Our Itinerary
Day 1 – After landing in Jorge Chavez Lima International Airport, you connect with a flight to Cusco airport. Upon arrival you are personally met and transferred to your hotel in Cusco. In the afternoon there are options for a short city tour and visiting some artisan shops. Tonight there is a welcome dinner and briefing.
DAY 2 – After breakfast we will drive to the Sacred Valley, stopping along the way to appreciate the spectacular scenery of the lush river valley and the snow-capped mountains of the Urubamaba range. We will continue past the community of Pisac, arriving at the famous village of Chawaytire where we will have time to see a successful cultural preservation project taking place in this Andean community.After a nice picnic lunch we will drive back to the Pisac Inca archeological site to hike in this important agricultural and administrative center during Inca times before returning to Cusco.
DAY 3 – We leave the city of Cusco early in the morning and head into the Sacred Valley of the Incas. We will stop in the town of Ollantaytambo to do some last minute shopping, and then continue onto Piscacucho, where we will register with the SHMP authorities. We will then begin our trek along this beautiful path through the mountains, towards the sacred city of Machu Picchu. The first part of our trail follows the flow of the Wilka Mayo River. From here we will head uphill into the mountains to find the archeological site of Llaqtapta. We will stop in Tarayoq to enjoy our lunch and to have a short rest before continuting to our campsite in Huayllabamba. (Hiking 5 hours)
DAY 4 – After a good night’s sleep and a nutritious breakfast, we begin our walk along the Inca Trail in a dense cloud forest of native Qeuna and Unca trees, before arriving to the highest point on our walk today, the mountain pass known as Warmi Wanuska. We will begin our descent along this magnificent stone path to arrive at our campsite in the Pacamayo Valley.. (Hiking 5.5 hours)
DAY 5 – – We begin our walk towards the archeological site of Runkurakay, nestled among the surrounding steep peaks. We will continue hiking uphill until we reach the Runkarakay Pass, the last high altitude challenge on our trek to Machu Picchu. At this altitude we are in the ecosystem level known as Puna, where the high altitude grass known as Ichu dominates the landscape and surrounds small Andean lakes. Our trail will also bring us to the archeological sites of Sayaqmarka and Conchapata. After visiting these sites, our path takes us by a original stone Inca trail to our third pass, Phuyupatamarka (Above The Clouds) where we will have impressive views of the Vilcabamba and Urubamba mountain ranges, and the valley where the Urubamba River winds around Machu Picchu mountain. After resting we can visit the Phuyupatamarka lookout (just 5 minutes from the campsite) and enjoy the sunset among towering snow-capped peaks, relax over dinner and turn in for a good night’s sleep. (Hiking 6 hours)
DAY 6 – Today we hike to visit the archeological site of Phuyupatamarka, with a remarkable view of the back of the Machu Picchu mountain. Continuing along this incredible Inca trail, we will arrive at Winay Huayna for a visit and have our lunch before continuing with an easy walk to the Sun Gate (Inti Punqu), where we have our first view of Machu Picchu. Here we will have time for photos and to enjoy the place before we descend, approaching the archeological site of Machu Picchu. We will cross Machu Picchu to take our transport down to the town of Aguas Calientes where, after checking into our hotels, we will have a well-deserved rest. (Hiking 4.5 hours)
DAY 7 – After breakfast we will take the bus up to the archeological site of Machu Picchu to begin our guided tour of this world-renowned historical Inca city. The group will climb Machu Picchu and on a clear day, the view below is spectacular. After our hike we will have lunch and then return to Cusco. We will take the train from Aquas Calientes to Poroy, where our transport will be waiting to take us back to Cusco for our farewell dinner in a local restaurant.
DAY 8 – Today you are transferred to Cusco airport to catch your flight to Lima an onward toward home.
Inclusions:
□Pre-Adventure Strength and Conditioning Program prepared by our Aurora Exercise Physiologists specifically for this adventure
□Hotel accommodation in Cusco at the beginning and end of the adventure & in Aguas Calientes on a twin share basis.
□Personal travel insurance.
□All transfers and transport during the trek.
□Tented camp accommodation and food on trek.
□Most of your trekking gear (eg use of day pack, sleeping tents, eating tents and cooking team)
□Dedicated Australian leader and Wilderness Altitude Medic together with in country guides & team
□Return International airfare Brisbane to Lima and connecting flights to Cusco return.
