After exploring Cusco and the Sacred Valley, we’ll take along a little-visited but important route. You’ll find out where the Inca collected their stone from, explore ruins off the normal tourist track, and learn about the vegetation in the Sacred Valley. We’ll then take the train to Machu Picchu, which you’ll explore from top to bottom along with the important mountains around it nearby.

DAY 1

– Arrival in Lima

 – Night in a Lima hotel

DAY 2

-Flight to Cusco.

– Visit to Saqsaywaman, Tambomachay, Qenqo, Pucapucara.

-Night in a hotel in Cusco

DAY 3

– Visit to Pisac, Calca, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo.

– Night in an Ollantaytambo hotel.

DAY 4

– Hike from Lake Piuray to Saqsaywaman ruins

DAY 5

-Community of Amaru

-Pisac ruins

-Ollantaytambo

Day 6

-Stone quarries of Cachicata

-Ollantaytambo

Day 7

-Ollantaytambo, Aguas Calientes

-Machu Picchu, Aguas Calientes

Day 8

-Machu Picchu, Chinchero textile market

-Hotel in Cusco

Day 9

-Flight from Cusco to Lima

-International connecting flight

*Connection to your extension, if you have purchased one.

DAY 1 LIMA

You’ll arrive at the international airport in Lima (the majority of flights arrive at night between 8pm and 2am). Our team will be waiting with a private vehicle to take you to the hotel of your choice. Depending on your itinerary, you’ll visit some of the most important museums in the city. (Optional)

DAY 2 LIMA-CUSCO

Early in the morning, you’ll return to the Lima airport to take your flight to Cusco, the former capital of the Inca Empire. Upon your arrival, the Land of the Inkas team will be waiting to greet you. During the trip to the center in a private vehicle, you’ll have the chance to see the historic Plaza de Armas. You’ll have the rest of the day free to acclimatize, relax and enjoy the exceptional atmosphere in Cusco, home to the some of the most amazing history and culture in South America.

DAY 3 CUSCO – CITY HIKING TOUR

On the third day, we’ll visit the most important tourist sites in the city and its surroundings. This is an opportunity to try new things and to learn about the history of Cusco and the daily life of its people. Our destinations today include churches, museums and archeological sites. In the afternoon, we’ll visit the fortress of Saqsaywaman and the complexes of Qenqo, Pucapucara and Tambomachay. All of these were highly important sites in the Inca religion and are located close to Cusco. After our explorations, we’ll return you to your hotel to spend the night.

DAY 4 – DAY HIKE FROM LAKE PIURAY TO SAQSAYWAMAN

After breakfast we’ll pick you up at your hotel and take you to Lake Piuray, where our day’s hike starts from. Over the next few hours we’ll take in spectacular views as we cross hills over 13,000 ft. We’ll reward ourselves with a delicious gourmet picnic lunch prepared by our chefs. The hike then continues downhill until we arrive at the ruins of Saqsaywaman, where you’ll have the opportunity to relax and explore the fortress before returning to Cusco. (B, L)

Hike details: roughly 8.2 miles, 6+ hours. Altitude: from 12,045 ft. to 13,805 ft.

DAY 5 COMMUNITY OF AMARU – PISAC RUINS

Today, we have both easier and harder hiking options depending on how you feel; we’ll adjust the route to meet your needs. Our vehicle will pick you up early in the morning and take you to the village of Amaru, which you’ll briefly explore. The hike will head from here towards the ruins of Pisac. During the hike you’ll see the remains of once prolific Inca agricultural activity, which pioneered the use of terraces to grow plants at high altitudes on steep slopes. The views along the way are quite simply astounding. After lunch, our route takes us to the town of Ollantaytambo, whose layout still shows signs of Inca planning, with its cobbled streets and Inca fort. We will spend the night in a hotel here.

DAY 6 CACHICATA- OLLANTAYTAMBO

If you’ve ever wondered where the Inca got the stone for their buildings, you will find the answer today as we visit one of their quarries. The route to the Cachicata quarries is a roughly 4 hour climb, depending of course on your pace. At the site, you’ll see examples of Inca stone carving techniques which are still not fully explained. After exploring the site, we’ll have lunch and take in the views of Mt. Veronica. Later, we’ll return to Ollantaytambo where you’ll have your last night here free.

DAY 7 OLLANTAYTAMBO – MACHU PICCHU

We depart today for the citadel of Machu Picchu. We’ll board the train in Ollantaytambo and travel for 2.5 hours to Aguas Calientes. After quickly checking into the hotel, a bus will take us up to Machu Picchu (“Old Mountain” in English). We’ll explore the ruins from top to bottom, giving you plenty of time to take as many photos and ask as many questions of your guide as you wish. In the afternoon, we’ll return to Aguas Calientes and you’ll have the option to take a dip in the hot springs that the town is named after. We’ll spend the night here.

DAY 8 MACHU PICCHU – CHINCHERO – CUSCO

We’ll return to Machu Picchu early today to enjoy the ruins in all their splendor. You can choose to summit one of two mountains: Machu Picchu Mountain, where you may see animals from reptiles, dragonflies or vizcachas (Andean rabbits) or Huayna Picchu (“Young Mountain”), the peak that towers over the northern end of the site.  If the idea of climbing one more mountain doesn’t appeal to you, you can choose to descend to the Moon Temple. In the afternoon, we’ll catch the train back to Ollantaytambo and then continue on in a private car to the textile market in Chinchero, seeing wide open plains and mountain ranges along the way. At the market, you’ll be shown the process of making alpaca wool textiles and have the opportunity to buy some before we return to the hotel in Cusco.

DAY 9 CUSCO- LIMA – FLIGHT HOME

On the final day, our team will say goodbye as we take you to the Cusco airport for your return flight to Lima and your connecting flight home.

*In case you want to visit any additional sites, you can add extensions on to your original package. If you choose an extension, we’ll organize the connection to your next destination.  Someone from the Land of the Inkas team will accompany you to ensure that you make your connection and that everything goes smoothly.

INCLUDED

A bilingual guide for all the tours described in the itinerary

-All flights within Peru

-All ground transportation during the trip

-The entrance costs for all the tours/sites mentioned.

-All hotels (Double beds, with continental breakfast)

-All the meals mentioned. (The guide will carry a first aid kit)

-An additional room can be obtained at the client’s request.

NOT INCLUDED

-Transportation (e.g. international flights) to and from Peru.

-Lunch and dinner in cities (aside from those specifically mentioned)

-Hiking boots and personal equipment

-Personal costs (tips and gratuities, alcoholic beverages, travel/medical insurance, medical costs, laundromat charges, airport taxes, etc.)

Salkantay, or the “Wild Mountain” as it’s known in Quechua, is one of the highest peaks in Peru and is not to be missed. Many people are attracted to this route for its views of jagged, Andean peaks and the wildlife and architecture at the final destination of Machu Picchu. This is a long, tiring journey, but if you’re full of energy and love of adventure, this is your route!

DAY 1

– Arrival in Lima

– Night in a Lima hotel

DAY 2

-Flight to Cusco.

– Visit to Saqsaywaman, Tambomachay, Qenqo, Pucapucara.

-Night in a hotel in Cusco

DAY 3

– Visit to Pisac, Calca, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo.

– Night in an Ollantaytambo hotel.

DAY 4

-Bus to Mollepata

-Hike from Mollepata to campsite at Parobamba

Day 5

-Hike from Parobamba to Cruzpata

-Hike from Cruzpata to campsite at Soraypampa

Day 6

-Hike from Soraypampa to Salkantaypampa

-Continue past             

Incachiriaska Pass and arrive at campsite at Sisaypampa

Day 7

-Hike from Sisaypampa to Pampacahua Valley to connect with the Classic Inca Trail

-Hike to Huayllabamba campsite

Day 8

-Hike from Huayllabamba to Pacamayo campsite

Day 9

-Hike from Pacamayo to Runkuracay

-Hike from Runkuracay to Sayacmarca, then on to the campsite at Phuyupatamarca.

DAY 10

-Hike from Phuyupatamarca to the ruins at Wiñay Wayna

-Hike through the Sun Gate to arrive at Machu Picchu           

-Spend the night in Aguas Calientes

DAY 11

-Train to Ollantaytambo, then bus trip to Chinchero textile market. Return to Cusco hotel 

DAY 12

-Flight to Lima

-International connecting flight
*Connection to your extension if you have purchased one

DAY 1 LIMA

You’ll arrive at the international airport in Lima (the majority of flights arrive at night between 8pm and 2am). Our team will be waiting with a private vehicle to take you to the hotel of your choice. Depending on your flight schedule, you will have the opportunity to visit some of the most important sites and museums in Lima. (Optional).

Day 2 LIMA – CUSCO

Early in the morning, you’ll return to the Lima airport to take your flight to Cusco, the former capital of the Inca Empire. Upon your arrival, the Land of the Inkas team will be waiting to greet you. During the trip to the center in a private vehicle, the guide will give a brief introductory talk about the city. You’ll have the rest of the day free to acclimatize, relax and enjoy the exceptional atmosphere in Cusco, home to the some of the most amazing history and culture in South America.

Day 3 CUSCO

On the third day, we’ll visit the most important tourist sites in the city and its surroundings. This is an opportunity to try new things and to learn about the history of Cusco and the daily life of its people. Our destinations today include churches, museums and archeological sites. In the afternoon, we’ll visit the fortress of Saqsaywaman and the complexes of Qenqo, Pucapucara and Tambomachay. All of these were highly important sites in the Inca religion and are located close to Cusco. After our explorations, we’ll return you to your hotel to spend the night.

Day 4 CUSCO – PAROBAMBA (CAMP)

We will leave Cusco early today to fully enjoy all the opportunities that await us. The start of the Salkantay trail is in Mollepata, a small village up in the mountains. On the way here, we’ll visit the ruins of Tarawasi. Once in Mollepata we’ll explore around and, if you like, talk to some of the locals about their lives and experiences. Before nightfall we’ll walk an hour to arrive in Parobamba, the first campsite.

Day 5 PAROBAMBA – SORAYPAMPA (CAMP)

We’ll make sure that you get a balanced breakfast this morning to keep you full of energy on the hike to Cruzpata. You’ll have great views of mountains important to locals, such as Humantay. After and tasty lunch we’ll continue on to Soraypampa. The people here are very friendly and welcoming and will give you a warm welcome. We’ll have dinner and camp here.

Day 6 SORAYPAMPA – SISAYPAMPA (CAMP)

We’ll start the day with a climb to Salkantaypampa, a plain located at the foot of Salkantay. We’ll take a rest and take our time exploring around. After lunch, we’ll continue the hike towards Incachiriaska Pass and afterwards, before night falls, arrive at our campsite at Sisaypampa.

Day 7 SISAYPAMPA – HUAYLLABAMBA (CAMP)

The hike today is spectacular. We’ll rise and eat breakfast early and make tracks for Pampacahua. We’ll have an alfresco lunch here and likely begin to see other hikers, as this town connects us to the Classic Inca Trail. Our day will end in the village of Huayllabamba.

Day 8 HUAYLLABAMBA –PACAYMAYO (CAMP)

We’ll get an early start today and continue along a narrow gorge. We’ll walk through a leafy forest full of quinua plants, an edible species high in nutrients and protein which is revolutionizing cooking across the world. From here, the path ascends to wide plains and continues up to the high point of the trail known as “Dead Woman’s Pass” (“Warmiwañuska” in Quechua). After this steep climb, we’ll rest and catch our breath for a moment, then descend to Pacaymayo to camp for the night.

Day 9 PACAYMAYO – PHUYUPATAMARCA (CAMP)

This part of the Inca Trail has the majority of the ruins. We’ll visit the ruins of Runkuracay, then climb up to the second highest point on the trail before taking a much-deserved break in the community of Sayacmarca. We’ll then walk a little farther to get to our campsite at Phuyupatamarca.

DAY 10  PHUYUPATAMARCA- MACHU PICCHU

We’ll leave Phuyupatamarca for the ruins of Wiñay Wayna and pass by a section of cloud forest before arriving at the Sun Gate (“Intipunku”). This famous landmark is a welcome sight for all weary adventurers, for it means that you have nearly arrived at your destination of Machu Picchu. After visiting the ruins, we’ll bus down to the nearby town of Aguas Calientes where you can soak your tired bones and muscles in the hot springs there before retiring to your hotel.

DAY 11 MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO

We’ll return to Machu Picchu early today to enjoy the ruins in all their splendor. You can choose to summit either Machu Picchu Mountain (meaning “Old Mountain” in English) or Huayna Picchu (“Young Mountain”). If the idea of climbing one more mountain doesn’t appeal to you, you can choose to descend to the Moon Temple. In the afternoon, we’ll catch the train back to Ollantaytambo and then continue on in a private car to the textile market in Chinchero. At the market, you’ll be shown the process of making alpaca wool textiles and have the opportunity to buy some before we return to the hotel in Cusco.

DAY 12  CUSCO- LIMA

On the final day, we’ll take you to the Cusco airport for your return flight to Lima and your connecting flight home.

*In case you want to visit any additional sites, you can add extensions on to your original package. If you choose an extension, we’ll organize the connection to your next destination.  Someone from the Land of the Inkas team will accompany you to ensure that you make your connection and that everything goes smoothly.

INCLUDED

-A bilingual guide for all the tours described in the itinerary

-All flights within Peru

-All ground transportation during the trip

-The entrance costs for all the tours/sites mentioned.

-All hotels (Double beds, with continental breakfast)

-All the meals mentioned. (The guide will carry a first aid kit)

-An additional room can be obtained at the client’s request.

NOT INCLUDED

-Transportation (e.g. international flights) to and from Peru.

-Lunch and dinner in cities (aside from those specifically mentioned)

-Hiking boots and personal equipment
-Personal costs (tips and gratuities, alcoholic beverages, travel/medical insurance, medical costs, laundromat charges, airport taxes, etc.)