We will pick you up at the Cusco airport and take you to your hotel. You will have some time to settle in, and then we will return at 1:00 pm to start the Cusco City Tour. We will begin the tour at the most important temple of the Inca Empire, the Sun Temple, known as the Qoricancha. Here, you can observe detailed and intact architecture, and within the temple you will see smaller temples dedicated to the moon, rainbow, stars, lightning and thunder, among others. Today, the Santo Domingo church stands on top of the temple. From there, we will go to an important religious site called Sacsayhuamán which features immense stones. Although the site was religious, the Spanish considered it a military fortress because of its location and the way it was built. Next, we will visit Qenqo, a site built in a natural rock formation which was created to represent the Andean constellations and the concept of the three worlds, each one representing sacred animals: the condor, puma, and snake. After that we will travel to Puka Pukara, which was a shelter for travelers coming to Cusco from the Amazon. It was also a military center and used to protect the nearby temple located at Tambomachay. Our last stop is Tambomachay, known as the Temple of Water, where the Incas practiced religious traditions tied to water in order to rejuvenate the land. This tradition is known as the fountain of eternal youth. From there, we will return to the city and drop you off at your hotel at around 6:00 pm.

We will pick you up at your hotel in Cusco at 8:00 am. In our private vehicle, we will head to one of the most important archaeological sites in the region, called Pisac, to see Inca burial grounds, ancient irrigation systems and astronomical centers. We will visit the ruins and terraces for about an hour, and after our tour here will then go down to the town of Pisac located at the bottom of the valley. In this town we will first stop by a local silver factory and will see a demonstration of how they process and form beautiful jewelry. Next, we will walk through the cobble-stoned street to the plaza to see locals selling produce and souvenirs in their stands. You will have some free time to browse and do some shopping here as well. After finishing our visit in Pisac, we will drive to the town of Urubamba to have a buffet lunch which includes both delicious Peruvian and Western cuisine. From there, we will head to Ollantaytambo where we will visit the ruins built up on terraces that features massive stones at the top. This site was an important religious and astronomical center, and was also used as a military fortress in one of the biggest battles the Incas had against the Spanish. After this, we will return to Cusco and will drop you off at your hotel around 6:30 pm.

We will pick you up at 8:00 am and we will drive for about 45 minutes to the town of Chinchero. Here we will visit a weaving co-op where we will learn about the ancient weaving process which is still practiced here. Then we will visit the Chinchero archaeological site where we will see the remaining Inca buildings and terraces here that were important for the administration of farming. Then we will head to the Andean village called Mahuaypampa where many of our Quechuas (porters for the Inca Trail) live. We will go to visit a local family and be invited into their house. They will serve us a typical lunch which is made from the crops that they harvest from their fields (such as a vegetable soup, boiled potatoes, corn, and lima beans). Inside their house, we will learn about the local family’s traditional Andean culture. Most locals here only speak Quechua, but your guide will be able to translate so that you can talk to the family and get to know them. We will also visit some of the farms and learn about local crops and will also see locals shepherding and tending their livestock including sheep, pigs, cows, and donkeys. Please keep in mind that on the Community Visit the houses we visit are very simple with dirt floors and basic necessities. It is normal for locals to keep small animals inside their houses such as guinea pigs. After thanking our hosts, we will drive down a country road to visit the nearby Moray terraces. These unique and grand circular terraces were made in natural depressions and seemed to have been used as a type of laboratory for growing and testing new varieties of vegetables at different temperatures. We will visit the different terraces and have a thorough tour before we drive to our last site called the Maras salt mines. At this site we will see how the mines are fed with springs saturated with salt and will also learn the important role that salt played during the Inca Empire. Once we finish taking pictures we will head back to Cusco and arrive at your hotel at approximately 6:00 pm. We will then have your briefing for your hike and will go over the itinerary and provide you with your Therm-a-rest air mattress, pillow, and duffle bag that you can fill with up to 8 kg of your personal gear to have the horses carry on the hike.

On the first day of your hike, we will pick you up at 6:00 am from your Cusco hotel and will drive 4 hours to the start of the hike. On our way, we will stop at the Inca archaeological site called Killarumiyoq, and your guide will give a short history lesson. We will also enjoy breakfast here before driving the rest of the way to the starting point of the trail, called Soraypampa at 3,883 meters or 12,740 feet. If it is a clear day, we will already be able to see the majestic Umantay and Salkantay Mountains before us. Our chef will begin to prepare lunch, and if you are feeling fine with the altitude, we can do a short hike up to see the turquoise Umantay Lake which will take 1 and a half hours. We will have lunch in Soraypampa and then will start our uphill hike for 8 km (5 miles) to the first campsite which takes 3 hours. Our campsite is called Soyrococha and is located at 4,400 meters or 14,435 feet and is one of the highest campsites in the Cusco region. Here, it is essential to have warm clothing, thermals, and a sleeping bag good for at least -20°C (-4°F) since the temperature can reach below freezing and sometimes it can snow.

The next day, we will hike for a total distance of 16 km (10 miles) and will get to see a variety of ecological zones. We will start by hiking uphill for about 40 minutes until we reach the Salkantay Pass at 4,635 meters or 15,200 feet. Here, we will stand right below the towering Salkantay Mountain which is the highest peak in the area at 6,264 meters or 20,551 feet. If we are lucky we might see condors or other animals such as the viscacha which is related to the chinchilla. We will then descend for 3 hours to our lunch site located at Rayanniyoc. On the way, we will be able to see the changing geography, as we start in the grassy highlands and end in the green cloud forest. After lunch, we will continue descending for 2 hours and will enter the tropical cloud forest where we can see wild orchids and other native flowers, as well as hummingbirds. We will continue our descent through the bamboo groves, until we arrive at the village of Collpapampa which sits at 2,855 meters (9,366 feet), and here we will have dinner and camp for the evening.

On this day we will hike for a total of 16 km (10 miles) and will get to enjoy a cultural afternoon with a local farming family. After breakfast, we will continue down the valley for about 6 hours into a forest that contains bamboo groves and great bird watching opportunities. Flocks of colorful tropical birds roam the forest and warm water cascades down nearby cliffs. The trail here gradually descends, and on the way our guide will point out the various flora and fauna in the area. We will reach our campsite located at the small village of Lucmabamba which is at 2,008 meters (6,588 feet), and here we will also have lunch. In the afternoon, we will do some farming activities that will depend on the time of year but may include collecting and roasting coffee beans, picking avocados, oranges, passion fruit, and also we may be able to harvest some honey.

On the last day of the hike, we will trek for 8 km or 5 miles and will need to get up early. From Lucmabamba to our lunch site we will hike for about 5-6 hours. We will start ascending through the lush rainforest for about 2 and a half to 3 hours to the Llaqtapata Pass which is at 2,700 meters or 8,910 feet. Then we will then descend for 15 minutes and arrive at the archaeological site of Llaqtapata where we will stop and have some snacks. This site provides our first view of Machu Picchu from the other side of the valley, and we will learn about how Llaqtapata was an important astronomical center. After resting, we will begin our descent for 2 and a half to 3 hours down the mountain until we reach the hydroelectric station, where we will enjoy a well-deserved lunch. After eating we will say good bye to our chef and before continuing our hike, we will stop at another important Inca site called Inti Wutana, which was a sun dial used by the Incas. Then we will hike for about three hours to Aguas Calientes (2,040 meters or 6,692 feet), the town located at the bottom of Machu Picchu. We will follow a flat route next to the train tracks and will get to see Machu Picchu from afar from different angles as well as nearby farming terraces. At Aguas Calientes we will check into our hotel and then will have some free time to visit the hot springs before meeting for dinner at a local restaurant.

After having an early breakfast at your hotel, you will meet your guide and take the 25-minute bus ride up to Machu Picchu. You will have a 3-hour tour with your guide where you will see and learn about the most important sites including the Inca Palace, Temple of the Sun, main plaza, Intiwatana, and other important temples. After your tour, you will take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes, and in the afternoon you will take the train back to Cusco where we will pick you up from the train station and drop you off at your hotel.

We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco and take you to the airport for your departure flight.