Itinerary
- Day 1
Lima
You'll land in Lima and get picked up at the airport for the drive to your hotel in Miraflores. After settling in, there's a group welcome briefing at the hotel to go over the next couple weeks.
- Day 2
Lima to Ica
This starts early, around 5:30am, heading south for four to five hours to Paracas port. From there you'll take a boat out to the Ballestas Islands national park to see marine birds, sea lions, and the Paracas Candelabra. After the boat trip, it's about an hour drive to Ica. If you're interested, there's an option to try sand surfing at the Huacachina oasis near town.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Boat trip to Ballestas Islands national park
- Viewing of Paracas Candelabra
Optional Activities
- Sand surfing at Huacachina oasis
Landmarks/POIs Ballestas Islands Paracas Candelabra Huacachina Oasis - Day 3
Nazca
You'll arrive in Nazca in the afternoon with time to check out the Nazca Lines from the viewing platforms. These massive pre-Inca drawings cut into the desert sand are genuinely mysterious and hard to wrap your head around. There's also an optional scenic flight if you want to see them from above.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Viewing of Nazca Lines from platforms
Optional Activities
- Scenic flight over the Nazca Lines
Landmarks/POIs Nazca Lines - Day 4
Nazca to Abancay
Today's a long one, 11 to 12 hours driving inland from the coast and climbing into the Andes. The Abancay-Chalhuanca road was recently improved, so the trip's a bit easier now. You'll keep an eye out for vicuñas in Peru's largest reserve and flamingos at the high mountain lakes. The highest point you'll reach is Negro Mayu at about 15,090ft/4,600m. After this drive, rest is pretty necessary.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Landmarks/POIs Negro Mayu Pass - Day 5
Abancay to Cuzco
Heading toward Cuzco with stops at the Inca Saywite stone and Tarawasi ruins. The Vilcabamba mountain range with its glaciated peaks and the dramatic drop into the Apurimac River valley make this five to six-hour drive visually great. The Andean views are constant throughout.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Inca Saywite stone
- Visit to Tarawasi ruins
Landmarks/POIs Inca Saywite Stone Tarawasi Ruins Vilcabamba Mountain Range Apurimac River Valley - Day 6
Cuzco
This is your free day in Cuzco to do what you want. There are plenty of historical sites around town. If you prefer something organized, you can take an optional trip to the Sacred Valley and Pisac ruins, or try paddleboarding on a high-altitude lake on the plateau just outside the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit to Sacred Valley of the Incas
- Visit to Pisac ruins
- Paddleboarding on high-altitude lake
Landmarks/POIs Sacred Valley of the Incas Pisac Ruins - Day 7
Cuzco to Huayllabamba Camp
Early morning transfer from Cuzco to the Sacred Valley, about an hour and a half away. You'll reach Ollantaytambo and then drive another hour to Piscacucho at Km82, where the Inca Trail starts. After meeting your trekking crew and showing your passports at the checkpoint, you'll begin the trek walking alongside the Vilcanota River below snow-capped Nevado Veronica. The path goes through cactus gardens and past settlements, reaching the Llactapata terraced ruins and finishing near Huayllabamba village at 9,186ft/2,800m.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Hearty cooked dinner consisting of soup or starter, main course with meat/fish and carbohydrates, followed by dessert)
Included Activities
- Inca Trail trek start at Piscacucho (Km82)
- Walk alongside Vilcanota River
- Visit to Llactapata ruins
Landmarks/POIs Piscacucho (Km82) Nevado Veronica Llactapata Vilcanota River - Day 8
Pacaymayu Camp
A hot drink gets brought to your tent in the morning. This is the toughest and most well-known section of the trail. You'll climb steadily through cloud forest to Llulluchapampa meadows, then reach Dead Woman's Pass at 13,829ft/4,215m, the trek's highest point. After that it's a descent on original Inca steps to the Pacaymayu River valley at 11,811ft/3,600m. Dinner happens in the tent and you'll sleep under the Andean sky.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hearty breakfast and hot drink), Lunch, Dinner (Warm, hot, fresh meal with hot drinks)
Included Activities
- Summit Dead Woman's Pass (Warmihuañusca) at 13,829ft
- Descent on original Inca steps
- Inca Trail trekking
Landmarks/POIs Dead Woman's Pass (Warmihuañusca) Llulluchapampa Pacaymayu River Valley - Day 9
Phuyupatamarca Camp
Starting with a climb past Runquracay ruins and over Runquracay Pass at 12,894ft/3,930m, which is the second and last major pass. After that the Inca Trail becomes a more clearly defined rolling path made of flat boulders. You'll visit Sayacmarca at 11,893ft/3,626m, an outstanding archaeological site sitting above green cloud forest. Views of Salkantay mountain come into sight as you hike to the ridge above Phuyupatamarca at 12,073ft/3,680m, where the sunset and sunrise are really something.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hearty breakfast and hot drink), Lunch, Dinner (Hot cooked meal)
Included Activities
- Climb over Runquracay Pass (12,894ft)
- Visit to Runquracay ruins
- Visit to Sayacmarca archaeological site
- Inca Trail trekking
Landmarks/POIs Runquracay Runquracay Pass Sayacmarca Phuyupatamarca Salkantay Mountain - Day 10
Inca Trail to Aguas Calientes
From Phuyupatamarca you'll descend the famous Inca steps, a 1.2 mile stone staircase with panoramic views of the Vilcabamba peaks and the Vilcanota River far below. At Wiñay Wayna there's time to walk through the ruins and have lunch. Then it's a relatively flat section through cloud forest with wild orchids before reaching Inti Punku, the Sun Gate, where you get your first full view of Machu Picchu with Huayna Picchu mountain behind it. The late afternoon arrival means clear views and good photos. After that a 30 minute bus ride takes you down to Aguas Calientes for a shower and real bed.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hearty breakfast), Lunch
Included Activities
- Descent of famous Inca steps
- Visit to Wiñay Wayna ruins
- Arrival at Inti Punku (Sun Gate)
- First viewing of Machu Picchu
- Inca Trail trekking completion
Landmarks/POIs Wiñay Wayna Inti Punku (Sun Gate) Machu Picchu Huayna Picchu Vilcabamba Range Vilcanota River - Day 11
Machu Picchu to Cuzco
After resting up, you'll head back up to Machu Picchu for a guided tour. A guide will walk you through this architectural and engineering marvel set against that incredible mountain backdrop. You'll learn about the history, culture, architecture and the mysteries of this city that was lost in the jungle for centuries until Hiram Bingham rediscovered it in 1911. Later you'll catch the train back to Ollantaytambo for an hour and a half, then a private bus for another hour and a half to get back to Cuzco.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Machu Picchu
Landmarks/POIs Machu Picchu - Day 12
Cuzco to Puno
A 10 hour private coach drive along the Vilcanota River and onto the altiplano, the high plains between the Andes and the jungle. It's a long day but the drive itself is interesting and often has beautiful views. Stops at interesting sites help break things up so it doesn't feel endless. The Andean landscape feels really massive throughout. You'll arrive in Puno at 12,470ft/3,800m on Lake Titicaca's shores in the afternoon. A packed lunch is included.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Packed lunch)
Included Activities
- Scenic drive along Vilcanota River
- Travel across the altiplano
Landmarks/POIs Vilcanota River Lake Titicaca - Day 13
Lake Titicaca
A boat takes you to the floating island of Uros, where the Uros people have lived on reed rafts for centuries. While many moved to the mainland, a couple thousand still live on these anchored islands near Puno. You'll see their tourism practices and traditional fishing and bartering. Then you'll continue to Taquile Island, where the community there is known for their weaving and traditional lifestyle. The panoramic lake views are really good, and on clear days you can see the snow-capped peaks of the Cordillera Real. There's an optional lunch on the island if you want it before heading back to Puno.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Boat trip to Uros floating islands
- Visit to Uros community
- Boat trip to Taquile Island
- Visit to Taquile Island community
Optional Activities
- Lunch on Taquile Island
Landmarks/POIs Uros Islands Taquile Island Cordillera Real Lake Titicaca - Day 14
Puno to Lima
About an hour transfer to Juliaca Airport, then an afternoon flight back to Lima. There's a chance for a final group meal at one of the local restaurants in the evening if everyone's interested, though that's on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Final meal at local restaurant in Lima
- Day 15
Lima
After breakfast you'll start heading home. Or if you want more adventure, there's an optional Amazon Rainforest extension to explore jungle lakes, rivers and trails while looking for wildlife.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Amazon Rainforest extension
