The Inca Trail Experience 8D7N

You will be welcomed at the Cusco airport by our friendly representative and transferred to the hotel. Remember, landing at 3,300 meters can be hard on the body. Do not feel concerned if you have shortness of breath or a small headache. This is common and should go away quickly. You can reduce the symptoms by staying hydrated with water and tea. You will have a free day to acclimatize and visit the impressive main square of Cusco. (Provide us your flight details to pick you up and transfer to your hotel)

Location: Cusco

Accommodation: Amaru Inca Hotel or Similar

Meals: No Meals

At 8 a.m. we will pick you up to begin your full-day tour of the Sacred Valley. On our way to Pisaq, we will stop at some beautiful lookout points for photos. Eventually, we will arrive at the traditional market in Pisaq, which offers great souvenir shopping. We will also visit the Pisaq ruins and begin your history of the Incan empire. Following this, you will make the one-hour trip to Urubamba, where you can get lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, we will drive an hour to the Ollantaytambo fortress, where you will explore the famous Ollantaytambo Inca site. After that, you will stay at a hotel in that nice village. Briefing and duffel bags for the extra porter will be given by your guide.

Location: Sacred Valley, Pisac, Ollantaytambo

Accommodation: Sol Natura Hotel or similar

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Your guide will pick you up from the hotel at 6,30am. You will have breakfast our porters house. After that it will be an hour drive to the start of the trail. Upon arrival at Kilometre 82, you will have some time to organise and get ready for the hike(using restrooms, applying sunscreen, insect repellents and more). Along the way the first 3 hours hiking you'll pass ancient Inca sites such as Llactapata, Qhanabamba and take in some incredible views of the surrounding snow-capped mountains. Our chef will be ready with lunch then is another 2 hours more to the camping located at 3300 m.a.s.l., Our porters, cooks, and guides will take care of all the details for the duration of the hike. We included an extra porter per person, they carry the majority of the gear so you’ll only need to carry a small daypack with water, rain gear, snacks, a camera, etc.

Location: KM 82 - AYAPATA

Accommodation: Camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After a well-deserved breakfast.  we will hike for roughly 4 hours to the highest pass of the trek, Dead Woman's Pass(4200m / 13779ft). On reaching the pass, we'll descend to the next valley (Pacaymayu Valley - Hidden River). It's another hour and a half down the side of the valley to our lunch spot. After lunch, we begin ascending again to the second pass of the trek. It's 2 hours over the pass where we will stop at a small Inca site (Runcu Raccay) After the second pass, it's another hour downhill hike to reach the magnificent Inca site, Sayacmarca (an otherwise inaccessible village).

Throughout the day, you'll experience fantastic views of the Vilcanota and Vilcabamba mountain ranges. In the evening you'll stay at your campsite in Chaquiccocha — it offers amazing views of the valley.

Location: Chaquicocha

Accommodation: Camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Wake in your tent with a cup of freshly brewed coffee and get ready for the most beautiful day of hiking along the Classic Inca Trail. The day starts with an easy hike along the cloud forest to the misty Inca ruins of Phuyupatamarka (3,650m / 11,972 ft). From here, you'll catch a glimpse of the Machu Picchu Mountains and around. then is a 3-hour walk down to Wiñay Wayna campsite (Forever Young) to have lunch.

This campsite will be the resting place as well to start the Machu Picchu day the next morning.

Location: Winay Wayna

Accommodation: Camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today is the big day, you will visit Machu Picchu, To get the most out of the day Alpaca Expeditions encourages every one of our groups to start the day early by 3,30am wake up time, then early breakfast,   You'll arrive at the main gates for sunrise and finally Machu Picchu,  your tour guide will walk you around the main areas and explain the history for about 2 hours long walking tour. You’ll learn more about the history and culture of the Inca Empire. At the end of the guided tour will have some time to yourselves to walk the ruins without interruption or if you arranged to hike Huayna Picchu* (must be booked in advance as it sells out and costs $75 per person). Then your guide will show you where to begin this hike which will take no more than 2 hours round-trip. 

In the afternoon you will take the train back to Ollantaytambo where our driver will pick you up and transfer you back to Cusco your hotel.

Location: Machu Picchu

Accommodation: Amaru Inca Hotel or Similar

Meals: Breakfast

Your guides will pick you up from the hotel, then it will be around 3 hours a half driving to the start of the trail. Enjoy a freshly cooked breakfast, before heading off on the hike. Hiking slowly through the Rainbow Mountain Range, you will start to reach higher altitudes, passing llamas, alpacas, and local villages along the way. Upon arrival at Rainbow Mountain, you'll spend some time exploring the spectacular views, and gain some understanding as to why the mountain is so colorful. You'll then head back down a different route, through the Red Valley. Your chefs will be waiting for you at the bottom with a nice lunch before you make the journey back to Cusco.

Location: Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain

Accommodation: Amaru Inca Hotel or Similar

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

You will have one last chance for souvenir shopping in Cusco. There will be optional time to visit the Webbing Center Museum on El Sol Avenue. We will transfer you to the airport for your flight to Lima.

Location: Cusco

Meals: Breakfast