Pick-up from your hotel at 05:40 am. Bring your original passport. Our journey from Cusco to Piscacucho takes approx. 3 hours, beautiful views of the Sacred Valley, the Urubamba River, Andean towns, and the Inca town of Ollantaytambo. 

After 1 hour ride, we will stop in Urubamba to stretch our legs, use the bathroom, and enjoy a small breakfast, then we continue to Km 82 (Piscacucho 2,680 masl) start of the trek. There we will meet our camp crew, porters who will carry our belongings during the entire trek. Passports in hand, we clear the official Inca Trail checkpoint, cross a suspension footbridge across the Urubamba River, and begin our trek with a gentle climb.

We have three hours on relatively level terrain as we follow the course of the river, rewarded with superb views of Mount Veronica (5,750 m). The easy walk passes through a forest of giant cactus and native bushes. At Miskay we take the trail to the left, ascending gradually to Willkaraccay high above the mouth of the Cusichaka stream and across from the Inca town of Llactapata. Our vantage point is from a flat bluff above the extensive site, which was built as a fort because it commands the entrance to the Cusichaka Valley. The terracing system was used during Inca times for growing potatoes, maize and cereals crops that needed irrigation in the dry highlands.

After a short rest, we continue another 15 minutes down to our lunch site at Tayaroc. Our path is adorned with native flowers and bromeliads growing in the boulders along the left side, and by majestic views of the mountains in both valleys. Walking times are always approximate, depending on weather conditions, group ability and other factors. After lunch, another 2-3 hours will bring us to Hatun Chaka Camp (3,000 m) You will be rewarded with a Macho Tea hot drink and a buffet dinner will be offered. Hot water buckets are offered for washing. Showers available for 10 soles (Peruvian currency). Guides will present our plans for the next day.

Minimum altitude:2,680 m/8,790 ft ; Maximum altitude: 3,000 m/10,824 ft ; Distance: 12 km approx; Duration: 6-7 hours / Ascent up: 620 m

After breakfast, around 7:00 am we re-start our walk for 45 minutes to Huayllabamba, then climb to Ayapata it takes around 1 hour followed by a soft uphill climb through woods and along a stream. Today is the biggest climb of our hike but with plenty of time to enjoy with breaks to rest. It is strenuous because you gain 1,200 meters in elevation planned in 2 stages, but it is rewarded with spectacular views up the mountain, partly it is an old Inca Stone steps, surrounding with impressive snow-covered peaks as (Apu Huayanay Mountain in our back at the South).

You will take 2-3 hour hike with several stops to catch your breath to reach the lunch place at Llulluchapampa Valley with expectacular views around, along the trail, we ascend steeply uphill through the Corralpunku Valley to the Llulluchayoc Zone, where you can see some species of birds, with luck we will see tinny hummingbirds, falcons and black-chested buzzard eagles or perhaps we see the king of the Andean heights the Condor, respected and venerated at Andean towns. We will soon enter into a beautiful cloud forest, or polylepis woodland (Qeuñas and Chachacomos small andean bushes) and the treeless grasslands of the Puna región, habitat of tarucas (deers) and pumas.

From here, you can see the highest mountain ahead called Warmiwañusca (Dead Woman’s pass 4,200 m.) At Llulluchapampa our camp crew will be have a delicious Peruvian gourmet lunch. After lunch there is a time to rest maybe a short nap. Then we continue our hike for another 2-3 hours, 600 meter ascent up to the top of the mountain, Warmiwañusca. The path still climbs along a large number of steps, some of them newly laid to protect from erosion. You can walk at your own pace, stopping to catching your breath.

Once the entire group reaches this pass, time for a great group picture then we take a short rest, before beginning a steep descent into the Pacaymayo Valley. Then the path climbs very steeply till we reach the second pass of the day, Runcuracay Mt at (3,950 m), is another hour up. Just before the real pass, the path winds between two tarns where Andean gulls sometimes gather. The second pass is another broad saddle, boasting exceptional views, in clear weather, you can look back to Warmiwañuska pass and forward to a breath-taking sweep of snow-capped peaks. These include the 6,000-m Pumasillo Mt (Puma’s Claw).

From here, most of the trail is downhill until camp.

Minimum altitude:3,000 m/9,840 ft ; Maximum altitude:4,200 m/13,776 ft ; Distance: 18 km approx ; Duration: 7-8 hours / Ascent up: 900 m

After breakfast, around 7:00 am, we will hike along a trail of well-kept stone., still in great condition after many centuries. Your lungs will appreciate the fact that today’s hike is much more down than up, and significantly shorter than yesterday’s. In getting to Phuyupatamarca (the Town of the Clouds), we will pass through the first of two short, natural tunnels. After visiting this ruins, we will descend about 2,000 stone steps to Wiñaywayna camp, use trekking poles to relieve some of the stress on your joints.

There is an additional short hike to Intipata another impressive Inca site with farm terraces before we get to our camp. Around 5 pm, we will arrive at Wiñaywayna (2,700 m) once set in our tents and before it get dark we walk for 5 minutes to have a spectacular view and a tour around this impressive Inca citadel, the most preserved and biggest Inca site on the Inca Trail. Cold showers, beers and basic toilets.

Minimum altitude: 2,700 m/8,856 ft ; Maximum altitude: 3,750 m/ 12,300 ft ; Distance: 10 Km approx. ; Duration: 7-8 hours / Descent : 700 m

We will get up very early–around 4:00 am–to get to Inti Punku (the Sun Gate), overlooking Machu Picchu for the first rays of the sunrise. This will be a hike of 1-2 hours, with significant upward stretches in the last half. You will be hiking in darkness for one hour, so a head lamp is essential.

From Inti Punku (the Sun Gate), a final easy 50-minutes walk downhill steps will bring us first to the upper south sector of Machu Picchu. The trail ends at a series of terraces, which present classic views of the overall city, after enjoying a panoramic view we must walk straight down to the entrance of Machu Picchu. 

Because we'll be tired, we'll head straight to the gorgeous Belmond Hotel, where we'll relax and have our body treatments that we've scheduled earlier. Lunch and dinner are included in our stay, so enjoy, relax, be happy. 

Minimum altitude: 2,400 m / 7,872 ft ( Machu Picchu ) ; Maximum altitude: 2,700 m / 8,856 ft ; Distance: 6 Km approx. plus exploration of Machu Picchu ; Duration: 6-7 hours / Descent : 300 m.

We’ll spend the day relaxing on the grounds of the Belmont Sanctuary Hotel. You will have earned this day of relaxation. We’ll take a late afternoon train back to Cusco, and return to the hotel where we began our adventure.

Reluctantly we kiss Peru and each other goodbye. Those with late flights have another chance to explore Cusco.