Itinerary
- Day 1
Lima
After arriving at Jorge Chavez International Airport, you'll get transferred to your hotel in Miraflores. Your tour leader and group meet at 2 pm, then it's off on public transport downtown for a guided walking tour through Lima's historical center. You'll walk past colonial mansions and palaces, check out churches, see inside San Francisco Monastery including its catacombs, and wander through Lima's central market. The evening is free time to rest or grab dinner with others in your group.
Included Activities
- Complimentary airport transfer from Jorge Chavez International Airport to hotel
- Welcome meeting with tour leader and travel group
- Guided walking tour of Lima's historical centre
- Visit to San Francisco Monastery and catacombs
- Browse Lima's central market
Optional Activities
- Coast Biking Urban Adventure (minimum 2 participants) - USD65
- Home Cooked Tour Ceviche experience with Urban Adventure (based on 2 participants) - USD85
- Bohemian Barranco (based on 4 participants) - USD75
- Lima Eat Street (based on 4 participants) - USD75
- Lima Pisco Making (based on 4 participants) - USD35
- Private Larco Museum (based on 4 participants) - USD50
- Dinner with group at local restaurants
Landmarks San Francisco Monastery Lima Central Market Lima's Main Square 
- Day 2
Lima to Puerto Maldonado to Amazon Jungle
Start early for your Amazon adventure. You'll head to Lima airport and catch a flight to Puerto Maldonado, then board a motorized canoe for a three-hour journey through the jungle to your eco-lodge in the Madre de Dios region. A packed lunch comes along during the ride. Once you arrive at the lodge with its thatched roof, there's a short orientation walk, then you'll spend the evening taking in the jungle's sights, sounds and atmosphere around you.
- Meals
- Lunch (Packed lunch provided during canoe journey)
Included Activities
- Early morning transfer to Lima airport
- Flight to Puerto Maldonado
- Motorised canoe journey to jungle eco-lodge (approximately 3 hours)
- Short orientation walk near lodge
Landmarks Madre de Dios Region - Day 3
Amazon Jungle
This morning joins a half-day guided walk with local experts learning about jungle plants and animals, including medicinal plants that Indigenous people have used for thousands of years. Keep an eye out for rainbow macaws, butterflies, peccaries, monkeys, capybaras, giant otters and jabirus as you explore. Back at the lodge by lunchtime, you'll have free time to rest. When evening comes around, head out on a night walk to see what nocturnal animals come out after dark.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Half-day guided jungle walk with local experts
- Learning about medicinal and practical plant uses
- Wildlife observation (macaws, butterflies, peccaries, monkeys, capybaras, giant otters, jabirus)
- Night jungle walk
Landmarks Amazon Jungle - Madre de Dios - Day 4
Amazon Jungle to Cusco
Time to leave the Amazon behind and head toward Cusco. You'll take a three-hour canoe ride back to Puerto Maldonado to pick up your luggage, then fly to Cusco. After landing, your tour leader takes you on an orientation walk around the city to get your bearings. This evening you'll head out for dinner with others in your group. Your leader can point you toward great local restaurants, including places that serve cuy (guinea pig) if you want to try something different.
Included Activities
- Three-hour motorised canoe return journey to Puerto Maldonado
- Flight to Cusco
- Leader-led orientation walk of Cusco
Optional Activities
- Dinner with group at local restaurants
- Pisco Making Urban Adventure - USD35
- Via Ferrata & Zipline (Full Day) - USD95
- Stand Up Paddle Boarding (Full Day, based on 4 participants) - USD85
- Humantay Lake Hike (based on 4 participants) - USD130
- Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain Hike (based on 4 participants) - USD100
- Cusco Cooking Class - USD70
- Rainbow Mountain Hike (based on 4 participants) - USD105
Landmarks Cusco - Day 5
Sacred Valley - Ollantaytambo
Your day starts at Sacsayhuaman, an impressive Incan citadel just outside Cusco. From there, a private bus takes you through the Sacred Valley (called Wilcamayo by the Incas), where you'll see terraced maize crops and the sacred river below. You'll stop at AMA Restaurant in Urubamba for coffee and cake while learning about their job training programs for single mothers. Later, head to the remote Huilloq community above Ollantaytambo for a cultural visit, textile weaving experience, and a ceremony honoring Pachamama (Mother Earth), followed by lunch with locals. The day wraps up exploring the ancient Incan ruins of Ollantaytambo.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch with Huilloq community)
Included Activities
- Visit to Sacsayhuaman archaeological site (Incan citadel)
- Travel through Sacred Valley with private bus
- Coffee and cake at AMA Restaurant in Urubamba
- Learn about AMA Restaurant's inclusive employment and training programmes
- Community visit to Huilloq village
- Learn about traditional textile weaving
- Participate in offering ceremony to Pachamama (Mother Earth)
- Lunch with Huilloq community
- Visit to Ollantaytambo archaeological site
Optional Activities
- Mountain Biking - USD170
Landmarks Sacsayhuaman Sacred Valley (Wilcamayo) Urubamba Huilloq Community Ollantaytambo Archaeological Site 
- Day 6
Inca Trail / Quarry Trail / Cusco (Route-Dependent)
Today marks the start of your chosen route to Machu Picchu. Depending on what you arranged beforehand, you'll either begin the 3 to 4 day Inca Trail hike, the 2 to 3 day Quarry Trail hike, or stay in Cusco for an optional visit to Chinceros archaeological site before returning to the city. If you're hiking, your main luggage stays at your Cusco hotel and you'll get a small duffle bag (5 kg maximum) for personal items, with porters carrying everything else. If taking the train instead, most luggage remains in Cusco and you'll travel with minimal baggage.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Nourishing meal prepared by cook at campsite (Route 1 & 2))
Included Activities
- Route 1 - Inca Trail: Transfer by minivan to 82 km marker, meet porters/cook/guide, trek to campsite at 3100m, views of Ollantaytambo, Huillca Raccay, Llactapata, and snow-capped Veronica Peak, evening meal at campsite
- Route 2 - Quarry Trail: Transfer to Choquequilla ceremonial site, drive to Rafq'a trek start point, meet horsemen, walk to Socma community, Perolniyoc Cascade lookout, trek to campsite at 3700m, explore Q'orimarca archaeological site
- Route 3 - Cusco: Visit Chinceros archaeological site, return to Cusco with leader
Landmarks Ollantaytambo Huillca Raccay Llactapata Veronica Peak Choquequilla Socma Community Perolniyoc Cascade Q'orimarca Chinceros 
- Day 7
Inca Trail / Quarry Trail / Cusco (Route-Dependent)
Route 1: Today brings the trek's most challenging section, a steep roughly 5-hour climb to Warmiwanusca (Dead Woman's Pass) at 4200m/13,779 feet, with valley views along the way. You'll descend to Pacaymayo Valley campsite at 3650m. Route 2: A rewarding but difficult day starting with a 3-hour walk to Puccaqasa Pass (around 4370m), then a 2-hour hike to Kuychicassa (4450m, the trek's highest point). From there, descend to Intipunku sun gate with views of Nevado Veronica, camping at 3600m. Route 3: Take a free day in Cusco. Consider buying a boleto turistico for access to 16 archaeological sites throughout the area.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Route 1 - Inca Trail: Trek to Warmiwanusca (Dead Woman's Pass) at 4200m, descent to Pacaymayo Valley campsite
- Route 2 - Quarry Trail: Trek to Puccaqasa Pass (approximately 4370m), trek to Kuychicassa Pass (4450m), visit to Intipunku sun gate, descent to campsite at 3600m
- Route 3 - Cusco: Full Boleto Turistico Pass (access to 16 archaeological sites, transport & guides not included)
Optional Activities
- Route 3 - Pisco Making Urban Adventure - USD35
- Route 3 - Via Ferrata & Zipline (Full Day) - USD95
- Route 3 - Stand Up Paddle Boarding (Full Day, based on 4 participants) - USD85
- Route 3 - Humantay Lake Hike (based on 4 participants) - USD130
- Route 3 - Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain Hike (based on 4 participants) - USD100
- Route 3 - Cusco Cooking Class - USD70
- Route 3 - Rainbow Mountain Hike (based on 4 participants) - USD105
Landmarks Warmiwanusca (Dead Woman's Pass) Pacaymayo Valley Puccaqasa Pass Kuychicassa Pass Intipunku (Sun Gate) Nevado Veronica 
- Day 8
Inca Trail / Quarry Trail to Aguas Calientes / Train to Aguas Calientes (Route-Dependent)
Route 1: Climb through Pacaymayo Valley to Runkuracay Pass (3980m) with Cordillera Vilcabamba views, then hike down for 2 to 3 hours to Sayacmarca ruins. Continue over the third pass to Phuyupatamarca (Town Above the Clouds, 3850m), then descend 2 hours down Inca steps to your camp at Winay Wayna. Route 2: An all-downhill hike to the unfinished Kachiqata quarry where Spanish forces stopped the Incas. You'll reach the trek's end by midday, explore Ollantaytambo's cobbled streets, and take a short train to Aguas Calientes. Route 3: Drive 1.5 hours to Ollantaytambo, catch a 1.5-hour train through Urubamba Valley to Aguas Calientes (in cloud forest). You'll meet up with hikers tonight and stay in a comfortable hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Route 1 - Inca Trail: Climb to Runkuracay Pass (3980m), trek to Sayacmarca ruins, trek to Phuyupatamarca (3850m), descent on Inca steps to Winay Wayna campsite
- Route 2 - Quarry Trail: Downhill hike to Kachiqata quarry, trek end, exploration of Ollantaytambo, train journey to Aguas Calientes
- Route 3 - Train: Drive to Ollantaytambo, train journey through Urubamba Valley to Aguas Calientes
Landmarks Pacaymayo Valley Runkuracay Pass Cordillera Vilcabamba Sayacmarca Phuyupatamarca (Town Above the Clouds) Winay Wayna Kachiqata Quarry Ollantaytambo Urubamba Valley Aguas Calientes - Day 9
Cusco
Route 1: Wake before dawn for breakfast at 4 am. After saying goodbye to your porters, start trekking by 4:30 am. Once the checkpoint opens at 5 am, begin your final walk to Intipunku (Sun Gate), a 2.5-hour trek that should be incredible on a clear day with Machu Picchu coming into view. Routes 2 & 3: Catch an early 5:30 am bus up to Machu Picchu. The iconic city was built around 1440 AD as a retreat for Incan nobility, though it was likely a sacred Incan site even before that. You'll take a guided tour through temples, palaces and living quarters. Everyone gets time for photos afterward, then heads back to Aguas Calientes for lunch together. The day finishes with a scenic train ride to Ollantaytambo, followed by a drive back to Cusco, arriving in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Early breakfast at 4 am (Route 1 only)), Lunch (Lunch together in Aguas Calientes)
Included Activities
- Route 1 - Inca Trail: Early breakfast at 4 am, final trek to Intipunku (Sun Gate), entry to Machu Picchu at 5 am
- Route 2 & 3: Early bus at 5:30 am to Machu Picchu, guided tour of temples, palaces and living quarters
- All routes: Photo opportunities at Machu Picchu, bus return to Aguas Calientes, lunch together in Aguas Calientes, scenic train ride to Ollantaytambo, return drive to Cusco
Landmarks Intipunku (Sun Gate) Machu Picchu Aguas Calientes Ollantaytambo Cusco - Day 10
Cusco
After breakfast this morning, your Inca Encounter tour ends here. There are no activities scheduled for your final day, so you're free to either depart or explore Cusco on your own at whatever pace you like.
- Meals
- Breakfast
