Classic Inca Trail

Arrival in Lima, Reception at the airport and transfer to your hotel.

After breakfast, a private guided visit of colonial and modern Lima, including the cathedral, dating from 1654, the main square, which still houses the original bronze fountain built in 1650, and the San Francisco Convent and its catacombs. Known as the city of the kings, Lima was founded in 1535 by Pizarro and rebuilt in 1991, the same year that UNESCO declared it a world heritage site. One of the very few South American cities that preserve the colonial past, Lima was home to the Spanish viceroy during the time of the Spanish colonialists. After lunch, a visit to a museum of your choice. Choose from amongst the Gold Museum, the National Museum of Anthropology, Archaeology and History or the Rafael Larco Herrera Archaeological Museum. Return to your hotel.

After an early rise, morning transfer to the airport for the 6AM flight to Cuzco. After the hour long flight, arrival to Cuzco, reception and transfer to your hotel. Free morning to take a leisurely walk around the ancient capital of the Incas. A guide will be available or if preferred, a private walk around the ancient capital. Return to the hotel for lunch. After lunch, guided walking tour of the city of Cuzco; including the Main Square, the Cathedral and the Koricancha or Temple of the Sun. A visit to the Inca Museum before returning to your hotel for dinner.

After breakfast, a tour of the ruins surrounding the Inca capital including the Sacsayhuaman Fortress overlooking the city of Cuzco, a pre Inca architectural masterpiece; Kenko, a rock sanctuary whose main attraction is the monolithic altar representing a puma, the red fortress of Puca-Pucara, and Tambomachay.
After lunch free day to relax and enjoy the city.
After breakfast, excursion to the beautiful Urubamba, the Sacred Valley of the Inca situated between Pisac and Ollantaytambo. The Sacred Valley is an exceptionally fertile valley that was and still remains the larder of Cuzco. Visit the village of Pisac, founded during colonial times, and set at the foot of a hill crowned by the remains of an ancient Inca city.

On Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, Indians barter their products in the main square and artisans from around the area sell their woven alpaca wool blankets and ponchos, engraved gourds, antique reproductions, jewellery, etc. On Sundays it is also the meeting place for Mayors from all the villages in the region, dressed in their traditional costumes to attend morning mass. A visit to the rarely visited Inca ruins above Pisac. After lunch, the trip continues to Ollantaytambo and transfer to your hotel. Late afternoon visit to the ruins above Ollantaytambo, the only Inca town that was not defeated by the Spanish.

After an early morning breakfast, you will be transferred to Chilca by bus where you will meet with your Quechua porters and prepare for the Inca Trail.
After some relaxing, breathing and stretching techniques, you will be ready to embark on the four day trek that awaits you. You will cross over the turbulent Vilcanota River, with magnificent views of Nevado Veronica (5,900m/19,000ft) and continue along the trek admiring the Llactapata archaeological site, and stopping at the Huayllabamba River for lunch.
After lunch, we will visit the archeological sites of Patallacta, Qente, and the valley of Cusichaca along with the magical Polylepsis forest before continuing the hike.
To help us focus on the true nature of our trek, our destination and our very location, our personal porters will be playing the Quena, or ancient Andean flute. We also encourage to talk with our porters to learn a little about their ancient customs and ways or life. Our hiking today will last approximately 7 hours. Upon arriving to our campsite, we shall enjoy relaxing massages and a warm shower to help sooth away any aches and pains. Dinner before listening to the intriguing stories and legends from our Quechua porters. Overnight camping on the trail.

An early start today as this is the most demanding day of the entire trek and we shall gain considerable altitude. We will see outstanding views to the east of the Huayanay peaks and to the west of the rugged Vilcabamba Range. After breakfast, we shall begin the climb up through the first pass at 4200 m/13,750 feet at Warmiwanusqa. Passing 3 ecological zones such as the Yunga, Quechua and Puna, we shall ascend 1000 metres in 5 hours. Our porter's enticing music will help us to marvel at the views rather than the difficult ascent. Lunch will be taken before the final two sections of ascent. Upon reaching the summit of Dead Woman's Pass, we shall celebrate our achievement before descending into camp.
Welcoming dinner near Pacaymayu. More secret myths will unfold tonight as the porters explain the significance of the Apus, or mountain gods. Overnight camping on the trail.

After breakfast, we shall begin the ascent of the second pass, although still demanding, this is easier than the previous day's ascent. A visit to the famous archaeological site of Runquraqay. We will continue on to the restored town site of Sayaqmarka ("Town in a Steep Place") and explore the Sayaqmarka Ruins, admiring at the same time the fabulous cloud forest which is now all around us. The third pass of the Inca Trail in this section is a long white granite roadway, with some ascents and descents traversing a thickly forested mountainside.
We will finally descend to the magnificent archeological site of Phuyupatamarka ("Cloud Level Town"). After lunch, we will then begin the decent to Winaywayna, an outstanding Inca complex built into the mountainside. A visit of the ruins and dinner. We shall also meet with our porters for the very last time and exchange thanks and talk about the ancient paths upon which we have trekked for the last few days. Overnight camping on the trail.

Early morning wake up at 4:30 AM for breakfast and to begin the final trek to Intipunku, and the first site of the archaeological complex of Machu Picchu. We will descend rapidly from cloud forest into high jungle habitat.
Orchids and hummingbirds are commonly seen along this spectacular section of the trail high above the river. We will arrive at Intipunko "Gate of the Sun" to observe the sunrise over Machu Picchu from an elevated vantage point. We will then continue down to the royal road and at last the "Lost City of the Incas". Arrival and transfer of our belongings to the hotel.
We then immediately begin our tour of Machu Picchu. Built by the Inca Pachacutec, and comprising stone blocks fitted with masterful precision, Machu Picchu harmoniously blends into the mountain landscape. There are many theories as to the origins behind Machu Picchu but three of the most popular ideas include a temple to the sun, a fortress against the jungle inhabitants and a sanctuary for the Incas.
This fabulous city holds houses, temples, warehouses, a large central square and all connected by narrow roads and steps, which is surrounded by terraces cut into the mountain side which were used for agriculture. We shall visit the Main Plaza, the Royal Quarters, the Temple of Three Windows, the Circular Tower and the Sacred Sun Dial and Burial Grounds. After the guided tour, you can enjoy an afternoon of self-exploration and discovery. Lunch before a free afternoon for a more personal appreciation. Opportunity for those who feel quite strong to climb the mountain overlooking the site, Wayna Picchu.

After breakfast, we shall return to the complex for a very different tour of the site. Lunch before one last opportunity to visit the site before returning to Cuzco in the evening by train.
Reception and transfer to your hotel.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight back to Lima and your connecting return flight home.