DAY:1 ARRIVED TO CUSCO

Upon your arrival to Cusco, we will take you to the hotel and then join your guide for a briefing about the wonderful tour that awaits you. Today, begin the day with a tour of Cusco enjoy the sights of Cusco´s (the capital of the Incas). The indigenous and colonial heritages then spend the remainder of the day at leisure “by exploring Cusco’s nightlife or sampling some of its many typical restaurants.

HALF-DAY CITY TOUR

We will pick you up at 1:00PM from your hotel to start the tour and visiting the following places.

• The Koricancha: Temple of the sun.
• The Cathedral: Marvel of the religious art.
• Sacsayhuaman: Majestic place with impressive works in stone, some up to 120 tons.
• Q´enqo: (Labyrinth) a religious center dedicated to the adoration of the Earth.
• Puca Pucara: (reddish place) that was used as a military control center.
• Tambomachay: (Temple of the Water) a center of adoration and worship of water.

DAY 2: CUSCO ÑAUPA TEMPLO

We will begin this amazing trek driving to Pachar in the Sacred Valley. From here, we start to hike uphill to see Ñaupa Templo, an archeological Inca site where we will have a guided tour. After that, we will continue to Socma, (2900 m/9,510 ft). From here, we hike a valley of farmhouses and crop terraces Many Andean bird species such as the giant hummingbird and the salador dorado fly among the many native trees.

We will have lunch before deciding which route we will take next. We may take an easier way, or an optional trail via a tall waterfall where we can pause to refresh ourselves or enjoy a shower beneath the falls.
We will visit the almost unknown Inca ruin of Corimarca (perolniyoc), locates on a shelf high above the Socma valley. An Inca-built channel still carries water, which was probably built by the Incas to collect and control the agricultural production of the valley. We will camp there.

DAY 3: RAYAN -CHANCACHUCO / PUNKUYOC / CACHICATA

We will climb across open meadows before reaching a zone of high altitude, (4,400 m/14,430 ft).
if we are Luck enough, we might see the famous Andean Condors. We will set off on one of two routes: Fitter, more experienced groups will follow the Chancachucu valley downstream, following the broken remains of an Inca water channel that once carried water to the ancient Inca quarry. A narrow trail zig-zags down offering spectacular views of the Camicancha valley and the river. We will climb once again,encountering Even greater, stunning views of Ollantaytambo and the Sacred Valley as we reach the  gateway of Intipunku, an Inca temple dedicated to the worship of snowcapped La Verónica.

The alternative, an easier way for this day, is to climb from our second camp across Yana Orco, to a rocky crag high above the Sacred Valley and the Inca quarries. We can enjoy the view straight down on Ollantaytambo and its valleys (1,400m/4600ft). We will go down along the rim of the valley, reaching a pass where we descend through native Q’euna woodland. We will have lunch watching a breathtaking landscape, near the well-preserved Inca complex of Choquetacarpo. This site was most likely the residence of architects, masons and visiting politicians who managed the Inca quarries and performed ceremonies at Intipunku.
After a hearty lunch, we will descend to our second and last camp, located on Inca terraces topped by small burial towers known as chullpas, near the village of Cachicata.

Day 4: CACHICATA – OLLANTAYTAMBO-

After an hearty breakfast, we will explore different places of the Inca quarries. The rocks from the quarry were used to build an Inca temple in Ollantaytambo. In our descending path to Ollantaytambo, you’ll have some time to rest and explore the town.In the afternoon we will visit the templo of the sun.We spend the night in a local hotel.

DAY 5: OLLANTAYTAMBO – WIÑAY WAYNA – MACHU PICCHU

We pick you up from your hotel early (depending on train time) and take you to the train station. We travel by train, on a very pictures in route for two and a half hours until we reach kilometer 104 – the start of the trail for us. From here, we have a walk of about 4 hours up to the Incan site Wiñay Wayna (‘Forever Young’) (2680m/8792ft). You have joined the path in time to see the most impressive site on the whole Inca Trail!!

Then, we will continue on to ‘Inti Punku’ (‘Sun gate’) (2730m/8792ft) from where you will have your first dramatic, panoramic view of Machu Picchu (2400m/7873ft). We will walk down the last part of the trail towards the ancient city itself. Before reaching Machu Picchu, we will take a side path off the trail to go down to Aguas Calientes, leaving the visit to Machu Picchu for the next day. In Aguas Calientes we’ll have dinner and a much deserved rest so we’re recharged and ready for Machu Picchu the next day.

DAY 6: MACHU PICCHU TOUR – RETURN TRAIN TO CUSCO.

We have breakfast and then take the first bus (5:30am) up to Machu Picchu. A walking tour (2 hours) is given by your guide and after this you can explore the mysterious city by yourselves. If you have energy, you can also climb Huayna Picchu (2720m/8890ft)!!! (It takes about 45 minutes to reach the top.)

You will meet your guide in Aguas Calientes (it can be reached by bus or on foot) for lunch and be given your train tickets back to Cusco (Bus transfer from Ollantaytambo). The train usually leaves between 2:30pm and 6pm depending on Peru Rail’s allocations and availability (to be confirmed).

If desired, an extra night in Aguas Calientes can be arranged. This option is very popular as it allows more time to explore Machu Picchu. You can also go to the thermal springs in town – a real treat after finishing the Inca Trail.

NOTE: It is no longer possible to stay a night on the Inca Trail for the 2 day, 1 night trek. All people on this tour spend the night in Aguas Calientes, the town nearest Machu Picchu.

HUAYNA PICCHU

There is a new regulation for climbing this mountain.

Tickets for this mountain need to be booked well in advance; there are two time sessions: 7 – 8am or 10 – 11am – this also needs to be specified when booking the trip.

Please note: if you get the permits for the 7am start you will probably have to miss the Machu Picchu guided tour.

DAY 7: DEPART CUSCO

After breakfast, we will take you back to the airport according your flight itinerary.