Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, Peru

Arrival in Cusco. Your guide and transport will be waiting for you outside the airport. You will be picked up and taken to your hotel to drop off your luggage and rest. In the afternoon, you’ll begin to explore Cusco on a guided walking tour of the city. The sites visited today are flexible, as your guide sets the pace and agenda according to your interests and your ongoing adjustment to the altitude. Andean history comes alive in Cusco. Quechua-speaking descendants of the Incas fill the streets and markets, colonial churches sit atop bases of smooth stonework laid centuries before the Conquistadors, and campesinos (Peru’s rural farmers) in colorful dress move busily back and forth across the plazas. Overnight at Cusco hotel

Today is free to explore with your guide. You can visit the churches and surrounding ruins, such as the enormous Sacsayhuamán ruins that overlook Cusco (these ruins showcase building blocks the size of pickup trucks). You can also wander through the bustling Plaza de Armas in the heart of Cusco, shop for potions in the local markets, or people watch from the cafes and restaurants that line these lovely streets. For those bursting with energy, optional horseback riding, mountain biking, or even whitewater rafting (Class III-IV) can be arranged in advance.
The evening is yours to take in some of Cusco’s varied and exciting nightlife where live folk music and excellent food abounds!
Overnight at Cusco hotel

This morning, journey into one of the most beautiful areas of Peru. The Sacred Valley often becomes one of the highlights of one’s trip and you will soon see why! The day is flexible based on your interests, market days, and the weather. Test your bargaining skills with the locals while visiting one of the great textile markets in the area. You may also hike to the inspiring ruins of Pisac or take a short walk through the countryside to the seldom-visited town of Maras, where pre-Columbian salt mines still operate today. Visit the Inca agricultural terraces of Moray, thought to have been a nursery to experiment with and modify different varieties of crops. Eventually, you make your way to the living Inca city of Ollantaytambo. Overnight in Ollantaytambo hotel/lodge

Early this morning, the guide and transportation will pick you up at the hotel to take you to the Ollantaytambo train station where you will board an early train bound for Kilometer 104, where you will hike for approximately 3 hours to Wiñayhuayna. This is a challenging hike that winds diagonally up the side of the canyon, climbing about 2,300 feet to an elevation of 8,366 feet. Stop for a picnic lunch and a short visit to the Wiñayhuayna ruins.
After exploring the site, you will join the famous Inca Trail, hiking for about 2 hours to the famous Sun Gate (Inti punku), where you are treated to stunning views of Machu Picchu and the surrounding mountains. Continue down toward the ruins for a guided tour of this historic site. Join the buses down the mountain to the village of Aguas Calientes. Spend your evening trying one of the many excellent local restaurants or relaxing with a soak in the hot springs. Overnight in Aguas Calientes at the base of Machu Picchu

Explore the ruins further with your guide, learning about the ancient traditions and customs of the Incan Empire. For those looking for a more active morning, you can opt to hike the sacred peak of the Huayna Picchu or the picturesque overlook of Machu Picchu Mountain. Depart mid-afternoon by return train to Ollantaytambo, where the driver will meet you for the return to Cusco – evening arrival and transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Cusco

Transfer to Cusco Airport for your onward flight – or extend your stay in South America!