Peru - Inca Trail

Peru - Inca Trail

Starting Price: $2155

Trip Length: 9 Days

Departure dates January, March & December

The Inca emperor Pachacuti built a mighty royal highway tolink his capital Cusco to his secluded sacred center at Machu Picchu, taking anawe-inspiring route over high mountain passes. He followed the way of the Apus,the snow peaks sacred to the Incas which dominate the scenery, vanishing andre-appearing around curves and over ridges as we follow this most astounding oftreks. At points along the way Pachacuti built small, exquisite settlementsclustered upon jagged outcrops, always with sweeping views of the stunninglandscape.

Amazingly, all of this survived the Spanish conquest and thehundreds of years of abandonment and neglect that followed. Today the area is aUNESCO World Heritage site and a Peruvian government protected reserve ofimmense archaeological and environmental importance. For this spectacular routeis both a journey through Inca history and a dazzling sample of Peru’sincredible biodiversity.

Take this challenging trek across high, treeless passes upto 4,200m (13,776ft), and down through multi-layered zones of cloud-forest,culminating at the threshold of the Sun Gate where we face the finalunforgettable view down to Machu Picchu and the Urubamba river.

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 01: Lima, Peru
Upon arrival in Lima, you are met forprivate transfer to your hotel for check-in. It is a city of rare fascinationand unexpected pleasures. Lima has decaying colonial splendor and the teemingvitality of an oriental bazaar; melancholy cloudy winters and warm breezysummers; impoverished urban sprawl and quiet elegant corners among ancientbuildings where the night air is scented with jasmine. Melia Hotel

Day 02: Lima-Cusco

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the Lima airport foryour flight to Cusco. NOTE: Domestic flight Lima-Cusco is not included in landprice. Upon arrival in Cusco, you are met for private transfer to your hotelfor check-in. This afternoon, enjoy a private half-day tour of Cusco with yourlocal guide. Visit the Cathedral on the Plaza de Armas, La Compania (abeautiful church of fine carving and gold leaf taking nearly 100 years tocomplete) - as well as a variety of old-colonial style buildings. Novotel (B)

Day 03: Cusco

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a full day at your leisure inCusco. Optional excursions to the Sacred Valley (rafting, mountain biking, andvisits to markets, villages or ruins) may be arranged. Novotel (B)

Day 04: Cusco - Inca Trail (MONDAY DEPARTURES)

Breakfast at the hotel. A spectacular drive through theSacred Valley of the Incas takes us to Chillca, our trailhead. Crossing afootbridge, we take an undulating trek through a dry cactus zone beneathsoaring views to the snows of Mt. Verónica, with the turbulent Urubamba riveron our right. We pause on a bluff high above the Cusichaca valley for a view ofthe imposing sculpted terraces of Llaqtapata, a massive Inca farming complex.Then we turn south and follow this side valley upstream to the village ofHuayllabamba, where we make camp.

Huayllabamba Camp (B,L,D)

Day 05: Inca Trail

From Huayllabamba we begin a steeper ascent, climbing theLlullucha valley along a stream that rushes through enchanted native uncawoodland. Crossing the rim of a small plateau, we abruptly find ourselves inthe puna, the treeless grasslands of the high Andes. Here a stretch of opentrail climbs beneath mighty crags to our first and highest pass, Warmiwañusca(4,200m/13,776ft). From Warmiwañusca we can look back to the spectacularsnowpeaks and valleys of the Huayanay massif, and ahead to a distant view oftomorrow’s trail to the second pass. Descending a stepped stone trail weencounter our campsite in a clearing of the forested Pacamayo valley. PacaymayoCamp (B,L,D)

Day 06: Inca Trail

We pick up an Inca stairway and ascend again past the smallInca site of Runkuracay. As we reach the second pass the landscape opens ontospectacular new views to the snowpeaks of the Pumasillo range. We descend againto the ruins of Sayacmarca (Inaccessible Town), an intricate labyrinth ofhouses, plazas and water channels, perched precariously on a rocky spuroverlooking the Aobamba valley. The Inca trail, now a massive buttressedstructure of granite paving stones, continues along the steep upper fringes ofthe cloud forest through a colorful riot of orchids, bromeliads, mosses andferns. At the third pass we camp by pinnacles topped with Inca viewingplatforms, overlooking the archaeological complex of Phuyupatamarca(Cloud-level Town).. Phuyupatamarca Camp (B,L,D)

Day 07: Inca Trail - Machu Picchu

We explore the wondrous maze of Inca stone towers, fountainsand stairways spilling down the mountainside at Phuyupatamarca then begin along descent through ever-changing layers of cloud forest. An Inca stairwaypartly cut from living granite leads us finally to the site of Wiñay Wayna(Forever Young), the largest and most exquisite of the Inca Trail sites. In theafternoon we follow the last stretch of trail across a steep mountainsidethrough a lush, humid cloud-forest of giant ferns and broad-leaf vegetation.Suddenly we cross the stone threshold of Intipunku (Sun Gate) and encounter anunforgettable sweep of natural beauty and human artistry –a backdrop oftwisting gorge and forested peaks framing the magical city of Machu Picchu.MachuPicchu Pueblo Hotel (B,L,D)

Day 08: Machu Picchu - Cusco

Breakfast at the hotel. Return to Machu Picchu by bus andspend the day in both guided and individual exploration, visiting thebest-known features of this astounding and mysterious Inca settlement. Somewill want to take the optional hike to the summit of Wayna Picchu for anamazing overview of the site, while others may want to investigate MachuPicchu’s multitude of hidden nooks and corners. After a full-on experience ofthis glorious monument to the Inca achievement, return shuttle/walk to AguasCalientes train station to board your return train to Cusco. You are met fortransfer to your hotel for overnight.Novotel (B)

Day 09: Cusco - Depart

Breakfast at the hotel. Private transfer to the Cuscoairport for your departure. (B)

Trip Options / Upgrades

ALTERNATE HIKING OPTIONS:

The Weavers’ Way: Lares to Patacancha and Ollantaytambo andMachu Picchu (4 days / 3 nights) This program allows you to visit interestingplaces like Lares and the andean communities of Patacancha and Willoq beforearrive to Ollantaytambo where you will spend a night and then takes the trainto visit Machu Picchu.

Choquequirau. (5 days / 4 nights) This trek will allow youto visit the canyon of the Apurimac river where you will discover Choquequirauthat means "Cradle of Gold", an amazing archaeological site made bythe Incas

Choquequirau & Machu Picchu (12 days / 11 nights)

A breathtaking trek through some of the most inaccessiblevalleys and incredible mountain sceneary beginning and ending with two of themost spectacular and enigmatic Inca archeological sites.

Beyond the Inca Trail : Cusco-Mollepata-Salcantay-Inca Trailto Machu Picchu. (8 days / 7 nights) During this trek you will admire a diversehighlights that include : beautiful landscapes and snow-capped peaks (MtSalcantay), Andean farms, and the famous Inca remains of Sayacmarca,Phuyupatamarca and Winay Wayna located in the Inca trail to Machu Picchu.

Salcantay to Machu Picchu. (5 days / 4 nights)

During this trek you will admire a diverse highlights thatinclude : beautiful landscapes and snow-capped peaks (Mt Salcantay), Andeanfarms and some Inca remains finishing in Qente. Then you will catch the trainto visit the ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu.

The Inca Quarry Trail. (4 days / 3 nights)

From the Sacred Valley to the Inca quarries of Cachicata andMachu Picchu During this cultural trek you will observe astonishing variety ofscenery and ecological zones, sow-capped peaks, archaeological remains, theInca quarries of Cachicata finishing in Machu Picchu.

Please contact us for more details.