Peru Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu Hiking

Itinerary

• Day01

  Arrive in Cusco

  Arrive in Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire. Meet your trip leader at the airport and transfer to your hotel on the city's main square. Take a walking tour that introduces you to the history of the Inca civilization and its former capital with its ornate cathedrals, adobe walls, carved balconies, hidden courtyards, and cobblestone streets. In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner at La Feria, a local restaurant located in the Cusco Main Square and offering a great view of the historical center.

  • Accommodation: Palacio del Inka
  • Transportation: 1-hour flight transfer
  • Meals: Dinner
• Day02

  Native Potatoes and Tuber Wines with Manuel Choque & Archeological Sites

  Start your day with the ultimate foodie experience! Located in Chinchero, half way between Cusco and the Sacred Valley, Agricultural Engineer Manuel Choqque, will welcome us to his home where we will taste traditional uchucuta sauce, made out of Peruvian hot peppers. Learn about Andean tuber wines (made out of ocas and mashwas) and native potato vodka. Lunch today is at Hacienda Huayoccari. This is a gorgeous gem hidden up in the valley, and a true gourmet experience. Afterwards, depart for the Urubamba Valley, known as the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Learn how traditional Andean textiles are made, and explore the Pisac ruins to witness some of the finest Inca stonework in existence. Then, descend through a network of stairs, walkways, tunnels, and temples down to the town of Pisac and visit its colorful market.

  • Accommodation: Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba
  • Activity: 4 hours touring 939' elevation gain & 1,510' elevation loss
  • Transportation: 3-hour private bus transfer
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day03

  Discover Maras, Moray and Pichingoto

  Embark on a full-day exploration of the Urubama Valley, beginning in Moray with its impressive circular terraces built into the top of a limestone hill. Continue on to colonial village of Maras, where one of the finest salts in the world is extracted. Stop for lunch at Iskay Maras Home. This place is surrounded by an impressive landscape of high mountains and green fields. Afterwards, hike down to the town of Pichingoto where you can learn about the way of living of the local families, before continuing to our hotel to rest.

  • Accommodation: Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba
  • Activity: 3-4 hours / 7 miles hiking 1,685' elevation gain & loss
  • Transportation: 3-hour private bus transfer
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day04

  Hike Narrow Trails from Pumamarca to Ollantaytambo

  Follow a dirt road high into the Andes, where you'll observe the native Quechua way of life in local villages. Hike an Incan path from a small archeological complex to the Choquicancha agricultural terraces, and enjoy a picnic lunch with spectacular views of the Sacred Valley below.

  Next, explore the incredibly well-preserved ruins at Ollantaytambo, one of the most monumental architectural complexes of the Inca Empire, and explore the town, which has been inhabited since the 13th century. On the way home, stop to see an artist use ancient techniques to make pottery.

  • Accommodation: Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba
  • Activity: 5 hours/6.3 miles hiking with 2,680' elevation gain/loss
  • Transportation: 3-hour private bus transfer
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day05

  Experience the Legendary Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

  Ride a classic Vistadome train up the narrowing gorge of the Urubamba River. Then, begin your half-day hike along the Inca Trail to the lost citadel of Machu Picchu. After about 2 hours, the valley turns into a cloud-forest canyon. Continue uphill to Intipunku, the original entrance to Machu Picchu. Pause to absorb the awesome view, then follow the trail down into Aguas Calientes and relax at the hotel for the rest of your day. (Optionally, skip the hike, continue by train, and explore the Machu Picchu on your own in the afternoon.)

  • Accommodation: Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel
  • Activity: 6 hours/7 miles hiking with 1,640' elevation gain
  • Transportation: 1.5-hour train ride
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day06

  Explore Magical Machu Picchu

  Enter the awe-inspiring ruins of Machu Picchu by morning light. Take a highly informative tour of the site's main structures and learn about their importance in the lives of the Incas. Take a challenging climb up Machu Picchu's Old Mountain (optional) and be rewarded by breathtaking views of the citadel and the surrounding mountains. Enjoy lunch, then return to the hotel to relax, join an excursion, or stroll the lush gardens, including the world's largest native orchid collection with 372 species.

  • Accommodation: Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel
  • Activity: 4 hours/2 miles hiking (optional)
  • Transportation: 30-minute public bus
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day07

  Take a Scenic Train Ride to Cusco

  Enjoy the morning at your leisure, either taking short local hikes or relaxing at the hotel. Midday, catch the Vistadome train back down to Ollantaytambo. Enjoy a Pachamanca lunch, which is a traditional Peruvian dish based of poultry, potatoes, and vegetables cooked with hot stones and earth, a technique that has lived on since Inca Empire. You are in for a unique experience! After lunch, continue on to Cusco and transfer to the hotel. In the evening, explore Cusco before a festive farewell dinner at a restaurant in Cusco.

  • Accommodation: Palacio del Inka
  • Transportation: 3.5-hour train ride
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day08

  Bid Farewell to Cusco & Fly Home

  After breakfast at the hotel and a leisurely morning, depart on homeward-bound flights.

  • Meals: Breakfast