Itinerary
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 – MOLLEPATA – SORAYPAMPA
On day one, we pick you up at 5am and travel by bus to Mollepata. Then, we take a 3 hour hike to Cruzpata, where we have lunch with panoramic views of the beautiful snow-capped mountains of Humantay (4120m/13500ft) and Salkantay (6271m/20575ft). We begin our trek by heading towards our first campsite Soraypampa, taking in the beautiful landscape along the way. Soraypampa is the highest and coldest campsite of the trip, sitting at 4000m / 12750ft.
DAY 3: MIGHTY SALKANTAY!!
We will have breakfast at around 5:30am and begin our hike to the highest pass on this trek. It is located at 4650m/15200ft and halfway between two huge mountains; Salkantay on the right and Tucarhuay on the left. From the pass, the views of the two snow-capped mountains are incredible. There is a possibility of snow here.
After a rest, we will continue our walk downhill through a dramatic cloud forest towards Huayracpunku, also known as Huayracmachay, where we will have lunch. After lunch, we will hike for approximately three hours towards the jungle until we reach our second campsite, Colcapampa (3000m/9800ft). We may reach the other campsites of Challway or Andenes depending on the pace of the group.
DAY 4: CLOUD FOREST.
After breakfast, at 6:30am, we start trekking through the upper jungle crossing the Lluskamayo River through a series of small brooks and creeks. We pass through valleys and have wonderful views of waterfalls, tropical fruits and plants. We will set up camp in the warm climate of La Playa (2500m/8202ft). After a rest, we will go to the hot springs and enjoy a well-deserved soak in soothing the waters. A real treat after finishing the trek! (Optional).
DAY 5: LLACTAPATA – PUENTE RUINAS – AGUAS CALIENTES TOWN
On day four, we will have breakfast at 6:30am and then head for Llactapata, a three-hour steady climb. Llactapata is an incredible Incan fort from which we will see Machu Picchu! After some photos and rest, we will continue on a two hour downhill hike passing a variety of plantations that produce coca, bananas, and more until we reach the Hydroelectric dam for lunch. Then, we will walk a couple of hours more until Aguas Calientes, where we will spend the night.
Optional: In Aguas Calientes, you can take advantage of the hot springs in the town. Entrance is 10 soles.
DAY 6: MACHU PICCHU!!!
We will have breakfast at 5:00am and then catch a bus to Machu Picchu at approximately 5:30am, in order to appreciate the magnificent city as the sun rises. The bus ride is approximately 20 minutes.
Your tour guide will then give a walking tour, which is approximately two hours. After this, you can explore the mysterious city by yourselves. If you still have energy, you can also climb Huayna Picchu (2720m/8890ft). It takes 45 minutes to reach the top. This is an extra walk; please talk to your guide for arrangements to climb this mountain.
Afterwards, you will meet your guide in Aguas Calientes (which can be reached by bus or on foot) to have lunch and receive your train tickets back to Cusco. The train usually leaves at 5:55 pm and we will arrive back in Cusco at about 8:20 pm.
If desired, we can arrange for you to have an extra night in the town of Aguas Calientes. Please, let us know whether you would like to stay an extra night when booking your tour.
DAY 7: DEPART CUSCO
After breakfast, we will take you back to the airport according your flight itinerary.
Inclusions
Includes:
- Professional bilingual tour guide.
- All transfers in/out to the airport
- 3 nights’ accommodations at 3 star hotels (or similar standard)
- City tour of Cusco + entrance fee
- Assistant guide.
- Pick up from hotel.
- Return transportation (bus to start of trail and tourist train back to Ollantaytambo).
- Entrance fee to Machu Picchu.
- 1 Bus ticket up to the Machu Picchu world heritage site.
- During the hike 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 afternoon snacks (hot drinks, biscuits and popcorn) and 3 dinners (breakfast on day one, and dinner and lunch in Aguas Calientes are not included).
- Dining tent with tables and chairs.
- Cook.
- 3 man tents (per 2 people).
- Sleeping mattresses.
- Horsemen and mules (they carry cooking and camping equipment and up to 7 kilos of tourists’ belongings)
- 1 night’s accommodation in Aguas Calientes.
- Extra oxygen.
- First-Aid kit.
- Spare blanket per tent.
Not Included:
- Single supplement fee
- Walking sticks
- Personal horse
- For the Hike – first breakfast, lunch and dinner on the last day are not included
- Entrace to Huayna Picchu.
- Sleeping bags. (These can be rented in our office for US $20 for the entire trek. Every sleeping bag is washed prior to each use)
- Tips
- Meals that are not stated otherwise
- Travel insurance – You are strongly recommended to take.
What to wear
Packing List
- Please limit your total jungle gear to the following essentials:
- BINOCULARS, A MUST!.
- Insect repellent
- Flashlight with spare bulb and batteries. (An additional flashlight is a better choice).
- A rain jacket (and pants for the rainy season) or poncho.
- Two loose long pants and two long-sleeved shirts.
- Quick-drying, tight-knitted combinations of cotton and polyester are preferred.
- T-shirts, as many as days you will spend in the trip.
- A pair of lightweight hiking boots.
- A pair of tennis shoes or sneakers.
- A light sweater or sweatshirt.
- A wide brim hat for sun and rain (which can be secured to your head so that a strong wind does not blow it off).
- Underwear, socks.
- Sandals for use inside the lodge..
- Sunscreen
- A plastic water bottle (1 qt.).
- Toilet kit.
- Personal first-aid kit.
- Six large plastic bags or stuff sacks (to compartmentalize clothes, laundry, and wet items within your duffel).
- Pocket knife.
- Sunglasses.
- Alarm clock
