Machu Picchu & Inca Trail
Activities
Hiking
Trip Length
10 days, 9 nights
Departure Date
TBD
The Inca Trail is one of the most famous treks in the world and forms the centerpiece of our 10-day Machu Picchu and Inca Trail hiking trip. We start in Lima, founded by Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro in 1535, and now the capital of the country. Depending on your arrival time, you can visit the Plaza Mayor, the Cathedral, and other downtown sights.
The following morning, we board a plane for the Incan city of Cusco and immediately head to the Inca's Sacred Valley region. Filled with Incan ruins, beautiful landscape, remote villages, and excellent hiking, we spend the next two days in the valley hiking.
The morning of the fourth day we take an early shuttle to the start of our four-day Inca Trail trek. Local guides and porters transport our luggage and gear so all you'll need is your day pack. The hiking is challenging but certainly manageable and provides for amazing views — like the climb to Warmi Wanusca, or Dead Woman's Pass, the highpoint of our hike.
At the end of the hike, we reach the Sun Gate and get our first views of Machu Picchu. Built by Incan ruler Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui between 1460 and 1470 AD, scholars still find this site a mystery. Some say it was a religious retreat; others say it was a political or military fortress. The 200 or so structures that comprised Machu Picchu are still evident today and the site is considered one of the most impressive archeological ruins in the world. We spend one night near the ruins and wake up early the next morning for a spiritual hike at daybreak. Or for a more challenging option, climb to the top of Huayna Picchu, a peak that promises an awesome view overlooking the ruins.
Our final two days are spent in the area of Cusco, an enticing mixture of western, Spanish, Quechua, and Inca cultures and architecture.
Price
Double Occupancy $3195 (+ internal flight $210) / Single Occupancy $3895 (+ internal flight $210)
What's Included
Six nights hotel lodging, three nights tented camping, (including all equipment), all dinners and breakfasts, most lunches, airport transfers, local transportation, guides, porters and museum entrances.
Not Included
Transportation to and from Lima, roundtrip internal flight, three lunches, drinks, personal expenditures, and guide gratuities.
Accommodations
We start our trip with a stay in the Country Club Lima Hotel, an exclusive five-star hotel in the heart of the San Isidro district of Lima. This posh hotel is a national monument in Peru and the perfect way to relax after your flight. We then spend two nights in the Sacred Valley at the Hotel Pakaritampu. The hotel is surrounded by gardens and has spectacular views of the nearby Incan ruins. Our next three nights are spent camping along the Inca Trail with porters to carry your gear and set up camp. Upon reaching Machu Picchu, we spend the night at the Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, a luxury boutique hotel, built in a traditional style, and situated nearby the ruin. Our final two nights are spent in the Hotel Monasterio in Cusco, a 300-year old seminary converted to a luxury five-star hotel. A perfect way to end the trip! Please note: The hotels we use are subject to change.
Suggested Readings & Films
The Conquest of the Incas, by John Hemming, is an excellent account of the Incan struggle to survive the arrival of the Spanish. For a fictional and adventurous account of the same era, try Aztec and its two sequels by author Gary Jennings.
Weather
Peru's peak season is from June to September. This period is the dry season, with mild to warm days (39–68° F) and cold nights. Although this is the dry season, since we will be hiking in parts of the Amazon rainforest, we may encounter an occasional shower.
Arrival & Departure
You will fly into and out of Lima, Peru. You have the option to take an overnight flight to Lima or fly during the day; we will pick you up at the airport either way. The tour begins in Cusco.
More Information
Peru.info, Consular Information Sheet for Peru, Raingods.com Inca Trail & Machu Picchu.
Dates and itineraries are subject to change. Availability and itineraries will be verified upon request.