CUSCO

Inca Trail - At 5:00 AM, we will collect you from your accommodation in Cusco and drive you to the Ollantaytambo train station, which will take around an hour and a half. On this journey, you’ll witness the Sacred Valley of the Incas, agricultural landscapes, and impressive snow-capped peaks. Upon reaching Ollantaytambo, we’ll board a train to Km 104, which is about an hour’s ride. The trek begins at Km 104 (2,200 m / 7,217 ft), where we’ll cross a bridge over the Urubamba or Willkamayuc River, meaning ‘Sacred River’ in Quechua, a vital waterway for the Incas. At the checkpoint, you must present your identification, such as a Passport, Alien Registration Card, or National Identity Document. A short 15-minute hike will bring us to the Chachabamba archaeological site and the concealed Choquesuysuy ruins within the semi-tropical forest. Following the visit, we’ll ascend staircases for about three hours until we reach Wiñaywayna (2,650 m / 8,694 ft), an area that showcases Incan agricultural practices with numerous circular terraces used for crop cultivation. Wiñaywayna, named after a prevalent orchid in the region meaning ‘Forever Young’ in Spanish, features over 20 structures, including the Temple of the Rainbow or Fertility Temple. After exploring for about an hour and enjoying a packed lunch, we’ll proceed to the Wiñaywayna checkpoint.

The second leg of our journey involves a two-hour walk across an Andean plateau, stone steps, and tambos (‘rest stops’) until we reach the Inti Punku - Sun Gate (2,720 m / 8,923 ft), which served as an entrance checkpoint to Machu Picchu during Incan times. From this vantage point, we’ll have a stunning view of Machu Picchu and the valley below. We’ll then descend for roughly 30 minutes to the world-renowned Machu Picchu (2,490 m / 8,169 ft) and take a short 15-minute bus ride to our ‘Puente Ruinas’ campsite (2,160 m / 7,086 ft) beside the Urubamba River, where we’ll spend the night. In the evening, we’ll enjoy tea time with hot beverages and snacks, followed by a sumptuous dinner prepared by our skilled chef.

Overnight at ‘Puente Ruinas’ campsite.

PUENTE RUINAS

Machu Picchu - An early rise and a splendid breakfast by our chef will kick off the day.

We’ll embark on a brief 30-minute trek to reach the Machu Picchu Citadel by 06:00 am to witness the spectacular sunrise. A 2.5-hour guided tour will introduce us to Machu Picchu’s key sites, including the Royal Mausoleum, the Temple of the 3 Windows, the Main Temple, the Sacred Plaza, and the renowned Intihuatana, where the Incas are said to have ‘tied the sun’ during the winter solstice in June. The tour also includes various steps, squares, fountains, and more. You’ll then have some leisure time to explore Machu Picchu independently.

When appropriate, we’ll take the bus from Machu Picchu back to ‘Aguas Calientes’ to catch the train to Cusco. We anticipate arriving back in Cusco at 08:00 PM, concluding the tour with a transfer back to your hotels.

Tour concludes

• Round-trip bus tickets between Machu Picchu and Aguas Calientes.
• Round-trip train tickets: Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and Ollanta to Km. 104.
• Three meals provided: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, and 1 dinner.
• Professional bilingual tour guide (English-Spanish).
• Comprehensive camping equipment including personal tents, dining setup, and mattresses.
• Support from porters and chef for food preparation.
• Access to the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu with entrance fees included.
• Transportation services: hotel pickups and transfers in Cusco and Ollantaytambo.
• Safety provisions: first aid kit and oxygen bottle.
• Additional trekking gear: sleeping bags, hiking poles, and pillows.

• Lunch on the second day and breakfast on the first day.