca Trail
- Entry/Admission - Runkuracay
- Entry/Admission - Winay Wayna
- Guaranteed to skip the lines
Additional
- Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Features
Tourism
95%
Cultural
45%
Sport
35%
Original
30%
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