Machu Picchu & Inca Trail (Peru) Itinerary
Day 1: You arrive in Lima, the capital of
Peru, at any time via your international flight. You will be met at the
airport and transferred to our downtown hotel.
Day 2: We take a morning shuttle to the airport for
our internal flight to Cusco, the gateway city to Machu Picchu. At 3200
meters (over 10,500 feet), you will feel the altitude. We shuttle
directly to the town of Ollantaytambo, where we will have a leisurely
lunch followed by an afternoon hike through the nearby archeological
ruins.
Day 3: Today we explore the Sacred Valley of the
Incas as we continue to adjust to the altitude. We start with a visit
to Moray, ruins that served as the Incan agricultural laboratory, and
hike downhill from there to Maras, a series of pools created by the
Incas to harvest salt from a salt-laden natural spring.
Days 4-6: The Inca Trail! We hike on the ancient
trail of the Incan Emperors. We feel a bit royal ourselves as we are
only required to bring a daypack with snacks, water, and rain jacket
while most of our gear is carried by our Quechua porters. Local guides
tell us about the ruins and flora we pass, while our cooks prepare
delicious meals to recharge us at lunch and in the evening. This is
tent camping, folks, but a pretty nice way to go! Total kilometers of
hiking each day are fairly moderate: 12, 8, and 13 kilometers.
Day 7: On our final day on the Inca Trail, we emerge to the wondrous site of the Lost City of the Incas, Machu Picchu. We simply sit on our perch above the ruins and soak in the beauty of the area before being bussed down to our hotel in the nearby town of Aguas Calientes ("hot waters").
Day 8: We arise early to explore Machu Picchu in the crisp morning hours before the trainloads of tourists arrive. You'll have the option to climb a steep hill to the temple on Huayna Picchu before taking the train back to Cusco. We celebrate our victory with a farewell dinner.
Day 9: We spend the morning in Cusco, visiting the ruins of Sacsayhuaman and the Korikancha temple. Lunch is on your own and you'll have a few hours to explore this wonderful town before we take a flight back to Lima where you can connect with your international flight home.