The best part of the day: Hike up the mountains, and marvel at the colors of Mother Earth.
Today, a day full of adventure awaits us. We’ll start by picking you up from your hotel at 4:00 AM. We’ll then travel three hours from Cusco by car to arrive at the community of Quesiuno (4,376 m / 14,357 f), a place characterized by its herds of South American camelids, like the llama and the alpaca. Here, we’ll have our breakfast.
We’ll start the hike going uphill gradually for about three hours until we arrive at the Puca Pass (4,870 m / 15,977 f) where we can appreciate views of the immense valley with lagoons colored turquoise and the majestic glacier of Ausangate. We’ll then go down an hour and a half to have lunch in Anantapata (4,750 m / 11,614 f). We’ll rest here before going back uphill for two hours to the Warmisaya Pass (4,985 m / 16,355 f). Along the way, we’ll see a colorful landscape among the valleys.
After taking in the magic of the surrounding nature, we’ll hike downhill for 45 minutes to our campsite in Surinecocha. Here, we’ll recharge for our day tomorrow.
We’ll leave early in the morning to go to Quesiuno. We’ll start hiking uphill gradually until we arrive at the Puca Pass, and then we’ll go down to Anantapata for a delicious lunch. After recharging, we’ll continue our journey uphill for two hours to the Warmisaya Pass. Finally, we’ll go downhill 45 minutes to camp next to the Surinecocha Lagoon. Rest well, because the best is yet to come.
-
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Meals
-
Moderate
Level of difficulty
-
Campsite
Lodging
-
11 km / 6.8 miles
Hiking distance
-
7 hours
Hiking time
-
4,376 m / 14,357 ft
Starting altitude
-
4,376 m / 14,357 ft
Minimum altitude
-
4,985 m / 16,355 ft
Maximum altitude
The best part of the day: Nothing is more incredible than the coexistence between man and nature.
Today, the Rainbow Mountain and the never-ending Red Valley await us. We’ll have our breakfast very early before beginning our gradual, uphill hike for two hours to the viewpoint of the Rainbow Mountain (5,100 m / 16,732 f), the highest point on our trek. From this point, you’ll be able to see the sunrise over the peculiar colors of the Rainbow Mountain. Without a doubt, this is the perfect manifestation of Mother Nature, and we’ll enjoy it before other visitors arrive.
After this wonderful visit, we’ll start descending for an hour and a half to Llacto (4,630 m / 15,190 f) where our private transportation will be waiting to take us two hours away for lunch at the Taray Viewpoint (3,150 m / 10,334 f). Continuing the adventure, we’ll go to the archeological center of Urco (2,900 m / 9,514 f).
Finally, in Ollantaytambo (2,792 m / 9,160 f), we’ll explore the town and enjoy a hike to the Inca Qolqas (2,950 m / 9,678 f) in the mountain of Pinkuylluna. From there, you’ll have an amazing view of the archeological complex of Ollantaytambo. We’ll have dinner in a traditional restaurant in town and spend the night at a comfortable hotel.
After having a good breakfast, we will hike two hours uphill from Surinecocha to the long-awaited viewpoint of the Rainbow Mountain. The selfie moment has finally arrived! After taking our pictures, we’ll go down to Llacto and travel, by car, to the viewpoint of Taray to have a nice lunch. We’ll then continue toward Urco and finish off in Ollantaytambo to explore the town, have dinner and rest.
-
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Meals
-
Moderate
Level of difficulty
-
Campsite
Lodging
-
7.5 km / 4.66 miles
Hiking distance
-
4 hours
Hiking time
-
4,800 m / 15,748 ft
Starting altitude
-
2,792 m / 9,160 ft
Minimum altitude
-
5,100 m / 16,732 ft
Maximum altitude
The best part of the day: Enjoy the Inca Trail, which will lead you to the Wonder of the Modern World, Machu Picchu.
Very early, we’ll go, by private transportation, to the starting point of our hike on the Inca Trail at Piscacucho (2,700 m / 8,858 f), a community located in the Urubamba Valley at kilometer 82 of the train track from Cusco to Machu Picchu.
Our hike will start after we register at the entrance and cross the bridge over the Urubamba River. We’ll follow a flat path until we get to Miskay (2,690 m / 8,825 f), a favorable place to take a break. We’ll continue on to the viewpoint of Willkarakay (2,750 m / 7,922 f) to look out over the impressive view of the archeological center of Llactapata (2,600 m / 8,530 f).
We’ll then gradually ascend through the Kusichaca Valley to the place where we’ll have lunch, Tarayoc. After a relaxing rest, we’ll continue upwards for two more hours to the community of Wayllabamba (3,000 m / 9,840 f) where we’ll set up our first campsite and spend the night. Along the path, we’ll enjoy spectacular views of the Urubamba mountain range.
Today, we’ll get ready early to take our private transportation to Piscacucho. We’ll register at the entrance to the Inca Trail and start our hike on a flat trail toward Miskay and then continue to the viewpoint of Willkarakay. From there, we’ll be able to look out and see, in the distance, the archeological site of Llactapata, and we’ll also take this opportunity to rest. Where we’ll eat lunch isn’t far away; we’ll gradually climb up to Tarayoc and, after eating, follow the path on to Wayllabamba to spend the night.
-
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Meals
-
Moderate
Level of difficulty
-
Campsite
Lodging
-
12 km / 7.47 miles
Hiking distance
-
6 hours
Hiking time
-
2,700 m / 8,858 ft
Starting altitude
-
2,700 m / 8,858 ft
Minimum altitude
-
3,000 m / 9,840 ft
Maximum altitude:
The best part of the day: A path full of mysteries that will take us to the highest peak
We’ll get up early to get ready to conquer the highest peak on the trail. After breakfast, we’ll start on a steep uphill path between the mountains toward the Warmi Huañusca Pass, or passage of the dead woman (4,215 m / 13,829 f). On the way, we’ll feel the change of the high Andean plateau, a humid place with quite a lot of vegetation, to a dry area, the perfect place to spot a variety of birds and the Andean bear.
Our inspiration to continue the hike will be to enjoy the impressive views of the valley and the mountains. Immediately after taking in this landscape from the pass, we’ll descend for two hours to the Valley of Pacaymayo (3,600 m / 11,811 f) where we’ll rest after this excellent day.
We’ll start our day with an ascent to the Warmi Huañusca Pass. On the way, we’ll take in beautiful landscapes and see local animals, such as the Andean bear. After conquering this highest point on the trail, we’ll go downhill for two hours to the Valley of Pacaymayo to have dinner and spend the night.
-
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Meals
-
Moderate
Level of difficulty
-
Campsite
Lodging
-
11 km / 6.84 miles
Hiking distance
-
7 hours
Hiking time
-
3,600 m / 11,811 ft
Starting altitude
-
3,600 m / 11,811 ft
Minimum altitude
-
4,200 m / 13,776 ft
Maximum altitude
The best part of the day: A day full of history and culture visiting archeological sites on the Inca Trail
We’ll start early today with a good breakfast. From Pacaymayo, we’ll go up to our second-highest point at the Runcuracay Pass (3,950 m / 12,959 f). On the path, we’ll stop to visit the archeological site of the same name, a small, oval structure that was used to control the quantity of people who used this trail. Later, we’ll go down to Yanacocha, or black lagoon, and then enter in Sayacmarca (3,650 m / 11,975 f), a beautiful complex consisting in various semi-circular constructions, multi-leveled enclosures and liturgical fountains with spiritual purposes.
We’ll continue on the path until Chaquicocha (3,600 m / 11,811 f) to enjoy a delicious lunch. After that, we’ll go through an Inca tunnel, hike up to the Phuyu Patamarca Pass (3,650 m / 11,975 f) and then down to its archeological site. This is one of the most complete and best preserved archeological complexes on the Inca Trail. Curiously enough, Phuyu Patamarca means “town over the clouds.” We’ll follow a steep, downhill path along stone steps that will take us to Wiñay Wayna (2,650 m / 8,694 f), the place where we’ll spend our last night of camping.
We’ll have breakfast early and then depart from Pacaymayo toward the Runcuracay Pass. There, we’ll also be able to visit the archeological complex of the same name. Afterwards, we’ll hike down to Yanacocha, or black lagoon, and enter the complex of Sayacmarca. We’ll continue walking on, passing through Chaquicocha to have lunch. Next, we will continue upwards to the Phuyu Patamarca Pass and visit its impressive archeological complex. Lastly, we’ll go to our last campsite in Wiñay Wayna.
-
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Meals
-
Moderate
Level of difficulty
-
Campsite
Lodging
-
16 km / 9.94 miles
Hiking distance
-
8 hours
Hiking time
-
3,600 m / 11,811 ft
Starting altitude
-
2,650 m / 8,692 ft
Minimum altitude
-
3,950 m / 12,959 ft
Maximum altitude
The best part of the day: The Sun Gate will open the way for us to the Wonder of the Modern World, Machu Picchu.
Today is the day we’ve all been waiting for! We’ll get up at 4:00 AM to leave Wiñay Wayna and walk calmly on a trail to Inti Punku, or the Sun Gate (2,720 m / 8,923 f). We’ll hike downward for 45 minutes to Machu Picchu (2,430 m / 7,972 f), register at the entrance, leave our backpacks and go back in to start our complete guided tour of the Inca citadel. You’ll have free time to look around a little more in this Historical Sanctuary. You can also climb Huayna Picchu and visit the Moon Temple, among other things.
Our grand journey has come to an end. After recharging our energy in this magnificent place, we’ll take a bus to the town of Aguas Calientes and have lunch. In the afternoon, the train will take us to Ollantaytambo, and our private transportation will be waiting to take us back to Cusco, taking the best memories with us of this incredible trip.
Today, we’ll start off at 4:00 AM to walk toward Inti Punku, or the Sun Gate. We’ll walk 45 minutes downhill from there to Machu Picchu and then arrive at the entrance of the citadel to enjoy a guided tour. After exploring this imposing Historical Sanctuary, we’ll go down, by bus, to Aguas Calientes to have lunch and then return to Ollantaytambo by train and to Cusco by private transportation, finishing off this incredible trip.
-
Breakfast and lunch
Meals
-
Moderate
Level of difficulty
-
4 km / 2.49 miles
Hiking distance
-
2 hours
Hiking time
-
2,650 m / 8,692 ft
Starting altitude
-
2,650 m / 8,692 ft
Minimum altitude
-
2,720 m / 8,923 ft
Maximum altitude
ES
WhatsApp
