2024 Southern Peru and Inca Trek Tour

As you arrive into Lima airport and exit customs and baggage, you will be assisted with your luggage before driven to your hotel, Tambo 2.

Tambo 2 Hotel   |   Meals: No meals today

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Arequipa, the most beautiful city in Peru. After the two-hour flight, reception and transfer to the Santa Rosa hotel. In the afternoon, a group tour of the white city, so-called because many of the buildings are made of volcanic sillar. Visit to the Chilina valley and the old San Lazaro district with a general view of the city from the Yanahuara Belvedere. There are marvellous views including the imposing Misti Volcano overlooking the city. A visit to the Plaza de Armas and its Cathedral, the cloisters of La Compañia Church, the Church and Square of San Francisco and the extraordinary Santa Catalina convent.

Santa Rosa Hotel   |   Meals: B

After breakfast, early departure in group service, you will climb up towards the National Reserve of Pampa de Cañahuas at 3800m. Here groups of alpacas, vicuñas and sometimes-even guanacos can be seen. After driving several hours more, the descent to the Colca Valley begins. The trip continues down the valley, passing next to several villages until you arrive at Chivay, the most important town of the valley. Accommodation at the Pozo del cielo Lodge.

Meals: B

After breakfast, enjoy a hike through the canyon with your guide before returning to your hotel.

Meals: B

After breakfast an early departure to descend into the valley to visit some of the villages, all of which have beautiful, colonial-style churches. You shall also see the Inca terraces, some of which are still in use and can be seen all along the valley. Start the ascent up to the Cruz del Condor, a few kilometres before Cabanaconde. Here one can appreciate a fine view of the flight of the condors as well as of the depth of the canyon. Return to your hotel in Arequipa.

Meals: B

After breakfast, with boarding passes in hand, you will be driven to the airport for your quick-check-in and brief flight to Cuzco, the ancient Inca capital of the Incas. In Cuzco, pick-up for the short private drive to the Imperial Cuzco Hotel.
In the early afternoon, group tour of Cuzco, including the Qoricancha temple or temple of the Sun, the Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman overlooking Cuzco city, Qenko, Tambomachay and Puka Pukara. Return to the hotel in the evening.

Imperial Cuzco Hotel   |   Meals: B

After breakfast at your hotel, full-day's group excursion to the beautiful Urubamba, the Sacred Valley of the Incas, situated between Pisac and Ollantaytambo. It is an exceptionally fertile valley that was and remains the larder of Cuzco. You will 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, you will witness Indians bartering 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. Buffet Lunch before continuing your trip to Ollantaytambo, the only Inca town that was not defeated by the Spanish with an opportunity to explore the ruins which tower above. You will then return to Cuzco after this full day with wonderful memories of the heart of the Inca land. Arrival to your hotel for accommodation.

Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

Meals: B & L

After an early morning breakfast, you will be transferred to Chilca by private car where you will meet with your Quechua porters and prepare for the Inca Trail. 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 archaeological sites of Patallacta, Qente, and the valley of Cusichaca along with the magical Polylepsis forest before continuing the hike. We also encourage talking with our porters to learn a little about their ancient customs and ways or life. Our hiking today will last approximately 7 hours. Dinner and overnight camping on the trail.

Meals: B

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. Lunch will be taken before the final two sections of ascent. Upon reaching the summit of Dead Woman's Pass, we shall descend into camp. Dinner and overnight camping on the trail.

Meals: B

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 archaeological site of Phuyupatamarka ("Cloud Level Town") where a fine lunch will await us. After lunch, we will then begin the decent to Winaywayna, an outstanding Inca complex built into the mountainside. A visit of the ruins before our last dinner carefully prepared by our chef. 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.

Meals: B

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". 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. Accommodation in Aguas Calientes.

Meals: B & D

After breakfast, you can return to the complex for more personal time without a guide before boarding the train back to Cuzco and transfer to your hotel.

Meals: B

After early breakfast, we bid farewell to Cuzco and take a short drive to the airport in time for your return flight home.

Meals: B