Hike the Inca Trail

Welcome to Peru! A representative will be waiting for you at Cusco Airport to take you to your hotel. Your adventure officially begins with a welcome meeting at 2 pm, where you'll meet your local leader and fellow travelers. If you arrive early, there’s loads to see and do in Cusco. You could drop by Casa Intrepid – a community hub and travelers’ sanctuary in the historic walls of House Casanova Lastarria – to recharge with a coca tea or take a breather from the hustle and bustle. After the meeting, get acquainted with the city on a walking tour with your leader. Check out some of Cusco's main attractions – like the Qoricancha temple, San Pedro market, the 12 Angled Stone, Regocijo Square and San Blas Square. You’ll then have an important trek briefing at Casa Intrepid, followed by free time for the rest of the evening. How about finding a dinner spot with your group to try some local Peruvian favorites?

Today you’ll drive through the Sacred Valley, known as Wilcamayo to the Incas. Covered in agricultural terraces and maize crops, this region has been a source of livelihood for the locals for centuries. Here, you’ll visit a local highland community and experience an ancient cooking ritual known as pachamanca. Meaning ‘earth oven’ in Quechua, this ancient cooking uses a pit heated with stones to slow-cook marinated meat and vegetables. It's a great chance to learn about the community's traditional lifestyle and maybe even try to wrap your tongue around a few Quechua words! If it’s market day, you'll also have time to browse the beads, ponchos and other handicrafts on offer. After, visit AMA Restaurant in Urubamba – a cafe that provides training and employment opportunities to local women who are single parents. Enjoy a coffee and cake here and learn how this inclusive enterprise is supporting the community. Continue your journey to Ollantaytambo, where you can relax at your hotel or opt to explore the fascinating Ollantaytambo Archaeological Site (at your own expense).

Depending on the travel arrangements you made before the trip, during the next four days you’ll be either hiking the Inca Trail (Route 1), hiking the Quarry Trail (Route 2) or staying in Cusco for two days before taking the train to Aguas Calientes (Route 3). All routes visit Machu Picchu.

While away from Cusco, the bulk of your luggage will be stored at your hotel. If you’re hiking the Inca Trail or the Quarry Trail, the evening before you leave you'll receive a small duffle bag to carry your clothes in for the next four days (5 kg maximum). Your team of porters will carry these bags for you, together with the food and equipment for the trail. You won't have access to these items until the end of each day, as the porters will always be ahead of the group. If you’re travelling to Aguas Calientes by train, you'll be able to leave most of your luggage at the hotel in Cusco and travel with only a small bag for the overnight stay in Aguas Calientes.

Route 1 Inca Trail
It’s time to set off on the Inca Trail! Travel by minivan to the 51-mi marker (8819 ft) and meet your local trekking guide, chef and crew of porters. Today's mostly uphill trail includes the Inca sites of Ollantaytambo, Huillca Raccay and Llactapata, as well as incredible views of snow-capped Veronica Peak. When you arrive at your first campsite (10,170 ft), kick your boots off and unwind with a nourishing meal prepared by your cook. If it’s a clear night, don’t forget to look up to see the glittering Andean skies.

Route 2 Quarry Trail

Make an early start today and drive to Choquequilla, a small ceremonial place where Incas worshipped the moon. From here, you’ll head to the small community near Qory Song’o (Golden Heart) hill, where you’ll climb to the top for the incredible views of the Soqma Perolniyoc, Pachar and Huarocondo valleys. There are also several sacred tombs in the area, protected by the locals, which you can explore with your leader and even see some of the original structures crafted from wood and leather. These remains have never been seen by travellers before, so you can be a part of this exclusive experience. Carry on to the Perolniyoc Cascade lookout, where you can stop for some snacks and photos. Arrive at the campsite, 12,140 ft above sea level, around lunchtime. After, set off to explore the Q'orimarca archaeological site, which once served as a checkpoint to the Incas.

Route 3 Cusco

After spending the night in Ollantaytambo, take a short drive to the town of Pisac. Pisac is well known for its market. Here you’ll have the opportunity to shop for souvenirs and perhaps try some local empanadas. Arrive back at Cusco in the afternoon, where your leader can take you to San Pedro Market, where you have the option to buy some local favorites for a picnic tomorrow or enjoy having some free time. Perhaps head out for dinner– your leader will have plenty of local recommendations.

Route 1 Inca Trail
Gear up for the most challenging part of the trek. Today you’ll ascend for five hours up a steep path to reach the highest point of the trail – Warmiwanusca, or colloquially known as 'Dead Woman's Pass' – which sits at a height of 13,780 ft above sea level. While it’s challenging (get ready to work up a sweat!), you’ll be rewarded with amazing views of the valley below. You’ll then descend to the campsite in Pacaymayo Valley at 11,975 ft – this is where your trusty walking poles will come in handy. Arrive at camp and dig into a well-earned dinner after a big day.

Route 2 Quarry Trail

This is the most challenging and rewarding day of the hike. A 3-hour walk takes you to the top of the first pass of Puccaqasa, about 14,340 ft high. After enjoying the picturesque views of the valley, it’s a short walk before stopping for lunch. After, make the 2-hour hike to Kuychicassa, the highest pass of the trek at 14,600 ft. From here, descend to the sacred site that the Incas called Intipunku. This is a sun gate, where the sun will stream through at particular times of the year and there are views of the Nevado Veronica mountain year-round. Head to the campsite, only a stone’s throw away and at 11,800 ft.

Route 3 Cusco

Today, take a taxi to Tambomachay, an archaeological site just outside of Cusco. From here you’ll take a 3 to 4 hours walk back to Cusco. On the way, stop to admire some of the archaeological sites, including Puka Pukara, Quenqo and Saksaywaman. Arrive back in Cusco in the early afternoon and enjoy some free time. Maybe visit the Merida, Mendivil and Olave art galleries and workshops before finding a great spot to sit down and enjoy some dinner.

Route 1 Inca Trail
Start the day with a climb through the Pacaymayo Valley to Runkuracay Pass at 13,058 ft. Stop for a breather and enjoy views of the snowcapped mountain of Cordillera Vilcabamba before descending for around 2 to 3 hours to the ruins of Sayacmarca. Believed to have been used by the Incas for ceremonial purposes, this maze-like stone structure sits on a mountain crest and is only accessible on foot. Continue over the trail’s third pass to the ruins of Phuyupatamarca at 12,631 ft, also known as the 'Town Above the Clouds'. You’ll then begin the 2-hour descent down the Inca steps to your final campsite by the Winay Wayna archaeological site. Make the most of your final night camping beneath the Andean peaks.

Route 2 Quarry Trail

Today’s hike will all be downhill. The first stop is the incomplete Kachiqata quarry, where the Incas were intercepted by the Spanish. Explore the cobbled streets of Ollantaytambo when you finish your trek. This is where you’ll meet with the travellers in your group who didn't hike, before taking the short train journey to Aguas Calientes. Spend the night in a hotel before tomorrow’s visit to Machu Picchu.

Route 3 Train to Aguas Calientes

After a 1.5-hour drive to Ollantaytambo. This is where you’ll meet up with the travellers in your group who hiked the Quarry Trail. You’ll catch a 1.5-hour train through the winding Urubamba Valley to Aguas Calientes. The city is nestled in the cloud forest at the foot of Machu Picchu. Spend the night in a hotel before tomorrow’s visit to Machu Picchu.

Route 1 Inca Trail
Rise and shine for the final and most spectacular leg of the Inca Trail! After a 4 am breakfast, say bye to your porters as they descend to the train station and begin hiking. Once the final checkpoint opens at 5 am, push on for the last 2.5-hour trek to Intipunku (the Sun Gate) – the famous entrance of Machu Picchu. Weather permitting, you’ll enjoy epic views over the citadel. Surrounded by cloud forest with the river Urubamba running through the gorge far below, Machu Picchu (7972 ft) is one of those genuinely magical places, and your first glimpse of the ruins is something to remember. After a guided tour (and taking advantage of endless photo ops!), catch the bus to Aguas Calientes for lunch. From here, take the scenic train to Ollantaytambo and drive back to Cusco. Relax for a while after a celebratory shower, then relive all the special moments you’ve shared at a farewell dinner at Nuna Raymi – a sustainable restaurant that supports local organic producers. You made it!

Route 2 and 3 Machu Picchu to Cusco

Take an early bus up to Machu Picchu at 6.00 am. The city was built around 1440 AD as a country retreat for the Incan nobility, but there’s evidence that the land had been a sacred Incan site for much longer. Take a guided tour around the ruins of temples, palaces and living quarters. This is a day to remember!

For all travellers, after taking advantage of the seemingly endless photo opportunities, it's time to catch the bus to Aguas Calientes, where you’ll stop for lunch together. From here, take a scenic train ride to Ollantaytambo, then drive back to Cusco, arriving in the evening.

Your trip comes to an end after breakfast. If you’d like to stick around and explore more of Cusco, just speak to your booking agent to organize extra accommodation.