INCA TRAIL ONE DAY TOUR

Enjoying the most important sites in the city of Cusco

Welcome to the imperial, Andean Inca city of Cusco, the cultural capital of Peru! Upon arrival, we will take you to your hotel to drop off your luggage and freshen up. After lunch and when you are ready, we will take a leisurely half-day tour of this amazing place as you acclimatize to the high altitude (3,400 m / 11,155 ft).

Cusco has a long history and is the oldest continuously inhabited city in all the Americas! Since about 1,000 B.C., people have lived in Cusco and regarded it as a center of the surrounding culture (then called Qosqo). It has been an important part of every civilization that has lived in the area throughout history, starting with the native people of Peru long before the famous Inca people.

On the arrival of the Inca Empire to Peru and beyond, Cusco became the navel of their far-reaching and powerful empire. Of course, the Incas were then conquered by Spaniards who also used Cusco as a colonial, regal capital for the area.

The attractions visited on this tour include:

• The Cusco Cathedral
• Qoricancha Temple and Santo Domingo Convent
• Sacsayhuaman
• Q’enqo
• Puka Pukara
• Tambomachay

DAY FACTS

• MINIMUM ELEVATION: 3,390 m / 11,122 ft HIGHEST ELEVATION: 3,800 m / 12,467 ft

Tour the Amazing Sacred Valley of the Incas

Today, you will have the opportunity to visit some of the most beautiful and historically rich towns of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. We begin the day by picking you up from your hotel in Cusco at 8:30 a.m. and heading toward the town of Pisac. Before reaching Pisac, we will stop at both the Qorao and Taray lookouts, so you can admire the Sacred Valley’s beauty from afar and take pictures.

Once in Pisac, we will visit both the Pisac archaeological site and its famous traditional market. Then, we will drive to the town of Urubamba for lunch, where you will enjoy a delicious buffet lunch of traditional Peruvian dishes.

Continuing, we will drive to the classic Inca town of Ollantaytambo and visit its unique archaeological site with its royal water sources, high terraces, temples, etc., surrounded by towering mountain peaks and colorful valleys, plus the view of the faraway Veronica glacier.

Ollantaytambo is the most well-preserved layout of a typical, Inca-built city with its narrow, cobbled streets and stone walls. Its conservation allows for the enduring legacy of the Incan people to live on for us today.

To finish our day, we will visit Chinchero and meet some of the town’s talented women in a textilemaking presentation. The Cusco region is known for its superb, colorful textiles, and here you will learn how each color of wool is naturally dyed, how the intricate cloths are woven, and the symbolism held by the traditional designs you find in their beautiful creations. Here, you will also visit an archeological site and a colonial church.

After your tour, you will be brought back to Cusco and dropped off at your hotel at 6:45 pm to rest up for tomorrow’s exciting activities!

DAY FACTS

• MEALS: Lunch
• MINIMUM ELEVATION: 2,792 m / 9,160 ft HIGHEST ELEVATION: 3,762 m / 12,343 ft

Hike to the Jewel in the Mountains - The Stunning Humantay Lake

Get ready for an early start today, as we’ll be picking you up around 4:30 a.m. to begin your adventure. Don’t worry though, our comfortable transportation comes with blankets so you can catch a bit more sleep during the 2-hour drive. We’ll make a quick stop in Mollepata for breakfast before continuing on to Challacancha, where we’ll begin our hike.

Before hitting the trail, you’ll have a chance to meet the cooks and horsemen and do a final equipment check. Then, we’ll start the 3-hour moderate hike to Soraypampa (3,900 m / 12,795 ft), where we’ll spend our first night. The trail starts relatively flat, passing through a deep valley of glaciers and following a restored Inca water channel still used by local farmers. The section is 7 km / 4.35 mi overall.

Upon arriving at Soraypampa, you’ll get settled in at our exclusive Sky Camp and enjoy your first lunch in the mountains. After some rest, we’ll hike up to the stunning Humantay Lake (4,200 m / 13,780 ft), which takes about 3 hours round trip and covers 3 km / 1.86 mi. Although not far, taking things slowly at this altitude is important. At the lake, you’ll be mesmerized by the turquoise waters reflecting the Humantay glacier - a view straight out of a fairy tale!

After returning to camp, you’ll have a delicious dinner while watching the sunset. You’ll feel the peaceful energy of the surroundings as you settle into your Sky Camp igloo. The glass roof provides a perfect view of the stars, constellations, and comets. And when you wake up, you’ll see the majestic Apu Salkantay watching over you.

Our dazzling SKY CAMP is located in front of the impressive mountains Humantay and Salkantay. This campsite creates the perfect union of sky and earth. It allows you to sleep calmly under a clear sky starred with an exceptional view of the cons - tellations. At the same time, you can enjoy all the comforts of a first-class vacation home.

• 32 igloos
• 2 person per hut
• Dinning room and kitchen
• Toilets
• Optional:
• Wi-Fi

DAY FACTS

• MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
• ACCOMMODATION: Sky Camp
• DIFFICULTY: Moderate to Challenging
• WALKING DISTANCE: 10 km / 6.21 mi
• WALKING TIME: 5 to 6 hours
• STARTING ELEVATION: 3,800 m / 12,467 ft
• MINIMUM ELEVATION: 3,800 m / 12,467 ft
• HIGHEST ELEVATION: 4,200 m / 13,780 ft
• CAMPSITE ELEVATION: 4 3,900 m / 12,795 ft

Defeat the Trek to the Salkantay Pass and Descend Through the Cloud Forest

Waking up with the first rays of the sun, we await you with a hot cup of coca tea. Then, we will enjoy one of our nutritious and delicious breakfasts before starting the hike to the highest point of the entire route, the Salkantay Pass (4,630 m / 15,190 ft). This part of the hike is a difficult ascent on a winding trail, takes approximately three hours, and has a distance of 7 km / 4.34 miles.

Once you reach the top, you will be able to appreciate the most spectacular view of the valleys surrounding the Salkantay mountain located in front of you (6,271 m / 20,574 ft); it is considered the second highest peak in all of Cusco and is known as one of the Inca gods called Apus. You will also enjoy incredible panoramas of the mountains: Humantay, Tucarhuay, and Pumasillo. After taking in the views and recovering your energy, we will descend on a 6 km / 3.72-mile hike along a rocky trail to our lunch spot at Wayracmachay (3,850 m / 12,631 ft). While enjoying a delicious lunch prepared by our chef, you will appreciate the beautiful scenery of the area.

Afterward, we will resume our hike to descend into the valley. This section is 9.5 km / 5.9 miles and will take us about three and a half hours to complete. As we go on, you will notice that the climate changes drastically because of the “cloud forest”; from this point, we will say goodbye to the snowy peaks of the mountains, and we will head to the Peruvian Amazon jungle. In this place, you can observe impressive wildlife unique to the area and many colorful landscapes. You will find it amazing that a few hours earlier you were in the middle of snow-capped glaciers, as the weather will also become much warmer here.

Your longest day of hiking ends when you arrive at our exclusive Mountain Sky View campsites at Collpapampa (2,950 m / 9,678 ft). You will enjoy a hearty and well-deserved dinner before going to rest.

Like in the times of our ancestors, our commitment is to our Pachamama (Mother Earth) and the Apus (sacred Mountains). Our campsite Mountain Sky View is adapted to the natural environment without generating any audio-visual impact, constructed with elements found in the same area, and located in a place surrounded by tropical mountains and rocky rivers under the shining stars.

• 37 huts
• 2 people per hut
• Dining room and kitchen
• Toilets and Hot shower
• Optional:
• Wi-Fi

DAY FACTS

• MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
• ACCOMMODATION: Mountain Sky View
• DIFFICULTY: Challenging
• WALKING DISTANCE: 23.5 km / 14.60 miWALKING TIME: 10-11 hours
• STARTING ELEVATION: 3,900 m / 12,795 ft
• MINIMUM ELEVATION: 2,900 m / 9,514 ft HIGHEST ELEVATION: 4,630 m / 15,190 ft CAMPSITE ELEVATION: 4 2,950 m / 9,678 ft

Jungle Adventure and Coffee Experience

Today we’ll begin the day at 6:00 a.m. with a hot cup of tea and a nourishing breakfast at camp. We’ll then set out on a scenic hike through the Santa Teresa Valley, following a gently descending trail that rewards us with spectacular views of rivers, waterfalls, orchids, and plantations of bananas, coffee, and avocados. Keep your eyes open—if we’re lucky, we may spot the iconic Andean cock-of-the-rock, Peru’s national bird.

Upon reaching Zona Propiedad, our private vehicle will be waiting to transfer us to La Playa, allowing us to arrive with more energy and time to enjoy an authentic coffee experience. Here we’ll explore the coffee fields, take part in the cultivation process, and finally roast, grind, and brew our own cup.

After this enriching activity, we’ll continue by private transport to Lucmabamba (2,000 m / 6,562 ft), where we’ll enjoy a delicious lunch and settle into our exclusive Super Jungle Domes. In the afternoon, you’ll have free time to explore the surroundings or visit the nearby Cocalmayo hot springs if you wish (not included in the package).

In the evening, we’ll return to Lucmabamba for a restorative dinner before resting in your lodge surrounded by the sounds of nature. The night ends in the comfort of your lodge, where the gentle murmur of the forest becomes the perfect soundtrack for a deep and peaceful sleep.

From the comfort of our domes, you get to be in intimate contact with the surrounding nature. As you hear the voices of the wind, rain, and flora and fauna in the area, immerse yourself in this green environment.

• 17 domes
• 2 people per dome
• Dining room and kitchen
• Toilets and Hot Shower
• Opcional:
• Wi-Fi

DAY FACTS

• MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
• ACCOMMODATION: Super Jungle Domes
• DIFFICULTY: Moderate
• WALKING DISTANCE: 10.3 km / 6.4 mi
• WALKING TIME: 4 hours
• STARTING ELEVATION: 2,950 m / 9,678 ft
• MINIMUM ELEVATION: 2,000 m / 6,562 ft
• HIGHEST ELEVATION: 2,950 m / 9,678 ft
• CAMPSITE ELEVATION: 2,000 m / 6,562 ft

Explore Inca Sites and Catch a Glimpse of Machu Picchu

Like previous mornings, the trek guide will wake you up early with a hot cup of coca tea served in your dome. After enjoying your last breakfast prepared by the talented trek chef, you will get ready for the day’s activities. We will start the hike early, allowing you to experience a small part of the famous Inca trail.

After a climb of 3 hours with amazing views of the Santa Teresa valley, we will arrive at the Llactapata Inca site (2,700 m / 8,858 ft) right in front of Machu Picchu. This exceptional location is the perfect place to learn about the land’s roots and history. Our guide will take you on a tour of the site, providing insight into how the Incas used and worshipped the land. From this spot, you can see the Inca City of Machu Picchu, as well as Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain. You will have plenty of time to take photos and capture memories to share with your loved ones back home.

After exploring Llactapata, we will continue our trek for 1.5 hours downhill to Aobamba for lunch. Then, we will continue our way to our next featured spot in the hike, the Hidroelectrica train station (1,800 m / 5,906 ft). One of the most impressive sites in this area is the 250-meter-tall artificial waterfall, which generates electricity for the entire city of Cusco.

If you feel exhausted, you can take a train from Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes (not included US$ 37.00). Otherwise, we will continue our walk from Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes for about three hours along the train track. A few minutes ahead of Hidroelectrica, we will arrive at Intihuatana, a famous ancient rock used as a ceremonial table in the Inca era. The people used this stone, together with the famous Intihuatana in Machu Picchu, to measure and read the winter solstice, which marked the beginning of the new farming season for the Incas.

Next to the railroad, there is a beautiful path through the warm paradise of the cloud forest, the same trail used by American professor Hiram Bingham who rediscovered Machu Picchu after centuries of it being lost to the outside world. After three hours of walking, we will arrive at Aguas Calientes town, where we will head first to our hotel. Your room will have a private bathroom, hot shower, Wi-Fi, breakfast in the morning, and luggage storage while you visit Machu Picchu. You can rest before dinner or explore this peaceful town. There are no cars in Aguas Calientes, giving it a calm and serene atmosphere.

At 7:00 p.m., we will have dinner at a local restaurant and organize everything for the highlight of our adventure: Machu Picchu!

Note: During the rainy season, the hike up the Llactapata Trail is not 100% guaranteed due to safety concerns. When heavy rains are frequent, this trail becomes very dangerous. 

We offer a selection of well-located hotels in the town with very comfortable and tasteful decorated rooms. You’ll find them impeccable with clean rooms and beds as well as adequate toilets and showers. It’s a perfect place to rest before the most important day of your trip!

• Single, Double, Matrimonial, and Triple
• Dining room and kitchen
• Toilets and warm showers
• Wi-Fi

DAY FACTS

• MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
• ACCOMMODATION: Hotel
• DIFFICULTY: Challenging
• WALKING DISTANCE: 25 km / 15.53 mi
• WALKING TIME: 8-9 hours
• STARTING ELEVATION: 2,000 m / 6,562 ft
• MINIMUM ELEVATION: 1,800 m / 5,906 ft
• HIGHEST ELEVATION: 2,800 m / 9,186 ft
• ACCOMMODATION ELEVATION: 2,040 m / 6,693 ft

Visit the Magical, Mystical Machu Picchu

Today we will finally visit Machu Picchu - one of the 7 Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site! Rise early after a refreshing night at our hostel to enjoy the serenity of Machu Picchu in the soft morning light before the crowds arrive. The Machu Picchu entrance checkpoint opens from 6:00 a.m.

In the morning, we’ll board the bus to Machu Picchu and be among the first to enter the royal city of the Incas. Our expert guide will lead us on a fascinating 2-hour tour through this wonderful ancient site, where we’ll see temples, terraces, palaces, priests’ houses, cultivated fields, and much more. Marvel at the remarkable engineering talent of the Incas, who were so advanced for their time, and whose techniques still leave us in awe today.

Despite lacking modern tools, steel, and iron, the Incas were geniuses in organizing this community sustainably and beautifully on the side of a mountain. They even brought water in canals and aqueducts through its streets for the people to use. When a Peruvian guide showed this site to Hiram Bingham, it was almost unrecognizable, covered in thick vegetation and a state of disrepair. Today, it has been cleaned and restored and is now protected and treasured by the world.

After the guided tour, you can climb Huayna Picchu Mountain (2,720 m / 8,924 ft) or Machu Picchu Mountain (3,000 m / 9,843 ft); these tours will take you an hour and a half and three hours between ascent and descent, respectively. Make sure you reserve your tickets in advance.

After basking in the magic of this citadel, we’ll return to the town of Aguas Calientes to take the train to Ollantaytambo. Our private transportation will then take you back to your hotel in Cusco, where you can rest your feet and body.

DAY FACTS

• MEALS: Breakfast
• DIFFICULTY: Easy
• ACTIVITY DURATION: 2-3 hours exploring Machu Picchu
• MACHU PICCHU CITADEL ELEVATION: 2,430 m / 7,972 ft
• OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES: Moderate to Challenging
• MACHU PICCHU MOUNTAIN ELEVATION: 3,000 m / 9,843 ft (3-4 hours)
• HUAYNA PICCHU MOUNTAIN ELEVATION: 2,720 m / 8,924 ft (2 hours)
• HUCHUY PICCHU MOUNTAIN ELEVATION: 2,497 m / 8,192 ft (1.5 hours)

Hike to the Mountain of Seven Colors: Vinicunca Our final day of adventure begins at 4:00 am. We’ll pick you up from your hotel and head towards the Southern Valley for a three-hour journey in our private transport. Remember, our walk starts at 4,630m / 15,190 ft, but you should now be accustomed to the altitude. Along the way, we will observe picturesque Andean towns, agricultural platforms from the Inca period, fertile valleys, and beautiful rolling mountains.

Even at this early hour, herds of llamas and alpacas will entertain you while you enjoy a delicious continental breakfast to give you the energy you need to get started.

We will continue our journey until we reach the hike’s starting point. From there, we will head down a meandering path in the Andean mountains, following a pretty stream. As you ascend, you will be rewarded with an impressive view of the Ausangate glacier (6,372m / 20,905 ft), the tallest in the Cusco region. Take a few minutes to understand why this mountain is so important to the Andean people. This whole region is home to many people and small communities, and you will have the opportunity to see them working the land. You will be amazed to see the traditional clothing they use that they make themselves, thanks to the practice of textile art that they have inherited from their ancestors. The colorful patterns on their garments are similar to those of Vinicunca mountain.

By keeping these traditions alive, ancient culture is preserved. Your guide will teach you about the meaning of some clothes and, if you want, you can ask him to teach you some words in Quechua—the language of the Incas and local communities to this day. After walking an hour and a half, we will reach the amazing Rainbow Mountain of Cusco (5,100m / 16,732 ft).

DAY FACTS

• MEALS: Breakfast and Lunch
• ACCOMMODATION: Hotel
• DIFFICULTY: Moderate
• WALKING DISTANCE: 7 km / 4.35 mi
• WALKING TIME: 2 - 3 hours
• HIGHEST ELEVATION: 5,100 m / 16.732 ft
• ACCOMMODATION ELEVATION: 3,400 m / 11,155 ft

Say Goodbye to Imperial Cusco

Today, you’ll get up, eat breakfast, and pack your belongings, as it’s time to bid farewell to the imperial city of Cusco for the time being. We’ll arrange a time to pick you up and transport you to the airport or bus station so you can continue your holiday or return home.

This isn’t a permanent goodbye, and we’re sure you’ll want to return to relive all of the great experiences, learn more about the ancient city and cultures, and sample more of the excellent restaurants and their delectable cuisine. So it’s not farewell, but rather see you soon!