Peru Packages: Explore the Path of the Inca

You will be picked up at the airport in Cusco and taken to your comfortable hotel where you are advised to rest for a while to acclimatize to the altitude. As you drive into the city center you will no doubt notice the many fine examples of Spanish colonial architecture built upon the remains of the age old Inca settlement on which it was constructed. After resting for a short while, we suggest you have lunch in either your hotel or in one of the many fine restaurants in the area.

In the early afternoon you will be taken on a Cusco tour of the city and will visit some of the many amazing archaeological sites and wonders in and around the city. You will see the Cathedral (which is located on the Plaza de Armas- or main square), Sacsayhuaman, Q'enko, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay. Remember to bring your camera on this trip as you will certainly want a reminder of the amazing awe these Inca sites can evoke.

You will return to your hotel in the late afternoon to relax before dinner. Before setting out to eat in one of the many restaurants in Cusco remember to put on something warm as the temperature in the city can drop dramatically due to the dry climate and altitude.  If you are not prepared for cooler weather, there are many markets and high end stores selling alpaca sweaters. Spend the evening enjoying the local cuisine and hospitality of the Cusco locals.

See our Cusco Guide for suggestions of great Cusco restaurants.

After an early breakfast, you will embark on a journey into the famous Sacred Valley of the Incas.  As you wind through the Andean mountain tops, you will see echoes of the traditional lifestyles that have existed here for more than 500 years.  Many people proudly wear traditional clothing, cook in clay fire ovens and utilize many of the irrigation techniques developed over a half a century ago.  The drive from Cusco is not very long and on the way you will see some typical Andean villages and scenery. Upon descent into the Sacred Valley you will know that you have arrived in the area the Inca revered for its lush fertile soils and advanced agricultural methods. 

First you will visit the impressive ruins of Ollantaytambo. These magnificent ancient ruins look out as outposts over the valley and if you are up for the climb, offer an incredible view.  Originally the royal estate of Emperor Pachacuti during the Inca Empire, it later served as a stronghold for Manco Inca Yupanqui in the Inca´s final rebellion against the Spanish.

After learning more about the history and architecture of the Inca, you will ride along the Urambamba River for a short trip to the beautiful town of Pisac.  Here you will have the opportunity to visit the lively local market in to enjoy the beautiful handicrafts on sale. It is here that many fine Andean garments are for sale. For lunch you will have the chance to try out traditional Andean foods. This town also has some very interesting small architectural elements that should not be missed.  For example if you walk down some of the side streets at the end of the block you will find a serpent´s head as the drainage spout.  These little elements make this town a gem of the Sacred Valley. 

In the evening you will return to your comfortable Cusco hotel. The guides from the Inca Trail will visit you in your hotel to brief you in what to expect on the trail and answer any questions you may have.  After this you will once again be given the opportunity to spend the evening at your leisure in one of the many fine restaurants or bars available in the area.  We advise though that you get some rest because the following day you will begin your Inca trail trek! 

After breakfast, you will be picked up from your Cusco hotel and driven on a scenic two-hour drive through the Sacred Valley towards Ollantaytambo. Once in Ollantaytambo, you will pick up equipment, food and porters for your adventure. We recommend that you buy coca leaves to make tea that helps relieve altitude sickness, as well as wooden walking sticks to help you climb the trail. Trekking poles with metal tips are not permitted as they can ruin the trail. Afterwards, you will continue onto Piscacucho (2,700 m.a.s.l.) by bus to reach the beginning of the trail.

Once you cross the Piscacucho Bridge over the Urubamba River, you will commence that day’s 7.5 mile (12 km) hike. The highlights of this path include the breathtaking view of the Vilcanota ridge on the other side of the Urumbamba River and the snow-covered Mount Veronica. The beginning of the walk is fairly easy as you will walk on flat terrain along the river’s shore until you take a break at the small community of Miskay. Continuing on a steeper path towards a high plateau, your efforts will be rewarded by the spectacular view of the Inca Ruins of Patallacta. These ruins are situated at the junction of three valleys and are a utilitarian station of farming terraces and will be one of many Incan ruins you will encounter on the trail. After you have heard about this collective agricultural compound, you will continue to hike for another two hours where you will meet up and eat the delicious lunch your cook has prepared. After lunch you will continue trekking for roughly another two hours until you reach your first campsite of Wayllabamba.

• Hike Distance: 12km (7.5 miles)
• Minimum altitude: 2700 meters
• Maximum altitude: 3000 meters
• Approximate time: five to six hours
• Gradient: Moderate

The second day of the trek is the most rigorous. You will wake up early for breakfast and then set out to climb 5.6 miles (9 km) of a narrow valley, surrounded by plush vegetation and crisp streams. As this is by far the most challenging part of the trail, it is encouraged that you take your time by taking breaks whenever you desire before reaching the village of Llulluchapampa.

Leaving the village of Llulluchapampa after a short rest, you will climb the highest and most famous mountain pass, the Abra Warmihuaña or “Dead Woman’s Pass.” This hike will take about two hours, but you are again encouraged to take your time, in order to enjoy the scenery and avoid over exerting yourself. Once you have reached the Dead Woman’s Pass (13,780 ft/4,200 m), you will descend a winding 1.6 miles (2.5 km) path of steps that crosses a breathtaking valley inhabited by a plethora of natural wildlife. Keep your eyes open, as here a variety of birds, like sparrows and humming birds can be seen, as well as the Andean Bear, also known as the Spectacled Bear for its golden circular fur around its eyes. You will have lunch along the way and continue to the campsite at the Pacaymayo Valley (3,600 m.a.s.l.). Here you will have dinner and take a well-deserved rest after a strenuous day.

• Hike Distance: 9 km (5.6 miles)
• Minimum altitude: 3000 meters
• Maximum altitude: 4200 meters
• Approximate time: 6 to 7 hours
• Gradient: Challenging

After breakfast, you will start a 9.3 mile (15 km) trek along an impressive and archeologically rich path. A steep hike will lead you to the Runkurakay Pass. Halfway through the pass, you will encounter the ruins of Runkurakay, an Inca 'tambo' or watch-house. Another steep climb up Incan steps leads to the next pass, which offers insurmountable views of the mountain ranges of Vilcabamba and Pumasillo. Today, you will notice that the path becomes an intricately Inca engineered structure of stones that hugs the steep sides of the mountains and serves as a gallery for the ecosystem's varied flora.

You will continue trekking at your own pace on to Yanacocha with Sayacmarca (3,624 m.a.s.l.) as your destination goal. Aptly dubbed the “Inaccessible Town,” the ruins of Sayacmarca are sheltered by daunting protective cliffs. Climbing 98 steep Incan stone steps will allow you to get a spectacular view of the ruins and the landscape that surrounds you. Once you descend, you will be able to enter the fortress. Divided into two halves, you will be able to see Sayacmarca’s solar observation point and residences.

Leaving this magnificent archaeological wonder, you will trek through the cloud-forest to the last climb.  This climb will lead you to the third pass, the Abra de Phuyupatamarca (3,700 m.a.s.l.). Afterwards, most of the trail is downhill and leads to the archeological site of Phuyupatamarca.  Called the “Town above the Clouds,” Phuyupatamarca is surrounded by Inca terraces consisting of a sophisticated irrigation and fountain system. As the sun sets, you will head towards the ruins of Wiñaywayna or “Forever Young”. Believed to have been a center where water was worshipped, flower enthusiasts will be pleased to see the area’s famous pink orchids in addition to learning about the ruin. After wandering the ruins, you will rest at the camp site located here and have the chance to use the simple restaurant and hot showers! Cold beers and a party in the evening will allow you to say good-bye to your cook and porters who will leave early the next morning on the train back to Cusco.

At this point your guide will ask all hikers to make a tip pool, which will then be distributed to the team (guide, cook and porters). A good tip amount ranges $10-$40 per hiker. Remember that these tips are voluntary, so feel free to tip according to the service you have received.

• Hike Distance: 15 km (9.3 miles)
• Minimum altitude: 2700 meters
• Maximum altitude: 3950 meters
• Approximate time: 8 to 9 hours
• Gradient: Moderate

After waking at 4:00 am, you will have breakfast at 4:30 am and be on the trail by 5:00 am in order to reach Inti Punko or the “Sun Gate” by 6:00 am.  This ´gate´ is the main Inca Trail entrance to the site of Machu Picchu and will take about one hour to trek to through the cloud forests of the mountain. You will reach the Sun Gate just before sunrise, to ensure you see the fog lift to reveal Machu Picchu basqued in rays of sunlight.  The view is awe-inspiring and you can only imagine what the Incas must have felt after their grueling journey to this sprawling temple. After taking advantage of this pristine photo opportunity, you will descend to the citadel and receive a full explanation about the temple from your guide. The tour lasts two hours and afterwards you will have several options of how you can spend your time at this daunting world wonder.

The tour of the Machu Picchu site will highlight this citadels exemplary position showing the civilization’s ability to build a fortress in one of the world’s most formidable locations. The human element of Machu Picchu is evident in its intricate building structure, especially when contrasted with the wild, verdant mountains and steep gorges that fully surround the citadel. These magnificent Incan ruins have contoured walls that fit to the curves of the natural rock. They are an amazing architectural jigsaw puzzle of individual blocks that - even though built without supportive mortar - have withstood earthquakes, fires and duress of centuries of neglect. It is even more incredible, when you realize that these stone blocks were transported here through the Inca’s valleys, past the irrigation systems and across the terraced fields in order to build this wonder. The Temple of the Sun, the Intihuatana and the Principal Bath are only a few of the impressive sights that your tour will cover.

After your tour, you have the option to explore more of the site and capture any forgotten photos. Some take advantage of Machu Picchu’s spiritual setting to meditate and relax. However, if the trek through the Inca Trail got you yearning for more and you do not suffer from vertigo, you can take a 90 minute climb up the lush peak of Huayna Picchu. Lasting about four hours, the excursion to Huanyna Picchu’s temple of the moon is not for the faint of heart and must be done exercising extreme caution. However, the opportunity to tour another temple and see Machu Picchu from another angle, often beckons the more adventurous of visitor.

In the afternoon, you can take a comfortable train back to Cusco. You also have the option to stay in Aguas Calientes, the town at the foot of Machu Picchu - which we highly recommend.

See our Machu Picchu Guide for more information on what to see and do, as well as which Machu Picchu Restaurants we recommend for tasty dining.

• Hike Distance: 3km (1.9 miles)
• Minimum altitude: 2400 meters
• Maximum altitude: 2700 meters
• Approximate time: About 1 hour of hiking
• Gradient: moderate

After breakfast at the hotel you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back to Lima and onwards home. Or if you wish to continue even further into the “Heart of the Inca”by taking the train, bus or plane to Puno to visit the majestic Lake Titicaca. If you want to experience the many other facets of this dynamic country of course you can always continue on to one of our many other exciting Peru travel destinations as well!

• 3 nights at a Cusco hotel or 2 nights at a Cusco hotel and 1 night at an Aguas Calientes hotel, all comfortable and based on US standards.
• 3 nights of camping.
• All guided visits are with English speaking tour guides. The Inca Trail guide is bilingual and fully trained.
• All transfers and entrance fees.
• All breakfasts included. 4-star and up hotels offer breakfast buffets.

• Private transport from your Cusco hotel to the start of the trek
• Bus from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes
• Return train from Aguas Calientes to Cusco
• Transfer from Cusco train station back to your Cusco hotel

• We use four season Eureka tents with two entrances and capacity for four people. For comfort, only two people per tent.
• Foam mattresses, tables and seat for each tent
• Food and drink utensils
• Dinner tent and Kitchen Tent
• First aid kit and emergency oxygen bottle

• Professional, knowledgeable bilingual guide
• A cook to prepare your meals
• Porters to carry provided equipment and food (additional porters are available for rent to carry your personal belongings)

• High quality meals to provide the necessary energy for this challenging trek
• In addition to three meals daily, you will be given revitalizing snacks
• Hot drinks such as Tea and Coffee as well as enough water for your canteens (taken from local streams and boiled while on the trek)
• A one day entrance ticket to Machu Picchu

• A hat, sunglasses and sun block to protect you from the strong sun
• Insect repellant
• Sleeping bag - can be rented in Cusco
• Hiking rucksack – can be rented in Cusco
• A canteen or similar for the trek as disposable plastic water bottles are prohibited
• Comfortable sneakers / Hiking shoes
• Enough clothes for four days (see FAQs for a break down)
• A small flashlight for the early mornings and late night toilet trips
• Your camera with extra memory and batteries!

• Chocolates and candy. Sugar boosts are great for keeping you going
• You can buy coca leaves and tea for relieving altitude sickness
• Wooden walking sticks to help you climb the trail, trekking poles with metal tips are not permitted as they can ruin the trail.

• A hat to protect you from the sun
• Sunglasses and sun block
• Insect repellant
• Sleeping bag - can be rented
• Warm sweater and warm socks for sleeping
• Small flashlight for using the toilet during the night. Also the last part of the trek will begin before the sun rises so that you reach Machu Picchu at sunrise.
• Chocolates and candy. Sugar boosts are great for keeping you going
• Your camera with extra memory and batteries!
• Disposable plastic water bottles are not allowed on the trail so you should bring a canteen or similar for the trek.
• For more information, please check our FAQ section at FAQs- Cusco and FAQs- Inca Trail

We recommend that you book more time in Cusco. There is so much to see in and around the city that an extra day would amplify your Cusco experience. We would be pleased to book an additional day(s) for you. Otherwise enjoy your 4 days / 3 nights Cusco vacation and take in the sights and sounds of this magnificent city.

Have an extra day to visit the ruins on your own, relax at the local hot springs, and walk around the orchid gardens. The breathtaking beauty of Machu Picchu certainly deserves an extra day!

The sheer natural beauty of this area will revitalize any jaded soul. Learn why it is called the Sacred Valley by staying overnight in a Sacred Valley hotel.

Heading east from Cusco you will discover the remarkable and extensive Inca ruins of Tipon, famous for its beautiful gardens set high within the Andes Mountains, where fresh, cool water runs through an intricate system of fountains. Your professional tour guide will lead you up and along the expansive terraces, supported by traditional Inca stonework, with a visible and fully-functional irrigation system of channels flowing underneath.

Following a path leading just above the final terrace on the hill you will come across a remarkable temple hidden by the mountain. Your entire visit to the ruins will be framed by the beautiful vistas overlooking the town of Tipon, and the stunning backdrop of the Andes dominating the entire valley.

Continuing your tour you’ll arrive in Piquillajta, ‘the City of Fleas,’ an impressive and ancient Wari ruin established in the first century. You’ll explore this administrative capital of the southern portion of the Wari Empire which dates back to pre-Inca times, made up of compounds of ancient two-storey storehouses, dormitories, and ceremonial sites. To this day the walls have retained their ancient plastering and lime coatings.

As your day continues, you will travel to the small village of Andahuaylillas, home to a dazzling 17th-century church, known as ‘the Andean Sistine Chapel’.  Its stunning frescoes and rich, distinct interior design are on par with the work of European masters and is a beautiful mix of European and Peruvian art styles. Built upon the site of an old Inca temple, the church’s altar is gilded in 24-carat gold leaf and adorned with both Christian and Quechua symbols. The detailed baroque style and elegant, valuable adornments are thought to have been an early attempt by the Spaniards to dazzle the Inca into converting to Christianity.

Leaving the village of Andahuaylillas you will make the return journey through the stunning Andean landscape and back to your comfortable Cusco hotel. Please note that lunch is not included in this tour and ordering a box lunch from your hotel is advised.

Enjoy a horseback riding adventure across the Sacred Valley to Maras Moray Salt Mines. This is our most recommended additional service. Prices are per person for this private service (includes transfer to the Sacred Valley).

Located between Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu, the campsite is situated at 2800 meters a.s.l. and is close to the Vilcanota River. From here you can see the archeological site of Ollantaytambo, just a 30 minute walk from your campsite. The following day, you can walk to the train station, only 15 minutes away, and take the train to Machu Picchu.

Campsite is accessible by road, by rafting on the river Vilcanota or by trekking.

• Stationary tents
• Dining area
• Bathrooms
• Hot showers
• Potable water
• Campfire
• Pachamanca lunch
• Hammocks
• Soccer field, badminton court, volleyball court, petanque (a game similar to bowls)

Get on a boat and have a wet and wild rafting experience through the Sacred Valley. Our tour guides are fully trained and bilingual. Transfers and lunch included.

Take a horse-back ride through the valley from the Inca Bridge to the Quarries of Cachicata and return to camp. This trip lasts about 4 hours.

Includes: First aid kit, walkie-talkie, guide service and horses completely equipped.
Not included: Bottled water, food, tips.

Take a bike ride through the Sacred Valley where you will visit the Quarries of Cachicata and the villages on the banks of the river, such as Sillque, Chillca and others. We will return to our campsite during a pleasant 2 hour journey on the other side of the river, passing through the villages of Phiri Podra and enjoying the beautiful scenery.

Includes: bicycles, helmets, gloves, first-aid kit and guide service

Not included: bottled water, food, tips

Raft on the River Urubamba with category 2 and 3 currents, suitable for everyone. No experience necessary. Trip lasts approximately 2 hours and provides an opportunity to see the beautiful Sacred Valley from a different perspective.

Included: First-aid kit, bilingual guide service, canoeing kit, life- jackets, oars, waterproof pants, and transportation from and to campsite.

Not included: Bottled water, food, tips.

This site, constructed by the Incas, is the oldest known horticultural experimental center in the world. Each terraced level gives a different micro-climate in which different crops can be grown. The terraces built into the natural surrounding landscape are fascinating. Prices are per person for this private service:

This horseback riding tour will take you to the beautiful country side around the city of Cusco. (Minimum 2 people)

Watch professional Peruvian dancers and musicians perform to traditional Andean music during a delicious dinner.