ITINERARY

DAY 1: «INCA TRAIL» CUSCO – CHACHABAMBA – WIÑAY WAYNA – MACHU PICCHU – PUENTE RUINAS

Estimated hiking time: 6 HRS

Total Distance: 12 KM

Campsite altitude: 2038 m.a.s.l. / 6686 ft.a.s.l.

DAY 2:  PUENTE RUINAS – MACHU PICCHU – AGUAS CALIENTES – CUSCO

DETAILED ITINERARY

DAY 01: INCA TRAIL CUSCO – CHACHABAMBA – WIÑAY WAYNA – MACHU PICCHU – PUENTE RUINAS

Your tour will begin with an early morning pick up from your hotel in Cusco. From Cusco, we will head to the train station in Ollantaytambo in our private transportation. This ride will take approximately 1.5 hours and will grant you some views of the Sacred Valley of the Incas its farmland and majestic snowcapped mountains. Once in Ollantaytambo, we will board our train to KM 104 where the trailhead is located. It is here at Km 104 (2,200 m.a.s.l. / 7,217 feet) where we will begin our hike. We will first cross the bridge that is over the Urubamba or Willkamayuc River, which translated from Quechua means “Sacred River.”

Upon arrival at first Inca Trail checkpoint, you will be required to show your identification documents or passport. From here, it will be a short 2-minute walk to the first archaeological site found along the trail. This site is called Chachabamba and is hidden within the surrounding semi-tropical forest.

From Chachabamba, we will continue hiking for approximately 3 hours to the well-known site of Wiñay Wayna. Along this hike, we will see the Sacred Valley, waterfalls, different types of semi-tropical orchids among others. Wiñay Wayna (2,650 m.a.s.l. / 8,694 ft.) is an Inca archaeological site that shows that shows a perfect example of what agriculture was like in the time of the Incas. This site is widely recognized for its large number of agricultural terraces perched on the surrounding mountain slopes. The name Wiñay Wayna” comes from a beautiful orchid that abounds in the area. The name itself translate into “forever young” in Spanish. The visit at this archaeological site will take approximately 1 hour during which you will visit some of the most accessible temples and buildings of the site. After the visit, we will take a lunch break before continuing with our hike to Machu Picchu.

Our hike to Machu Picchu will take approximately 2 hours. This hike will be along gently rolling Andean flats, original stone paths and steps and tambos (resting places). Our entry point to Machu Picchu will be the Inti Punku – Sun Gate (2,720 m.a.s.l. / 8,923 ft). During the Inca Empire, the Inti Punku worked as a controlled entry point to Machu Picchu. From here, we will have impressive panoramic views of Machu Picchu and surrounding mountaintops and valley.

The last section of our hike will be our descent to the town of Aguas Calientes. To do so, we will hike from the Inti Punku to the entrance of Machu Picchu *note: we will not enter Machu Picchu* from where we will take the bus down to our campsite in Puente Ruinas. This campsite is located just outside the town, right by the Urubamba River.

Meals: Lunch & dinner

Accommodation: Camping

Difficulty level: Moderate

Weather:  Humid

DAY 02: PUENTE RUINAS – MACHU PICCHU – AGUAS CALIENTES – CUSCO

Our day will begin with an early breakfast, all prepared by our chef. After breakfast, we will hike for approximately 30 minutes to the main entrance to Machu Picchu. Once inside, we will have a guided tour of 2.5 hours to see the most important places in Machu Picchu including the Royal Mausoleum, the Temple of the 3 Windows, the Main Temple, the Sacred Plaza, and the famous Intihuatana where the Inca sages tied the sun at the winter solstice in June, steps, squares, fountains, etc. After the guided tour, you will have free time to visit Machu Picchu on your own.

The return to Cusco will be after lunch (not included) and will require a train ride from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo and a bus ride from Ollantaytambo to your hotel in Cusco. The estimated time of arrival back in Cusco is between 8PM to 8:30PM.

Meals: Breakfast

Difficulty level: Easy

Weather: Humid

Included:

• Pick up from hotel in Cusco
• Private transfer from hotel in Cusco to train station in Ollantaytambo
• Train ticket from Ollantaytambo to KM 104
• Professional Tour Guide (bilingual)
• Permit to the Inca Trail
• Entrance to Machu Picchu
• Meals: 01 breakfast, 01 lunch & 01 dinner
• Bus tickets Machu Picchu – Puente Ruinas – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes
• First-aid kit
• Oxygen tank
• Return train from Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytambo
• Private transfer Ollantaytambo – Cusco
• Drop off at hotel in Cusco
• Porters & chef along the trail
• Camping equipment (tents, dining tent etc.)

Not Included:

• Sleeping bag (available for rent)
• Air mats (available for rent)
• Breakfast on first day
• Lunch on second day
• Tips (not obligatory)

PACKING LIST

ESSENTIALS

• Passport
• Student card (valid & only if you reserved as a student)
• Entry stamp to Peru
• Personal backpack
• Water bottle or camelback (2-3 lts)
• Hiking boots

FOR YOUR DUFFEL BAG

Porters will take a maximum of 7 KG of personal belongings for you. This weight allowance will include your sleeping bag and mat weight (approximately 3.5 KG).

• 1-2 lightweight, easy-dry t-shirts
• 1-2 hiking pants
• 2 undergarments
• 2 pairs of hiking socks
• 1 jacket (for night temperatures)
• 1 windbreaker or parka
• 1 hat
• 1 wool hat (for the cold)
• 1 personal flashlight
• 1 pair of waterproof gloves
• 1 pair of comfy shoes (for resting at the campsites)
• 1 easy-dry towel (small)
• Toiletries (note: no showers will be available but our team will provide you with a small basin of lukewarm water to groom every morning)
• Portable charger
• Plastic bag (to separate your clean/dirty clothes inside your duffle bag)

TOILETTRIES

• Sun block
• Bug repellent
• Alcohol in gel or similar for sanitizing hands
• Wet wipes
• Toothbrush & toothpaste
• Toilet paper
• Personal meds
• Small personal first-aid kit with band-aids, moleskin etc.

INSIDE YOUR DAY BACKPACKS

Please know your day backpacks should be comfortable to wear during long periods of hiking. Inside Machu Picchu, backpacks bigger than 25 L will not be allowed. Such backpacks will be required to be left inside the storage facilities (outside the entry gates).

Inside your personal backpack, you should have:

• Water – we will provide you with potable water at each meal to refill your water bottle
• Sun hat
• Rain clothes (park, windbreaker etc.)
• Personal electronics
• Hand sanitizer
• Toilet paper
• Small plastic bag for personal garbage
• Cash

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