Hike the Inca Trail!

10 Day Example Itinerary

Cusco Sacred Valley 5 Day Inca Trail Machu Picchu

Quite simply, the most famous trek in Latin America! This Inca Trail itinerary allows plenty of time to acclimatise and stretch your legs at altitude as you explore the fascinating sites and charm of Inca capital Cusco and the Sacred Valley. From here, you reach Km 88, iconic starting point of the Inca Trail. This spectacular path winds high into the mountains through lush cloudforest and past a series of Inca outposts to arrive at Machu Picchu via the famous Intipunku Sun-Gate. Fully portered and guided, the trek includes 3 nights’ camping and a night beneath Machu Picchu at a comfortable hotel.

Itinerary Highlights

  • Explore the colonial & Incan heritage of Cusco
  • Walk Cusco’s “Balcon del Diablo” trail
  • Experience the colours, markets & ruins of the Sacred Valley
  • Hike the 5 Day Inca Trail
  • Gaze upon Machu Picchu from the iconic Intipunku “Sun-Gate”

What’s included

  • Private tours for most included activities
  • Meet & greet airport service
  • Luxury or boutique accommodation at your chosen level
  • Expert guides in each destination

flexibility

This is an example itinerary. It is fully flexible; you can add or detract days and include hotels at your chosen budget. It departs daily.

10

Nights

Price Guide

from $4750 pp

Our quotes are bespoke for your customised trip. The prices displayed are indicative only, read more

Day 1

Arrive Cusco

plan line
Day 2-3

Cusco – Colonial Charm & Incan Intrigue

Arrive Cusco and spend 3 days acclimatising to the altitude and exploring the fascinating Inca capital and the wonderful blend of Inca and colonial architecture. You will enjoy a walking tour of the central highlights covering the Korikancha Inca Temple of the Sun, the cathedral and San Pedro Market as well as a hike into the hills to visit the spectacular Sacsayhuaman fortress and, energy-allowing, the “Balcon del Diablo”.

Day 4

Sacred Valley – Bread Basket of the Inca

Your acclimatization continues with a visit to the picture-postcard Sacred Valley, breadbasket of the Inca under the towering Vilcabamba Mountains. The Sacred Valley is dotted with Inca ruins, Andean villages and colourful markets and you may like to stretch your legs with a pretty walk combining the enigmatic ruins of Moray and dazzling pre-Colombian salt-pans of Maras.

Day 5

Km88 – The Adventure Begins!

Rising early, you will be driven out to Km 88, where you will meet your guide and support team of traditional porters for the start of your Inca Trail at Chamana. As evening approaches you will have the option to visit the archaeological sites of Wayna Q’ente and Llaqtapata, both charming Inca ruins with sturdy stone walls, stairs and elegant archways that set the tone beautifully for the adventure ahead.

Day 6

Hike the Inca Trail

Heading up the narrow Cusichaca Valley through traditional farmland, you reach the Andean community of Huayllabamba where the cobblestone Inca Trail ascends steeply through an ancient native forest bursting with melodic birdsong. Finally you reach your campsite at Llulluchapampa, situated just below the first pass where you’ll enjoy breathtaking views of Mt. Huayanay shrouded in Andean cloud forest.

Day 7

Hike the Inca Trail

Today you ascend the Warmiwanusqa (Dead Woman’s) Pass, the highest point of the Inca Trail – some 1800m higher than Machu Picchu itself – a challenging walk but with the reward of incredible views of the valley. From there, the going lightens as you drop into the Pacasmayu valley before climbing again to reach the second highest pass at 3998m. The back of the trek now broken, the trail winds past the fine ruins of Sayacmarca before skirting a spectacular, exposed ridge to reach your third campsite at Phuyupatamarca ruins, the “village at the edge of the clouds”.

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Day 8

Machu Picchu through the “Sun-gate”

The end of the trail! Your final day hiking descends through cloud-forest to reach the magnificent site of Winay Wayna, straddling the steep hillside. From there, the sun-gate or Inti Punku, is only a short walk away giving you that captivating first glimpse of Machu Picchu. On arrival at Machu Picchu, you take a short hopper bus down to the village of Aguas Calientes for a night at a comfortable hotel and chance to celebrate your return to ‘civilisation’.

Day 9

machu Picchu & the end of the Adventure

Today, you will join your guide and head back up to Machu Picchu for a comprehensive guided tour of the site with plenty of time afterwards to explore the ruins independently and soak up the atmosphere. It is also possible to hike up Huayna Picchu, the dramatic vertigo-inducing peak that forms the backdrop of Machu Picchu (not for the faint-hearted!) or alternatively the shrine of Machu Picchu Mountain. In the afternoon, you will return to Aguas Calientes and board the train which winds through the Vilacabamba to reach the Sacred Valley where you will continue by road to reach Cusco.

dot joiner for itins
Day 10

Depart Cusco for onward connections

A note on price

The prices outlined above are a rough guide to give you an idea of costs and enable you to budget for your trip.

Guide prices are generally for private arrangements based on twin share, in well located, good quality accommodation (excluding international flights).

Please note costs are indicative and may vary due to a number of factors such as; travel date, hotel choice, room category, number of people travelling and prevailing exchange rates.

Price Guide from $4750 per person

When to travel

jan feb mar apr may jun jul aug sep oct nov dec

The best time to visit Peru is during the dry season from April to November when there are bright sunny days and an average temperature of around 20° though dropping to just above zero at night due to the altitude. The Amazon is hot and sticky all year round though marginally more oppressive and wet between the months December and March.

Add on’s

From Cusco, why not take a short flight into the Amazon which offers a striking contrast to Inca Peru? Here, you can stay at an excellent wildlife lodge cloaked in topical rainforest or more relaxing still, you can cruise the headwaters of the Amazon River on a traditional riverboat. Alternatively, continuing into the highlands, you can take the famous train to Lake Titicaca, on the roof of Peru which in turn leads you nicely across ther border into Bolivia and La Paz. From here, the breathtaking Uyuni jeep journey across to the Atacama Desert is just a short flight away!

Further afield, Peru offers easy connections to Rio de Janeiro and Iguassu in Brazil as well as Quito and the Galapagos, the highlight of any trip to the Amerias! Otherwise, if you are looking for more breathtaking walking – and if the seasions coincide – you may like to fly to Patagonia at the trip of South America and take on the incredible hiking circuits around the Torres del Paine and Mount Fitzroy.

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