Discover Machu Picchu Pilgrimage: Inca Trail

ITINERARY

Day 1 : Arrival to Cusco - Afternoon at Leisure

· Accommodation: Rumipunko hotel , Cusco
· Meals: Welcome group dinner reception with Peruvian drinks

Upon arrival to the Cusco airport, a EXPLORE ADVENTURES representative will meet you and show you to your airport hotel. Settle into your room and rest up for your Peru tour ahead.  Your exciting trip is filled with ancient ruins, local markets and hiking through the beautiful Andes Mountains! The city is located at high altitude, so you may want to spend the remainder of the day acclimatizing. Once you have adjusted to the altitude, Cusco has many options for casual and fine dining.

Day 2 : Explore Cusco City Tour

Accommodation: Rumipunko hotel, Cusco
Meals: Breakfast and deluxe picnic lunch buffet

Spend the morning at your leisure. This is a good time to explore some of Cusco’s less-visited attractions including the San Pedro Market, the bohemian neighborhood of San Blas, or one of many museums, such as the Museum of Pre-Colombian Art, Casa Concha, or the Choco Museum, where you can make your own chocolate from scratch. In the afternoon, an expert guide will take you to many of the amazing archeological sites in and around the city, including the Cusco Cathedral in the Plaza de Armas and the Temple of the Sun or Qoricancha, as well as the ruins of Sacsayhuaman, Q'enko, Puka Pukara, and Tambomachay.

In the late afternoon, you'll return to your Cusco hotel. Spend the evening at your leisure enjoying the local cuisine and the hospitality of the Cusco locals. Check out our Cusco Travel Guide for suggestions of great Cusco restaurants.

Day 3 :  Guided hiking tour of Rainbow Mountain

 Accommodation: Rumipunko hotel, Cusco
 Meals: Breakfast and deluxe chef-prepared lunch and snacks

To make the most of our time on the trail and at the rainbow mountain, our day will start before dawn. Collecting you from your Cusco hotel at around 4:00am we make a 3-hour drive through the South Valley to the trail head at Llacto(4,638m / 15,216 ft). Our transportation is comfortable though, and we provide blankets for those who want to take the opportunity for a little more sleep. Upon reaching the Cusipata village (3,300m/10,826ft), we provide a full continental breakfast, perfect fuel for the hiking ahead. Our trek beings along a meandering path in the foothills of the magnificent Andes. As dawn continues to break around us, the surrounding herds of Alpacas and Llamas will be waking too and our paths often cross along the way.The whole area is home to many Fincas (local farms) and there will be opportunities to see traditional Quechua people working the land as they have generations. The surrounding forests are home to some unique fauna and we may see Chinchillas or even Vicunas (a non-domesticated relative of the llama family found only in Peru) so make sure you have your cameras ready. As if all that wasn’t enough, the striking colours of the red mountains are all around us, and provide a spectacular backdrop for this portion of the hike. After making a challenging ascent for around 1 hour we reach the magnificent Rainbow Mountain of Vinicunca (5,020 m / 16,466 ft). ¡No photoshop or Instagram filters are required here! This awesome display of colour is 100% natural, and completely breathtaking. Taking our time at the summit to take pictures, explore the area or just take in the spectacular views we then make a short 15-minute walk to the Red Valley lookout point, a tranquil and beautiful spot amongst the crimson rocks that has magnificent views across the valley. Your guide will let you know when it is time to return, and we hike downhill the way we came for around 45 minutes. In a sense though this is an altogether different hike as we take in the views that were behind us on our ascent. Reaching the trailhead we drive 40 minutes to a local restaurant at Cusipata village where a delicious lunch will be waiting for us.Finally it’s just a 2 hour drive back to Cusco. We drop you off at your Cusco hotel around 4pm, weary but with incredible memories of a very unique day

Day 4: GUIDED SACRED VALLEY TOUR: MORAY INCA SITE AND MARAS SALT PANS, WILLOQ COMMUNITY - OLLANTAYTAMBO
• Accommodation:  Home stay at Willoq village
• Meals: Breakfast, buffet picnic lunch, dinner and snacks
Today you will enjoy a tour of the Sacred Valley, Visit (Chinchero - Land of Great Weavers)-Chinchero's weaving traditions are very strong and many weavers still know and put in practice a great variety of techniques and designs learned from our ancestors.
(Visit Maras town- colonial houses) - this town is a typical Andean village that boasts a beautiful 400-year colonial old church. A further 6km down the road are the experimental agricultural terraces of Moray. The lintels of many of the houses date from the Colonial Era, and you can see the shields and family crests that were carved in stone along with the name of the owner and the date when the house was built and the lintel was put in place.
The Salt Mines in Maras - the Salinas de Maras (as they are known in the local tongue) were first created sometime in the 1400s by the Incas. While there is no transcribed record of the ponds’ creation, they seem to have been passed down and expanded by a small number of owners over hundreds of years. Salt is harvested from the patchwork of shallow pools via a process of evaporation after we drive to Local Chicheria Visit at Yanahuara village - EXPERIENCE THE ART OF CHICHA-MAKING AT A LOCAL CHICHERIA IN THE SACRED VALLEY

Next, you will be driven 1hour  up to Willoq- Patacancha community, During your time in Patacancha, you will be immersed in the culture and daily life of your host family. Depending on the season, you may plant and harvest crops in the family chacra (personal farm plot), prepare meals, hike up to pasture livestock, and of course, weaver Homes in Patacancha are rustic. Rooms will have one light bulb and an outlet, but no appliances. Homes will have running water, but the only tap is usually located outdoors. All homes have a toilet, but some are pit toilets. Most homes do not have showers or running water in the bathrooms. Some homes may have dirt floors. Nights are cold, and the village is at high altitude (12,800 ft) and may require acclimatization. If it sounds like a far cry from a hotel, it is! But the food is tasty, the beds are warm with layers of wool blankets of alpaca, the families are kind and welcoming, and the mountains are spectacular. This unique opportunity to engage indigenous Quechua culture is often one of visitors' favorite experiences in Peru.You will share a room with one or two other people in your tour group. Food is basic but wholesome Andean fare consisting mainly of thick potato, grain and vegetable soups, chicken, eggs, and plenty of potatoes cooked every way. Explore Adventures will also provide you with a large basket of fruits and vegetables to share with your home stay family during your stay. 

Day 5 - 8: Pilgrimage on the Inca Trail - Machupicchu

Lodging: Deluxe Camping 
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks 

Walk in the footsteps of the great Inca civilization as you journey along their ancient trail to the sacred city of Machu Picchu. Andean history comes to life along this special route as each day you pass ever larger ruins. Notice how the scenery changes from snowcapped mountains to lush green cloudforest. The Inca trail trek is made with pilgrims from all over the world, and your friendly crew of guides and porters will take great care of you along the way.

Trekking Details

• Day 5 - Kilometer 82 to Huayllabamba
•              Trek length: 5.8 miles (5-7 hrs) or 11km. Camp elevation: 9,691 ft or 3,000 meters
• Day 5 - Hiking Huayllabamba to Pacaymayo
•              Trek length: 7.6 miles (6-7 hrs) or 12 km Camp elevation: 11,833 ft or 3600 meters
•              Trek high point: Dead Woman's Pass (13,776 ft)
• Day 6 - Hiking Pacaymayo to Phuyupatamarca
•              Trek length: 9.5 miles or 16km (8-9 hrs); Camp elevation: 8,860 ft 2600 meters
• Day 8 - Hiking Phuyupatamarca to Machu Picchu Aguas calientes
•              Trek length: 3 miles (2-3 hrs); Machu Picchu elevation: 7,875 ft
•              sunset of Machu Picchu. 

Day 9 -  Sun rise of Machupicchu - Indigenous crafts markets chinchero 

· Accommodation: Cabaña Hotel, Aguas Calientes
· Meals: Breakfast, buffet  lunch, dinner and snacks

Dedicate your morning to exploring extraordinary Machu Picchu by waking up early to catch sunrise over the ruins. The remainder of the day holds various opportunities for your own exploration, including a climb to the sacred peak of Huayna Picchu or Machupicchu Mountian, up to the Inka Bridge, or through the lush cloud forest to the Temple of the Moon. After your tour, you have the option to explore more of the site on your own and capture some final photos.In the afternoon, you will take a comfortable train back to Ollantaytambo, where you are transferred to the vibrant Chinchero Market. Here local indigenous weavers will give you an introduction to their textile creations, known to be among the best in Peru.

• Optional: Hike up Huayna Picchu, the peak overlooking the Machu Picchu ruins. This hike is steep and takes about 3 hours round trip, but has remarkable views. Please let your Travel Advisor know if you’d like to add this to your itinerary.

Day 10 : Departure from Cusco

Meals: Buffet Breakfast
Morning free to relax and self-explore Cusco prior to the transfer to airport for flight to Lima to connect to USA

After breakfast, meet your transfer to the airport for your journey home or on to your next destination. Alternatively, you can choose one of our additional exciting Cusco or Sacred Valley tours, or browse our full range of destinations for Peru tours to add on to your Peru vacation plans.

INCLUDED

Included:

• 4 nights in Cusco in Peru Hotels based on US standards & 3 nights camping on the Inca Trail
• city tour, 1 night in Aguas Calientes.
• sacred valley tour
• All tours stated in the itinerary with English-speaking guides
• Ground transportation and entrance fees
• Breakfast at all hotels
• All meals on Inca Trail
• Train Machu Picchu - Cusco (Vistadome Train )

Not Included:

• Airfare
• Lunches and dinners (unless otherwise specified)
• Airport taxes
• Tips

With the DISCOVER Machupicchu Pilgrimagel package you will receive:

Transportation:

• city tour
• sacred valley tour
• Private transport from your Cusco hotel to the start of the trek
• Bus from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes
• Train Machu Picchu - Cusco (Vistadome Train )
• Transfer from Cusco train station back to your Cusco hotel

Camping equipment:

• We use four season Eureka tents with two entrances and capacity for four people (for comfort, only two people per tent)
• Foam mattresses, tables, and seat for each tent
• Food and drink utensils
• Dinner tent and kitchen tent
• First aid kit and emergency oxygen bottle

Team:

• Professional, knowledgeable bilingual guide
• A cook to prepare your meals
• Porters to carry provided equipment and food (additional porters are available for rent to carry your personal belongings)

Food:

• High quality meals to provide the necessary energy for this challenging trek
• In addition to three meals daily, you will be given revitalizing snacks
• Hot drinks such as tea and coffee, as well as enough water for your canteens (collected from local streams and boiled while on the trek)

PRICES AND HOTELS

From  $1,495 USD  9 DAYS  

 Hotels Double/Triple
Hotels $ 1495 Budget
Hotels $ 1589 3 Star
Hotels $ 2100 4 Star
Hotels $ 2420 5 Star

 Hotels Single
Hotels Budget $ 1980
Hotels 3 Star $ 2100
Hotels 4 Star $ 3050
Hotels 5 Star $ 3850

Cultural Immersion Experience

Travel is about meeting the local people and experiencing different ways of life. That is why EXPLORE ADVENTURES PERU immerses you in the local communities. Visit the most interesting and off the beaten track locations to experience the real Peru! Have a unique cultural adventure at local communities, COMMUNITY STAY and CULTURAL IMMERSION before each trek and take part of our tours.

We are a 100% locally owned and operated company!

EXPLORE ADVENTURES PERU offers an assortment of adventurous treks and exciting tour packages in Peru, specially designed to appeal to most visitors' budgets that doesn't have a negative impact on the environment or adversely affect local communities. EXPLORE ADVENTURES PERU employees are local, Peruvian people. We work to invest in our own country and develop social work to offer our people a better lifestyle and provide opportunities to keep growing. This is the main difference between local companies and foreign companies and associated companies.

Our Group Services have a maximum group size of 8

Most tour operators work with a maximum of 16 on the Inca Trail, since this is authorized by law, or even higher on other trekking routes.

We treat our staff.

Including chefs, porters and wranglers with the utmost respect and fairness. EXPLORE ADVENTURES not only complies with the Porter Law and Regulation, but our wages are over the minimum requested by law and above the average pay by most tour operators.

We have expert Top Tour Guides

For special requests (ornithology, history and archaeology, flora and fauna and also generalist guides). All our guides have been trained in advanced first aid by certified doctors in Peru. On all of our treks, not only on the Inca Trail, there will be a guide for every 8 guests. The head guide will ensure the utmost safety to our guests by providing them undivided attention.

We use innovative equipment

Such as an igloo, waterproof, spacious tents, camping equipment specialized for high mountain treks, such as Vaude, Eureka and Doite tents. Each tent has a capacity for 3 people, but are used only for 2 people.

We have one of the most outstanding meal services in the field.

Our chefs have been highly trained by several institutes in Lima and Cusco. You should be prepared to not only have a superb trekking experience, but also a culinary one, including generous and delicious breakfasts, snacks, lunches, tea services and dinners. Our delectable menus include a variety of Peruvian and international food and also cater for vegetarian and other dietary needs at no extra cost. EXPLORE ADVENTURES PERU is recognized for its buffet meals, the quantity and quality of food, and its freshness.

EXPLORE ADVENTURES PERU performs responsibly.

Making sure to cause minimal impact on the environment of the natural protected areas where it operates.

We pay legal taxes (19% IGV or consumption tax)on all services contributing to the country’s growth and development. Further to this, we pay a 30% tax on all earnings.

Our superb treatment to our staff is not reduced in the low season: porter and chef wages are maintained, same as guide fees.

Finally, EXPLORE ADVENTURES PERU strives to provide top quality service to its clientele and will continue to listen to their comments on how to improve our services and take it to a higher level. Our clients are extremely satisfied as our numerous testimonials prove. Please read their trip reports on the Testimonials section of our website and also on Tripadvisor

Explore Adventures Peru Team  !!!

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