Inca Trail Trek & Peru Tours

Arrival to Cusco

The Inca Trail Trek and Peru Tours begins once you arrive to Cusco at any time; however, we must know your flight details; our staff will wait for you in the airport of the city of Cusco and will transfer you to the hotel. Today, there is not planet activities so, you can rest or wondering around the city (optional city tour in the afternoon); this tour starts at 01:30 p.m; where you will have the opportunity to see the Cathedral located in the Main Square, the Qorikancha or Temple of the Sun of the Incas, the Fortress of Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Tambomachay and Pucapucara. Cusco is the continent’s oldest continuously inhabited city; the city of Cusco attracts travellers who come not just to visit a unique destination but also to experience an age-old culture very different from their 20th century way of life; this lovely Inca and colonial town offers much to the visitor with its nearby ruins, cobble-stoned streets, museums, churches and lively atmosphere. Among the more adventurous optional activities available in Cusco are: city tour around archaeological sites such as Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Tambomachay and Puca Pucara; white water rafting on the Urubamba River; and mountain biking down to the Sacred Valley of the Incas; There are several good museums in Cusco like: the Archaeological Museum, Art Museum, the Regional History Museum and the Religious Art Museum.

Sacred Valley of the Incas: Cusco – Pisac – Ollantaytambo

Sacred Valley is also called also Urubamba Valley it’s located near the city of Cusco where the agricultural cattlemen and beautiful towns were concentrated since Inca times;  The tour starts at 08:30 a.m when we’ll pick you up from the hotel and travel toward the stunning green valley, which was an important cradle of food for the Incas; the Sacred Valley is a lush of agricultural region that continues to supply the city of Cusco with much of its production; especially with corn and vegetables. You will visit the extraordinary Pisac Inca ruins and the colourful artisan market where you can purchase some handicrafts directly from the producers. The sacred valley tour finishes in the picturesque village of Ollantaytambo, we also will visit the Ollantaytambo Inca ruins that are known as the best surviving example of Inca urban planning and engineering. It is admired for its huge steep terraces guarding the Inca Fortress and for being one of the few places where the Spaniards lost a major battle during the conquest. You will have accommodation in the hotel of this picturesque town.

Days 3-6: Inca trail to Machu Picchu: Ollantaytambo – Pisqhakucho – Dead woman Pass – Machu Picchu – Cusco

Early in the morning, we will take the tourist bus for one hour to Km 82 or Pisqhakuchu; once we arrive there, we will met our crew of porters and chef. With your passport in your hand, we’ll head to the check point and start the hike. Porters carry the majority of the gear for the hike, so those passengers doing the hike only carry a small daypack with drinkable water, rain gear, snacks, and camera. Inca Trail is 45km and everyone takes his own pace; first day is relatively easy; second day is the hardest because we’ll have to pass the highest point called Dead Woman Pass (4,200 masl); the third day is the most beautiful because the variety of landscape and the plenty of Inca ruins that we will visit. The last day, we will start very early to be in time for the sunrise in Machu Picchu and surrounding mountains and explore the Stunning Machu Picchu before the crowd arrives from Cusco at midday. On the Inca Trail, you will pass several small Inca ruins, the first of which is Llactapata (up city) which contains a great Inca terraces with a magnificent irrigation system, also there are one hundred rooms where use to live the representative of the Inca. The second day climbs the long steep path to Warmiwañusca, or “Dead Woman Pass”. At 4,200 masl (14,000 ft) above sea level, this pass is the highest point of the trek. You also will see Runkuraqhay and Sayacmarka Inca ruins. The second pass of the hike is at 4,000 masl where on clear days, you can enjoy superb views of the snow-capped Vilcabamba mountain range from which Salkantay Mountain (6,271 masl) is the highest; we also can see the Dead Woman Pass. From the second pass, the trail goes through some beautiful cloud forest on the gentle climb to the third pass (3,600 masl), where you will hike through a well-preserved and original Inca Trail, you will pass through a tunnel carved by the Incas; from the third pass, you’ll start a long descent through 3,200 steps down until WiñayWayna (Young Forever) camp; around the camp there is a magnificent Inca ruins with a grandiose terraced hillside site, with panoramic views of the valley below. On the final day of the hike, we’ll climb the steps to Inti Punku or the Sun Gate overlooking the peaks that surround Machu Picchu. When the morning is clear you can see Machu Picchu below you. From here, we’ll continue 45 minutes down to Machu Picchu and start the tour within Machu Picchu. The local Quechua farmers in the area knew of Machu Picchu for centuries, but it was not until the American historian Hiram Bingham who was in search of Vilcabamba (the stronghold of the last four Incas) arrive to the site on July 24, 1911, that the rest of the world became aware of its existence. At that time, the site was covered in thick vegetation, and Bingham and his team returned in 1912 and 1915 to clear the growth. Over the years, much work has been done on excavating and studying the site. NOTE: The passengers who are not able or nor interested in the hike of the Inca trail for spending 2 days in Cusco, and then travel by train to the picturesque town of “Aguas Calientes” with overnight. Next morning, you will take the bus up to Machu Picchu entrance and meet with the hikers at the ruins. If you decide not to do the hike, we need to know prior to your departure in order to obtain train tickets.

Distances of the Inca Trail:

Day 1: Km 82 to Llulluchapampa

• Approximate distance: 15 km
• Estimated hiking time: 7 – 8 hours.

Day 2: Llulluchapampa – Chaquiccocha

• Approximate distance: 15 km
• Estimated hiking time: 7 – 8 hours

Day 3: Chaquiccocha – Wiñaywayna

• Approximate distance: 10 km
• Estimated hiking time: 5 hours

Day 4: Wiñaywayna to Intipunku (Sun Gate) – Machu Picchu

• Approximate distance: 5 km
• Estimated hiking time: 2 hours

Day 7: Journey from Cusco to Puno: Cusco – “La Raya” – Juliaca – Puno

At 07:30 a.m, we’ll leave the Cusco hotel and take the tourist bus toward the south of the city of Cusco; along the trip; we will stop at Pikillacata (the town of fleas) a pre-Inca ruins;  “la Raya” the highest point between Cusco and Puno, Pucara an Important handicraft factory center. We will also stop at Sicuani to have lunch. We will arrive to Puno at 04:30 p.m approximately.

Days 8-9: Lake Titicaca Tour: Puno – Uros – Takile – Amantani – Puno – Arequipa:

The Titicaca Lake is located outskirts of the city of Puno in the southern part of Peru. The Lake Titicaca is deservedly awash with gushing clichés. This incongruous splash of sapphire amid the stark plains of the “Altiplano” is one of the most beautiful sights in the region. The tour will start at 07:30 a.m once we pick you up from your hotel and transfer you the port; from here, we’ll start the trip on the motorboat through the Lake and 45 minutes after we arrive to the flouting Island of Uros where we will see how the Islanders leave taken advantage of the much that the Island produces. From “Uros”, we’ll continue navigating to Takile Island where we will hike and observe the Inca terraces with a magnificent irrigation system; we will cross the Island and continue on the boat toward the Amantani Island and have accommodation in the basic lodge prepared by the inhabitants of the island. The next day, we will start very early and walk up a small mountain to see the sunrise over the lake and when we’ll return down, we will visit some families to understand how the traditions in this part of Peru are; then, we will return to Puno arriving there in the afternoon. In the evening, we will take 6 hours bus to Arequipa, arriving there very late, our staff will transfer you to the hotel in Arequipa.

Days 10-11: Colca Canyon Tour: Arequipa – Chivay – “La Cruz del Condor” – Chivay – Arequipa

The Colca Canyon is located near the city of Arequipa. It is considered as the deepest canyon of the world; deeper than the grant Canyon of Arizona of the United estates. The tour starts at 08:30 a.m when we’ll pick you up from the Arequipa hotel and travel toward the picturesque town of Chivay; the journey runs bordering the snow covered volcanoes of Chachani and Misti after one hour and half we’ll arrive to “Pampa Cañahuas” which is a natural reserve where you will see Vicuñas (wild camalids); here also we will stop to have some coca tee which is good for the altitude; then, we’ll continue through the “Aguada Blanca National Park” the habitat of the beautiful South American Cameloidaes, the vicuñas, alpacas, suris and llamas. In the lake of Tocra, we will be able to enjoy a variety of migratory birds, sometimes flamencos. We will pass the crater of an extinct volcano. Then, we’ll continue to Patapampa (4,800 masl) the highest pass between Arequipa and Chivay: the entrance to the Colca Canyon. The trip continues down through a stunning landscape to the town of Chivay where we will have lunch and accommodation in the hotel; the next day, very early, we’ll head to “la Cruz Del Condor” considered the best point to see the deepest part of the canyon and where you will have the opportunity to enjoy the Andean condor overflying the canyon. Then, we’ll return to Arequipa arriving here at 05:00 p.m approximately.

Day 12: Free Morning and bus in the evening: Arequipa – Nazca

Enjoy the free morning in the city of Arequipa, you can have some rest, wonder around or visit some museums we recommended Santa Catalina Museum; where you fill find the last mummy encountered by the archaeologist on top of the Ampato Snow Mountain (Juanita) asosiated with other 18 mummies from the times of the Incas. In the evening, we take royal class bus for 10 hours to Nazca.

Day 13: Overfly Nazca Lines & Chauchilla

Nazca is located in the south western part of Peru; without argument the start attraction are the Nazca Lines made thousands of years ago by the Nazca civilization for reasons that remain unclear even to this day. Some of the figures are geometric, such as spirals and trapezoids and lines. Others are anthropomorphic, in the form of animals, birds, and people. Perhaps the most famous figures are the hummingbird, the spider, the whale, the dog, and a mysterious humanoid figure referred to as “the astronaut”. The largest figures are over 200 meters (660 ft) across. Scholars differ in interpreting the purpose of the designs, but in general they ascribe religious significance to them. The tour will start at 08:30 a.m once we pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the airport; prior the flight you will watch a video film about the Nazca Lines that will allow you get a better understanding of the archaeological zone you are about to see. This interesting documentary lasts about 35-40 minutes and involves serious information about the Nazca Culture, as well as the figures you will see from the air. For Nazca aerial tour, you will board a small Cessna single-engine aircraft which has spacious room for 5 people, each person with a window seat. After the video, our English-speaking pilot will proceed to give you a briefing about this air tour and also will give each participant a map of the archaeological zone, which shows all the figures you will see from the air. The aerial tour will be for 45 minutes approximately; then, we’ll return to Nazca for lunch and in the afternoon, we’ll continue with the city tour of Nazca includes the tour to the cemetery of Nazca civilization (pre-Incas). Accommodation in the Hotel.

Day 14: “Islas Ballestas” & Paracas Natural Reserve

The islands are famous for their sea lions and abundance of bird life. You’ll have some free time to walk around and explore the islands, taking pictures of the wildlife and coastal scenery. The water off the coast of Paracas is the only place which allows for panoramic views of the Candelabra of the Andes, a 600-foot (180 meters) painting carved into the mountain side along the Bay of Paracas. From Nazca, we’ll start very early; two-hour bus journey to “El Chaco Port” from where you will board a speed boat to visit the Ballestas Islands. During our boat excursion to the Islands, you will see many attractions stands out a huge design etched on the slope of hill, known by the local people as “The Candelabro”. This is an enormous figure that can be seen clearly from the sea. Afterwards, we will continue our excursion around the Ballestas Islands, where you will see large quantity of birds flying (Peruvian Bobbies, Inca terms, Pelicans, Cormorants and others) above the Islands, as well a colony of sea lions on the shore of the beaches, and if you are lucky you also can see the famous Humboldt Penguins and dolphins swimming nearby. The tour continues with the excursion trough Paracas natural reserve and sees the natural formations of the sandbanks. In the afternoon, we will take the bus for four hours to Lima, arriving there in the evening and you will be transferred to the hotel.

Day 15.- Departure from Lima

Departure from Lima at any time.