Itinerary
- Day 1
Sacred Valley
You'll head out to the Sacred Valley for a full day of exploring. First stop is Moray, where you can walk around those distinctive circular terraces and take in the panoramic views across the valley. After that, you'll hike to the Salineras salt ponds to watch local workers harvesting salt the traditional way they've done for generations. Around midday, you'll sit down for a home-cooked meal with a local family, and then you have the option to do some gentle hiking or biking if you're up for it. By evening, you'll settle into Ollantaytambo, an actual working Inca town where original buildings and ruins still stand among the modern structures.
- Meals
- Lunch (Traditional home-cooked meal with local family)
Included Activities
- Visit Moray archaeological site
- Hike to Salineras salt ponds
- Observe traditional salt harvesting
- Sample or purchase pink salt
- Traditional home-cooked meal with local family
- Explore Ollantaytambo town and adjacent ruins
Optional Activities
- Gentle hike after meal
- Bike ride after meal
Landmarks/POIs Moray Salineras Ollantaytambo - Day 2
Cusco High Jungle
You'll leave right after breakfast and drive toward Malaga Pass, which gives you some really nice panoramic views before the road drops down into the warm, humid high jungle valley. When you reach your homestay family's farm, lunch will be waiting for you. After eating, you'll get a tour of their organic farm where they grow coffee, cacao, and tropical fruits. You'll learn how cacao is produced and then make your own chocolate treats to try before dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Delicious lunch at homestay family's farm), Dinner
Included Activities
- Scenic drive to Malaga Pass with panoramic views
- Tour organic farm
- Learn cacao growing and harvesting
- Make chocolate treats
Landmarks/POIs Malaga Pass - Day 3
Inca Trail to Colcamayo Hotsprings
After breakfast, you'll say goodbye to your host family and start hiking along the original Inca trail. During the hike, your guide will explain coca production and why it matters so much in Andes culture. The trail ends at Colcamayo hotsprings, where lunch is set up and you can soak in the warm water to relax your muscles. Then you'll head back to the coffee farm homestay for dinner with your host family.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Fresh, nourishing breakfast), Lunch (Lunch at Colcamayo hotsprings), Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike along original Inca trail
- Learn about coca production and cultural significance
- Relax and soak at Colcamayo hotsprings
- Lunch at hotsprings
Landmarks/POIs Inca Trail Colcamayo Hotsprings - Day 4
Coffee Farm to Aguas Calientes
You'll start the morning touring the coffee farm to see how they harvest and produce coffee using artisan methods. Then you'll roast and grind your own beans to make breakfast with your host family. Later, you'll do an easy 2 to 3 hour hike to Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of Machu Picchu. Along the way, you'll catch your first views of the ruins in the distance.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast with host family after roasting and grinding own coffee)
Included Activities
- Tour coffee farm harvesting process
- Learn artisan coffee production
- Roast and grind own coffee
- Scenic hike to Aguas Calientes (2-3 hours)
- View Machu Picchu from hiking route
Landmarks/POIs Machu Picchu Aguas Calientes - Day 5
Machu Picchu
You'll catch an early morning bus to Machu Picchu's gates and climb stone steps through thick forest until the ruins suddenly appear. Clouds will move in and out, sometimes hiding parts of the site and then revealing them again. A private guide takes you around for 2.5 to 3 hours and covers the history and layout of everything. In the afternoon, you can choose between hiking Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain if spots are available. After that, you'll head down to Aguas Calientes for the train ride back to Ollantaytambo, where a driver will pick you up for the ride to your Cusco hotel.
Included Activities
- Bus to Machu Picchu gates
- Ascend to Machu Picchu summit
- Private guided tour of Machu Picchu (2.5-3 hours)
- Choice of Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain hike
- Train return to Ollantaytambo
- Transfer from Ollantaytambo station to Cusco hotel
Landmarks/POIs Machu Picchu Huayna Picchu Machu Picchu Mountain
