PERU: The Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu

Walk – easy to moderate, 2-3 hours. 

After a group lunch and brief orientation, we begin our exploration of the land of the Incas in the city of Cusco (11,150’), whose name is taken from the Quechua word for “naval” or “center.”  Here, dramatic Spanish colonial architecture blends with solid Inca masonry in a harmony belying the area’s tumultuous history. Beautiful cathedrals abound, often built directly on top of ancient Inca temples. The juxtaposition of pagan and Christian art and architecture is fascinating. After exploring the center of Cusco, we drive to the surrounding countryside for a walk on the grounds of the impressive site of Sacsayhuaman, where we encounter our first example of the huge boulders the Incas used in building temples and fortresses. The stonework of the Incas is unsurpassed by that of any other culture. Massive rocks were painstakingly ground to fit so perfectly together that no mortar was needed, and many walls have remained for over 500 years in spite of tremors that sometimes occur in the area. It is mind-boggling to think of the work that went into producing these temples and fortresses. 

After time to freshen up at our hotel, we dine at one of our favorite restaurants while enjoying traditional music.

Hike – easy to moderate, 3-5 hours on hiking trails and country roads; approximate elevation loss of 1,500’.

This morning we leave Cusco for the Sacred Valley, stopping along the way at a local market and the village of Chinchero.  Here we meet local weavers who have begun a cooperative based on one of the tenets of Inca philosophy: service to community. We are introduced to traditional spinning, dying, and weaving methods that result in beautiful and unique cloth. If you plan to purchase weavings to bring home, this is a great place to do so.

From Chinchero we continue toward the Sacred Valley, taking a side trip to Moray, an important experimental agriculture site for the Incas. Here we enjoy a leisurely lunch among the beautiful golden wheat fields with magnificent views of the Andes. After lunch we visit the Maras salt mines, which have provided salt for the southern highlands since the time of the Incas. We pass directly by the white pools as we descend to the Urubamba River and into the Sacred Valley.

Later this afternoon, we arrive at our hotel for the next three nights, a charming country lodge on the site of a restored, 350-year-old monastery. If you like, relax with a Pisco Sour in front of the lodge’s fireplace before we meet for dinner in the hotel’s restaurant.

Hike – easy to moderate, 2-4 hours on trails.

After breakfast we depart for Pisac, where we begin today’s walk. The well-preserved ruins above the town offer excellent views and further insight into the spiritual life of the Incas. Here are good examples of Inca stairs, and the hills above the site are dotted with caves which functioned as ancient burial grounds. The belief was that the ancestors would be able to watch over and protect the living from their vantage point on the hillside. In the town of Pisac we visit the local market and have the opportunity to bargain for pottery and colorful Peruvian weavings.

Dinner tonight is at a local hacienda, where we have the opportunity to enjoy traditional Peruvian dishes.

Hike – easy to moderate, 3-5 hours on dirt roads and trails; some steep stone stairs at ruins.  

Today’s hike begins in one of the mountain villages near the town of Ollantaytambo. After a visit to the local school, we depart Patacancha on foot, passing through the small village of Huillac. Taking our time on foot allows us a glimpse of the agricultural life the campesinos have lived for centuries, growing wheat and potatoes, and raising sheep and guinea pigs. We pass through remote areas where we may see isolated herds of llama or alpaca roaming amid the patchwork of cultivated fields. After a picnic lunch we return to Ollantaytambo, a charming town of cobblestone streets, ingenious aqueducts, and colorful market stalls at the base of an impressive ruin. Exactly how the Incas moved the rose-colored stone blocks from their quarry miles away is a mystery to this day. This spot, at a narrow part of the valley, is the only place where the Incas managed to stave off the Spanish conquest by using canals to flood the valley floor.

Hike – moderately strenuous, 6-7 hours (elevation gain: 2,600’; elevation loss: 890’).

Today we hike the final miles into Machu Picchu on the Inca Trail, beginning with a scenic train ride to the trailhead. Our train has large observation windows, allowing everyone to enjoy amazing views of the Andes rising precipitously above us. We disembark at kilometer 104, and begin our journey to Machu Picchu. We soon come upon Chachabamba, a small Inca village in ruins. Our trail continues to climb, switching back and forth across the steep hillside. The views are spectacular, and we may begin to recognize some of the steep, forest covered mountains that surround Machu Picchu, although the lost citadel remains out of sight.

After 3-4 hours, the trail becomes more forested and we turn a corner to see the picture-perfect ruins of Wiñya Wayna before us. We take time to have lunch at the ruins, and marvel at the ingenuity of the people who created this complex village in such an unlikely place. From Wiñya Wayna, the trail begins to evoke a sense of history; ancient stone steps, pavements and complex retaining walls, still half covered with vegetation, surround us. A final steep ascent brings us to Intipunku (the Gate of the Sun), and as we come through the gate, the first unforgettable sight of Machu Picchu emerges below us. We have a few hours this afternoon to explore the lost city on our own or with our guides, or you may simply choose to find a quiet spot from which to soak in the splendor.

Late this afternoon we board a bus for a short ride to our award-winning hotel in the festive small town of Machu Picchu, where we enjoy a feast in celebration of our hike.

PLEASE NOTE: It is important to sign up early, as the Peruvian government has a permit system in place which strictly limits the number of hikers on the Inca trail at any given time. Permits are issued on a first-come, first-served basis. If you dream of hiking into Machu Picchu on the Inca Trail, now is the time to reserve. There are alternative hiking options if permits are not available at the time when you reserve. This will not affect our visit to Machu Picchu, just the hike to the ruins.

Touring Machu Picchu – easy 2-5 hours; optional strenuous hike, 2-3 hours.  

For those who wish to rise early, a very special experience is in store. An early bus will bring us back to Machu Picchu before sunrise, so that we can quietly enjoy the ruins before the crowds begin to arrive later in the morning. There is plenty of time to learn more about the complexities of this mountaintop city, or you may choose to challenge yourself to a final hike up Wayna Picchu, the dramatic spire that rises in the background of every classic photograph of the famed citadel.

When we are ready, a bus awaits to return us to the town of Machu Picchu, where you may choose to explore the village streets or relax in the comfort of our riverside hotel.

Optional walking – easy, 1-2 hours.

This morning we have the opportunity to explore the town of Machu Picchu and our hotel’s vibrant orchid garden before lunch and boarding the Vistadome train to return to Cusco. The ride takes a few hours, giving us plenty of time to relax, enjoy the views, and reflect on our journey before a final celebratory dinner in Cusco.

After breakfast we say goodbye and transfer to the Cusco airport in time for flights to Lima and homeward.

Please note that this is a typical itinerary, and actual activities may vary to take advantage of weather conditions, local events, and to allow serendipity to play a hand in your experience. Accommodations are as outlined in the itinerary, although we reserve the right to change these should the need arise.