Trips

Lima

Bienvenidos! Welcome to Lima, Peru. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 2 pm where you’ll meet your tour leader and travel group. After the meeting, your leader will take you on an orientation walk of Miraflores and an optional dinner with your group. Be sure to get your hands in Peru’s national dish of ceviche during your stay. As there’s little time spent in Lima, you may like to arrive a few days early to see the sights, including the chic suburb of Barranco, Central Park and the National Museum.

Lima / Cusco

Catch a morning flight to Cusco, spend a little time acclimatising to the high altitude (3450 metres), then head out on an orientation walk with your tour leader. Visit the facade of Inca temple Qoricancha, bustling San Pedro Market, architectural feat the 12 Angled Stone, Plaza Regocijo and Plaza San Blas. If the altitude has you feeling lethargic, perhaps seek out some coca tea.

Sacred Valley (via ferrata and zip line)

Transfer by minivan to the Sacred Valley of the Inca (located a 2-hour drive from Cusco) to step out of your comfort zone and into the vertical world of via ferrata. Italian for ‘iron way’, via ferrata is a type of climbing popularised in the European Alps in which permanent ladders, chains and cables are affixed to steep rock faces to make them accessible to non-climbers. On this full-day activity you’ll gain a unique perspective of this stunning valley. To top it off, fly through seven zip lines ranging from 150 to 700 metres long for a memorable, heart-racing descent. Continue to Ollantaytambo for the night. If there’s time, you may like to visit the town’s archaeological site, which includes remnants of an Inca city and views over the present-day settlement.

Sacred Valley (mountain bike)

Saddle up and leave the paved roads behind as you venture through the lesser-seen landscapes of the Sacred Valley. Pedal over rolling hills and past farming communities as locals go about their daily chores. Today you will cycle for approximately 5 hours with plenty of rests along the way. The support vehicle is always at hand for those that want to give their legs a break, and a simple but tasty box lunch is provided today.

Inca Trail, Inca Quarry Trail or Train Option

Depending on the travel arrangements you made before the trip, during the next four days you’ll be doing one of the following: hiking the Classic Inca Trail, hiking the Inca Quarry Trail or staying in Cusco for another two days before taking the train to Aguas Calientes. Route 1 Classic Inca Trail: Today travel by minivan to the 82-kilometre marker and meet your crew of local porters, cook and guide. The first day includes uphill trekking to the campsite, which is at 3100 metres above sea level. On the way you’ll see the Inca sites of Ollantaytambo, Huillca Raccay and Llactapata, as well as incredible views of snow-capped Veronica Peak. In the evening, unwind at the campsite with a nourishing meal. Notes: The Inca Trail is within the abilities of most reasonably fit people, but please come prepared, as the trail is 45 kilometres long and often steep. Each day generally consists of 7 hours of walking (uphill and downhill), with stops for snacks and lunch. Trekking usually begins at 7 am (except on the fourth morning) and you reach that evening’s campsite at around 5 pm. Accommodation on the trek is camping (three nights). Double tents (twin-share) and foam camping mats will be provided. The porters will set up the tents while the cook prepares meals. Route 2 Inca Quarry Trail: Make an early start today and drive to Choquequilla, a small ceremonial place where Incas worshipped the moon. Drive to the starting point of the trek, Rafq’a, and meet the horsemen who join us on the hike. After an hour-long walk, reach the small community of Socma. Carry on to the Perolniyoc cascade lookout, an opportunity to stop for photos and a food break. Continue to the campsite, which is 3700 metres above sea level. You should reach the campsite around lunchtime. After lunch, set off to explore the Q’orimarca archaeological site, which once served as a checkpoint to the Incas. Notes: The Inca Quarry Trail is within the abilities of most reasonably fit people. The hike is 26-kilometres long in total and its highest pass is at 4450 metres above sea level. Throughout the trek, horses will carry your gear and camping equipment. The first two nights are spent camping and the third night you will stay at a simple hotel. Double tents (twin-share) and foam camping mats will be provided. The porters will set up the tents while the cook prepares meals. Route 3 Train: After spending the night in the Ollantaytambo, leave around 9.30 am and take a short drive to the town of Pisac, well-known for its market. Here you’ll have the opportunity to shop for souvenirs and perhaps try some local empanadas. Arrive back into Cusco in the afternoon, where your leader will take you to San Pedro Market in order to buy some things for a picnic tomorrow. In the late afternoon, you’ll have an option to visit the Choco Museum where you can try some artisanal chocolate that is prepared in house. Be sure to sample some of the delicious hot chocolate.

Inca Trail, Inca Quarry Trail or Train Option

Route 1 Classic Inca Trail: This is the most challenging day of the trek as you ascend a long steep path (approximately 5 hours) to reach the highest point of the trail. Colloquially known as Dead Woman’s Pass, Warmiwanusca sits at a height of 4200 metres above sea level, providing amazing views of the valley below. The group will then descend to the campsite in the Pacaymayo Valley at 3650 metres. Route 2 Inca Quarry Trail: This is the most challenging and rewarding day of the hike. A 3-hour walk takes us to the top of the first pass of Puccaqasa (approximately 4370 metres high). After enjoying picturesque views of the valley, it’s a short walk before stopping for lunch. Afterwards, make the 2-hour hike to Kuychicassa, the highest pass of the trek at 4450 metres. From here, descend to the sacred site the Incas called Intipunku (Sun Gate), with views of the Nevado Veronica mountain. Head to the campsite, only a stone’s throw away at Choquetacarpo. Route 3 Train: Today, take a taxi to Tambomachay, an archaeological site just outside of Cusco. From here you’ll take a short downhill walk (between 1—3 hours) back to Cusco. On the way, stop to admire some of the archaeological sites, including Puka Pukara, Qinqu Quenqo and Saksaywaman. Arrive back in Cusco in the afternoon and enjoy some free time to go shopping, or perhaps visit Merida, Mendivil and Olave art galleries and workshops. Your tour leader will be able to give you some suggestions or point you in the right direction.

Inca Trail, Inca Quarry Trail or Train Option

Route 1 Classic Inca Trail: Start the day with a climb through the Pacaymayo Valley to Runkuracay Pass (3980 metres). Enjoy views of the snow-capped mountain of Cordillera Vilcabamba before descending for around 2—3 hours to the ruins of Sayacmarca. Continue over the trail’s third pass to the ruins of Phuyupatamarca (3850 metres), also known as ‘Town Above the Clouds’. Start the 2-hour descent down the Inca steps to the final night’s campsite by the Winay Wayna archaeological site. Route 2 Inca Quarry Trail: Today’s hike will all be downhill. The first stop is the incomplete Kachiqata Quarry, where the Inca were intercepted by the Spanish. Around midday, come to the end of the trek. Explore the cobbled streets of Ollantaytambo before taking the short train journey to Aguas Calientes. This is where you’ll meet up with the travellers in your group who did not hike. Visiting the natural hot springs in town is a soothing way to spend the late afternoon. Spend the night in a comfortable hotel before tomorrow’s visit to Machu Picchu. Route 3 Train: After a drive to Ollantaytambo (about 1.5 hours), catch a train through the winding Urubamba Valley to Aguas Calientes (another 1.5 hours). The city is nestled in the cloud forest at the foot of Machu Picchu. For those who want a sneak peak, there is time to visit Machu Picchu independently before you guided tour tomorrow. Otherwise, you can while away the afternoon in the natural hot springs at Aguas Calientes.

Machu Picchu / Cusco

Route 1 Inca Trail: This is the final and most spectacular leg of the trek to Machu Picchu. The day starts before dawn with breakfast at 4 am. Say farewell (and a huge thanks) to the porters as they descend to the train station and then begin hiking by 4.30 am. The walk to Intipunku (the Sun Gate) takes around 2.5 hours. Weather permitting, enjoy unforgettable views as you enter Machu Picchu. Take a guided tour of the site. Route 2 Inca Quarry Trail: Depending on weather conditions, take a bus at 5.30 am along the winding road to Machu Picchu. The journey takes around 30 minutes. At Machu Picchu, join up with the travellers in your group who hiked the Classic Inca Trail. If skies are clear, enjoy spectacular views over the ancient city from the Sun Gate, before going on a guided walk around the ruins. Route 3 Train: Take an early bus to Machu Picchu at 5.30 am. The city was built around AD1440 as a country retreat for Inca nobility, but there’s evidence that the land had been a sacred site for much longer. Take a guided tour around the ruins of temples, palaces and living quarters before the group returns to Cusco. For all trails: After taking advantage of the seemingly endless photo opportunities, it’s time to return to Cusco for a well-deserved shower and a Pisco sour.

Cusco

Enjoy your last free day in Cusco. You may like to use this time to rest up and regenerate after your hike or go exploring in and around the area. There are plenty of museums and archaeological sites in and nearby Cusco, and the Boleto Turistico (Tourist Ticket) will give you access to most of them. There are different options and variations of this ticket that your leader will explain to you.