Active Machu Picchu

In the morning you will be transferred from your hotel to the airport for a quick flight to Cusco (10,856 ft.), center of the Inca Empire. After checking in at your hotel, today’s Peru travel begins with a guided walking tour through Cusco to see the colorful markets, the colonial cathedral and Koricancha, the impressive Temple of the Sun. After a lunch of regional cuisine, you tour the remaining prominent Inca sights in and around Cusco. These include the fortress of Sacsayhuamán, with its megalithic stone terraces; Kenko, with carved stone surfaces and subterranean altars; Puka Pukara the small fortress that once protected the royal capital; and the water temple, Tambo Machay. In the late afternoon, you’ll return to the comfort of your hotel to relax or continue to explore Cusco on your own. (B)

After an early breakfast, you transfer to the put-in spot for today’s Peru rafting adventure about one hour from your hotel. Following a safety briefing, the trip begins with a stretch of small rapids and calmer waters to practice the basics of river-running technique, passing spectacular Inca ruins and terraces. Along the way, the guide will explain the remarkable history of these Inca architectural feats. While enjoying the canyon and scenic views, you pass under an ancient Inca bridge. The rapids continue to increase in difficulty and size, eventually progressing to Class IV. Before taking on the challenge of the final and largest rapid, you will disembark to scout this one with your guides. Once a safe line has been chosen, you will return to your rafts to run this adrenaline-filled finale to your Peru river rafting journey. After lunch, the next stop is Ollantaytambo (9,185 ft.), a small town with an impressive Inca fortress, before returning to your Cusco hotel. (B,L)

After breakfast, you will be transferred by private van to the start of today’s Peru trek that includes an old Inca road and impressive views, as well as an opportunity to learn about local farming techniques and explore some rarely visited Inca ruins. The route travels high above Cusco and the outlying town of Cora, ending at an elevation of 13,780 feet, where Lake Qoricocha is located. The slowly contouring trail climbs to an elevation of 14,107 feet where some ancient Inca platforms in the hillside are believed to mark the boundary and entrance to the Huchuy Cusco Inca Estate. The rest of the day’s terrain is flat or downhill, passing herds of llamas and alpacas. The hike travels through the rustic village of Pucamarca, past an Inca bridge in a narrow canyon and offers spectacular views of the Incas’ Sacred Valley. You will arrive at a particularly scenic spot to enjoy a picnic lunch. Continuing on, the contour on the high ridge brings you to the entrance gates of Huchuy Cusco and the extensive ruins themselves. Little is known about this mysterious site which translates to “little Cusco” in the Quechua language of the Incas and may have been the country retreat of one of the first Incas. Explore the various features of this site including the three-story storage houses, trapezoid-niched walls, large main square and ten foot terraced walls. Afterwards you will hike the rest of the way down to where the van will be waiting to return you to Cusco for a relaxing evening on your own. (B,L)

Hike Details: Approx – 8.2 miles | 6+ Hours Altitude: from 11,385 ft to 14,110 ft.

Depart your Cusco hotel for today’s journey to the Incas’ legendary Sacred Valley. After a scenic two hour drive, you will rendezvous with your local expert guides for the unique experience ahead. The Via Ferrata is a system of cables and steel ladders drilled into the mountain that gives visitors without climbing experience the thrill of ascending a 984-ft rock face protected by a waist and chest harness with double-carabineer system for maximum safety. Within the Via Ferrata are several zip lines consisting of six connected cables ranging in length from 300 feet to 1,650 feet, totaling 6,560 feet. Take in the beautiful mountain scenery and extraordinary views of the Sacred Valley as you complete this exhilarating challenge. Transfer to your Ollantaytambo hotel for the evening. (B,L)

Enjoy a hearty breakfast at the hotel to fuel you up for today’s exciting mountain biking adventure. After a short drive and safety briefing, don your biking gear and get pedaling! Today’s ride starts out along mild, undulating dirt roads offering spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. Ride through the indigenous communities of Chequereq, Cruz Pata and then have the opportunity for some bigger downhill tracks. Your guide will advise you on the best options based on skill level. Time permitting, explore the ruins of Moray and the salt mines of Maras. Your journey ends back in Ollantaytambo, where you are free to wander the cobblestone streets of this picturesque Incan town. Overnight in Ollantaytambo. (B,L)

OPTIONAL ADD-ON: PACHAMANCA LUNCH

In the afternoon, gather for a special Pachamanca lunch where meat, several varieties of potatoes, corn, beans and other produce are cooked in the ground under hot stones. This traditional cooking practice has existed since the time of the Inca Empire. Enjoy your meal al fresco, surrounded by the beautiful scenery of the Sacred Valley. Return to your Sacred Valley hotel in the late afternoon. (B,L)

Start the day off with a refreshing walking tour of the Ollantayambo ruins. Next, head to the train station, where you’ll board the Vistadome train for the first leg of today’s unforgettable journey to Machu Picchu! Enjoy the panoramic views as the train follows the Urubamba River into the lush cloud forest, before arriving at the Aguas Caliente train station. Stop for lunch in town and then  board a bus that will take you to the gates of Machu Picchu (7,875 feet). Spend the afternoon exploring the famous ruins with your guide. Return to Aguas Calientes, where you will have time to relax and enjoy dinner at your hotel. (B,D)

OPTION: INCA TRAIL HIKE KM 104 UPGRADE (contact us for price and availability)
For travelers who wish to reach Machu Picchu via the Inca Trail, but can’t commit to the entire trek, you can access the final leg of the trail via KM 104. Depart from the Ollantaytambo train station at 7 am and arrive at station KM 104 at 8:30. After registering at the checkpoint, you’ll hike for around 3 hours during which time you will see ruins, waterfalls and many varieties of flora and fauna. Three hours into the hike, you reach Wiñay Wayna, an Inca ruin built into a steep hillside overlooking the Urubamba River. From here, it is another two hour trek to reach the citadel of Machu Picchu. Pass through the famed Sun Gate and arrive to the impressive ruins in the late afternoon when there are few visitors. After a brief Machu Picchu tour, you will take a bus down to Aguas Calientes and walk to your hotel, where you’ll have time to relax and enjoy a delicious dinner. (B,L,D)

Hike Details: Approx. – 9.94 miles | 5 + Hours Altitude: from 6,890 ft. (Km104) to 9,022 ft. (WinaWayna) to 7,875 ft. (Machu Picchu)

Today, you’ll have the opportunity to experience Machu Picchu during the early morning hours. Spend the morning exploring the ruins with your guide or enjoy an optional hike to Machu Picchu Mountain for a breathtaking view of the complex that most travelers never get to experience. By midday, you return to Aguas Calientes for lunch and an early afternoon train ride back to Ollantaytambo. Your private vehicle will be waiting at the station to deliver you to the Chinchero textile market, where members of the local weavers’ collective will explain the traditional weaving methods of the Sacred Valley. Continue on to your Cusco hotel for the evening. (B)

Machu Picchu Mountain
Hike Details: Approx – 5.8 miles | 3-4 Hours Altitude: from 7,875 ft to 10,055 ft.

Transfer to the Cusco airport for your flight back to Lima and your connecting international flight, marking the end of Southern Explorations’ services. If your schedule permits, trip extensions to other regions or extra days may also be arranged. (B)