DAY 1: LIMA ARRIVAL

You will be greeted by one of our representatives and directed to your reserved hotel. You will spend the night in Lima.

DAY 2: CUSO ARRIVAL

Peruvian ride will arrange a private transfer from your hotel to the Lima airport for your flight to Cusco. Upon arrival in Cusco, one of our representatives will welcome you at the airport and take you to your hotel. You will have the rest of the afternoon free to explore Cusco on your own in order to acclimatize as Cusco is located at 11,300 ft . You will discover the magic of the nights in the capital of the Inca Empire.

DAY 3: CUSCO CITY TOUR

You can have breakfast at your hotel before starting the first day of the tour. Your designated guide will meet you at your hotel and take you on the famous pedestrian tour. In the first part of this interesting tour, you will visit Cusco’s main square, the Cathedral (exterior), the 12 corners stone, stone buildings and streets, and the main Inka ceremonial center; the Qoriqancha.

Afterwards, you will enjoy a local lunch in a tourist restaurant. In the afternoon, you will visit the archaeological centers surrounding Cusco, the Sacsayhuaman Sanctuary, Qenqo, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay. Each of the places to visit attracts more than one visitor. You will enjoy this first day tour.

DAY4: SACRED VALLEY

The Sacred Valley of the Incas is one of the most impressive and popular tours in the region. In addition to beautiful views of the Vilcanota mountain range, you will witness Inka engineering and architecture. You will start this tour visiting the town of Chinchero with its archaeological park and the beautiful views of the Veronica and Salkantay mountains. You will have the opportunity to visit a textile center where you will learn how the Incas obtained their clothing from alpaca fiber and other South American camelids. Then, you will visit Moray, a fascinating spectacle. Concentric terraces inside a bowl-shaped formation. Some theorize that Moray was a laboratory for agricultural experimentation. Afterwards, you will visit the salt mines of Maras, more than 3000 salt ponds exploited by more than 600 local families in an artisanal way.

You will enjoy a buffet lunch in the town of Urubamba before your last visit.

You will finish this day tour visiting the living Inca city of Ollantaytambo and its archaeological park. In this town, traditions and customs from Inca times are still preserved. Its archaeological park is characterized by its megalithic constructions.

DAY 5: INCA TRAIL BEGINS

This day you will start your day by picking up your trekking equipment in Ollantaytambo. Then, you will head to the village of Piscachucho (Km 82) where the famous Inca Trail begins and you will meet the rest of the trekking staff. You will walk along the Urubamba River on a moderately steep trail until you reach the archaeological site of Patallacta (Pueblo en las alturas), a place located at the foot of a mountain. You will have time to explore this interesting place and enjoy your lunch. Then, you will continue your hike for 2 more hours until you reach the Wayllabamba camp, where you will spend the night. This first day of trekking is full of impressive views of the crest of the Vilcanota mountain range.

• Walk Distance: 7.5 mi (12 km)
• Min Altitude: 8,230 ft (2,600 m)
• Max Altitude: 9,840 ft (3,000 m)
• Approx. Time: 4 to 6 hrs
• Difficult level: Moderate

DAY 6: INCA TRAIL

On this second day, the most challenging of all, you will reach the highest point of the entire tour. The hike is exhausting and steep up to the highest point known as Warmihuanusca (Dead Woman’s Pass) located at 4200 mts (13700 ft). After passing this point, the trail turns into a winding downward staircase in the middle of a natural valley, where wildlife watching and beautiful views are part of the journey. You will finish this second day of trekking by arriving at Pacaymayo camp where you will have lunch and spend the night.

• Walk Distance: 10 mi (16 km)
• Min Altitude: 9,840 ft (3,000 m)
• Max Altitude: 13,830 feet (4,215 m)
• Approx. Time: 7 to 8 hrs
• Difficult level: Challenging

DAY 7: INCA TRAIL

You will wake up in the middle of a tropical forest to enjoy an Andean breakfast, then get ready to start an ascent hike; the longest of all; until you reach the Runkurakay pass at 3,900 mts/ 12,500 ft. In the middle of the trail you can explore the archaeological center that bears the same name and appreciate the beautiful views of the Pacaymayo Valley. The trail will allow you to enjoy beautiful views of mountains and villages along the way until you reach the archaeological zone of Conchamarca and Phuyupatamarca (the city in the clouds) where you can rest and enjoy your lunch.

After lunch and a comforting rest you will continue descending for 3 hours until you reach the Winay Wayna (forever young) camp, where you will spend your last night of camping. There, you can explore the terraces and archaeological remains that are believed to have been built to worship the water. For flower lovers, you will be able to observe the pink orchids of the place.

• Walk Distance: 10 mi (16 km)
• Mini Altitude: 8,700 ft (2,650 m)
• Maxi Altitude: 12,500 ft (3,900 m)
• Approx. Time: 8 to 10 hrs
• Difficult level: Moderate

DAY 8: INCA TRAIL TO MACHUPICCHU

This last day of trekking will start very early at 5:00 am; after breakfast. After 1 hour of walking uphill, you will arrive at Inti Punku (The Sun Gate), where you will have a spectacular view of Machupicchu. From there you will start descending to the citadel where you will have a guided tour for approximately 2 hours. You will be taken through the most important places of this wonder of the world. Terraces, fine masonry, canals, aqueducts, sacred enclosures, astronomical observatories are part of what you will see in this fascinating tour. In the late afternoon, you will board a tourist train that will take you to the town of Ollantaytambo where your transfer will be waiting to take you to your hotel in Cusco.

• Hike Distance to Machu Picchu: 3.7 mi (6 km)
• Approx. Time: 8 to 4 hrs
• Difficult level: Moderate

DAY 9: DEPARTURE FROM CUSCO

After lunch at your hotel, Peruvian Ride will arrange a private transfer from your hotel to Puno’s airport, where you will take a flight to your next destination.

Extend your staying in Peru by choosing from a range exciting Peru destinations.