Inca Trail to Machu Picchu: ULTIMATE HIKING ADVENTURE TO A LEGENDARY LOST CITY
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Inca Trail to Machu Picchu: ULTIMATE HIKING ADVENTURE TO A LEGENDARY LOST CITY
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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
Read more Show less
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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