8 days / 7 Nights (4 Days Hiking)
4 Nights Hotel / 3 Nights Tented Camps
Host City: Cusco, Peru (CUZ)
12 people (Private Closed Groups: 24 People)
Guest-to-Guide Support Ratio: 8:1
Moderate
Activities: Inca Trail Hiking / Machu Picchu Tour
Step back in time and follow in the footsteps of the Inca, one of the greatest empires in history. Adhering to the mythical Path of the Sun, on this Inca Trail hiking tour you will pass through ancient ruins, rural villages, and cloud forests before reaching the steps of the Sun Gate and the Sanctuary of the breathtaking Machu Picchu!
Enjoy a warm welcome to Cusco, the ancient capital city of the Inca, as the excitement builds for the beginning of your Machu Picchu adventure.
Enjoy an afternoon exploring the city on a guided Cusco walking tour to discover the sights, sounds and tastes of this lofty UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Site.
Today is the beginning of your Inca Trail hiking adventure! Mystical mountains and the roaring Urubamba River add to the splendor as you explore the many ruins preserved along the way, before settling into camp for your first night searching the sky for the Southern Cross.
Our Inca Trail trek continues as we pass through the small village of Huayllabamba before following the trail up a steady climb to our campsite this evening in a large Pampa. Sip coca tea as you enjoy expansive views of Mt. Huayanay and the Sacred Valley stretching below.
Our Machu Picchu adventure continues as we follow the natural contour of the terrain and the original Inca Trail over passes and through spectacular ruins, before settling into another night of rest and awe-inspiring vistas.
The day begins with a steep descent back to the sights and sounds of the lower elevations as we complete the final section of the Inca Trail hiking tour, before finally reaching the Sun Gate and your hard-earned vantage point of the world wonder of Machu Picchu.
Now that you have experienced the beautiful trails of Peru, you will hike Huayna Picchu then you will enjoy a private tour of the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu. Your guide will take you through the different sectors of this iconic hilltop citadel, where you’ll find astonishing views at every turn. This will be followed by a train ride and private car back to Cusco.
Today you will enjoy your last morning in Peru and then will be transferred to Cusco Airport for your flight to back home.
Please CONTACT US for a complete detailed itinerary.
One of the finest hotels in Peru and part of Starwood Resort’s Luxury Collection, Palacio del Inka is a 16th century mansion built as the home of a Spanish conquistador. Located in the heart of Cusco, it is walking distance to shopping, restaurants, and museums and is located across from the Koricancha, the most sacred temple in the Inca Empire. The spacious rooms are exquisitely appointed, combining Peruvian art and handcrafted furnishings with state-of-the-art technology. The on-site restaurant, Inti Raymi, serves authentic Andean specialties, with ingredients organically grown from the Sacred Valley. Take advantage of the full service spa that draws on the ancient healing mysticism of the Andes. VIEW HOTEL WEBSITE
Nestled into the mountainside on twelve serene acres of natural paradise, the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Resort was rated the #3 hotel in Central and South America in Travel and Leisure’s 2015 World’s Best Awards. Its Andean pueblo-style rooms are artfully designed for serenity and solitude serving as the ultimate Inca retreat. With a nod to modern culture, every room has complimentary Wi-Fi, a plasma-screen satellite TV with DVD player, iPod speakers, and more. Their on-site restaurant offers daily tea and intimate dining options. This will be a dining experience to remember since it is overlooking the impressive Vilcanota River. So sit back, relax and take in the awe-inspiring beauty of the Andean Mountains. Need to relax even more? Take advantage of the on-site Una Spa & Sauna for a relaxing massage or a quiet moment in the sauna. VIEW HOTEL WEBSITE
The centrally located Novotel Cusco hotel is the perfect base for exploring this historic city and the surrounding area. The colonial and modern architecture continues in the spacious rooms, which have free WiFi. Relax under the shade of the canopy on the patio of this old colonial house while sipping coca tea. VIEW HOTEL WEBSITE
Step into the smart, contemporary and cozy confines of El Mapi, amidst the picturesque Machu Picchu Pueblo. Discover an efficient, lively and friendly atmosphere, welcoming guests expecting an unfussy, down-to-earth break. The flowing lobby creates a sense of vitality. Lofty ceilings, panoramic windows and an open café allow natural light to filter between tall eucalyptus dried branches, creating an ambiance of order and wellbeing. Relax in a pleasant and wholesome ambiance after your enlightening visit to Peru’s most famous destination: the Machu Picchu Archaeological site. VIEW HOTEL WEBSITE
There is no other operator in the travel industry that will provide the same level of personal attention to you before your trip. We get very involved with our clients before each trip by offering a series of pre-planning Zoom calls in the months and weeks before departure. This provides you with an opportunity to hear directly from me on preparation, trip experience, and training. It also gives you the platform to ask questions on any aspect of the trip.
With extensive support from our team, you will have the luxury of hiking the Inca Trail with support from our team of porters. Our porters carry the camping equipment, food, and your personal belongings during the trekking portion of your adventure so that you hike ‘pack-free’ along The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
At The Explorer’s Passage, we not only have great respect for all things history but we also go out of our way to not leave any “history” of us behind! We are proud members of both Sustainable Travel International and Leave No Trace and incorporate their principles throughout each of our adventures.
For this adventure, we work to minimize our impact on the Inca Trail so that we can help preserve it for generations to come. We use the least amount of plastic possible for packing and utilize biodegradable soaps and detergents for washing. While on the Trail we use environmentally friendly portable toilet systems and help to facilitate the use of reusable water containers for our hikers.
We dispose of garbage very selectively and make sure that as much garbage as possible is recycled. Also, we use solar-powered lamps for lighting up our campgrounds. We not only employ local porters, but pay the highest wages in the market to our guides, porters, and chefs to promote fair working conditions in support of the local economy.
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