The itinerary below is a sample. Hiking times are an average and will vary depending on the group. Additionally, lunch and camp sites may change to meet the needs of the group and conditions.
Day 1: Lima – Cusco
Your Peru tour begins as Apu Andino guides pick you up at the airport, stopping for a quick tour of the colonial Plaza de Armas. From there, you will be taken to your hotel and be free for the rest of the day to explore the city and acclimatize to the altitude (10,856 ft). Overnight in Cusco City.
Day 2: Cusco City Tour
This city tour involves visiting Cusco´s highlights. We start off by visiting the huge Inca ceremonial center of Sacsayhuaman, which overlooks the city of Cusco. Next, we visit another important Inca site known as Qenqo, which houses subterranean passages and a mummification site. Then we will make a short visit to the archaeological Inca site of Tambomachay, a temple dedicated to the God of Water
After exploring these sites, we will return to the city centre, where we will visit one of the most sacred Inca buildings, The Temple of Qoricancha. Within its walls religious ceremonies were constant and offerings to the Gods and the Inca’s mummies were made each day. Finally we will visit the beautiful Cathedral of Cusco, which holds many archaeological artifacts and relics. Among them is a famous painting of the Last Supper by Marcos Zapata, showing Christ and the apostles eating a guinea pig. Overnight in Cusco City.
Pre-Trek (6pm at accommodation)
Before the trek, your guide will meet you at your hotel for an in-depth briefing. This provides an opportunity to ask questions and do any last-minute shopping before leaving Cusco.
Day 3: Sacred Valley
We will pick you up from the hotel at 8:15 a.m. and drive to the town of Pisaq (approximately an hour) stopping at natural viewpoints along our way where we’ll be able to see the entire Sacred Valley from above.
Once in Pisaq, we will drive up to the ruins (2,950m / 9,678ft), where you will see and learn about different aspects of Incan culture. You will be able to view intricate stone workings and impressive agricultural terraces all over the place. After touring around the ruins, we will get back into the bus and drive down to Pisaq´s town centre, where there is a unique market that deserves to be visited.
At the market you will have free time to walk around and do some shopping. Afterwards we will meet for lunch in a nice local restaurant to enjoy delicious Andean cuisine.
After lunch we will continue with the tour by driving along the Urubamba River towards the town of Ollantaytambo (2,700m / 8,858ft). Once there we will visit the ruins of Ollantaytambo, a significant construction built during the pinnacle of the Incan civilization. This is an extraordinary place where besides the ruins you may also see an amazing rock formation representing the Inca god Wiracocha. Afterwards we visit the famous ruins of Chinchero (3,762m / 12,343ft).
Finally, we will drive back to Cusco and drop you off at your hotel, arriving at approximately 6:30 p.m. Overnight in Cusco City.
Day 4: Cusco – Trailhead at km 82-Ayapata.
This action-packed day of our tour begins with a transfer to the Km 82 via private transportation, where you begin the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. After meeting our porters, you cross the Urubamba River by bridge and continue along the river with views of the Vilcanota mountain range and Mt. Veronica (5,713m / 18,745 ft). Traveling through the Sacred Valley, you’ll see vestiges of an ancient culture and its agriculture practices. and get to see a variety of native plant life and birds throughout the day.
Hiking up the narrow Cusichaca valley takes us pass more Inca ruins and small farms before arriving in Huayllabamba,where or lunch will be, Our campsite for the night is at Ayapata (3300m / 10829ft) which is a little further along the trail than most groups go; as we’re camping further up the trail the next day’s trek up to the pass is a little easier for us and with fewer tourists at the campsite we can enjoy the peace and tranquility of this beautiful place.
6 hours walking, 2700-3300m 14 km
Day 5: Ayapata – Chaquicocha.
Our day will start with generous breakfast. Physically, this is the most strenuous day of the trek, as the trail ascends steeply toward Warmiwañusca pass (4,170m /13,680 ft). From there, the trail descends to the Pacaymayo River and then climbs slowly past the ruins of Runkuraqay. Another pass takes you from Runkuraqay to the ruins of Sayacmarca (3,850m / 12,628 ft). Along the way, you’ll see some advanced Inca engineering before coming upon the beautiful ruins of Chaquicocha (3,657m /12,000 ft). Our campsite tonight is at Chaquicocha (3600m / 11800ft) which like Ayapata is one of the quieter campsites and affords beautiful views of the sun-setting over the mountains in the distance.
8-9 hours walking, 3300-4200-3600m 16km.
Day 6: Chaquicocha – Wiñaywayna.
Today is a diversed day. relaxing day through some of the most beautiful scenery the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu has to offer. The next major Inca site on the trail, Phuyupatamarca, or the “town in the clouds,” is a large administrative and religious complex complete with a series of sacred baths. After this site, the trail continues to descend stone steps through cloud-forest where we will see hanging mosses, orchids, hummingbirds, and other native plants and animals. this is by far one of the most impressive days of the trek. Our campsite for tonight is at Winay Wayna (2680m / 8792ft) which means “Forever Young.” Wiñay Wayna is located along the same watercourse as Phuyupatamarca and contains well-restored Inca ruins, this is largest site on the trail, it has agricultural terraces, fine stone work, and a series of ten baths.
4 hours walking, 3600-2700m
Day 7: Wiñay Wayna-Machu Picchu-Cusco
On our last day we wake up before dawn in order to reach Intipunku, the Gate of the Sun, in time to watch the sun rise over the sacred city of Machu Picchu. After a two-hour walk through a cloud forest along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, you at last come to a highlight of our Peru tour: Machu Picchu (2,400m / 7,875 ft), entering through Intipunku, the Sun Gate.
After watching the sunrise, we descend the final 45 minutes along a flagstone path to the city for a two-hour tour. At the conclusion of the tour, you can rest on the terraces, explore the ruins, or, if you have any energy left, climb Huayna Picchu or visit the Inca Bridge. After a full day, we will then descend by bus to the town of Aguas Calientes to catch the train back to Cusco.
2 hours walking, plus tour and optional activities, 2700-2400m
Overnight in Cusco City.
Day 8: Cusco – Lima
In the morning you’ll be taken to the airport for the return flight to Lima and your connecting international flight, marking the end of Apu Andino’s services on your Peru tour.
