Itinerary
- Day 1
Cusco
You'll arrive in Cusco and get transferred to your hotel where it's best to take things easy while you adjust to the altitude at 11,000 ft/3,350 m. If you're interested, there's an optional typical lunch at a local restaurant with city views and a visit to an alpaca clothes factory. The transportation is free for this, though you'll pay separately for lunch.
Optional Activities
- Typical lunch at a local restaurant with city views (taste guinea pig or alpaca if you wish)
- Visit alpaca clothes factory
- Day 2
Cusco
The morning is yours to explore Cusco's museums on your own time, including the Inca Museum, Precolumbian Art Museum, and Machu Picchu Museum. Later in the afternoon, you'll join a guided tour covering the Temple of the Sun (Koricancha), Sacsayhuaman, Kenko, Puca-Pucara, and Tambomachay. Keep in mind that during peak season this tour might shift to the morning instead to work around the crowds.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Inca Museum
- Visit Precolumbian Art Museum
- Visit Machu Picchu Museum
- Guided afternoon combined tour: Koricancha (Temple of the Sun), Sacsayhuaman, Kenko, Puca-Pucara, and Tambomachay
Landmarks Koricancha (Temple of the Sun) Sacsayhuaman Kenko Puca-Pucara Tambomachay - Day 3
Sacred Valley
You'll head to Pisac to walk through an impressive Inca archaeological park with temples, palaces, and farming terraces that still have their original aqueducts. After that comes Pisac's Colonial Village and its Indian Market where you can find handicrafts and local goods. Then it's lunch in Urubamba before heading to Ollantaytambo to see the ancient Incan town with its massive boulder constructions. On the way back you'll stop at Chinchero for its colonial church and Incan remains. The Pisac Market gets particularly busy on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in Urubamba Village)
Included Activities
- Visit Pisac Archaeological Park—temples, palaces, and farming terraces
- Visit Pisac Colonial Village
- Visit Indian Market and handicrafts market in Pisac
- Guided tour of Ollantaytambo (ancient Incan town)
- Visit Chinchero with colonial church and Incan remains
Landmarks Pisac Archaeological Park Pisac Colonial Village Ollantaytambo Chinchero - Day 4
Day 1
After your trekking briefing the night before, you'll start early with a bus ride to Calca at 2,900 m/9,512 ft to check out a traditional market where Sacred Valley people trade crops. The drive passes by Inca burial tombs, ruins, local farms, and wild llamas before reaching Lares Valley about 3.5 to 4 hours later. You'll soak in the hot springs before lunch, then hike roughly 1.5 to 2 hours from Pascana to Quishuarani campsite where you'll meet local campesinos and learn their weaving techniques before camping overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit traditional market in Calca
- Pass by Inca burial tombs and ruins
- Visit Lares Valley hot springs
- Hike from Pascana to Quishuarani campsite (approximately 1.5–2 hours)
- Meet local campesinos and attend weaving exhibition and lectures
Optional Activities
- Camp at Lake Collalay (4,200 m / 13,780 ft) for 1 additional hour of hiking instead of Quishuarani
Landmarks Calca Market Lares Valley Quishuarani - Day 5
Day 2
After breakfast you're looking at the longest trekking day at approximately 7 hours total. You'll start your ascent at your own pace toward Pachacutec Pass at 4,450 m/14,500 ft, which is the highest point and involves difficult climbing but offers views of snow-capped peaks including Pitusiray, Sawasiray, and Chicon. After cresting the pass, you'll hike downhill for about 2.5 hours seeing Andean wildlife and flowers along the way before camping at Cancha Cancha.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike to Pachacutec Pass (4,450 m / 14,500 ft)
- Descend to Cancha Cancha campsite
Landmarks Pachacutec Pass Pitusiray Peak Sawasiray Peak Chicon Peak - Day 6
Day 3 to Aguas Calientes
After breakfast you'll hike downhill for roughly 4 hours to Huaran, then take transportation to Ollantaytambo and catch the afternoon train to Aguas Calientes for an overnight stay. Watch out for mosquitoes in the warmer afternoon hours. There's an optional visit to the hot springs if you're interested, but the entrance fee isn't included.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Easy downhill hike to Huaran (approximately 4 hours)
- Train ride from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes
Optional Activities
- Visit hot springs in Aguas Calientes (entrance fee not included)
Landmarks Huaran Aguas Calientes Hot Springs - Day 7
Machu Picchu
Get to Machu Picchu early to catch the sunrise, followed by a guided 2.5-hour tour of the temples and palaces. After that you have optional hikes available at your own pace: Huayna Picchu Peak takes 2 hours, the Sun Gate hike is about 2 hours, Montana Machu Picchu runs 3 to 4 hours, the Temple of the Moon is another option, or the Inca Bridge takes 1.5 hours. You can do these before or after the guided tour. In the afternoon you'll take the train back to Ollantaytambo for 1.5 hours then transfer to your Cusco hotel which takes another 2 hours.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Early morning visit to Machu Picchu to view sunrise
- Guided tour of Machu Picchu temples and palaces (2.5 hours)
- Train ride from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo (1.5 hours)
- Transfer from Ollantaytambo to Cusco hotel (2 hours)
Optional Activities
- Hike to Huayna Picchu Peak (2 hours, entrance fee included if booked in advance)
- Visit Temple of the Moon
- Hike to Sun Gate (2 hours)
- Hike to Montana Machu Picchu (3–4 hours)
- Hike to Inca Bridge (1.5 hours)
Landmarks Machu Picchu Huayna Picchu Peak Temple of the Moon Sun Gate (Inti Punku) Montana Machu Picchu Inca Bridge - Day 8
Cusco to Airport
You'll transfer to the airport for your departure flight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
