Inca Trail Discovery - Cusco and The Inca Trail 7 Days

Inca Trail in Cuzco following the ancient pathway of the Incas which was constructed at XV century.
This Trek is perfect for people looking experience the region´s archeological and cultural treasures in a short amount of time. In this Hike you will have two days of acclimation before you start the hike to Machu Picchu.

You will start visiting Cusco city and the surrounded Inca monuments, then continue with the sacred valley of the Incas where you will visit traditional markets and explore Inca ruins of Pisaq and Ollantaytambo; This adventure includes the Inca trail to Machu Picchu which is one of the world´s best known hikes; this four days hike will reward you with stunning landscape where you will appreciate high mountain valleys, cloud forest and Inca ruins. The last day we will get up very early to be in time for the sunrise at Machu Picchu and explore before the crowd arrive from Cusco at midday; we run our own treks, which ensures the fair treatment of our porters, the quality of the service and the equipment.

TIMING: 7 days and 6 nights

STARTING POINT: Cusco airport

ENDING POINT: Cusco airport

TRIP STYLE ACTIVE HIKING TOUR - Cusco and Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Tour

ACTIVITIES: Archaeological, Cultural, Camping, Ecological, Hiking

Note: we can help you to book you fly tickets from Lima to Cusco; for this item please lets us to know in advance.

Program Tour – INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU

Day 1.- Arrive to Cusco

Arrive to Cusco at any time we must know your fly details; our staff will wait for you in the airport of Cusco city. Today there are not planet activities.

Day 2.- Sacred Valley of the Incas

Today will be full day tour through the stunning valley where you can see agricultural places, picturesque towns, and local markets. You will learn Incas history from your guide while you visit the Inca ruins.

Day 3 - 6.- Inca trail Tour to Machu Picchu

Hike four days Inca Trail Trek include the tour within Machu Picchu; The guide will explain you Incas History while you visit the Inca ruins; the porters will carry everything for you; you must carry your day pack with snacks camera and drinkable water

Day 7.- depart Cusco

Depart Cusco at any time.

HIGHLIGHTS - INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU

• City Tour In Cuzco
• Sacred Valley of the Incas
• Inca trail to Machu Picchu
• Machu Picchu tour

FULL TOUR ITINERARY – INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU

Day 1.- Arrive to Cusco

The Inca Trail Discovery start when you arrive to Cusco at any time; however we must know your fly details; our staff will wait for you in the airport of Cusco city and will transfer you to the hotel. Today there is not planet activities so, you can rest or wondering around and enjoy the city (optional the city tour in the afternoon); this tour start at 1:30pm; you will have the opportunity to see the cathedral located in the main square, the Corikancha or temple of the sun of the Incas, the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Tambomachay and Pucapucara.

Cusco is the continent's oldest continuously inhabited city; the Cusco city attracts travellers who come not just to visit a unique destination but also to experience an age-old culture very different from their 20th century way of life; this lovely Inca and colonial town offers much to the visitor with its nearby ruins, cobble-stoned streets, museums, churches and lively atmosphere. Among the more adventurous optional activities available in Cusco are: City tour around archaeological sites such as Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Tambomachay and Puca Pucara; white water rafting on the Urubamba River; and mountain biking down to the Sacred Valley of the Incas; There are several good museums in Cusco like: the Archaeological Museum, art museum, the Regional History Museum and the Religious Art Museum.

Day 2.- Sacred Valley of the Incas Tour

Called also Urubamba valley is located near Cusco city; where the agricultural cattlemen and beautiful towns were concentrated since Inca times; the tour start at 8:30 when we pick you up from the hotel and travel toward the stunning valley, which was an important cradle of food for the Incas, the Sacred Valley of the Incas is a lush agricultural region that continues to supply the city of Cusco with much of its produce especially with corn and vegetables. Visit the extraordinary Pisac Inca ruins and the colorful artisan market where you can purchase some handicrafts directly from the producers. The day trip finishes in the picturesque village of Ollantaytambo town, we also will visit the Ollantaytambo Inca ruins that are known as the best surviving example of Inca urban planning and engineering. It is admired for its huge steep terraces guarding the Inca Fortress and for being one of the few places where the Spanish lost a major battle during the conquest.

Day 3 - 6.- Inca trail Trek to Machu Picchu

After early breakfast we take the tourist bus for one hour to Km 82 or Pisqhakuchu; once we arrive there we will met our crew of porters and cook. With your passport in your hand we head to the check point and commence the hike. Porters carry the majority of the gear for the hike, so those passengers doing the hike only carry a small daypack with drinkable water, rain gear, snacks, a camera, etc

The Inca trail is 45km and every one takes his own pace; the second day is the hardest because we have to pass the highest point called dead woman pass (4,200m) and the third day is the most beautiful because the variety of landscape and the plenty of Inca ruins that we will visit. The last day we will start very early to be in time for the sunrise in Machu Picchu and surrounding mountains and explore the Stunning Machu Picchu before the crowd arrives from Cusco at midday.

On the Inca trail you pass several small Inca ruins, the first of which is Llactapata (up city) which contains a great Inca terraces with a magnificent irrigation system, also there are one hundred rooms where use to live the representative of the Inca. The second day climbs the long steep path to Warmiwañusca, or Dead Woman Pass. At 4,200m (14000 ft) above sea level, this pass is the highest point of the trek. The second pass of the hike is at 4,000m where on clear days, we enjoy superb views of the snow-capped Cordillera Vilcabamba from which Salkantay Mountain (6,271m) is the highest; we also can see the dead woman pass. From the second pass the trail goes through some beautiful cloud forest on the gentle climb to the third pass (3,600m), where you will hike through a well preserved and original Inca trail you will pass through a tunnel carved by the Incas; from the third pass you start a long descent through 3,200 steps down until WiñayWayna (Forever Young) camp; around the camp there is a magnificent Inca ruins with a grandiose terraced hillside site, with panoramic views of the valley below.

On the final day of the hike we climb the steps to Inti Punku or the Sun Gate overlooking the peaks that surround Machu Picchu. When the morning is clear you can see Machu Picchu below you. From here we continue 45 minutes down to Machu Picchu and start the tour within Machu Picchu.

The local Quechua farmers in the area knew of Machu Picchu for centuries, but it was not until the American historian Hiram Bingham who was in search of Vilcabamba (the stronghold of the last four Incas) arrive to the site on July 24, 1911, that the rest of the world became aware of its existence. At that time the site was covered in thick vegetation, and Bingham and his team returned in 1912 and 1915 to clear the growth. Over the years, much work has been done on excavating and studying the site.

NOTE: Those passengers not able or interested in the hike the Inca trail spend 2 days in Cusco, and then travel by train to the picturesque town of Aguas Calientes with overnight. Next morning you will take the bus up to Machu Picchu entrance and meet with the hikers at the ruins. If you decide not to do the hike we need to know prior to your departure in order to obtain train tickets.

Distances of the Inca trail to Machu Picchu:

Day 1.- Km 82 to Llulluchapampa

Approximate distance: 15 km

Estimated hiking time: 7 - 8 hrs.

Day 2.- Llulluchapampa - Chaquiccocha

Approximate distance: 15 km

Estimated hiking time: 7 - 8 hrs.

Day 3.- Chaquiccocha - Wiñaywayna

Approximate distance: 10 km

Estimated hiking time: 5 hrs.

Day 4.- Wiñaywayna to Intipunku (Sun Gate) – Machu Picchu

Approximate distance: 5 km

Estimated hiking time: 2 hrs

Day 7.- depart Cusco

Depart Cusco at any time.

WHAT IS INCLUDED – INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU

All necessary things for this tour:

• Transportation: transfer in/out airport/hotel/airport, private bus for the Sacred Valley tour, the same bus will transfer you from Ollantaytambo to Km 82 starting point of the Inca Trail, bus down from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes town, tourist train Expeditions class from Aguas Calientes to Cusco, transfer to your hotel.
• Entrance Fees: For the Sacred Valley tour, Inca Trail and Machu Picchu.
• Meals: All breakfasts in the hotels, delicious meals on the Inca trail prepared by professional chefs. Food includes pancakes, omelets, soups, fresh fruit, avocado, pasta, chicken, fish, meat, rice, all rich in carbohydrates and suitable for trekking, also hot drinks including coca leaf tea which is excellent for the altitude, teatime everyday (tea, coffee, biscuits, popcorn), (3 breakfast- 3 lunches- 3 dinners- 3 afternoon tees), we always offer a vegetarian option upon request, and we provide available boiled water each morning for your water bottles.
• Guide & Porters: Licensed bilingual tour guide (2 guides over 8 people),
• General Porters.- For camping equipment, food and kitchen gears.
• Extra Porter.- To carry your personal items (6kls) in duffel bags that we provide. You must carry your day pack.
• Camping Equipment: We provide brand new 4 season four people capacity tents for two people, Therm-a-rest, dinning room tent, kitchen tent, toilet tent, seats, tables, tent for the guides and porters, kitchen gear and backpacks, warm clothes and life insurance for the porters.
• Accommodations: Hotel based on double occupancy: 2 nights in Cusco ***Hotel, 1 night in Ollantaytambo ***Hotel, If you would like a private room there is an additional cost of US$20.00 per night, 3 nights in camping tents.
• Others Items: Local guide for permanent assistance.
• First aid kit, oxygen bottle.

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED - INCA TRAIL to Machu Picchu

• Meals: Lunch and dinner on day 1, 2 and 6; you must consider a budget from US$15 to US$20 for each meal. We will assist you at this issue.
• Sleeping Bag: Can be rented in our office for US $20 for the entire trek.
• Tips for the staff and Airport taxes.

In order to send you all the information regarding how to book, Costs and others, please send us an email to: book@peru-tours.org and we will respond as soon as possible by sending you all the necessary information and / or answering your questions.

MOST POPULAR TOURS

Tour Machu Piccchu
- Full Day -

This tour offers you the visit of the most important archaeological site in all of South America, Machu Picchu in a single day can tour the main places of this sanctuary