Inca Trail to Machu Picchu + Sacred Valley & Ausangate Mountain! Peru
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TRIP COST: $3495 - double occupancy (hotels, tents)*
Note: The lodging on Days 9 and 10 at the remote Ausangate Lodge may have travelers in a quad, triple, double or single. Arrangements will be based on the mix of male/female travelers that sign up. *If you pay by cash/check, we offer a 3% discount on all fees. WHAT'S INCLUDED
About the included MissionSafe IQ Gold Plan with COVID coverage + hotel quarantine benefit: This premium coverage includes
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
CANCELLATION POLICY ADDENDUM: Once Inca Trail permits are purchased in early October 2023, we cannot make any additions or changes. As a result, the following cancellation policy applies to this trip: Cancellation before September 30, 2023: If you or G1AT are able to fill your spot before the Inca Permits are purchased, you will receive a refund less 10% of your deposit. If your spot is unable to be filled, the deposit is non-refundable Cancellation after October 1st, 2023: Deposit non-refundable. Balance of payments will follow standard cancellation policy fee schedule. |
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OUR 2024 SACRED VALLEY, INCA TRAIL, AUSANGATE, AND CUSCO CUSTOM SCHEDULE
The 2013 BAS Group at the beginning of the Inca Trail, Killometer 82
G1 Adventure Tours and Llama Travel Peru are partnering to offer this very custom, private tour. G1 Adventure Tours is a small Christian adventure tour company that serves the churches that are part of G1 Outdoors (see www.g1outdoors.com), a network of churches and other ministries using adventure sports to attract and attach people to Jesus and His Church. Llama Travel Peru is operated by Gilmar Pinelo, a native Peruvian who lives in Cusco and has been working with us on our last three trips to hike the Inca Trail.
OVERVIEW OF ITINERARY:
Travel Day: May 13th: Fly to Cusco. Try to sleep on the plane! We will likely arrive late morning to start Day 1.
Day 1: May 14th: Arriving in Cusco, we will drive down in elevation to the Sacred Valley. We will visit several culturally significant sites and take in the views as we soak in Peru for the first time. It will have felt like a long day as you settle into your hotel in Urubamba, your home for the next three nights.
Day 2: May 15th: We will continue to explore the Sacred Valley. Visiting the Moray agriculture terraces, Maras Salt Mines. All of this time will help you acclimate to the elevation in preparation for the peaks on the Inca Trail.
Day 3: May 16th: We head to the Piuray Outdoor Center where we will bike to the lagoon to enjoy some stand up paddle boarding under snow capped mountains. For lunch we will be treated to a Panchamanca feast, a 1000 year old cooking technique using hot stones. Back at the hotel, we will allow time for final preparations and packing for the Inca Trail.
Day 4: May 17th: With great excitement, we begin Day 1 on the Inca Trail. You'll marvel at the views of the Andes Mountains, Incan ruins and wander through an Incan fort... all before lunch. You'll hike 7 miles today and arrive at our campsite with your tent ready for you. Sleeping at Wallabama at 9,843 feet.
Day 5: May 18th: Day 2 on the Inca Trial is everything you've been training for. Dead Woman's pass at 13,828 ft. Wow! Today will be all about the stunning scenery and the great accomplishment you'll feel walking into the campsite at Pacaymayo at 10,991 feet. You'll hike 7.5 miles
Day 6: May 19th: Day 3 on the Inca Trail gives you more passes ahead. 12,959 ft. Easy. This is will be a memorable day for the several ruins you will be able to explore on the Inca trail. Today you realize you thought this trek was all about the destination of Machu Picchu but discover the truth in the saying that often the journey is just as rewarding as the end. You'll hike 7.5 miles and sleep at Phuypatamarka at 11,975 feet.
Day 7: May 20th: Day 4 on the Inca Trail and "It's all downhill from here." Praise Jesus! You'll have more opportunities to see well preserved ruins on the way but what's motivating everyone is reaching the Sun Gate and the first view of Machu Picchu. The group will have plenty of time to take in all the majestic views as you make your way down to the Guardian's House just above Machu Picchu. Tomorrow we will go into gates of the historical site. After 3 nights on the Inca Trail you'll be happy to hop on a bus to the nearby town of Agua Calientes to your hotel. You'll hike 6.2 miles to Machu Picchu
Day 8: May 21st: Day 5 on the Inca Trail. After a lovely night with a shower and bed, you'll take an early bus to the entrance of Machu Picchu for a full tour (circuits 2,3, & 4) plus a climb up Huayna Picchu and Huchuey Picchu. On previous trips our time in Machu Picchu was rushed and now we will be able to truly experience everything you'd like. We will spend a second night in Agua Calientes. Enjoy shopping, restaurants, and their famous Hot Springs.
Day 9: May 22nd: This is a travel day to the Ausangate Mountain region for more adventure in a new area of the Andes Mountains for us. You'll take a train to Ollantaytambo and then board a bus to first collect your luggage you left behind and then onto Ausangate. After a day of travel, you will visit the hot springs of Pacchanta where you'll see more locals than tourists. Spend night at Ausangate Lodge.
Day 10: May 23rd: Hike the gorgeous Ausangate Seven-Lakes Trail which peaks at 15,225ft. Spend night at Ausangate Lodge.
Day 11: May 24th: Whitewater rafting on the Urubamba River. How about a zip line over the river too?! We will end at Cusipata River Lodge where a hot shower, sauna, and lunch will be available. We head back to Cusco to stay for the next 3 nights.
Day 12: May 25th: Ministry day. We'll take a bus to Yanaoca Altiva Canas children project for an opportunity to serve the locals. We will arrive back early afternoon for free time in Cusco.
Day 13: May 26th: This is a free day to explore Cusco. Enjoy our final dinner as a group to share our highlights of our adventures. Be sure to order guinea pig if you haven't tried it yet. Yes, you read that right.
Day 14: May 27th: Free day in Cusco before we travel to the airport for flights home.
Day 15: May 28th: Travel day, depending on flight selected, likely arriving home late morning.
OTHER INFO:
Our porters on the Inca Trail will carry 15 lbs of your personal gear which is more than the typical trip allowance and allows you to carry a daypack with just extra clothing layers, water, snacks, and camera. The Porters also carry our tents, dining tent, food, tables and chairs to sit at during meals, and extra sleeping pads. Each day as we arrive at our camp our tents will already be set up (double occupancy) and our duffle bags of personal gear ready for us to access for the evening. Each morning we will be greeted with hot tea or coffee at our tents and, after we are packed up, we enjoy a hot breakfast as our porters pack up our tents an duffle bags to get on the trail to be ready for us when we arrive that night.
What will we eat along the trail? This is one of the best parts of the experience as our trail chefs prepare fresh meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner! We eat in our own private tent on chairs at tables by candlelight and sometimes our own Head-lamps. You will not go hungry! Delicious meals give our team wonderful opportunities to relax and enjoy one another.
One of the challenges we westerners face on this trek, though, are the bathroom facilities. Yep, this is a third world country and squat toilets are the rule out on the trail. They are not clean, they are not enjoyable, they are actually downright disgusting, to be honest. For this year’s trek we are going to, for the second time, relieve our team from this part of the “adventure” by having our porters bring along a separate, private to just our group, latrine tent and travel potty for at our campsites. We’ll still have to use the bathrooms along the trail during the hike, but at least we will be able to avoid the worst ones on the trail at the campsites. This is a special, custom part of our trip you will not find with almost any other tour group.
Inca Permits are non-refundable, non-transferable and require absolute accuracy for reservations. This is one of the unique aspects of the Inca Trail. To protect the trail and to keep tour groups from being able to reserve and re-sell (translate “scalp”) Inca Trail permits, the Peruvian Government requires names and passport information and reservation fees to reserve a spot on the trail. Once that permit is purchased, it cannot be refunded or even transferred to another person. There are only 500 people allowed to hike the trail each day and those 500 include all guides, porters and tourists. If a person purchases a permit and can’t use it, there are just 499 people on the trail that day. These permits are all purchased at one time on the first day that the Peruvian Government decides to sell the 2023 permits. (2019 permits went on sale in October 2018.) We MUST have every person’s accurate Passport information and money in order to get permits for our group. Due to this policy, deposits are non-refundable if we are not able to fill your spot before September 30th.
May is the most sought after and most competitive month to get Inca Permits! Why, then, do we do this trip in May? Simple. Because May is the best month for the Inca Trail. The rainy season in Peru generally ends in April. The crazy tourist season when the city of Cusco and the Sacred Valley quadruples in size begins in June and runs through the summer months. This is because the Incas worshipped the Sun and the Summer months are filled with festivals, religious celebrations, and inflated prices. We choose to go in between the rainy season and the high season. Could we get rain? Absolutely! We have had some rain every trip. But we have also had wonderful weather on the trails for 80-90% of all four past trips.
Other Policies:
The trip schedule, fees, and itineraries are subject to change or adjustment. Some instances where this may occur, but are not limited to, weather, route conditions, currency fluctuations, changes in costs, government instability, and many other factors. G1At has complete discretion to change plans to accommodate any of these or other factors, for the proper and safe conduct of the program.
G1AT reserves the right to dismiss a participant from a trip or to send a participant to a lower altitude at any time if staff, in its sole discretion, that the participant is not physically, technically, or psychologically prepared for or capable of participating or continuing in the trip.
The participant understands and agrees that G1AT assumes no responsibility or liability in connection with any travel and hospitality service provided to the participant by others in connection with the trip, including but not limited to the services provided by airlines, hotels, and motor vehicle operators, and that G1AT is not responsible for any act, error, omission, or any injury, loss, accident, delay, irregularity, or danger by a supplier of travel or hospitality services to the participant in connection with the G1AT trip.
OVERVIEW OF ITINERARY:
Travel Day: May 13th: Fly to Cusco. Try to sleep on the plane! We will likely arrive late morning to start Day 1.
Day 1: May 14th: Arriving in Cusco, we will drive down in elevation to the Sacred Valley. We will visit several culturally significant sites and take in the views as we soak in Peru for the first time. It will have felt like a long day as you settle into your hotel in Urubamba, your home for the next three nights.
Day 2: May 15th: We will continue to explore the Sacred Valley. Visiting the Moray agriculture terraces, Maras Salt Mines. All of this time will help you acclimate to the elevation in preparation for the peaks on the Inca Trail.
Day 3: May 16th: We head to the Piuray Outdoor Center where we will bike to the lagoon to enjoy some stand up paddle boarding under snow capped mountains. For lunch we will be treated to a Panchamanca feast, a 1000 year old cooking technique using hot stones. Back at the hotel, we will allow time for final preparations and packing for the Inca Trail.
Day 4: May 17th: With great excitement, we begin Day 1 on the Inca Trail. You'll marvel at the views of the Andes Mountains, Incan ruins and wander through an Incan fort... all before lunch. You'll hike 7 miles today and arrive at our campsite with your tent ready for you. Sleeping at Wallabama at 9,843 feet.
Day 5: May 18th: Day 2 on the Inca Trial is everything you've been training for. Dead Woman's pass at 13,828 ft. Wow! Today will be all about the stunning scenery and the great accomplishment you'll feel walking into the campsite at Pacaymayo at 10,991 feet. You'll hike 7.5 miles
Day 6: May 19th: Day 3 on the Inca Trail gives you more passes ahead. 12,959 ft. Easy. This is will be a memorable day for the several ruins you will be able to explore on the Inca trail. Today you realize you thought this trek was all about the destination of Machu Picchu but discover the truth in the saying that often the journey is just as rewarding as the end. You'll hike 7.5 miles and sleep at Phuypatamarka at 11,975 feet.
Day 7: May 20th: Day 4 on the Inca Trail and "It's all downhill from here." Praise Jesus! You'll have more opportunities to see well preserved ruins on the way but what's motivating everyone is reaching the Sun Gate and the first view of Machu Picchu. The group will have plenty of time to take in all the majestic views as you make your way down to the Guardian's House just above Machu Picchu. Tomorrow we will go into gates of the historical site. After 3 nights on the Inca Trail you'll be happy to hop on a bus to the nearby town of Agua Calientes to your hotel. You'll hike 6.2 miles to Machu Picchu
Day 8: May 21st: Day 5 on the Inca Trail. After a lovely night with a shower and bed, you'll take an early bus to the entrance of Machu Picchu for a full tour (circuits 2,3, & 4) plus a climb up Huayna Picchu and Huchuey Picchu. On previous trips our time in Machu Picchu was rushed and now we will be able to truly experience everything you'd like. We will spend a second night in Agua Calientes. Enjoy shopping, restaurants, and their famous Hot Springs.
Day 9: May 22nd: This is a travel day to the Ausangate Mountain region for more adventure in a new area of the Andes Mountains for us. You'll take a train to Ollantaytambo and then board a bus to first collect your luggage you left behind and then onto Ausangate. After a day of travel, you will visit the hot springs of Pacchanta where you'll see more locals than tourists. Spend night at Ausangate Lodge.
Day 10: May 23rd: Hike the gorgeous Ausangate Seven-Lakes Trail which peaks at 15,225ft. Spend night at Ausangate Lodge.
Day 11: May 24th: Whitewater rafting on the Urubamba River. How about a zip line over the river too?! We will end at Cusipata River Lodge where a hot shower, sauna, and lunch will be available. We head back to Cusco to stay for the next 3 nights.
Day 12: May 25th: Ministry day. We'll take a bus to Yanaoca Altiva Canas children project for an opportunity to serve the locals. We will arrive back early afternoon for free time in Cusco.
Day 13: May 26th: This is a free day to explore Cusco. Enjoy our final dinner as a group to share our highlights of our adventures. Be sure to order guinea pig if you haven't tried it yet. Yes, you read that right.
Day 14: May 27th: Free day in Cusco before we travel to the airport for flights home.
Day 15: May 28th: Travel day, depending on flight selected, likely arriving home late morning.
OTHER INFO:
Our porters on the Inca Trail will carry 15 lbs of your personal gear which is more than the typical trip allowance and allows you to carry a daypack with just extra clothing layers, water, snacks, and camera. The Porters also carry our tents, dining tent, food, tables and chairs to sit at during meals, and extra sleeping pads. Each day as we arrive at our camp our tents will already be set up (double occupancy) and our duffle bags of personal gear ready for us to access for the evening. Each morning we will be greeted with hot tea or coffee at our tents and, after we are packed up, we enjoy a hot breakfast as our porters pack up our tents an duffle bags to get on the trail to be ready for us when we arrive that night.
What will we eat along the trail? This is one of the best parts of the experience as our trail chefs prepare fresh meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner! We eat in our own private tent on chairs at tables by candlelight and sometimes our own Head-lamps. You will not go hungry! Delicious meals give our team wonderful opportunities to relax and enjoy one another.
One of the challenges we westerners face on this trek, though, are the bathroom facilities. Yep, this is a third world country and squat toilets are the rule out on the trail. They are not clean, they are not enjoyable, they are actually downright disgusting, to be honest. For this year’s trek we are going to, for the second time, relieve our team from this part of the “adventure” by having our porters bring along a separate, private to just our group, latrine tent and travel potty for at our campsites. We’ll still have to use the bathrooms along the trail during the hike, but at least we will be able to avoid the worst ones on the trail at the campsites. This is a special, custom part of our trip you will not find with almost any other tour group.
Inca Permits are non-refundable, non-transferable and require absolute accuracy for reservations. This is one of the unique aspects of the Inca Trail. To protect the trail and to keep tour groups from being able to reserve and re-sell (translate “scalp”) Inca Trail permits, the Peruvian Government requires names and passport information and reservation fees to reserve a spot on the trail. Once that permit is purchased, it cannot be refunded or even transferred to another person. There are only 500 people allowed to hike the trail each day and those 500 include all guides, porters and tourists. If a person purchases a permit and can’t use it, there are just 499 people on the trail that day. These permits are all purchased at one time on the first day that the Peruvian Government decides to sell the 2023 permits. (2019 permits went on sale in October 2018.) We MUST have every person’s accurate Passport information and money in order to get permits for our group. Due to this policy, deposits are non-refundable if we are not able to fill your spot before September 30th.
May is the most sought after and most competitive month to get Inca Permits! Why, then, do we do this trip in May? Simple. Because May is the best month for the Inca Trail. The rainy season in Peru generally ends in April. The crazy tourist season when the city of Cusco and the Sacred Valley quadruples in size begins in June and runs through the summer months. This is because the Incas worshipped the Sun and the Summer months are filled with festivals, religious celebrations, and inflated prices. We choose to go in between the rainy season and the high season. Could we get rain? Absolutely! We have had some rain every trip. But we have also had wonderful weather on the trails for 80-90% of all four past trips.
Other Policies:
The trip schedule, fees, and itineraries are subject to change or adjustment. Some instances where this may occur, but are not limited to, weather, route conditions, currency fluctuations, changes in costs, government instability, and many other factors. G1At has complete discretion to change plans to accommodate any of these or other factors, for the proper and safe conduct of the program.
G1AT reserves the right to dismiss a participant from a trip or to send a participant to a lower altitude at any time if staff, in its sole discretion, that the participant is not physically, technically, or psychologically prepared for or capable of participating or continuing in the trip.
The participant understands and agrees that G1AT assumes no responsibility or liability in connection with any travel and hospitality service provided to the participant by others in connection with the trip, including but not limited to the services provided by airlines, hotels, and motor vehicle operators, and that G1AT is not responsible for any act, error, omission, or any injury, loss, accident, delay, irregularity, or danger by a supplier of travel or hospitality services to the participant in connection with the G1AT trip.
DETAILED ITINERARY:
TRIP DESCRIPTION:
See the schedule below to see how we acclimate for our adventure by spending a few days touring the former Inca imperial heartland, the Sacred Valley. Cusco is at an altitude of 11,152' which is a big challenge for many of our people to adapt to when coming from near sea level. The Sacred Valley sits at an altitude of roughly 9,000' which is still high but that 2,000' makes a big difference. We will spend several days seeing and experiencing the Inca way of life and history. We include a biking/SUP day at Piuray Outdoor Center, Moray the Inca farming laboratory, and Salinas de Maras, the ancient and still farmed salt mines. The days in the Sacred Valley will help our group acclimatize and build an understanding and respect for the Peruvian and Incan cultures.
From the Sacred Valley we will embark on a very custom 5-day trek to Machu Picchu, walking on centuries-old stone paths that cling to mountain valleys and lead up and down mountain passes to remarkable ruins and spectacular vistas. We walk the last kilometers through the misty cloud forest to the Sun Gate and enter the mystical citadel the same way the Incas did 500 years ago. How difficult is the hike? It is not a trail to underestimate as the altitude over the 27 miles goes from about 8,500’ up to about 13,800’ and back down to 8,000’ while hiking on Inca stones and steps. It is crucial that serious training take place to not just survive this trek, but to really enjoy it. As part of G1 Adventure Tour's preparation plan, the team will be coached on how to prepare physically, what to pack, and how to get the most out of this epic experience.
Travel Day: May 13th: Fly to Cusco. Try to sleep on the plane! We will likely arrive late morning to start Day 1.
Day 1, May 14, 2024: Arrive at Cusco International airport, head to Sacred Valley
Welcome to the Capitol of the Inca Empire from the 13th to the 16th century! Cusco (also spelled Cuzco, the altitude is 11,152 feet!) holds a unique charm that's hard to put into words. Exquisite churches, fantastic museums, and narrow cobbled streets in the historic center merit at least a few days’ worth of exploration. Add to that stunning Inca ruins both within the city and in the surrounding hills and you’ve got a recipe for travel magic. Because of the altitude here, we will come back to enjoy Cusco after hiking the Inca Trail.
Gilmar Pinelo, our Peruvian Trip Coordinator with Lama Travel Peru, will meet us at the airport and help us load into a bus to travel about 3 hours to the Sacred Valley and check in at our hotel in Urubamba (9,420 feet). The drop of 1,700+ feet will make the acclimatization process a bit easier for many of our travelers, but we will still be potentially experiencing the effects of the altitude like a headache, upset stomach, etc. We will take it slow to let our bodies get used to this. Some ibuprofen or Tylenol may help, and we will also have some coca leaf tea which is a staple in Cusco to help with headaches, upset stomachs, and sore throats! By staying in the Sacred Valley, we will have less severe reactions to the altitude.
We will head northeast out of Cusco towards the Sacred Valley and along the way we will visit the sculpture of the Cristo Blanco having a very amazing view of the city of Cusco. Another 40 minutes of driving gets us to the special animal rescue center called Cochahuasi where we will be introduced to many of Peru’s unique animals, including the Condor. Another 15 minute drive gets us to the Tarayoc viewpoint, where we can see the Sacred Valley of the Incas. After enjoying the landscape of the valley, we head to Urubamba. We will spend the next three nights at the beautiful Inti Punko Valle Sagrado Hotel. All meals are included today.
Day 2, May 15, 2024: Full Day Private Sacred Valley Tour
The tour will include: Ollantaytambo remains, Chinchero, Pisaq remains, Pisaq market, Maras Salt Mines and Morray! Moray is one of the very important archaeological centers located in the Sacred Valley. This place was a research center, where for many years the Incas studied the different types of seeds that they would use in the valleys of culture. The Salt Mine is pre-Incan. You can appreciate the architecture of the building, where local people work to produce salt for local and national consumption, although today some production is being exported to different parts of the world. The Pisaq and Ollantaytambo remains are very special experiences in themselves, along with mixing with the culture. This day also gives your body a chance to acclimatize to the lower levels of oxygen due to the high altitude. After a long day of tours, we will return to our hotel in Urubamba. This day will begin at 7:30am and finish at 6pm.
Day 3, May 16, 2024: Piuray Outdoor Center. Bike and SUP
A more active day, we will visit the Piuray Outdoor Center. We will ride bikes to the lagoon and enjoy time on the water with stand up paddle boards. Enjoy the views of the snow capped mountains. A feast called Pachamancha, using ancient cooking techniques utilizing hot rocks, will be prepared for you to enjoy for lunch.
We will return to our hotel and, after dinner, go through our packs and duffle bags and make sure we are ready to begin hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in the morning!
Day 4, May 17, 2024: The Inca Trail Starts! KM82 to Wallabamba, 3,000M/9,843 feet.
After breakfast we will be picked up from the hotel to drive into the town of Ollantaytambo, where we can pick up any last-minute items we may need. From Ollantaytambo, we continue to the start of the trail, Piscacucho (AKA km 82) at 8,858’. From here, we will have enough time to organize our backpacks and tour the entrance building, where we will learn more about the flora and fauna on the trail. Then, we will take a photo at the sign at the beginning of the trail then go through the controls where we need to present our passports to enter the trail.
In the first stretch of the hike, we will have beautiful views of the landscape and surrounding peaks, such as Apu Huakay Willka 19,193’, otherwise known as Veronica. We will begin to see the many plants and trees of the region, which our guide will explain as we walk. After a few hours on the trail, we will stop in Miskay (9,184’), where we will have the first delicious lunch prepared by our chef. After lunch, we will continue a short distance on the trail until we reach an overlook, where we can see the Inca City of Llactapata at 9,020’. We will continue to climb to get to the farming community of Wallabamba, at 3,000m/9,843 feet . We will arrive to find our tents set up for us and we will have some time to relax before dinner prepared by our amazing chef! Today, the walk will be almost 7 miles and will take approximately 6 hours at a slow pace with the sightseeing. 6.83 miles/11km, KM 82 to Wallabamba, 3,000m/9,843 feet (tents)
Day 5, May 18, 2024: 2nd Day of Hike. Walllabamba to Pacaymayo camp, 3,350m/10,991 feet
We wake up early to a wonderful breakfast before we continue trekking. Before lunch, we will stop in to explore the first Incan site of the day, just off the main trail. After an explanation of the Ruins and a chance to explore them, we will continue to Wayllabamba, where we will stop for lunch.
We will also have the chance to spot domesticated llamas and alpacas grazing on Ichu, one of the few plants that grow at that altitude. We also cross an area of the Cloud Forest, which is inhabited by many kinds of birds like hummingbirds and sparrows as well as the Andean Bear, which is also called the Spectacled Bear (Tremarctus Ornatus). The trek on this day is a tough one with a constant climb uphill as we will climb to the highest point of the trek, “Dead Woman’s Pass” at 13,779’! It will be a celebration on top! Then we begin a long decent down more Inca stairs than our brain can comprehend. Even though we drop 2,000’ of elevation, our camp will still have us sleeping at the highest altitude most any of us have ever slept at – 11,700’. It will be crucial on this day that every hiker stay ultra-hydrated and keep some food/snacks in their stomach to help with potential altitude issues.
Day 6, May 19, 2024: Pacaymayo camp to Phuyupatamarca, at 11,772’
The third day is the longest but the most interesting. You can visit impressive complexes such as Runqurakay, the second pass, at 13,125’. This is a walled complex with interior niches that was perhaps a small resting place, guard post and place of worship. After crossing the second pass, we will descend to Yanacocha (the black lagoon), and then climb a path with stone steps until we reach another group of buildings that attracts the attention of visitors. This place is called Sayaqmarka a pre-Hispanic complex with narrow streets, buildings built on different levels, sanctuaries, patios, canals and an exterior protective wall. At the top of the buttress, you can see many buildings that lead us to suppose that they once became a temple and an astronomical observatory where there was a permanent supply of water and an excellent food store.
Sayaqmarka is a place full of mystery and charm. The approximate distance from Runkuraqay is 5 km., 2 hours. This complex is at 12,000’. There are great trails and a tunnel through this complex.
After lunch, we will continue the trail towards the third pass, the Abra Phuyupatamarca, at 12,136’, where we spend the night. This section of the trail takes us through lush landscapes, with great views off the trail towards Mount Salkantay and the Amazon Forest. We will go through the first of the Incan Tunnels before reaching our camp site at Abra Phuyupatamarca, which means town over the clouds. Tonight, we will sleep high above Machu Picchu, and will have a stunning sunset and views of the surrounding mountains. Today will have been a very long day, but worth it with the wonderful views and experiences we will have! Hike 7.5 miles/12km, Pacaymayo to Phuypatamarka 3,650m/ 11,975 feet (tents)
Day 7, May 20,2024: Steep Descent and Hike into Machu Picchu
After our delicious final breakfast on the trail, we will have a short walk down to the Phuyupatamarca Ruins, where we will have a tour. From there, we will continue down 2,952’ to reach Wiñayhuayna, on steep stairs all the way down. On the way to Wiñayhuayna, we will stop in to view the beautiful ruins of Intipata. From there, we will continue the descent for half an hour before visiting one of the most impressive Incan sites, Wiñayhuayna, which is built into the side of the mountain. After this spectacular tour of the ruins, we will hike back the same way, to have our last lunch on the Inca Trail. Here, we will tip and thank our porter team and the cook for the great experience we have had.
After lunch, we follow a narrow trail that leads us around Machu Picchu Mountain, towards the Sun Gate (Intipunku), which will give us the first views of the city of Machu Picchu. Before reaching the Sun Gate, we will have a very steep section of approximately 50 steps, which leads you up to the exciting and stunning views below! With the views of Machu Picchu city below, you will stand in awe of this unique mystical place. After enjoying the famous Sun Gate, we will descend for about an hour until we arrive at the Guardian’s House, where we will have the opportunity to contemplate Machu Picchu in all its splendor. We will take photographs and enjoy our first visit to Machu Picchu.
After we have spent some time enjoying the views, we will continue down to the checkpoint, where we will be happy to take the bus from the Inca city of Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes, or Machu Picchu town. We will spend the night in a 3-star hotel and, after a well-deserved shower, we will head out for a celebratory dinner. One popular option if there is time is to visit the Aguas Caliente Hot Springs. Some may want to enjoy these after dinner. Others will wait until tomorrow. Sleeping clean and in a bed is going to be breathtakiing!!!
Day 8, May 21, 2024: Second Tour of Machu Picchu, including Huayna Picchu
We will wake very early this morning as we want to be at the Ticket Window and Bus Station in Aquas Calientes by 5am! Yes, 5am. There are limited tickets for the full tour of Machu Picchu and they are only sold the day of. We will purchase tour tickets, tickets to Huayna Picchu, and bus tickets then head back up to Machu Picchu. Here, we will have a full guided tour of the City, taking Circuits 2,3 & 4 which also gets us to Huayna Picchu, the iconic triangular mountain overlooking Machu Picchu. This challenging climb will take 60-90 minutes to climb before enjoying the amazing and iconic views of Machu Picchu, the valleys and mountains that surround it.
Once we are finished in Machu Picchu, we will have your bus ticket to get back down to Aguas Calientes for a late lunch. You will have some free time to explore the city of Aguas Calientes before meeting at a designated time at the Hot Springs!
Relax in the warm waters of these natural pools, surrounded by lush vegetation at the base of the Machu Picchu mountain. These pools, which give the town of Aguas Calientes its name, were formed due to the volcanic activity of the region. Soak in the comfortable waters, with temperatures that range from 100°F to 114°F. But don't worry about the water's slight yellow tinge—it's caused by sulfur, iron and other minerals that are naturally present.
The evening will include a great dinner, good rest, possibly a night walk of the city? The group will be ready to get to bed early from such an early start. Tomorrow, we head out of town.
Day 9, May 22, 2024: Transfer to Ausangate region. Spend night at Ausangate Lodge.
After breakfast, we will take the train on a beautiful track to Ollantaytambo, where our private bus will await. We will pick up our luggage that we stored in Urubamba and drive to the Ausangate region.
We will arrive in the afternoon and be able to enjoy the Pacchanta Hot Springs and admire the beauty of the surrounding mountains and the daily life of farmers in the Pacchanta community. We will be staying at the 2.5 star Ausangate Lodge. Not fancy, but about the nicest place around this neck of the Peruvian woods!
Day 10, May 23, 2024: Hike the Ausangate Seven-Lakes Trail.
Our Ausangate 7-Lake Hike allows you to see several turquoise lakes belonging to Cordillera de Vilcanota, and you will be close to the Ausangate Mountain – the fifth-highest mountain in Peru at 20,945 feet.
In the beginning, we will walk uphill about 5 to 6 kilometers to visit the first lagoon, Comercodha, a name originating from the Quechua language which means “green lake.” Continuing the journey, we’ll pass by other lakes: Patacocha, Azulcocha, and China Otorongo, among other lagoons in the middle of the Andes. This will be about a 9.5 mile hike, approximately (5-6 hours walk).
Day 11: May 24th: Whitewater Rafting on the Urubama River. Zipline. Bus to Cusco the capital of the Inca Empire!
Professional river guides will provide you with all the attire you will need to enjoy class III and III+ rapids on the Urubama River. You will finish at Cusipata River Lodge where a hot shower, sauna and lunch await you. You'll also have the opportunity to enjoy a zip line over the Urubama River. After our experience, we will begin the 4 hour bus ride back to Cusco where we will enjoy hotel Tupac Yupanqui, dinner, and a bit of evening culture!
Day 12: May 25th: Yanaoca Altiva Canas children project for opportunity to serve locals.
We will visit the village of Altiva Canas, where the project is being carried out.
The Altivas Canas Children’s Project is a grass roots mission that reaches out to children in the poverty stricken area of Altivas Canas. It was started 11 years ago by a single mother of three children. She could not afford to feed her kids, nor could she leave them alone to work. Quintina felt called to do something about it. She went throughout her poor neighborhood in search of other single mothers that were in the same situation. She found a handful of them. She then invited the children of the other mothers to come to her home in order to help raise the kids in a healthy home environment. The other mothers were then able to go out and work, which began to provide some support for Quintina’s work. Thus, the grass roots of the mission.
The mission is currently reaching 25-30 kids daily in the afternoon program and another 10 younger kids during a morning program. At the end of the day, the kids have their homework done, have been fed a nutritious meal, and have had some social interaction and physical activity.They return home each evening where they can spend quality time with their mothers who have been working hard all day.
The limitation with the current project is space. Quintina has a dream of reaching more children, but without more space, her humble home has just not been enough space. She has recently purchased the neighboring property and has begun construction of a facility. She is well vested in the project and is committed to long term success of the project.
Day 13: May 26th: Cusco City Tour or Optional Activities
Read in detail about Cusco here, https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/273/
In Cusco, every corner tells a story, and every story is captivating, mystical and inviting. Imagine walking through streets with names like “Ataúd” [Coffin], Siete Culebras [Seven Serpents] and “Arpías” [Harpies]. In these streets time seems to have stopped, every corner offers a piece of history, and the stones remain alive because they have survived intact. Cusco witnessed the arrival of the Spanish, and yet to this day it conserves an ancestral magic which captivates the thousands of visitors who each year form part of its living history. Cusco, acknowledged as the historic capital of Peru, renowned as the navel of the Earth.
Returning in the afternoon to our hotel, we will be free to enjoy the evening in the city for our final night in Cusco, staying again at hotel Tupac Yupanqui.
Day 14: May 27th: Free day in Cusco, then transfer to airport for flights home.
Depending on the time of our flights, we will head to the airport to begin the journey home.
Travel Day: May 28th: Depending on flight selected, likely arriving home late morning.