Explore the Inca Trail

Day 1: Arrival to Cusco & City Tour

The tour begins the moment you step off the plane in Cusco. Our airport shuttle will pick you up from the airport and take you to your Cusco hotel to drop off your luggage (CHECK-IN 12:00 pm).

Day 1 of the tour begins at 1:00 pm in Cusco, also known as the Imperial City. The tour begins visiting the Koricancha Temple, a preserved Inca palace and worship center in Cusco’s Historic Center.

From there, the tour visits Plaza de Armas (the main square) and the Cathedral Basilica (a historic catholic temple) before heading on to the Sacsayhuamán Fortress (15th century Inca ruins and Q'enqo archeological site).

After the tour, we return to Cusco. Our service will end in the surroundings of the Plaza de Armas.

Day 2: Sacred Valley

We will pick you up and then go towards the Sacred Valley. The first place to visit will be Pisaq and the traditional market where you will be able to buy some souvenirs really cheaper, the next stop will be the archeological park site of Ollantaytambo, you will love this small town. In the city of Urubamba, we will stop for lunch time, the meal will be composed by the most important peruvian dishes, an alluring buffet.

Getting back to Cusco we will visit two fascinating places: “The Salt Mines in Maras” and “The Agricultural Inca Laboratory in Moray”. At the salt mines you will be able to try the bountiful variety of salt the local people make and, of course, buy the kind of salt that you most like. Both of them places are unmatchable and have many stories that your professional guide will share with you.

To finish this delightful trip we will spend some minutes in the town of Chincheros, better known as the handicraft city. In fact, here is made the most beautiful and colorful traditional clothes, accessories and souvenirs that of course you will be able to buy. Local Women will teach you the tradition about how they tint wool of alpaca, lama and sheep with natural tincture with ancestral Inca technics.

Day 3: Wayllabamba

We start the day early at 5:00 am where we will pick-up all passengers at their hotels and from there head to the town of Ollantaytambo where you will have time for breakfast and to buy sweets, caramels, chocolates or other snacks that will help you during the hike. We then head to Km 82, Piscacucho (2.700m) where we will pass by the first control. Shortly after we will start the 2-hour hike to Patallacta (2.750m) an Inca archaeological site that will be explained by our guide. After visiting this interesting place we will continue to hike for 45 minutes to our lunch spot where our cook and his team will prepare an incredible meal for us. After lunch we will continue our hike for another one and a half hours towards the camping site Wayllabamba (3.000m) where you will have time for a well-deserved rest and an afternoon snack, followed by dinner before heading to bed.

Day 4: Pacaymayo

In the morning we will have breakfast at 5:30 am and straight after continue our hike for 45 minutes to the second control point. After we will begin the gradual ascent that will take about 1 hour and 30 minutes (4Km) to the second rest point in Llullucha Pampa (3.800m). Following this we will continue the hike for 1 hour and 45 minutes (4Km) to Warmiwañusca Pass (4.215m). We will then rest for 2 hours and 30 minutes at the campsite of Pacaymayo (3.600m) where we will have tea and later dinner and where we will also spend the night.

Day 5: Wiñayhuayna

After breakfast we continue our hike, today being 16Km long, following a trail that is surrounded by jungle vegetation and a number of archaeological Inca sites that held different functions during their time. The first archaeological site we visit is Runcurakay (3.750m), which is located 45 minutes from our starting point and is a complex Inca archaeological site composed of turrets that acted as strategic surveillance sites for the east valley. After, we continue to Runcurakay Pass (3.900m) where we will have an explanation on Inca culture and time for some relaxation. We continue walking for 1 hour and 30 minutes to the second archaeological site where we will visit Sayacmarka. After we continue for 25 minutes to our lunch point at Chaquicocha where we will have lunch, prepared by our cook. This will give us the energy to continue our hike to the Next archaeological site called Puyuptamarca (3.750m) that will take about 2 hours and 30 minutes. From there we start a 3-hour descent to our camping site Wiñayhuayna, where we will have tea and dinner. This will be a special one as it will be the final one with our team and where we will say goodbye to our porters.

Day 6: Machu Picchu

Today we will wake up at 3:30 am, have breakfast and descend to the control point where we will wait 1 hour and 20 minutes until the gates open. Once we have passed through the control point we will hike 1 hour and a half to Inti Punku (Sun Gate) where we will have time enjoy the view of the majestic Machu Picchu and Huaynapicchu. Shortly after we will descend for 40 minutes all the way to the citadel of Machu Picchu.

In Machu Picchu we will take part in a 2-hour historical tour where you will have time to take plenty photos followed by free time to explore the archaeological site on your own. From here we will return to Aguas Calientes where we will have lunch and finally we will head to the train station in order to return to Ollantaytambo and then take the bus back to Cusco.

Day 7: Rainbow Mountain

Your day will begin with an early pickup from your accommodation in Cusco, between 4:30 and 5:00 am. Our transportation will take you from Cusco to the town of Cusipata. The transfer lasts approximately 2 hours. Upon arrival in Cusipata, we will have breakfast. After breakfast, we will continue our trip to the Rainbow Mountain for about 1 hour. On the way to the mountain, you will have the chance to enjoy beautiful landscapes and to see the wildlife.

We will start our adventure with a walk uphill for about 1 hour and a half, appreciating in the background snowy mountains and wonderful landscapes. Then, we will finally reach the point to which we will be able to appreciate the colors of the Rainbow Mountain (5.036m) and the stunning view it offers.

After visiting and taking pictures, we will return the same way we came, have lunch, and start the drive back to Cusco, arriving between 6:00 and 6:30 pm.

Day 8: Airport Transfer

After you check out from your Cusco hotel (CHECK-OUT 10:00 am), we will pick you up and take you to the Cusco Airport.