Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

Day 1: Cusco

Day 2: Cusco

After a sumptuous breakfast at the hotel we will pick you up and transfer to the south of Cusco where our well-trained horses are waiting for us. Our goal is to visit the 4 main archeological sites surrounding Cusco – namely, Sacsayhuaman, Qenco, Puca Pucara & Tambomachay. Going by horseback allows us to get off the busy roads and away from tourist buses. Along the way we take in the Peruvian countryside, enjoy spectacular views of the high Andean snow capped peaks, and get a true sense of how people are living in the villages around Cusco. The tour is 3 - 4 hours and we will spend plenty of time on foot exploring the Inca ruins with our knowledgeable guide. Perfect for first time wranglers, and if horseback riding is not your cup of tea, walking and/or driving options are available. As this is just a half day activity there will be plenty of time to further explore Cusco, enjoy a nice lunch, or do some shopping. Overnight at the Casa Andina Private Collection Hotel*. (Breakfast and snacks included; lunch and dinner not included)

Day 3: Sacred Valley

Mountain biking into the Sacred Valley - the perfect, active way to see the Peruvian countryside and have some fun at the same time! We have front suspension 2010 Marin mountain bikes, helmets, and gloves. The ride can be tailored to all ability levels as we are followed by a support vehicle. We begin our biking adventure pedaling along the shore of the beautiful highland Lake Huaypo. We then begin our cross-country cruise at the town of Maras (elev.: 3,500 meters - 11,090 feet) until arriving at the archaeological site of Moray – a very impressive Inca agricultural experimental center. During the ride you will have ample time to take in the beautiful Andean landscape – including impressive views of the snow-capped peaks of La Verónica (elev. 5,682 meters -18,600 feet) and Chicon. (elev.: 5,530 meters or 18,140 feet) This ride takes us away from the other tourists and allows us to see the less trodden, real Peru, as we bike on dirt roads and footpaths and through traditional villages. Half way through our journey we stop for a gourmet picnic and some well deserved rest in a dramatically picturesque setting. We then begin the downhill portion of the trail, following ancient Inca footpaths, eventually reaching the salt mines of Pichingoto. These are not actually mines, but a rather amazing conglomerate of over 3000 evaporation troughs carved into the hillside where the salt-laden silt gathers and becomes gradually distilled into rock salt. This site is very ancient, but was perfected and developed to a high degree by the Incas. Depending on our time, we can either stop and visit this fascinating complex or continue straight through to the bottom of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. This ride is a true Classic! For those with no interest in riding bikes, we can arrange a modified walking tour following the same route. We arrive to our beautiful Sacred Valley hotel in the afternoon leaving plenty of time to rest and enjoy the amenities. Before dinner we will pass out the Inca trail duffel bags with instructions on how much weight to pack so they will be ready to go first thing in the morning. Overnight at the Casa Andina PC Valle Hotel* in Sacred Valley – a beautiful hotel with views of the Andes on all sides and a star observatory for stargazing the Southern Hemisphere’s night skies. (Breakfast, lunch and snacks included; dinner not included)

Day 4: Inca Trail

Day 5: Yunkachimpa and Corralpunku

We begin ascending through the incredible cloud forests of Yunkachimpa and Corralpunku. Streams cascade alongside the trail and the vegetation varies from high desert to lush forest. After a delicious hot lunch and rest we begin our slow ascent to the first pass an - 14,000 feet! The views from here are impressive, as if we’ve landed on a condor’s perch above the clouds. Depending on our progress we will camp either just below Dead Woman’s Pass, or, continue past it and down into the valley on the other side.

Day 6: Puyupatamarca

After a hearty breakfast we continue on – if the weather is good we will have incredible views of the Andes, including the sacred peak of Salcantay. If the weather is rainy and misty, our visit to the magnificent archeological site of Sayacmara will seem all the more exotic and shrouded in mystery. We are now at the brow of the jungle and plant and bird life become more abundant including many varieties of orchids. The amazing spectacle of the Urubamba Valley comes into view. The trail is very dramatic today – interlocking stones, rolling terrain, and even carved tunnels to walk through. We camp on the ridgeline at Puyupatamarca with a 360-degree panorama of the magnificent Andes. Often at this campsite the steamy jungle clouds are below us – camping above the clouds! (From Pacaymayo to Puyupatamarca / 8km / 4-6 hours hiking.)

Day 7: Winay Wayna

This is a spectacular day of hiking as we marvel at the engineering feats of the Incas. We descend into the rainforest upon the ancient stone stairs; tunnels and bridges carved right into the mountain. We take a 15-minute detour to visit the empty and haunting ruins of Winay Wayna (meaning “Forever Young”) where a well-deserved catnap is a welcome afternoon treat. We arrive at the spectacular Sun Gate of Machu Picchu in the golden light of afternoon after most of the tourist buses have left the ruins. Machu Picchu, the lost, mysterious city of the Incas now lays in front of us. One of the seven wonders of the ancient world, Machu Picchu is a perfectly preserved Inca city that was lost in the dense jungle for hundreds of years. This is perhaps the most famous and awe-inspiring of all the ruins discovered in the 20th century. Machu Picchu allows us to step back in time and experience the wonder of living in a stone-hewn, ancient Incan city that continues to mystify scholars with its spectacular engineering. After our brief initial visit, we take a bus to the clean little town of Aguas Calientes, nestled in the steep Urubamba River Valley. (From Puyupatamarca to Machu Picchu / 10km / 6 hours hiking.) Overnight at Andina Luxury Hotel*. (Breakfast and lunch included; dinner not included)

Day 8: Machu Picchu

In the morning, we take a 20 minute bus ride up the twisty road back to Machu Picchu. Those who still have the energy are welcome to hike the steep staircase straight up to the ruins! We spend most of the day at the ruins with our knowledgeable Peruvian guide who will show us all the wonders of Machu Picchu. In the late afternoon, we climb aboard a first class train for a spectacular ride back to Cusco. The train tracks themselves are a miracle of human ingenuity and tenacity. The ride down the mountain will give you ample time to reflect on your journey by foot and provides us with an early evening arrival in Cusco. We will check back into our hotel, the Casa Andina Private Collection*, for our last night in Cusco. (Breakfast included)

Day 9: Cusco