Arrival in Lima. Reception and transfer to the hotel of your choice.

After breakfast, flight to Cuzco, reception and transfer to the hotel of your choice.
Free day to acclimatize.

Free morning at leisure. Afternoon guided visit of the four ruins nearby; 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, a beautiful fountain fed by a spring forming a series of basins continue to the city of Cuzco; the Main Square, the Cathedral and the Koricancha or Temple of the Sun. Dinner and folkloric show in the evening.

A full-day excursion to Urubamba, the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Visit the village of Pisac, founded during Colonial times. On Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays the Indians barter their products, and artisans from all over the area sell their woven alpaca wool blankets and ponchos, engraved gourds, antique reproductions and jewellery. On Sundays, it is also the meeting place for the local Mayors of the region, who come dressed in their traditional costumes, to attend morning mass. After buffet lunch at the Tunupa Restaurant, a visit to Ollantaytambo, the only Inca town which is still inhabited. Explore the ruins above Ollantaytambo before returning to Cuzco via the traditional market town of Chinchero. Return to your hotel.

After breakfast, we leave Cuzco and head west where we will see Mt. Salkantay and Humantay at first before Mt Pitusiray, Chicon and Veronica come into view. Descending into Limatambo we will visit the Inca site of Tarawasi. We continue before we reach the Apurimac River. We pass the village of Curawasi, visiting the Sayhuite stone - believed to be a carved map of the Inca Empire. A small side road takes us down to the village of Cachora, where we will start our hike. With our day packs we start walking along the edge of the mountain. At Capuliyoc, we will get our first view of the Apurimac canyon and the trail that lies ahead. We begin our descent to our camp by the river at Chiquisca located at 2450m (8036 ft). Our total trekking time today will have been 6-7 hours, covering approximately 12km.

After breakfast, we cross the river on a footbridge from where an uphill walk lasting about half the day takes us to Inkamisana where we have lunch. After lunch, we will ascend on the steep trail where we will begin to appreciate the vegetation on both sides of the Apurimac canyon. The afternoon hike is not as steep a trail as we approach the valley where the site of Choquequirao is found. Camp just below Choquequirao. Our total trekking time today will have been 8 hours, covering approximately 10 km.

Today we will spend the whole day exploring Choquequirao from where the views to the other side of the Canyon are spectacular. The restored buildings were areas used for storage, living quarters, a garrison, and ceremonial sites. The earliest reports of a visit to this complex are in 1768 with many later-explorations by scientists and treasure hunters until 1909 when Hiram Bingham also visited the area. We will have time to wander through this extended settlement before returning to our campsite at Marampata.

Today, we start our ascent from our campsite to the Pass of Choquequirao (3250 m / 10660ft) from where we shall enter cloud forests finding polylepis trees, epiphytes and bromeliads. On the other side as we descend the Yuracmayo River we pass some terracing that supplied Choquequirao and finally arrive at the river bed, which we cross. We continue our ascent until reaching Maizal, a balcony with an impressive view of the Yurahmayo and Yanama gorges as they join towards the Apurimac Canyon. It is a natural viewpoint, looking out to the west with beautiful sunsets. Our total trekking time today will have been 6 hours, covering approximately 5 km.

Today the trail starts climbing steeply towards Mina Victoria, originally an Inca and later a colonial mine. We hike along a Qoriwayrachina hill where recent archaeological explorations have taken place. Once over the pass at 3900m / 12792 ft, we have lunch and begin our descent to the village of Yanama with views of the mountains particularly Mt. Pumasillo towering above us. Here we will set up our camp. Our total trekking time today will have been 7 hours, covering approximately 10 km.

After breakfast, we head up the Yanama Valley passing fields of farmers until we reach the trailhead below the Quiswar pass at 4180m / 13710ft. We cross over the pass, enjoying beautiful views of Mt. Salkantay and Humantay (on a clear day). We descend on the winding trail to the valley of Totora below, camping close to a village. Our total trekking time today will have been 8 hours, covering approximately 10 km.

After leaving our campsite, we continue downhill passing small settlements before heading towards Colpapampa 2850m / 9348ft. We will have an opportunity to relax and soak in the thermal baths. After lunch, we continue down the headwaters of the Santa Teresa Valley. As the trail slowly borders this valley the vegetation becomes cloud forest passing small plots of farmers growing coffee and tropical fruits until reaching the meadow of Wiñaypoqo where we camp at 2590m/8495 ft. Our total trekking time today will have been 6 hours, covering approximately 8 km.

Today we continue our descent along the Santa Teresa Valley, passing by San Ignacio, the road head at Playa and Lucmabamba, elevation 2135m/ 7002 ft. We cross the river to begin our ascent at the pass at Q'elloqasa 2875m / 9430ft before traversing dense cloud forest. We pass a pre Inca site to reach our campsite. From here we get a magnificent view of Machu Picchu from its northern face. Camp at 2650m / 8692 ft. Our total trekking time today will have been 9 hours, covering approximately 15 km.

Today is a short day where we will descend down to the Urubamba Valley, with a chance for a refreshing dip in the stream following the path to the hydroelectric plant. Picnic lunch on the way before we take the train to Aguas Calientes where we will spend the night at a hotel.

After breakfast, we will take the bus up to Machu Picchu for full day's tour of the famous Inca citadel. The most spectacular ancient city in the world, Machu Picchu was built by the Inca Pachacutec and comprises stone blocks fitted with masterful precision that 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 or a Sanctuary for the Incas. This fabulous city has houses, temples, warehouses, a large central square, all connected by narrow roads and steps, and is surrounded by terraces cut into the mountain side which were used for agriculture. After the tour, free time to enjoy this magical and spiritual wonder. Return to Cuzco by train.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the return flight to Lima. City tour of colonial Lima, declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1991. Tour in an air conditioned bus with a bilingual guide. The tour includes a visit to the Cathedral, Main Square, San Francisco Convent and its Catacombs, and the residential areas of San Isidro and Miraflores. In the evening, return to the airport for your return flight home.