Peru Day Hiker

In the morning, transfer back to the airport for a short flight to Cusco, center of the Inca Empire.  Your guide picks you up at the airport for a quick tour of the beautiful Plaza De Armas. From there, you will be taken to your hotel, where you will be free for the remainder of the day to relax and acclimate to the altitude. (10,856 feet) (B)

Today you’ll spend the day exploring the Inca Empire and learning about the region’s rich cultural history. The day starts with a guided walking tour through Cusco’s craft markets. You’ll visit the colonial cathedral and Koricancha, the Inca’s Temple of the Sun, before enjoying a delectable lunch of regional cuisine. The afternoon will be spent visiting other significant Inca ruins in the vicinity of Cusco including the mammoth fortress of Sacsayhuaman above the city, noted for its megalithic stone terraces, Kenko with its distinctive zig zag-patterned carved stone and subterranean alters, the hillside outpost of Puka Pukara, a small fortress that formerly protected the royal capital and the Tambo Machay water temple that served as royal baths. 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 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.

After yesterday’s climb, you’ll enjoy a mostly downhill route today with some options for hiking a little or a lot. From your hotel in Cusco, you’ll travel by private van to the village of Amaru where you’ll get acquainted with the community before hiking to the once-pivotal Inca citadel of Pisac that includes a Sun Temple, extensive terracing and water ducts. The path to the ruins passes through fields of potatoes, quinoa, wheat and other crops. As you explore the area, your guide will explain the significance and history of this magnificent complex. After a late lunch, anyone interested may hike through the town of Pisac, known for one of the best Andean textile markets in Peru. You’ll continue by van through the Incas’ Sacred Valley to reach the historic village of Ollantaytambo, a mountain town designed by the Incas and known for its namesake Inca fortress. One of the Incas’ last stands against the Spanish took place here.  You’ll spend the night at a hotel in Ollantaytambo. (B,L)

Hike Details: Approx. – 6.5 miles | 4-5 Hours

Altitude: from 12,370 ft to 9,350 ft (downhill).

Today’s rigorous hike takes you to Cachicata, a site of great importance because it is here that the Incas formed the stones for some of their monumental building projects. To reach the quarry, this three to four hour trek takes a gradually ascending trail, crossing the Urubamba River through scenic mountainous areas visited by few travelers on Peru tours.  This experience allows visitors to appreciate the great ingenuity of the Incas who were able to construct their colossal structures at locations so distant from their building materials without the benefit of the wheel. After lunch in an idyllic setting, you’ll descend back to the Sacred Valley and Ollantaytambo for a free evening and second night at your Ollantaytambo hotel. (B, L)

Hike Details: Approx. – 7.9 miles | 5+ Hours

Altitude: from 8,745 ft to 12,175 ft.

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 (Please inquire 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 WnaWayna, 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)

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 SE services. If your schedule permits, trip extensions to other regions or extra days may also be arranged. (B)