Inca Trail Hike, Sacred Valley & Rainbow Mountain Tour Package – 7 Days

Full Itinerary of the 7 day Machu Picchu Trekking Package

Day 1: ARRIVAL TO CUSCO

Upon your arrival to Cusco, you will be greeted by our representative and transferred to your hotel. There you will receive a short briefing and then have the rest of the morning for resting and acclimatizing. In the afternoon, there will be time to explore Cusco by yourself, enjoying the sights of the capital city of the Incas, and the indigenous and colonial heritages at your leisure. At night, experience Cusco’s nightlife and sample some of its cuisine at the many traditional Peruvian restaurants.

• 3* Accommodation: Maytaq Wasin or Waman Qorikancha
• 4* Accommodation: Costa del Sol Ramada, Casa Andina Private Collection or Novotel  Hotels
• Recommendations: We highly recommend walking around the main plaza and visit the San Pedro Market.

Day 2: CUSCO – PISAC – SALT MINES – MORAY & OLLANTAYTAMBO.

We start this beautiful day at 7:30am, when your guide picks you up at your Cusco hotel in our private van. Our route to the Sacred Valley of the Incas leads us towards Pisac. We stop first at the Mirador of Taray to enjoy an expansive view of the Urubamba valley and its traditional farming villages. You will 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. Here, we will spend about 2 hours, exploring the Inca city. Then, we head down to the colorful market of Pisac, spend about 20 minutes visiting it and afterwards drive to Urubamba for lunch.

Our next stop is the 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
• 3* Accommodation: Pakaritampu Hotel or El Alberge
• There are no 4* hotels in Ollantaytambo

Day 3: OLLANTAYTAMBO – KM82 – WAYLLABAMBA – AYAPATA

Today, begins your adventure of a lifetime, the Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu!

We will pick you up from your hotel in our private van at 6:00am.  From there, we travel to Piskacucho, which is called kilometer 82, where the Classic Inca Trail begins.

Upon arrival at kilometer 82 at about 8:30am, we will have some time to organize ourselves, use of the restrooms, apply sunscreen, insect repellent, etc. At the Inca Trail first control point, be ready to show your entrance tickets, passports and (if paying a student rate) your student card.

At the start of the trail (2,720m/8,923ft), 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 Fortress (‘Huillca Raccay’), the vast and incredible Inca site 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) known in books as Veronica.

Our first campsite (Ayapata) is an hour and a half up to the small village of Wayllabamba (3,000m/9,842ft) in the temperate green valley of the same name. Temperatures at night are around 5ºC depending on the month.

During the day, we will enjoy spectacular views of the snow-capped mountains Veronica, (5,860m/19,337ft), the lush green valley around us and a myriad of flora and fauna.

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, snacks, afternoon tea and dinner
• Accommodation: Camping facilities
• Distance: 12kms/7.5mls (6 hours more or less of hiking)
• Difficulty: Easy/Moderate

Day 4: AYAPATA – PASS – PAQAYMAYU – CHAQUICOCCHA

After waking up at 5 to 5:30am and enjoying a hot breakfast, we start a steep ascent towards the highest pass, Abra de Warrmihuañusca or ‘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 rest, we begin the descent to where we stop for lunch, which is located at Pacaymayu (3,550m/11,646ft).

On our way up to the pass, we will be able to see an array of hummingbirds and a combination of other species of bird life. 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 lunch, begins the second two-hour steep climb to Runkuraqay pass (almost 4,000m/13,123ft). We arrive at our campsite by 5 pm. Temperatures at this campsite are around 4ºC during the night.

• Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner
• Accommodation: Camping facilities
• Distance: 16kms/10mls (9 hours more or less of hiking time)
• Difficulty: Moderate/challenge

Day 5: CHAQ’ICOCHA – PUYUPATAMARCA  – WIÑAY WAYNA

This is the most impressive day so far; keep this in mind as you ascend on day three! We wake up for breakfast at 6am and start the day with a gentle climb to visit the archaeological site of ‘Phuyupatamarca’ (meaning ‘Town in the Clouds’).  Here, we reach the third highest point on the Inca trail (3,680m/12,073ft). The views of the mountains, canyons and surrounding areas are spectacular!

The Inca site of ‘Phuyupatamarca’, is located a few minutes’ walk from the third pass.  After visiting this site, we continue walking down 3,000 stairs through the cloud forest to the impressive agricultural Incan site of ‘Intipata. After taking some time to visit this site, we continue on until we arrive at our third campsite Wiñay Wayna. (2680m/8792ft). Today, we will only walk about 4 to 5 hours.  We arrive at camp by lunchtime!  Temperatures during the night are about 12º C.

A short walk from our campsite, is the famous Incan site of  ‘Wiñay Wayna’ (‘Forever Young’). Even if you are feeling tired after your day’s trek, its a moment you cannot miss, the most impressive site on the Inca trail.

• Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner
• Accommodation: Camping facilities and hot showers
• Distance: 10kms/6.2mls (5 hours more or less of hiking)
• Difficulty: Moderate

Day 6: WIÑAY WAYNA – MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO

At around 4:00am, it’s time to wake up, have breakfast and start day 4 on the Inca trail to get to Machu Picchu on time. This is the final part of your journey, arriving by 6:00am to reach The Sun Gate. At that point, the majestic Machu Picchu Citadel is in front of us with its intense beauty – an incredible sight for all to see. The reality of what the Inca people must have encountered on their taxing journey to this expansive temple of Machu Picchu. At this point, we walk downhill towards the Machu Picchu Citadel. (2,400m/7,872 ft.) After walking 40 minutes, we enter the citadel from the top through the “House of the Guardians”, where you can take the famous postcard pictures of Machu Picchu. From there we proceed to the control point where we register and leave our belongings.

Your guide will give you the full guide tour (Circuit 3) 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.

After your tour, those who have booked in advance for the extra hike up Huayna Picchu will have time to enjoy those views on their own. When you have had your fill of the exceptional views of Machu Picchu, you will 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 Expedition Train at 2:55 or 3:20pm will take you back to Ollantaytambo, 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, your 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 by 7:00pm.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Distance: 6kms/3.7mls
• Difficulty: Easy
• 3* Accommodations: Maytaq Wasin or Waman Qorikancha
• 4* Accommodations: Costa del Sol Ramada, Casa Andina Private Collection or Novotel  Hotels

***IMPORTANT:

•  On the 4 day Inca Trail, we will be doing the circuit #3 and there is no way to do another circuit unless you buy an additional entrance to Machu Picchu.
• You can upgrade to the Vistadome Train for the same times, 2:55pm or 3:20pm, 4:22pm, or 4:43pm. The cost is $67 USD.
• Early trains can be organized by request and it has to be done by booking time.

DAY 7: CUSCO – RAINBOW MOUNTAIN – CUSCO

Pick up from your hotel at 4am to begin the amazing Rainbow Mountain Trek Adventure. Set out and drive for 3 hours through the South Valley of Cusco 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, and high Andean peaks.

Breakfast with herds of alpacas and llamas, then we start on our hike following a lovely stream, you will have views of the Ausangate Mountain and glaciers. 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 reach our destination:  Rainbow Mountain (5,020m /16,466ft). After admiring the unique beauty, you will have time to explore the area.  Take pictures or just soak up the view. 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. Hike back down the way we came. The hike takes 1 hour, enjoy a freshly prepared lunch by our cook. Embark on the 3-hour drive back to Cusco and drop you off at the Cusco hotel, arriving around 5:00pm.

• Meals included: hot breakfast & lunch
• Difficulty: moderate to challenging