Wonders of Peru and Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 12 Days


Wonders of Peru

We’ll tour Lima and Cusco as well as visiting the Sacred Valley of the Incas and hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu! Afterwards we’ll take a touristic bus visiting archaeological sites along the way until we reach Puno for a tour of Titicaca Lake visiting the Uros Floating Islands.

Availability for the Wonders of Peru and Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 12 Days 11 Nights

The Peruvian government has strict limitations on how many people are permitted to use the Inca Trail (permits are issued to about 200 trekkers per day and about 300 porters/guides with a total of 500 permits issued daily). We recommend booking the Inca Trail as early as possible, sometimes even 6 months in advance!.

We also recommend booking the Inca Trail trek before booking your hotels, flights, etc., since Inca Trail permits are limited!.

Daily departures are available throughout the year (March through January-February the Inca Trail is closed), even though the recommended period for this trek is April to October because it is the dry season.

All private service departure dates are adapted to your request any day you choose. Also contact us for group departure date availability.


Itinerary

When you arrive in Lima, we’ll pick you up and bring you to your hotel. The rest of the day will be a free day to do what you want. Overnight in hotel.

On the second day in Lima, we’ll go on a guided City Tour of Lima where we’ll visit some of the most popular sites. We’ll start by picking you up from your hotel and walking to the city center to see the beautiful buildings around the main square, or Plaza Mayor, like the Government Palace, the Lima Cathedral, the Archbishop’s Palace, and the Municipal Palace. Most buildings here are from the colonial era. We’ll then visit the San Francisco Convent which is also famous for its catacombs. We’ll also visit the modern part of Lima "El Olivar" in San Isidro Miraflores residential area and the Larco Mar shopping center, which offers a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean and contains souvenir shops where you can buy good quality fabrics made from vicuña and alpaca wool. Overnight in hotel.

San Francisco Convent - Lima
San Francisco Convent - Lima

Today we’ll leave Lima. According to your flight schedule, we’ll pick you up from your hotel and bring you to the airport in Lima. Here you’ll board a flight to Cusco. When you land in Cusco we’ll be waiting there to bring you to your hotel. You’ll have the rest of the day for yourself and some time to acclimatize to the altitude of Cusco. Overnight in hotel.

Today we’ll have a half day tour of the city of Cusco, lasting about 5 hours. We’ll start by visiting Koricancha / Santo Domingo Monastery. Koricancha was believed to be the main temple where the Incas worshiped the Sun God. When the Spanish conquistadores took the city, they removed all of the gold believed to have covered Koricancha and the golden statues, as well as destroying much of the building. There is still a large part which you can see under the construction of the Santo Domingo Monastery. From here we’ll go outside of the city to Sacsayhuaman which, although also partially destroyed by the Spanish, is still very impressive with its large blocks of stone, some weighing more than 100 tons. We’ll travel on to Quenqo meaning ‘labyrinth.’ Experts believe this site was used for ceremonial purposes. This is also the beginning of the famous Inti Raymi festival. Next on our list will be Pucapucara which is believed to be a control point where the Incas controlled the entrance into Cusco. Our last stop will be the temple dedicated to the worship of water Tambomachay before going back to Cusco. Overnight in hotel.

Tambomachay Ruins - Cusco
Tambomachay Ruins - Cusco

Today we’ll take the day to visit the Sacred Valley of the Incas! We’ll start by visiting Pisac which is known for the P’isaq Archaeological Park and Pisac Market. At the Pisac Market, there are many opportunities to buy souvenirs since this market is famous for the variety of handmade jewelry, textiles, and pottery. After visiting Pisac, we’ll travel to Urubamba where we’ll have a buffet lunch. And after lunch, we’ll travel to Ollantaytambo, where we’ll see many examples of Inca architecture throughout the town. After visiting Ollantaytambo we’ll drive to Chinchero which also means ‘Rainbow City’ which has a great view of the area around it. The people living there still hold on to traditions generations old. People also come to see their church with its painted murals and traditional market. From Chinchero, we’ll return to Cusco around 7:00. Overnight in hotel.

Chincheros - Sacred Valley of the Incas
Chincheros - Sacred Valley of the Incas

Today we’ll start our Inca Trail trek part of our tour! After we pick everyone up from their hotels in Cusco, we’ll leave the city and travel to KM82 which is about 2 ½ hours away. If you didn’t have breakfast in the morning, you’ll have time to eat a snack along the way. When we arrive at KM82 which is also the first Inca Trail checkpoint, the authorities will check for your Inca Trail permit, your passport and if you booked your tour with a student discount, your ISIC (International Student Identity Card). From here we’ll hike to Miskay where we’ll have lunch. After lunch we’ll hike an additional 2 hours to Wayllabamba which will be our camp for the night. We’ll have time in the evening to settle our things in our tents and get to know everyone better over dinner.

Inca Trail - Km 82 to Wayllabamba
Inca Trail - Km 82 to Wayllabamba

Today we’ll be woken up with a hot cup of coca tea! After our tea and breakfast, we’ll continue out Inca Trail trek going uphill to the highest point of our trek, Dead Woman Pass at 4600 meters! The hike will take about 5 hours before reaching the pass. After stopping for a break at the top, taking pictures and celebrating your climb, we’ll go downhill for about 2 hours until we reach our camp in Paccaymayu. We’ll have lunch and the rest of the afternoon to rest at our camp. Tonight will be the coldest part of our Inca Trail trek since our campsite is at 3600 meters.

Inca Trail - Wayllabamba to Dead Woman Pass
Inca Trail - Wayllabamba to Dead Woman Pass

On day 3 of our Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu, we’ll have another hot cup of coca tea to help wake us up early in the morning. After tea and breakfast we’ll hike about 1 hour uphill to the Inca ruins of Runkuraqhay before continuing for another hour to the second highest pass with the same name, Runkuraqhay Pass, which is at 4000 meters. We’ll hike an additional 45 minutes to the Sayacmarka ruins. After we visit these ruins, we’ll hike about 25 minutes to get to our lunch site at Chakiccocha. We’ll have lunch and then go on hiking to the Inca ruins of Phuyupatamarka which will also be our last pass at 3600 meters. We’ll hike another 2 hours to reach Wiñayhuayna at around 5:00pm. We’ll have a special ‘good bye’ dinner for the porters tonight since we’ll see them very shortly tomorrow morning before we’re on our way again.

Inca Trail to Wiñayhuayna
Inca Trail to Wiñayhuayna

This will be the last day of our Inca Trail trek since we’re visiting Machu Picchu today! We’ll wake up at about 3:30am and have breakfast before we start hiking to the 1st Inca trail control point for today. You will need to show your passport and ISIC (if you booked the trip with a student discount) again and we’ll wait a little at the checkpoint before they let us through. From here we’ll hike to the Sun Gate which will take about an hour and a half. From this point we’ll have our first view of Machu Picchu! We’ll take a short break to take pictures and take in the magical view. We’ll walk for another 30 minutes to the 2nd control point outside of Machu Picchu. Here you can store your large backpack for a fee of 3 Peruvian Nueva Soles. When we are all in Machu Picchu we’ll have a guided tour which should last about 2 hours taking you to some of the most important sacred sites. Afterwards we’ll have time on our own to roam around until we’re ready to head down to Aguas Calientes. We’ll take a bus from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes where we can have lunch (not included) and buy souvenirs. According to your train schedule, you’ll board the Expedition train to Ollantaytambo where we’ll be waiting to pick you up. From Ollantaytambo we’ll bring you to Cusco. Overnight in hotel.

Note: The time table for the trains may change according to the train company’s availability. There will also be changes to your itinerary and price if you decide to change your departure time, or upgrade to the Vistadome Train. If you booked later than most of your group for your Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu, you may not be in the same train as the rest of your group.

Lunch in Aguas Calientes - Village of Machu Picchu
Lunch in Aguas Calientes - Village of Machu Picchu

Today we’ll leave Cusco and take a touristic bus to Puno. A long the way we’ll visit a few interesting archaeological sites like Pukara, Andahuaylillas and Raqchi as well as enjoy the beautiful landscapes. We’ll have a buffet lunch and drinks today. When we arrive in Puno we’ll bring you to your hotel. Overnight in hotel.

Andahuaylillas
Andahuaylillas

Today we’ll go to the Titicaca Lake for a tour of the Floating Islands of Uros and Taquile Island! We’ll start the day by picking you up from your hotel and bringing you to the harbor of Titicaca Lake where we’ll board a boat. We’ll visit the Floating Islands of Uros first, learning about their community’s customs and lifestyle. The people of Uros started building the floating islands made of reeds from the shallow parts of Lake Tititcaca centuries ago to protect themselves from other tribes. After our visit to the Floating Islands of Uros, we’ll board the boat again to travel to Taquile Island, about 2 hours away. Here we’ll notice the community speaks Quechua and hols on to their weaving traditions for which they’re famous. They are well known for their "Chullos", knitted hats earflaps, and "The Calendar Waistband", showing the annual cycles connected to rituals and agricultural activities. You’ll have a great view of Lake Titicaca as you walk around the Island and when we’re at the top we’ll have lunch together. After we have lunch we’ll walk back down to the harbor where we’ll board our boat once again so we can travel back to Puno. From the harbor in Puno we’ll bring you back to your hotel. Overnight in hotel.

Floating Islands of Uros
Floating Islands of Uros

Today will be the last day of your trip and, according to your schedule, we’ll pick you up from your hotel and bring you to the airport o bus terminal. This will be the end of our services.


MORE INFORMATION

  • Transfer Airport/Station to hotel to Airport/Station – Lima, Cusco and Puno.
  • Round-trip flight Lima – Cusco – Lima.
  • 2 nights hotel in Lima.
  • 4 nights hotel in Cusco.
  • 2 nights hotel in Puno.
  • City Tour Lima.
  • City Tour Cusco.
  • Sacred Valley of the Incas Tour.
  • Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu (see what is included for trek below).
  • Tourist bus from Cusco to Puno (includes lunch and drinks during trip).
  • Lake Titicaca guided tour (visit Uros Floating Islands and Taquile Island).
  • Lunch on Taquile Island.
  • Tourist motorized boat for Titicaca Lake tour.
  • Transfers from/to hotel and Lake Titicaca harbor.
  • Briefing (usually scheduled one or two days before your trek).
  • Tourist bus to beginning of trek.
  • Inca Trail entrance ticket.
  • Machu Picchu entrance ticket.
  • First Aid basic equipment and oxygen for emergencies.
  • Professional bilingual (Spanish/English) guide (guides who speak other languages upon request).
  • Meals: 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners (vegetarian, vegan, etc. dietary requirements available if requested during time of booking at no extra charge).
  • 1 Bus ticket from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes
  • Expedition Train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo (see note about train availability, changes in times, etc.)
  • Transportation from Ollantaytambo to Cusco
  • Drinks and personal expenses.
  • Tips.
  • National/international phone calls.
  • Other items/activities not included in itinerary.
  • Breakfast Day 1 of trek, Lunch and dinner on the last day of trek.
  • Entrance fees for Thermal Baths in Aguas Calientes ($4)
  • Porter to carry your personal belongings
  • Backpack storage at Machu Picchu (3 soles)
  • Water for your water bottles. You can buy water along the way or bring water purification tablets
  • Activities and items not included in the itinerary
  • Walking sticks (10 $ for a pair of sticks)
  • Extra porter for personal items (60$ for 7 Kilos – max. 7 Kilos)
  • Upgrade to Single room in Aguas Calientes (35$)
  • Upgrade to Vistadome train (80$ )
  • Entrance ticket to Huayna Picchu (65$) – There is only a limited space at Huayna Picchu (400 persons per day), so it is a good idea to book in advance.
  • We can help you to book hotels (standard and luxury) in whole Peru.
  • You should bring your original passport (International Student card (ISIC) if applicable)
  • Walking boots
  • Waterproof jacket/rain jacket
  • Warm jacket, hat and gloves
  • T-shirts
  • Comfortable trousers
  • Sun hat
  • Sunglasses
  • Sun protection cream (factor 35 recommended)
  • Re-usable plastic or metal water container or camel bags
  • Water for the first day, but on the way it is possible to buy bottles of water from local families.
  • Insect repellent
  • Toiletries
  • Personal medication
  • Camera and films
  • Shorts
  • Walking stick (with rubber tip)
  • Plasters and bandages
  • Sandals
  • Baiting suit for the hot springs
  • Extra money for personal expensive, tips and entrance fees for hot springs (entrance fee for the hot spring is: 4 US $ / 10 Soles), (recommended 200 Peruvian nuevos soles for extra money)
  • With an ISIC card you can get a discount (20$) of the Inca Trail; you need to scan and send it to us at the time of your booking.
  • If you are under 17 years old, you can get a discount (20 $) of the Inca trail; you have to scan and send you passport to us at the time of your booking.
  • The Itinerary can change according to the Peruvian government, climate and health status of the trekkers.
  • The train schedule can change according to availability of the train company.
  • The train that we provide is the expedition train to Ollantaytambo – if someone books a train ticket in the last minute it is not sure that they can come in the same train as the other group.
  • If you would like to change your train schedule or tickets, you have to pay more for the transport from Ollantaytambo to Cusco and for the price change of the train.

Cusco – Huayllabamba:

- Meals: L D
- Accommodation: Camping
- Maximum Altitude: 2954m/9694ft
- Minimum Altitude: 2670m/8761ft
- Distance Travelled: 9 km approx.
- Approximate Walking Time: 5 Hours

Huayllabamba – Pacaymayo:

- Meals : B L D
- Accommodation: Camping
- Maximum Altitude: 4226m/13866ft
- Minimum Altitude: 2954m/9694ft
- Distance Travelled: 12 km approx.
- Approximate Walking Time: 5 Hours

Paqaymayo – Phuyupatamarka:

- Meals : B L D
- Accommodation: Camping
- Maximum Altitude: 3974m/13039ft
- Minimum Altitude: 3627m/11900ft
- Distance Travelled: 16 km approx.
- Approximate Walking Time: 6 Hours

Wiñay Wayna – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes:

- Meals : B
- Maximum Altitude: 3688m/12100ft
- Minimum Altitude: 2088m/6850ft
- Distance Travelled: 6 km approx.
- Approximate Walking Time: 4 Hours

Preparation prior the trekking:

- due to the altitude we recommend a period of at least 2 days for acclimatization in Cusco at 3350m/9840ft
- We advise you to practice walking longer distances before doing the Inca Trail


Route on Google Map


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