Cusco, Sacred Valley, Inca Trail, Rainbow Mt & Lake Titicaca

ITINERARY FOR CUSCO – INCA TRAIL – RAINBOW MT & PUNO

DAY 1: CUSCO CITY TOUR

Upon your arrival in Cusco, you will be welcomed by our representative at the airport and transferred to your hotel. There, receive a short briefing with the rest of the morning being at your leisure to rest and acclimatize. We will pick you up from your hotel in the afternoon and start your visit of the Imperial Cusco City, a living example of the mix of Andean and Spanish cultures. Continuing our journey we visit the Santo Domingo Convent built over the Koricancha, as well as the ancient Inca Palace and the main worship center of the Sun God.  Have time to enjoy these beautiful sights, then will next visit the archaeological site of Sacsayhuaman with its military Inca architecture, which dominates the city.

Finally, we go to the north east of the city to the archaeological sites of Q’enqo, Puca Pucará and Tambomachay. Afterwards, we take you back to your hotel in early evening to rest and then you can enjoy Cusco by night in one of the many terrific restaurants surrounding the Main Square of the Plaza de Armas.

• 3* Accommodations: Maytaq Wasin or Waman Hotels
• 4* Accommodations: Costa del Sol Ramada, Casa Andina Private  Collection or Novotel  Hotels

DAY 2: CUSCO- PISAC – MORAY- SALT MINES- OLLANTAYTAMBO

Today we start at 7:30am, when the guide picks you up at your Cusco hotel in our private van. Our route to the Sacred Valley of the Incas leads us to Pisac. We stop first at the Mirador of Taray to enjoy an expansive view of the Urubamba valley and its traditional farming villages. See how the agriculture in the Sacred Valley has changed little in the past five hundred years. Onward, we drive to the archeological site of Pisac, where you can see an impressive Inca cemetery with more than 2,000 tombs. There, we can admire the carefully engineered farming terraces carved into the mountain, explore the Inca tunnel and the religious area of this important citadel.   Head down to the colorful market of Pisac, then drive to Urubamba for lunch.

Our next stop is the fascinating archeological site of Moray also known as “The Greenhouse of the Incas” a deep basin of architectural wonder. Levels of terraces are carved into a huge bowl, which was carefully engineered by the Incas. The terraces have varied microclimates depending on how deep into the bowl they are placed.  Archeologists believe that they were used by the Incas to discover the optimal growing conditions for their crops and experiment in hybridization.

Continuing on our journey to the colonial town of Maras, we look down onto the pre-Inca salt “mines,” called salineras in Spanish. Thousands of salt pans have been passed down through countless generations and used for salt extraction since before Inca times. A hot spring at the top of the valley discharges a small stream of heavily salt laden water, which is diverted into salt pans and evaporated to produce salt. This is one of the few places in the world where you can find naturally pink salt!

Finally, we drive to Ollantaytambo, taking the time to explore the Inca village that has remained intact since Inca times and the massive Inca Ruins, with a tour provided by our guide. Visit the massive architecture of the Sun Temple at the top of the formidable terraces and learn about the importance of this site for the Inca during the beginning of the Spanish conquest. Here you spend the night at your hotel in Ollantaytambo, ready to start the Inca Trail the next day.

• 2* Accommodations: Veronica View hotel or Tunupa Lodge
• 3* Accommodation: Pakaritampu Hotel or El Alberge
• There are no 4* hotels in Ollantaytambo
• Meals included:  Breakfast at your hotel

DAY 3: OLLANTAYTAMBO – PISKACUCHO – WAYLLABAMBA

Today begins your adventure of a lifetime with the Classic Inca Trail!  The guide will pick you up from your hotel in our private van at 6:30am.  From there, we travel to Piskacucho, which is known as Kilometer 82, where the Classic Inca Trail begins.  Along the way, we stop for breakfast in Ollantaytambo at about 6:30-7:00 to load up on energy for our first big day.  (Breakfast is not included)

Arriving at KM82 (8:30am), we will have some time to organize ourselves, use the restrooms, apply sunscreen, insect repellent, etc. Here you will give your duffel bag to the porters, keeping only a small daypack with the essentials you need during the hike. Check our packing list for more information. Once at the Inca Trail checkpoint, be ready to show your passports and your student ID card, if you booked as a student. Your guide will have all of your permits and tickets.

At the start of the trail (2,720m/8,923ft) you will cross the Vilcanota River and follow its scenic route. The first day is relatively easy, a warm-up along the rolling ‘Inca flat’ terrain.  There are great views of the Inca Fortress of Huillca Raccay, the vast and incredible Inca site of Llactapata, (also called Patallacta), the Urubamba mountain range that divides the jungle, the Andes Mountains and the beautiful snow-capped peak of Veronica (5,860m/19,225ft), also known as W’akay Willca.  Stop for your first gourmet lunch at Hatunchaca, after which you only have about three hours of walking to camp.

Our first campsite is about 2 hours past the small village of Wayllabamba (3,000m/9,842ft) located in the temperate green valley of the same name. Temperatures at night can be as low as 5ºC, depending on the season. It is generally colder in the dry season from May to September.

When you arrive at camp, your afternoon tea and appetizers will be ready for you. Enjoy a hot drink and settle into your tents, which will already be set up for you.

• Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner
• Accommodation: Camping facilities
• Distance: 12kms
• Difficulty: Easy/Moderate

DAY 4: WAYLLABAMBA – WARMIWAÑUSCA – PAQAYMAYU

Your guide will wake you up with a hot mug of tea or coffee at 5:30am. Enjoy your hot drink in your sleeping bag before getting up for a delicious and hearty breakfast. With your daypacks as light as possible, you start a steep ascent towards the highest pass, Abra de Warmihuañusca, also known as Dead Woman’s Pass at (4,200m/13,779ft).  On this day, you will feel a real sense of achievement upon reaching the top! After a well-deserved break for photos, you begin the descent towards your lunch spot, which is located at Pacaymayu (3,550m/11,646ft).

On your way up towards the pass, you will see an array of hummingbirds and a variety of other species of birds. There will be plenty of time to appreciate the incredible variety of native plants and the Polylepis, or Q’ueuña trees, which grow in the astonishing cloud forest located at (3,650m/11,972ft)!

After a gourmet lunch, begin the second two-hour steep climb towards Runkuraqay pass (4,000m/13,123ft). You arrive at your campsite by 5 pm, where your afternoon tea and appetizers are waiting. Temperatures at this campsite are around 4ºC during the night.

• Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner
• Accommodation: Camping facilities
• Distance: 11kms
• Difficulty: Moderate/challenge

DAY 5: PAQAYMAYU – CHAQ’ICOCHA – PHUYUPATAMARCA – WIÑAY WAYNA

This is the most impressive day so far, so keep this in mind as you ascend on day three! Your guide will wake you up at 6am with another hot mug of tea or coffee in your tent before you get up for breakfast. You start the day with a gentle climb towards the archaeological site of Phuyupatamarca, which means ‘Village in the Clouds’.  Here reach the third highest point along the Inca trail (3,680m/12,073ft). The views of the mountains, canyons and surrounding areas are spectacular!

The extensive Inca site of Phuyupatamarca, is located a few minutes’ walk from the third pass.  After visiting this site, you continue walking down 3,000 stairs through the cloud forest to the impressive Inca site of Intipata. As you descend from the mountains, you will feel the temperature rise. You are approaching not only Machu Picchu, but also the beginning of the Amazon jungle! After taking some time to visit Intipata, you continue to your third campsite Wiñay Wayna (2,680m/8,792ft). Today, you will only walk about 4 to 5 hours.  You will arrive at camp by lunchtime!  Temperatures during the night are about 12º C.

A short walk from your campsite is the famous Inca site of Wiñay Wayna which means “Forever Young” in Quechua. It is named after a special orchid which grows abundantly in the area.

• Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner
• Accommodation: Camping facilities
• Distance: 15kms
• Difficulty: Moderate

DAY 6: WIÑAY WAYNA – MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO

At around 4:00am, it is time to wake up and start day 4 on the Inca Trail. This is the final part of your journey and you arrive by 6:00am at the Sun Gate, also known as Inti Punku. At that point, the majestic Machu Picchu Citadel will be in front of you with its mystic beauty – an incredible sight for all to see. At the Sun Gate, you will watch sunlight spreading down over the citadel like melting goal, as the sun rises behind you. Finally, we walk downhill to Machu Picchu Citadel (2,400m/7,872 ft.). After walking about 40 minutes, we enter the citadel from the top through the “House of the Guardians”, where you can take those postcard perfect pictures of Machu Picchu. From there, we proceed to the control point, where we register and leave any large backpacks and walking poles. You are only allowed to take small bags into the citadel, such as camera bags. Walking poles are not allowed because they can damage the stones.

The guide will give you the full tour and educate you about the history of the ruins which takes about two hours. You will see most of the important parts of Machu Picchu and learn about how Machu Picchu is divided into three sectors: agricultural, residential and religious.

When you have had your fill of the exceptional views of Machu Picchu, take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes for lunch (not included). Depending on your train departure time, you may also have time for some shopping, sightseeing or a visit to the museum or hot springs.

The Vistadome train will take you back to Ollantaytambo at 2:55pm, 3:20pm, 4:22pm or 6:20pm, following the spectacular Urubamba River. Close to Aguas Calientes, the canyon is narrow and the river has many beautiful sections of whitewater. You can also see Wiñay Wayna from the train, if you look up high on the steep canyon wall! Back at Ollantaytambo, the driver will meet you at the exit from the train station to take you back to your hotel in Cusco in our private vehicle. You can expect to arrive at your hotel between 7pm and 10:30pm.

Please note: In the rainy season, January through April, the Vistadome Train only runs to the Ollantaytambo station. We will drive you from Ollantaytambo to your hotel in Cusco.

• 3* Accommodation: Maytaq Wasin or Waman Hotels
• 4* Accommodation: Costa del Sol Ramada, Casa Andina Private Collection or Novotel  Hotels
• Meals included: Breakfast
• Distance: 6kms
• Difficulty: Easy

After the tour, those who have booked in advance for the extra hikes up Huayna Picchu Mountain, this tour is without a guide.

DAY 7: CUSCO – RAINBOW MOUNTAIN – PUNO

We will pick you up from your hotel at 4am and begin with our amazing Rainbow Mountain Trek Adventure.  We set out on our drive for 3 hours through the South Valley; ending up at the trailhead at Llacto (4,638m / 15,216 ft).  Along the way, there are amazing views of farming Inca terraces, traditional villages, valleys and high Andean peaks.

The herds of alpacas and llamas near your breakfast spot will entertain you in the early morning. Once we reach the trailhead, we start on our hike following a lovely stream. As you start your hike, you will have views of the Ausangate Mountain and glaciers. You can interact with the local people, who are still keeping traditional Quechua culture alive. Learn about their traditional clothes and the significance of the different hats worn by the men. Ask your guide to teach you a few words of Quechua!

After a total hike of 1.5 hours, we finally reach our destination: the Rainbow Mountain (5,020m /16,466ft). After admiring the unique beauty, you will have time to explore the area. You can take pictures or just soak up the view. We will spend approximately 30 minutes at the top. Afterwards, there is an optional hike across to the top of the Red Valley.  This walk takes about 45 minutes longer to get back to the trailhead.

At this point, we hike back down the way we came. The hike takes 1 hour, then we enjoy our lunch.

We will embark on the 2-hour drive on the way to Raqchi, lets explore this unique aamazing Inca city. Fanally we drive to Puno for 3 hours, arriving to our hotel by 6pm

• Meals included: Lunch
• Difficulty: moderate to challenging

DAY 8:  PUNO – UROS ISLANDS – AMANTANI ISLAND

After having breakfast in your hotel, the tour leader will pick you up to take you to the port of Puno. There, you will embark on a 30-minute boat ride until arriving at the floating islands. The locals will welcome you and show you the island and the products they weave. Then, we will have a 3-hour boat ride to get to the Amantani Island. At 2:30pm we arrive at our destination where our guide will introduce us to the local families who are going to share their homes with us. After lunch, we will hike for one hour up to the mountain called Pachataita (Mother Father). There, you will enjoy an amazing view of the sunset over the lake and a chance to relax and enjoy the fresh air. Afterwards, we will come back to your local home for dinner and then you will have the opportunity to dress in traditional clothes provided by the locals and go to the local school, where a party with them will take place.

• Meals included: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
• Accommodation: Basic Homestay

DAY 9:  AMANTANI ISLAND – TAQUILE ISLAND – PUNO

You will have an early breakfast with your local family and then take a two-hour boat ride to arrive at Taquile Island. The inhabitants still live according to their ancestral traditions and dress with gorgeous colored traditional ropes. They are also famous for the magnificent weavings that are traditionally done by the men, not the women. You will have some time to learn about ancestral farming techniques and try to use a few Inca tools. We will have lunch in a traditional restaurant and take the boat back to Puno and your hotel for the end of the tour.

• Meals included: Breakfast – Lunch
• 3* Accommodations: Casa Andina Classic Puno
• 4* Accommodations: Casa Andina Private Collection

Day 10: DEPARTURE FROM PUNO

After having breakfast at the hotel, enjoy your remaining time in Puno, then in the late morning or afternoon we will drop off at the airport in Juliaca to take your plane back to Lima or bus station in Puno. Please let us know at time of booking if you require transfer out to Juliaca.

• Meal included: Breakfast at your hotel