In the Footsteps of the Inca- Special Inti Raymi Departure- Escorted Group Tour

• Lima --> Cuzco Flight.
• Transfer provided to the comfortable Arqueologo Hotel.
• Here you will have a free afternoon and evening to rest and acclimatize to the high altitude, to explore this beautiful Inca city, and to enjoy Cuzco's nightlife at your leisure.

• Lima --> Cuzco Flight.
• Transfer provided to the comfortable Arqueologo Hotel.
• Free morning in Cuzco to explore the city.
• In the early afternoon you will be taken on a city tour on which you will visit the main Cathedral, the Plaza de Armas (main plaza) of Cuzco, Qoricancha- the Inca Temple of the Sun, the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, the Q'enko and Pucapucara ruins, and the Tambomachay Inca springs. Upon your return in the late afternoon, you will have time to relax and eat in one of Cuzco's many restaurants where you can enjoy the local cuisine as well as the hospitality of the local people

• Cuzco, a town whose main cult object was the god Inti (the sun), celebrates the Inti Raymi Festival in honor of the winter solstice -the solar new year- for. In Inca times it was a religious ceremony, now it is a theatrical representation of the religious ceremony. However this expression creates a sense of identity in Cuzco that evokes values and memories that are still excellent, and also allows us to remember a time that lives in the heart of Cuzco. The theatrical representation is performed in the traditional Quechua language. The celebration starts at the Temple of the Sun (Qoricancha), and then continues to Sacsayhuaman, we will provide you the transportation, entrance, and guide.
• Overnight at the comfortable Arqueologo Hotel.

• After an early breakfast and an early start you will be taken on a tour of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, where the local people maintain lifestyles that incorporate many traditional activities such as raising cuyes (guinea pigs), making chicha (a fermented corn drink), weaving, and agriculture. You will have the opportunity to visit the local market in Pisac where you can examine and buy the beautiful handicrafts that the locals make, while also observing the array of ethnic dress worn as part of the local heritage. You will also visit the Inca fortress of Ollantaytambo, one of the few places where the Incas were able to defeat the Spanish in battle.
• You will then spend a night at the tranquil Pakaritampu Hotel in the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

• You will wake up early and head towards Km. 82 of the railroad tracks (at Piskacucho), here the group will prepare their backpacks and, with the guide and porters, start the trek by crossing the bridge over the Urubamba River to where the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu truly begins. You pass through some amazing scenery as you meander your way along the mighty Urubamba River. The first stop you come to is Patallacta, or "Village in the Heights". This is an archaeological complex situated at the foot of a mountain on the left bank of the Cusicancha River, a tributary of the Urubamba River. There are many terraced fields here that probably served to feed other settlements and 'tambos' (travelers' rest stations) along the Inca Trail. The urban sector has more than a hundred structures, as well as an Inca altar, the "Pulpituyoc." From here you will hike onward to Huayllabamba, or "Green Meadow". This small, indigenous village is located at the foot of a mountain and surrounded by maize and potato crops. On sunny days, you will see the snow-covered peaks of the Urubamba Cordillera (Mt. Veronica). By mid to late afternoon you will reach Llulluchapampa where you will camp for the night. The village offers campers a public bathroom. Nearby, at Patawasi, you will find Inca-step buildings.

• The second day of the Inca Trail is the most demanding, but also the most gratifying. The views are remarkable and will not be easily forgotten. After breakfast you will leave Llulluchapampa for a steep two and a half hour climb up the first pass. The walk is arduous, with a long steep climb to the highest pass on the Inca Trail- at 4,200 meters (approximately 16,000 feet). On the trail you will be able to appreciate the change in the surroundings as you pass from the moderate temperatures of the valleys to the arid and cold high plains. The last stretch of the pass over Warmiwañuscacan can be very cold and windy - it is known as Dead Woman's Pass which takes its name from the arrangement of peaks at the top that according to the Inca - look like a dead woman lying on her back. Beyond the pass you will descend to your next campsite: Runkuracay, or "Oval building." This is an Inca "tambo," or lodge, of semi-circular design with a view of the pacaymayo Valley and the "Hidden River" below. On the way to the ruins you pass the campsite at pacaymayo at the bottom of the valley where there is abundant water, a public bathroom, and a small waterfall. This is a good place to rest and have lunch. After Runkuracay, the trail ascends, passing the twin lakes of Yanacocha ("Black Lake "). This is where you will make camp for the evening. While sitting around a camp fire you will be able to take in the beauty of the surrounding mountains while enjoying some delicious food prepared over a camp fire.

• After waking up early and enjoying a delicious breakfast you will make your way to Sayaqmarka, or "Dominant Town." This is an interesting set of ruins located on a cliff with a panoramic view of the Aobamba Valley and the snow-covered peak of Pumasillo. This construction is comprised of a labyrinth of very narrow corridors, some with exits and others without. The only access to the ruins is by a steep, but solid, stone staircase carved into the side of the mountain. The abyss on one side is carpeted with exotic plants such as orchids and lichens. The whole atmosphere is unforgettable. During the walk you will pass Conchamarca, a small, recently discovered archaeological complex, and the campsite at Chakicocha, a flat, spacious area with public bathrooms and water. Then the trail ascends again and you will come to the first tunnel on the trail - 20 meters long and with steps carved out of the rock. Continuing your ascent, you reach the third and final pass of the trail at Phuyupatamarca, or "Town above the Clouds." This is undoubtedly one of the most unique towns on the Inca Trail. It is almost always covered in the mist rising from the cloud forest and is located on the side of a ravine looking down into the Urubamba Valley. The site is surrounded by terraced fields and ceremonial sources of fresh water. In the upper section there is a plaza from which, on sunny days, the beautiful landscape of the Urubamba Valley can be seen, as well as the adjacent snow-capped peaks. In the lower section stand circular constructions that seem to imitate the forms of the surrounding landscape. Near the Phuyupatamarka pass the trail descends down solid, spiraling steps, passing through a second tunnel. Then, winding down the mountain, the trail flattens out, following the course of the Urubamba, before arriving at Wiñay Huayna, or "Eternal Youth," where you will camp for the night. This archaeological complex owes its name to the typical orchids that decorate the site with their vibrant red, yellow, and violet flowers all year round. This is perhaps the most beautiful place on the Inca Trail and the last urban center before Machu Picchu. It was built on the side of a mountain on the left bank of the Urubamba River. Wiñay Huayna consists of four principal sectors: the urban sector, located in the lower part and containing more than 20 buildings; the ritual sector; the terraced sector for crops; and the tower sector, which boasts the site's finest architecture and is therefore assumed to have been a place of religious or social importance. Camping in this area is an incredibly special experience, the ruins themselves seem to emanate stories of day's long forgotten and one truly feels as though they are exploring the Path of the Inca. You might choose to get an early nights rest as you will rise very early the following morning.

• You will leave Wiñay Huayna very early in the morning - 4:15 am - in order to reach Intipunku, the "Sun Gate," to see the dawn over the city of Machu Picchu. At this point travelers receive their first glimpse of the majesty and grandeur of Machu Picchu, the sacred citadel of the Incas, under the first rays of the dawning sun. You will be able to visit the sight and see the carved hitching post of the sun, the contoured walls fitting into every curve of the natural rock, the amazing jigsaw puzzle of individual building blocks between which no mortar was used and which have withstood centuries of earthquakes, the sheer thousand meter drop into the valleys up which these blocks were carried, the intricate irrigation system and terraced fields, etc. This structured, intricate temple is in complete contrast to the wild vision of mountain tops and gorges. Your guide will lead you on a tour around this magical site at a time when the ruins are empty and virtually free of tourists. Later on in the day you will be free to explore Huayna Picchu, the large mountain looking over the ruins for a better view.
• You will then spend the night at the popular Presidente Hotel in Aguas Calientes.

• Free day to return to the Machu Picchu ruins and to relax at the local hot springs. You can take advantage of this extra time at Machu Picchu to explore the ruins on your own, to climb the neighboring mountain of Wayna Picchu to obtain spectacular views of the ruins and the surrounding areas, or to simply relax and take in the scenery (you can pre-purchase the re-entrance ticket and bus ticket).
• Late afternoon return to Cuzco on the First Class Train.
• Overnight at the comfortable Arqueolgo Hotel

• Transfer to the airport for your return flight to Lima.

• Hotels based on US. Standards
• Private services
• All tours stated in the itinerary
• 4 nights in Cuzco, 1 night in the Sacred Valley, and 1 night in Aguas Calientes
• 4d/3n Inka Trail Service
• First Class Train Aguas Calientes / Cuzco
• All transfers and entrance fees
• All breakfasts
• English speaking tour guides. The Inka Trail guide is bilingual and fully trained

• Transportation:
  • Private transportation to km 82
  • Transfer from the train station to the hotel
• Camping equipment:
  • High-quality spacious igloo tents
  • Foam mattresses
  • Cooking & Eating tent
• Team:
  • One cook and assistant
  • Professional bilingual guide
  • Porters for equipment
  • Porters for personal gear must be requested upon trail request

• Cuzco: Hotel Arqueologo
• Machu Picchu area: Hotel Presidente

*Hotels are subject to availability. Hotels listed above may be replaced by an equal or better alternative at Peru For Less' discretion.

• Flight Lima --> Arequipa
• Transportation to the comfortable Casa Andina Hotel in Arequipa.
• In the afternoon you will be taken on a city tour to view what is the considered by many to be the most attractive city in Peru, where many of the colonial buildings are made of white ashler stone.

• You will start out early to spend as much time as possible in the majestic Peruvian highlands, arriving at the Colca Canyon lookout point "the Condor Cross" in Chivay, where you have a panoramic view of the Canyon. During your journey you will not only see amazing panoramas, but also typical Andean villages, and indigenous animals such as llamas, alpacas, and vicuñas which the inhabitants use to harvest wool to make the finest of textiles.
• To fully experience the beauty of the Colca Canyon you will have an overnight stay at the Colca Casa Andina Hotel where you will have more opportunities to view condors and check out the textile bargains.

• In the afternoon you will return to the Arequipa Casa Andina Hotel, and will have a free evening to explore this beautiful city.

• Flight Arequipa --> Cuzco.

• 2 nights in Arequipa, 1 night in the Colca Canyon (Hotels based on US. Standards)
• Private services
• All tours stated in the itinerary
• All breakfasts
• English speaking tour guides

• Arequipa : Casa Andina
• Colca Canyon: Casa Andina

*Hotels are subject to availability. Hotels listed above may be replaced by an equal or better alternative at Peru For Less’ discretion.

Complete your trip by visiting the jungle! Let the tranquility and beauty of the Amazon Rainforest absorb you. Peru, with 84 out of 103 existing world ecological zones, is considered an ecological jewel of the world- and this tour will show you why! Wild life and local flora are abundant in this area, and many species you will observe can only be found in the Peruvian Amazon. Navigate jungle rivers, visit local indigenous communities, photograph the wildlife, transit the treetops on a canopy walk, and visit the world’s largest macaw clay lick to have an unforgettable bird watching experience.

Click to start planning your Amazon Rainforest Excursion.

• You will spend a night at the Manhattan Inn Airport Hotel.

• Transfer to the airport.

• Hotels based on US. Standards.
• 1 night in Lima.
• Private transfers.
• Breakfast

• Lima: Manhattan Inn Hotel
  This is the only hotel we recommend near the airport ( 7-8 minutes by car)

** Hotels are subject to availability. Hotels listed above may be replaced by an equal or better alternative at Peru For Less’ discretion.

• You will spend a night at your comfortable hotel in Miraflores, and will have the opportunity to explore Peru's bustling capital, have a relaxing dinner in one of the city's tourist districts, or go shopping.
• Overnight in the comfortable Casa Andina Hotel.

• Afternoon Lima city tour. You will see a cosmopolitan city that is the Peruvian melting pot. People from all over Peru have migrated to Lima to form a unique culture.
• Overnight in the comfortable Casa Andina Hotel.

• Transfer to the airport.

• Hotels based on US. Standards
• All tours stated in the itinerary.
• 2 nights in Lima.
• All transfers and entrance fees
• All breakfasts.
• English speaking tour guides

• Lima: Hotel Casa Andina

** Hotels are subject to availability. Hotels listed above may be replaced by an equal or better alternative at Peru For Less’ discretion.