Lodge to lodge trekking in a seldom explored corner of the Peruvian Andes

Get off the tourist track and trek high into the jagged mountains and eternal glaciers that were once the sacred spots of the mighty Incas. Despite soft nights in trailside eco-lodges, this trip is for the rugged: we’ll spend multiple days above 15,000 feet and top out at 17,000 as we cross the spectacular Palomani Pass. So if you’re dreaming of “high” adventure, look straight up into the clouds and then come join us on this inspiring trek along the roofline of the Americas.

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Activities

8 days of strenuous hiking (max. elev. 16,700') with a lot of hiking at high altitude (13,200-16,700') and one night sleeping at 15,800'

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Extreme high-altitude hiking through the wild peaks and valleys of the Peruvian Andes
• Hard days of trekking and soft nights spent in rustic eco-lodges built from local materials
• Unparalleled high Andean scenery in every direction, plus a night spent at the foot of Apu Ausangate (20,950'), the most sacred mountain in the Inca culture
• A thorough exploration of the Sacred Valley

Duration: 10 days Start Location: Lima End Location: Lima

BRIEF Itinerary

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  Day 1 : Lima – Cusco – Urubamba Valley

  Arrive in Lima and fly straight to Cusco. Upon arrival in Cusco head for the heart of the sacred Urubamba Valley, a good place for us to acclimate.

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  Day 2 : Hike the Sacred Valley

  Visit the agricultural earthworks at Moray and the saltpans of Maras.

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  Day 3 : Ollantaytambo

  Hike to the ruins of Pucamarca and Choquebamba, and explore the renowned Inca fortress of Ollantaytambo.

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  Day 4 : Pisac – Cusco

  Learn about potato agriculture—a key element in the life of the Valley—and explore the village and ruins of Pisac before returning to Cusco.

• Day 5 : Cusco – Vilcanota River

  Drive along the Vilcanota Valley to Checacupe, then proceed along the spectacular Japura Gorge to the town of Chillca, where we'll stay tonight.

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  Day 6 : Chillca – Machuracay

  Hike from the valley of Upis to Machuracay Tambo (15,800').

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  Day 7 : Machuracay – Anantapata

  Ascend the demanding Palomani Pass (17,000') and descend to Ausangatecocha.

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  Day 8 : Anantapata – Huampococha

  Hike from Anantapata through colorful, stratified mountains, to Huampochocha.

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  Day 9 : Huampococha – Cusco

  Last day of the trek, descending from the mountains to the valley, where we'll board our bus fof the return to Cusco.

• Day 10 : Cusco – Lima

  Today we are off to the airport for our flights to Lima and connections with homeward-bound flights.

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  Casa Andina Private Collection—Cusco

  Casa Andina Private Collection Cusco is a beautifully renovated 18th-century manor house, just 3 blocks from Cusco’s Plaza de Armas, replete with authentic colonial character. It offers the intimacy of a boutique hotel but the comforts and services of a much larger property.

  The hotel is distinguished by its 3 interior patios with wooden balconies. The principal patio, featuring a gurgling stone fountain, is one of Cusco’s emblematic colonial courtyards. In the hotel’s cozy lounge and reading room is a massive stone fireplace that’s always crackling, while the romantic gourmet restaurant invites guests to dine by candlelight in one of 4 connected salons richly decorated with 18th-century Cusco School paintings. Several rooms in the original structure of the hotel feature surviving colonial frescoes unearthed during renovation.

• Machuracay Tambo

  Located at 15,792 ft., at the base of Ausangate, the Incas' most sacred mountain as well as the highest peak in the Cordillera Vilcanota, Machuracay Tambo is the highest lodge in the world. It is often used as a base for expeditions attempting to ascend the mountain.

• Chillca Tambo

  Located at the starting point of the “Camino del Apu Ausangate,” Chillca Tambo is nestled in the large glacial valley of Quencomayo. At over 13,000 ft., it enjoys beautiful views of the Cayangates mountains, and is a great place to acclimatize and immerse oneself in the world of the high Andes.

• Anantapata Tambo

  Different from the other three tambos, Anantapata Tambo is a pre-fabricated wooden structure upon a solid stone base. Constucted by the Chillca community with a government grant, it is now integrated in the operation of the “Camino del Apu Ausangate” project.

• Huampococha Tambo

  The last of the four tambos lies within the community of Osefina. Together with their far away neighbors from Chillca, they also participate in the Andean Lodges project. They are expert weavers and here we will have the opportunity to enjoy their art.

Properties shown are representative of the accommodations we use on this trip, may not be inclusive of all accommodations we use, and are subject to change.

Expert leadership is the key to an exciting, unforgettable experience. Our trips feature gifted leaders for whom leading trips is a true vocation. Besides showing you wonders you’d never find on your own, they make sure everything runs smoothly and safely without a hitch. They are knowledgeable about all aspects of your trip, and take great pleasure in sharing their insights with you. More than just guides, they positively elevate your experience by being teachers, companions, and the best of friends. You’ll be in good hands with them every step of the way.

photo credits: ©MTS Photo File