In the footsteps of the Inca
8 days / 7 nights
DAY 1: LIMA | INC: -
Arrival in Lima, meet and greet at the airport, transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon we will have a tour through Lima’s streets and plazas. Starting at the Love Park in Miraflores, with a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean, and then heading to the Huaca Pucllana, ceremonial center of the Lima culture. After this, we go on to the Main Square where the Government Palace and the Town Hall are located. We will visit the Cathedral and explore the Santo Domingo Convent, along which corridors San Martin de Porras and San Rosa de Lima used to walk around in 17th century, and where their remains rest today. Stay in Lima.
DÍA 2: LIMA/CUSCO | INC: D.
Transfer to the airport and flight to Cusco. On arrival, meet and greet at the airport, transfer to your hotel. Free rest of the day. Stay in Cusco.
DAY 3: PISCACUCHO / HUAYLLABAMBA | INC: B/L/D
Let the big adventure begin! After our hotel pick up we will go to Piscacucho (2,750 m/9,022 ft.), at Km. 82 on the tracks to enter the Inca Trail. Our trip will start with a slow pace walk to get used to the trail. We will be able to see the beautiful snowcapped mountain Veronica and we’ll get to a natural viewpoint from where we will see the archaeological site of Llaqtapata. Our first campsite will take place at Huayllabamba (3,000 m /9,842 ft.)
Distance: 12 km. / 7.45 mi.
Estimated time: 5-6 hrs.
Maximum altitude reached: 3,000 mt. / 9,842 ft.
Campsite: Huayllabamba (3,000 mt. / 9,842 ft.)
Highlights: Panoramic view of Llaqtapata and Veronica snowcapped mountain.
DAY 4: HUAYLLABAMBA / LLULLUCHAPAMPA / WARMIWAÑUSCA / PACAYMAYO | INC: B/L/D
The most intense day of the Inca Trail is here so make sure to bring some extra sugary sweets in your pocket for extra energy. We will walk through the Valley of Huayllabamba while we observe the ecological changes of going from the highlands to the plateau. In Yunca Chimpa we start the ascent to Llulluchapampa (3,750 mt. / 12,303 ft.). While we enjoy a refreshing snack, the Huayanay Valley is in front of us, and the challenge of the day: the defiant Warmiwañusca mountain pass (4,200 mt. / 13,799 ft.), also known as “Dead Woman” mountain pass. If we are lucky we´ll get to see the beautiful hummingbirds and sparrows that live in the area. Finally it is time to descend to our campsite in Pacaymayo (3,600 mt. / 11,811 ft.) for lunch and rest after this challenging day.
Distance: 11 Km. / 6.83 mi.
Estimated time: 6-7 hrs.
Maximum altitude reached: 4,200 mt. / 13,799 ft.
Campsite: Pacaymayo (3,600 mt. / 11,811 ft.)
Highlights: Warmiwañusca mountain pass.
DAY 5: RUNCURACAY / SAYACMARCA / PHUYUPATAMARCA / WIÑAYWAYNA | INC: B/L/D
A day filled with archaeological sites in our trail, the longest but also the most impressive and least difficult day. We will ascend to the Runcuracay mountain pass (3,860 mt. / 12,664 ft.) to see the archaeological complex of the same name to later continue to the Sayacmarca Inca fortress (3,580 mt. / 11,745 ft.). After lunch, it’s time to cross the Phuyupatamarca mountain pass (3,700 mt. / 12,139 ft.). In this area we will see the best preserved Inca complex in all the Inca Trail, whose name in English translates to “over the clouds”. After a well deserved rest, we will continue to Wiñaywayna (2,650 mt. / 8,694 ft.), an impressive Inca complex with numerous agricultural terraces and religious and urban areas. This will be end of the day for us; we will set camp and enjoy our farewell dinner. There are public restrooms and hot showers. If not too tired, unlikely though, there’s a youth lodge for those not ready for bed yet.
Distance: 16 km. / 9.93 mi.
Estimated time: 8 hrs.
Maximum altitude reached: 3,860 mt. / 12,664 ft.
Campsite: Wiñaywayna (2,650 mt. / 8,694 ft.)
Highlights: Runcuracay, Sayacmarca, Phuyupatamarca and Wiñaywayna.
DAY 6: WIÑAYWAYNA / INTIPUNKU / MACHU PICCHU | INC: B
We are getting closer to our main objective. We’ll get up at dawn to ascend through a narrow way of steps until we get to Intipunku or the Door of the Sun (2,720 mt. / 8,923 ft.) and get a first glance of Machu Picchu (2,450 mt. / 8,038 ft.) at sunrise, a memorable experience to capture in pictures. We will then go down for a guided tour of the fortress and the opportunity to learn and see everything there is to see of one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Stay at one of the hotels in Aguas Calientes or Machu Picchu in order to fully appreciate the visit.
Distance: 4km. / 2.48 mi.
Estimated time: 2 hrs.
Maximum altitude reached: 2,720 mt. / 8,923 ft.
Highlights: Intipunku and Machu Picchu.
DAY 7: MACHU PICCHU/CUSCO | INC: B
Morning off. Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu are limited. We suggest applying for the entrance tickets for later dates at the moment you book the whole tour program so as to avoid any complications due to
congestions or lack of local availability. In an additional visit to Machu Picchu we will be able to see the areas of the Intipunku or Door of the Sun, the Inca Trail entrance to the citadel. For those looking for a more intense adventure and wish to visit Huayna Picchu, it is important to have in mind that there are only 400 daily spots to climb the mountain, all of which have to be reserved in advance. At the arranged time, we will return to Cusco by train and will be transferred to the hotel. Overnight stay in Cusco.
DAY 8: CUSCO/LIMA | INC: B
Departure transfer.