Experience the wonders of Peru. With Incatrekkers Peru Travel discover Machu Picchu and Cusco’s cobblestones streets. Trek the last portion of the Inca Trail from KM 104 to Machu Picchu and enter Machu Picchu through the famous Sun gate or Inti Punku. Then, explore rural Andean pathways in the sacred Valley town of Ollantaytambo. Witness indigenous rituals and meet Andean artisans to gain an understanding of Peru's deep cultural roots.

Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrive in Cusco

Arrive in Cusco, home of the Inca Civilization at 3400m / 11,154ft, meet your Incatrekkers guide and transfer to your hotel. This afternoon, set out to discover the capital of the Inca civilization. The first day will be for getting used to the altitude with relaxing day and night walking exploration of Cusco that includes Plaza de Armas, Plaza Regocijo, Plaza San Francisco and Plaza San Blas, each with their beautiful fountains. You will also see the Cathedral and other highlights such as San Pedro market, Choco Museo with an optional workshop, 12 angled stone and original Inca walls.

Day 2: Cusco City Tour

The tour starts at the Temple of the Sun Qorikancha, main religious center of the Incas dedicated to the Sun cult. From here we go by private transportation to visit the four Inca Archeological Sites, such as the enormous Sacsayhuman, with its magnificent, 120-ton monoliths and impressive Inca Architecture that overlook Cusco. Other archeological sites included in the tour are the Qenqo Inca site where we are going to see the impressive Incan altars, Puka Pukara Incan military lookout point and the final stop on our tour is Tambomachay a water temple with the impressive water fountains. (B)

Day 3: Explore Sacred Valley - Chinchero - Moray - Salt Ponds

This morning we will pick you up from your hotel at 07:30am, head to Chinchero, home of Quechua people who demonstrate traditional dyeing and weaving techniques. Discover Moray, an important Inca site that was used as an agricultural experimentation center. Continue to the impressive Maras Salt ponds. Each salt pond is owned by an individual local family who still harvest salt like our ancestors. After lunch, visit Ollantaytambo (Living IncaTown), a formidable stone structure of massive terraces situated on the hill-top of the mountains with the impressive views of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Overnight in Ollantaytambo, in the afternoon relax on your own. (B)

Day 4: Patacancha Highland Community (Ollantaytambo)

After breakfast, we will go in our private transportation to Patacancha, the home of native Quechua speaking families who are dedicated to agriculture and pasturing llamas and alpacas as our ancestors did. We will visit the local school and give the children the supplies we have gathered. After lunch we will immerse ourselves in the culture and daily life of the families and learn about their traditional weaving techniques. You can see how the llamas are caught and loaded for treks. Return to the hotel in the Sacred Valley for the night. (B, L)

Day 5: Start the Inca Trail - Km 104 - Chachabamba - Wiñaywayna - Machupicchu

Today we will start early, we will pick you up from your hotel in Ollantaytambo at 06:00am. We take the train for about 1 hour 30 minutes to the starting point of the Inca Trail trek, at km 104. Located at 2050 m / 6,725 ft. The train track follows the right site of the Urubamba River and has a spectacular view of the Sacred Valley of the Incas and of the snow-capped mountains.

After the train ride we cross over the Urubamba River to reach the main entrance to the Inca Trail where we are going to show our permits and original passport. Once we checked we will have some time to get ready for our day hike, then continue our hike to the archeological site Chachabamba and begin a 4 hours ascent to Wiñaywayna (forever young) archeological site located at 2650 m / 8,694 ft. After exploring the ancient archeological site, we will continue hiking through the cloud forest for about 1 hour to Intipunku (Sun Gate) at 2720 m / 8,923 ft. where we will have the first panoramic view of Machu Picchu at 2400 m / 7,874 ft. After a short hike down to Machu Picchu we will enjoy the afternoon before descending by bus to Aguas Calientes for dinner and for the overnight. (B,box lunch)

Trekking distance: 14 km / 8.69 miles

Estimate time: 6-7 hours approx.

Maximum altitude: 2720 m / 8,923 ft

Machu Picchu altitude: 2400m / 7,874 ft

Day 6: Machupicchu to Cusco

We wake up early this morning to have breakfast in the hotel then take one of the first buses to Machu Picchu. Once we arrive at Machu Picchu, enjoy the morning light and private guiding tour of the most important temples and sectors for about 3 hours. After exploring, return to Aguas Calientes by bus, have lunch and board the train back to Ollantaytambo where our private transportation will be waiting to transfer you to Cusco hotel. (B)

Day 7: Sacred Valley – Pisac Archeological Site and Local Market

We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at 07:30am and drive via private transportation. From Cusco it is around one hour to the first stop known as El Mirador (lookout Point) from where we will appreciate the Sacred Valley of the Incas and the Famous Urubamba River. From here we will continue to Pisac archeological site you will be guided through the Inca site and have some time to explore. Afterwards we will head to the Pisac traditional local market. After lunch we go back to Cusco hotel. (B)

Day 8: Cusco - Rainbow Mountain - Cusco

We will pick you up from your hotel at 05:00am in our private transport, and then we will drive through the South Valley of Cusco. It is about 3 hours driving in our private van to get to the starting point of the hike, while we are driving, we will pass through traditional villages with the spectacular views of the Andes. Once we arrive at the trailhead, we will have our box breakfast. It will be 2 hours hiking approximately to reach the top of the Rainbow Mountain 5050 m/16,568 ft with its beautiful colors spreading across the horizon and the multicolored mountain, where we are going to have time to explore the area and take pictures. After exploring the area and taking amazing pictures we will start hiking along the right side of the Rainbow Mountain to the Red Valley for pictures. Then we will start descend around 1 hour and half to the trailhead where we started to take our private van for one hour drive to the lunch spot and after lunch, we drive back to the hotel in Cusco arriving around 17:00pm (B, L)

Starting altitude: 4330 m / 14,206 ft

Trekking distance: 10 km / 6.21 miles (roundtrip)

Estimate time: 4 hours

Maximum altitude: 5050 m/16,568 ft

Day 9: Cusco - Soraypampa - Humantay Lake - Cusco

We will pick you up from your hotel at 04:30am and drive 3 hours to Soraypampa located at 3900m / 12,795 ft. Here we are going to have our breakfast before starting our hike up for one hour and a half to Lake Humantay 4200m /13,779 ft with spectacular views surrounding us. Once we conquer the hill enjoy the impressive views of the lake and the Humantay Mountain. After relax and have plenty of time for picture, we will descend to Soraypampa and have lunch before driving back to hotel in Cusco arriving around 17:00pm. (B, L)

Starting altitude: 3900 m/ 12,795 ft

Trekking distance: 6 km / 3.7 miles (roundtrip)

Estimate time: 4 hours

Maximum altitude: 4200 m/13,779 ft

Day 10: Cusco- Flight Lima – Return home

Enjoy a last morning to explore Cusco at your own pace. Our tour leader will be happy to offer suggestions for places to go and sights to see. We will take you to the airport in our private transportation for your flight back across the Andes to Lima to connect with your flight home. (B)