7 Days Inca Trail “The Hidden Treasures Of The Sun”

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN CUSCO & CITY TOUR.

Bienvenidos! Welcome to Peru. Your adventure begins with a welcoming greeting at Cusco airport to transfer you to your hotel.

In the afternoon your local expert guide will collect you from your hotel for a tour of the Cusco city ” The Puma City” starting out at the Santo Domingo convent monastery. This former colonial monastery was previously the Qoricancha Temple, also known as the “Temple of the Sun” or where the gold shines. One of the most important temples devoted to the worship of the sun (“in our ancient language “Quechua” the Sun is called INTI”). According to the chronicles, it was covered in gold leaf and filled with golden representations of nature. Your next stop will be the Plaza de Armas or the main plaza of Cusco.

Finally we are going to visit Cusco’s central market, a wonderful way to discover the Andean culture and daily life. This vibrant spot, with its dazzling displays of fresh produce and fascinating local products, could keep you entertained for hours.

Places That Are Visited:

• Santo Domingo Monhastery / Qoricanca – Temple Of The Sun.
• Main Plaza of Cusco City – Main Square surrounded by the Inca palaces.
• Saqsayhuaman.
• Qenko.
• Puca Pucara.

At night we will have our family buffet dinner, where we will enjoy live show of typical dances from all over Peru, enjoying amazing traditional andean music.

Lodging: Cusco – Sonesta Hotel Cusco**** or similars.

DAY 2.- CUSCO – SACRED VALLEY – OLLANTAYTAMBO.

Guiding you through to the fertile Sacred Valley, once the spiritual and commercial heartland of the Inca Empire. You will be collected from your hotel by your expert, local guide and private vehicle to be driven firstly to Chinchero, on this site we will appreciate the Inka walls that are very well preserved in the main square as well as many altars directed to the four cardinal points. We will also visit the beautiful colonial church, unique for its work of art. Continuing, we will participate in a wonderful exposition of Andean weaving art; During the weaving we will become familiar with the wisdom of Andean weavings, such and as they are maintained long before Inka times.

Our next stop is going to be Moray, Inca terraces for some soft hiking in these spectacular landscapes, which has been proven to be an experimental center for understanding the various climates and temperatures of different crops or agricultural plants, perhaps even used for domestication of different crops. After exploring Moray, we will descend lower in elevation to the salt mines of Maras, an important production center dating back to pre-Inca times. Here there are over 3,000 salt pools carved into the mountain side, filled daily by water seeping from the Earth, what we call the tears of Mother Earth!

Finally we will desend to base of the Sacred Valley to the living town of the Incas “Ollantaytambo”.

Places That Are Visited:

• Archeological site of Chinchero.
• Chinchero andean weaving art.
• Terraces of Moray.
• Salt Mines of Maras.
• The Living inca town of Ollantaytambo.
• Andean village visit.

Lodging: Ollantaytambo – Casa Blanca Lodge*** or similars.

DAY 3 TO 6.- “4 DAYS INCA TRAIL TO MACHUPICCHU”

DAY 3.- FIRST DAY: PISKACUCHO KM 82 – LLACTAPATA – WAYLLABAMBA.

Today begins your adventure of a lifetime, the Classic Inca Trial Picking you up from your hotel at 5:00Transfer to km 82 ( 2720 m / 8923 Ft ).

Once we arrive to kilometer 82 at around 8:30am, we will have some time to organize ourselves, use of the restrooms, apply sunscreen, insect repellent, etc, etc. and also it will be necessary to show your entrance tickets, passports and (if paying a student rate) the student card at the trail’s first control point. we cross the Vilcanota River and follow its route to the right. The first day is relatively easy, a warm-up along the Inca flat terrain.  There are great views of the Incan sites like a (‘Huillca Raccay’), the vast and incredible place of Llactapata, (officially called ‘Patallacta’), the Urubamba mountain range that divides the jungle, the Andes Mountains, and the beautiful snow-capped peak of ‘W’akay Willca’ (5860m/19225ft) Lunch at Taray village at 1.30 pm aproxx.Camping in Wayllabamba ( 3300 meters / 10829 ft )Walking distance 12 km.

DAY 4.- SECOND DAY: WAYLLABAMBA – DEAD WOMENS PASS – PACAYMAYU.

After waking up at 5:30 am  (or 5:00 depending on your guide) and enjoying a hot breakfast, we start a steep ascent towards the highest pass, Abra de Warmihuañusca or ‘Dead Woman’s Pass’ at 4200m/13779ft.  On this day, you will feel a real sense of achievement upon reaching the top. After a well-deserved rest, we begin the descent to where we are going to have our lunch there and Camp site  which is located at Pacaymayu (3550m/11646ft).

On the way up that Day to the pass we will be reliable to see lots of hummingbirds and other birds. Also we will Have the time to appreciate an incredible variety of native plants and trees: such as the Polylepis or Q’ueuña Which trees grow in the astonishing cloud forest located at 3650 / 11972m.

DAY 5.- THIRD DAY: PACAYMAYU – CHAQUIKOCHA – WIÑAYHUAYNA.

Our wake up will be that day by our helper with hot tea and coffee to your tents. So to start our hike to second hights pass which is Runkuraqay pass (almost 4000m/13,123ft).This is the most impressive day so far and  With a relatively short distance to cover along what is known as Inca Flat (gentle ascents and descents) we get to enjoy the lush and verdant cloud forest around us and the spectacular views of the Andes in the distance. Lunch at chaquicocha.

The Inca site of ‘Phuyupatamarca’, is located a few minutes’ walk from the third pass.  After visiting this site, we continue walking down 3000 stairs through the cloud forest to the impressive agricultural Incan site of ‘Intipata. After taking some time to visit this site, we continue until we arrive at our third campsite Wiñay Wayna. (2680m/8792ft).Walking distance: 16km.

DAY 6.- FOUTH DAY: WIÑAY WAYNA – MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO.

The highlight of the trek  Machupicchu!!!!. Waking up early  in order to get to ‘Inti Punku’ (‘Sun gate’) (2730m/8792ft) before sunrise. This is the place where you will have your first dramatic view of Machu Picchu (2400m/7873ft) with the sun rising over it! After some time there, we will walk down the last part of the trail to a spot where you can take the classic picture postcard shot of this ancient city. Finally, we visit Machu Picchu itself !!

On arrival to Machu Picchu you’ll have a 2 hour guided tour of the site during which you’ll learn about the Incas and visit all the most important areas of the citadel. After your tour you’ll have free time to explore the site by yourslef and if you have permits to climb either Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain. In the afternoon you will take the train back to Ollantaytambo from where you will carry on by bus back to Cusco.

Lodging: Cusco –  Sonesta Hotel Cusco**** or similars.

DAY 7.- FREE MORNING WALKING TOUR & TRANSFER TO THE AIRPORT.

After a delicious breakfast, you will have an optional Free Morning Walking Tour of this beatiful archeological city of Cusco.

The walking tour includes the following places:

• Inca Museum.
• Plaza Nazarenas.
• San Blas neighborhood.
• The twelve angle stone.

Then according to your flight schedule we will transfer you to the airport for your flight to Lima and then flight home.

End of the tour!!!

✓ All hotels are based on availability. We will not make any changes without your approval. Four and five-star hotels are available – inquire within for rates.

INCLUDED:

• 3 night’s accommodations with 3 stars hotels.
• 3 breakfasts,1 lunches.1 family dinners.
• Meet and greet airport service.
• All transportation.
• Professional English Speaking Tour Guide.
• Assistant Tour Guide for groups of 9+.
• Chef for the Inca Trail.
• All transfers.
• Porters to carry cooking and camping equipment.
• Personal porter to carry 13.23 lbs/ 06kg.
• Pick-up from your hotel.
• Transportation by bus to Km82.
• Return transportation by train and bus to Cusco.
• Water (excluding the first day of the trek when you need to bring your own).
• 3 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 3 Afternoon Snacks (Happy Hour) and 3 Dinners. If you have a dietary request such as vegetarian food please let us know.
• Dining tent with tables and chairs.
• Oxygen botle.
• Inflatable ” Thermares or Rei sleeping Mattress (you need to carry ).
• EUREKA- Comfortable and very spacious 4 man tent (one tent is used by two people).
• First aid kit.
• Entrance to the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu.
• Bus from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes.
• Full support from your Travel Concierge before, during and after your trip.

NOT INCLUDED:

• Sleeping Bag (Optional Rental Fee will apply).
• Breakfast on day  5 and lunch and dinner on Day 8.
• Entrance Fee to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain. Extra US$ 75.
• Tips for Staff.
• Travel Insurance – you are strongly recommended to take out travel insurance for the duration of your trip.

THINGS TO BRING:

• Original Passport
• ISIC card (if you are a student and want to qualify for a discount price)
• Hiking Boots
• Waterproof jacket / rain poncho
• Warm jacket
• Hat and gloves
• T-shirts (quick dry)
• Comfortable Trekking Pants
• Sun hat
• Sunscreen (SPF 35+)
• Insect repellant (We strongly suggest NATURAL repellant)
• Toiletries and hand sanitiser
• Personal medication
• Camera and film
• Flashlite with spare batteries (or a environmental friendly option).
• Full support from your Travel Concierge before, during and after your trip.

THIS TOUR RUNS ALSO AS A PRIVATE SERVICE!
****Daily Departure with at least 2 people****

DEPARTURE DATES:

• We offer daily departure dates with at least 2 people minimum.
• Pickup time is up to you.

**** Daily Departure with at least 2 people ****