Peru Multisport and Inca Trail Trek: Detailed Itinerary

Day  1 : Fly to Cusco

This morning we fly to the ancient capital of the Incan Empire, the magical city of Cusco. We wander along Cusco’s narrow streets, pausing to admire the Incan walls now melded into its colonial structures. Also, we visit the Cathedral and the Temple of the Moon.  Hotel: Casa Andina Classic Cusco/ Meals : B

A few words about Cusco…
The Incas built a vast empire that stretched from modern Ecuador and Colombia to southern Chile.  The empire, much larger in size than any previous new-world empire, was called Tawantinsuyo (the “Four Quarters of the Earth”).  Cusco was the heart of the empire, and its exact center was considered to be the main square of the city.  Today, Cusco is still laid out much as it was in Inca times.  Cusco was more than just a capital city to the Incas and the millions of subjects in their realm. Cusco was a holy city, a place of pilgrimage that was as important to the Quechuas.

Day 2:  Sacsayhuaman, Awanacancha and Pisac ( ruins & market)

Today we enjoy a excursion up to the ruins of Sacsayhuaman. Over a period of 50 years, 20,000 men were employed in the construction of this site. It has been said that these ruins are one of the most astounding megalithic structures of the ancient world.  Then, we continue to Awanacancha, a traditional Andean textile center and then to  the Inca ruins of Pisaq, where there is a beautiful view of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. From here we have the option of walking down to the market, with the chance of seeing more ruins on the way or we can take transportation to get there. This is the most famous arts and crafts market in town.  Hotel: La Hacienda /  Meals: B

Day 3:  Via Ferrata, Zip Line and Ollantaytambo

A via ferrata is a path used to climb a mountain with a safety system permanently installed. It gives the chance to people without any experience in climbing, the opportunity to move through spectacular mountain scenery using a minimum of equipment. The climber is permanently tide to a steel cable that runs through the entire route. Usually does not require any climbing rope. Metal ladders, bridges and similar facilities are used. This helps maintain the physical difficulty of climbing and mix beginners skills while providing access to a very high, and extreme vertical sections of a mountain, that could only be accessible to experienced rock climbers. After lunch we visit the ruins and town of Ollantaytambo. This charming town is the only living city of the Incas, where it's people still live in original Inca buildings, use channels and Inca terraces. Wandering around this town gives the best example of what an Inca town must really have been like.  Hotel: La Hacienda/ Meals : B

The Inka Trail to Machu Picchu is the most renowned trek in the Peruvian Andes, and ranks among the most popular and beautiful in the world. The classic 43 kilometer long trip combines a number of outstanding features, such as long hidden and rediscovered archaeological remains, stupendous mountain scenery, dense cloud forest containing an amazing diversity of flora and fauna, a truly astounding marvel of architecture and engineering as is the Inka Road, winding up in the most wondrous and dazzling prize of all: the Sacred Inca City of Machupicchu.  

Day 4 -   Cusco to Wayllabamba

Between 4:00 and 4:30am our staff and private transport will be picking you up at your hotel in Cusco. We will drive to the trailhead situated by the rural community of Piscacucho at a point corresponding to kilometer 82 of the Cusco-Machu Picchu railway on the right bank of the Urubamba River. Here there is a bridge spanning the river over which we cross to the left bank and hike along it on relatively level terrain to shortly reach the small settlement of Miskay (elevation: 2800m/9184ft above sea level). We are rewarded with a stupendous view of the Inca city of Llactapata (elev.: 2750m/9020ft). We descend toward the archaeological site and from there begin trekking up the valley of the Kusichaka River, gradually ascending for several hours until reaching the farming community of Wayllabamba, (elevation: 3000m/9840 ft a. s. l, where we set up camp for the night. Meals: B +L+D

Day 5 -   Wayllabamba to Pacaymayo

We rise at 6:00am and, leaving the village of Wayllabamba, we depart from the main Kusichaka River Valley and begin ascending the tributary valley of Llulluchayoc following an easterly direction towards Warwihuañusca pass ("Dead Woman Pass”).  This is generally regarded as the most difficult or demanding section of the entire trek. There is abundant birdlife, with a predominance of Finches, Thrushes, Tanagers and Seed-eaters. The cloud forest is also one of the preferred environments of the Andean Spectacled Bear (Tremarctus Ornatus). There are fine views of the surrounding mountains from the summit of the pass we then descend into the Pacamayo river valley (elev.: 3600 m/11808 ft. a. s. l.)  Meals: B+L+D 

Day 6   Pacaymayo to Phuyupatamarca

Today is the longest day of the trek yet by far the most rewarding. From Pacaymayo we ascend the second pass, known as the Abra de Runkurakay (elev.: 3870m/13022ft. a. s. l.). Halfway to the summit lies the archaeological complex of Runkurakay, located at an elevation of 3800m/12464ft. a. s. l. It consists of a small slightly oval circular structure believed to have served the purpose of observation post or perhaps a small garrison. Once having surmounted the pass, we begin descending following a well defined Inka road, paved with granite flagstones and steps of quarried and dressed blocks of stone. We pass by Yanacocha (Black Lake), gradually entering the fringes of the vegetated area, until reaching the archaeological complex of Sayajmarca (elev.:3624m/11887ft a. s. l.). This is a strikingly beautiful site, constructed on a mountain spur, surrounded on three sides by precipitous slopes and reachable only through a steep and narrow stairway. Upon descending from Sayacmarka back on to the main trail we enter  a stretch of dense cloud forest, then ascend a moderate gradient following a wide Inka road that eventually flows laterally on to the third pass of the Inka Trail, the Abra of Phuyupatamarka, the elevation of which is cited as 3700m/12136ft a. s. l.Just below the Phuyupatamerca Pass, lies the archeological complex of Phuyupatamarca. As seen from above –and subsequently confirmed as one walks through it- this is an architecturally sophisticated complex very probably of sacred or religious nature. Meals: B+L+D

Day 7  Phuyupatamarca to Machu Picchu

On this final day of our trek, we set off from Wiñaywayna at 5:00am. One more hour of hiking through the cloud forest on a walkway paved with ashlars, brings us to Intipunku ("the Gateway of the Sun") from where we can finally cast our eyes upon the fabulous hidden city of Machu Picchu. If we have managed to arrive at Intipunku in time for sunrise, we shall witness the same sacred manifestation that was so highly revered by the Inkas. From Intipunku, a 40 minute descent leads us to the so-called "House of the Guardians" and the entranceway to the citadel. From here we proceed down to the control station in order to register and deposit our backpacks, after which we immediately go forth on a complete guided tour of the citadel, lasting approximately 2 hours. Once the tour has concluded we will have free time at our disposal to walk around and explore.Come the afternoon, in Aguas Calientes we board the afternoon train back to Cusco, where we arrive after nightfall.  Hotel: Andina Hotel / Meals: B + L

Day 9: Machu Picchu

We rise early and board a bus up to the citadel of Machu Picchu. Upon arrival we immediately set forth on a complete guided tour of the site, lasting approximately 2 hours. Once the tour has concluded we will have free time at our disposal to walk around and explore. We board the afternoon train back to Ollantaytambo and then board a private transportation to our hotel in Cusco.  Hotel: Casa Andina Classic Cusco/ Meals: B

Day 10: Fly to Lima

Transfer to Cusco´s airport. Meals: B

Optional River Extension

(includes a night in Cusco at Casa Andina)

The Apurimac River (a Quechua word meaning "the voice of God") is the most distant source of the world's longest and largest river: the mighty Amazon. Cascading off majestic snow covered peaks, The Apurimac carves through the Andes as it flows northward eventually joining several other Peruvian rivers before crossing into Brazil. The Apurimac along with the Cotahuasi and Colca, are among the deepest river canyons in the world and are all found in Southern Peru.

In its final thrust through the Andes into the jungle, the waters of the Apurimac flow through a gorge 3,000 meters (about 10,000 feet) deep forming countless Class III, IV and V rapids. This inner canyon with its imposing sheer granite walls, impressive geological formations, clear aquamarine water, and beautiful sand beaches creates the gem of the Andes and one of the most sought after river expeditions on Earth.

Meals: Day 1 ( L+D), Day 2  (B+L+D), Day 3 (B+L+D), Day 4 (B+L)