Inca Trail To Machu Picchu

4d/3N

A Trekking tour as a real World Wonder.

Walking from one ancient Inca ruin to the next through changing landscape sof mountains and forests is a mystical experience you will never forget…

INTRODUCTION

For a long time hidden in the emerald green Andes, Machu Picchu’s peculiar emplacement is characterized by a mystical cloud forest environment.

This ecosystem is the habitat of unique species of flora and fauna, some of them threatened with extinction.

The astonishing and invaluable archaeological heritage of Machu Picchu combines extremely interesting and well-shaped ruins with a splendid natural mountain background and surroundings.

Sustanable

Our company is 100% committed to caring for the environment and the fauna of the place and to its conservation on each trip.

AUTHENTIC

excellence in our services who are with you every step of the way. Eat local Peruvian food, trek the original Inca steps and do it all with the people that know!

Luxury

our years of service to the Amazon tourism industry make us an agency with capacity and with the best services

Comfortable

This service is arranged just for you and your party has the advantage of adapting the pace to your physical condition, but also usually means enjoying all the archeological

ITINERARY

Day 1

Cusco, Ollantaytambo, Piscacucho, Wayllabamba, Camp beside the small Inca settlement.

The adventure begins today in Cusco. Before leaving the hotel, make sure you are carrying your original passport (no photocopies are valid) and for those Jung students, a valid Student ID card is necessary to get a discount.

Travelers are collected by our guide at around 6:00 a.m. from their hotels and start a scenic drive through the Urubamba Sacred Valley of the Incas with beautiful views of the

Urubamba river, picturesque villages, and the Inca fortress of Ollantaytambo. After toilet stop, we continue to Piscacucho.

In Piscacucho, at kilometer 82 of the railway, you will meet with the rest of the crew, the experienced cook, and the porters who will be carrying the camping equipment, the food, and your luggage (a maximum weight:7.5 kilos per person) Here is where our trail begins, and the first official Inca Trail checkpoint. After crossing a suspension footbridge over the Urubamba river, the trek begins with a gentle climb for the first three hours following the Urubamba river's left shore. Enjoy a superb view of the snow-capped peak Veronica and if good, cloudless weather a glimpse of the highest mountain Salkantay of the Urubamba mountain range, dividing the Andes valleys from the Amazon jungle.

Lunch in Miskay. After lunch, you will continue hiking towards the Inca settlement of Llactapata. The Inca Trail follows the left bank of the small river up to the village of Wayllabamba at 3000 meters above sea level. where you will enjoy dinner and camp for the night. About 5 hours trekking time, 12 Kms walk.

Day 2

Wayllabamba, Warmi Wañuska (Dead Woman’s Pass), Pakaymayu gorge camp.

An early wake-up call for breakfast, to prepare for today’s trek which is considered a steep ascent, a challenging 1200 meters altitude difference from the campsite, and the hardest along the whole trekking tour. Depart from the campsite at about 7 a.m. a first stop can be done at Llulluchapampa for a snack lunch.

From here the trail traverses a beautiful cloud forest of Polylepis or Queñua trees before entering the Puna, a zone of treeless grasslands found at this altitude across the Andes. To reach the Pass – you had to catch your breath several times or seat a couple of times. You need to reach an altitude of 4200 meters above sea level at the Warmi Wañuska (Dead Woman's pass). Once at the top you will be rewarded with spectacular views of the Andes

Remember to have a warm jacket at hand when reaching this altitude as temperatures may drop drastically.

After a deserved rest, continue walking most of the time downhill to our campsite in Paqaymayu at 3600 meters above sea level, about 6 to 7 hours trekking. Dinner and overnight.

Day 3

Paqaymayu, Sayacmarca, Phuyupatamarca, Wiñayhuayna.

Possibly the longest day of Inca trail hiking but one that will bring splendid landscapes and views. A wake-up call at around 06:00 hrs.to enjoy breakfast will prepare you to hike along well preserved original Inca pathway. Start with a steady ascent to the second high pass at Runkuracay reaching 3780 meters above sea level and passing along the Runkuracay circular Inca ruin that

occupies a commanding position overlooking the spectacular Vilcabamba mountain range in front of you. Catch your breath and realize the rest of Inca trail is mostly downhill to the ruins of Sayacmarca. Be careful as the trail is quite steep and you may feel the strain at the end of the day. It is recommended the use of trekking poles, Pause at this archeological site located at 3500 meters above sea level. The name Sayacmarca means “inaccessible town” and describes the position of the site, perched on the edgy rocks. The Inca trail, now a monumental structure of granite stones, continues through ever-changing layers of cloud forest orchids, hanging mosses, bromeliads, and tree ferns. Lunch. Past the Inca tunnel, a gentle climb will take you to the third pass at 3700 meters above sea level, offering great views of several snow-capped peaks including Salkantay (6271 m.) and Veronica (5750 m.). Close to the pass you will find the impressive ruins of Phuyupatamarca (town at cloud-level). A short explanation of Inca architecture, before continuing along splendid paved Inca road to the agricultural site of Intipata and up to the third and last campsite at Wiñayhuayna (the forever young) located at 2700 meters above sea level. Wiñayhuayna, the largest Inca town before reaching Machu Picchu, was named after a variety of pink orchids that grows here. It is the last campsite before Machu Picchu. The most impressive Inca ruins until this point are located minutes away, and it is recommended to explore the Wiñayhuayna archeological site. Enjoy Dinner (7 hours. of trekking this day).

Day 4

Wiñayhuayna, Intipunku, Machu Picchu, Aguas Calientes, Cusco

Today begins earlier, we’ll have breakfast by 04:00 a.m.and say farewell to our porters, who will run down to the Aguas Calientes train station. Before they leave tips time for them. We will wait at the checkpoint and access Intipunku as soon as they open the gates at 5:30 a.m. This part of the trail from Wiñayhuayna to Intipunku is marked but it will be dark in the forest. It is highly recommended to bring a headlamp to help you walk safely. It will take us about 50 more minutes to get to Intipunku. The path is narrow, traverses a lush cloud

forest of giant ferns, and brings an ascent of about 50 steps to the Gate of the Sun at 2320 meters above sea level. Enjoy some minutes by sunrise for the first great, breathtaking view of Machu Picchu. An unforgettable sight; take as many photos as you want. Forested peaks frame the World Wonder city of the Incas.

We will hike for about 1 hour towards the Machu Picchu entrance and into the heart of it, where we spend the rest of the morning with 2 hours of a guided tour and some more exploring on your own. The shuttle bus ticket from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes is included, departs every 15 minutes, or as soon as it gets full, and will be available for you to descend, just double check your train schedule and be at the train station at least 45 minutes before departure. Your guide will indicate to you how to get your luggage back.

Tip Guide and Cook.

The train ticket included departs usually at about 18:30 hours. (exact time may change) arriving at Ollantaytambo at approximately 20:20 hours. Whichever train station you arrive at (Ollantaytambo or Poroy) transfer from this location to Cusco will be provided. You will arrive in Cusco at around 22:00 hours, with a transfer to your hotel.

Included

Meals as indicated: 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 3 dinners
Cook and cooking gear, boiled water
English-speaking guide
Transportation by private car or train to trailhead, return by train and bus from Ollantaytambo to Cusco
Train and bus tickets
Porterage of camping equipment, food and up to 7 kg personal gear per person by porters from trailhead to Machu Picchu during the 4 days trek
Camp gear including tables and camp chairs, dining tent,
Spacious sleeping tents, sleeping pad
Entrance fees to Inca Trail & Machu Picchu.
Documentation regarding route and cultural info.

Not Included

Airline tickets, eventually airport taxes
Personal equipment
Sleeping bag
Tips
Other meals as stated
Personal health and trip insurance
Expenses due to mishaps to mishaps

IMPORTANT

If desired you may optionally add and overnight in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town) as it allows a second visit to Machu Picchu citadel and include Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu (subject to space availability and must be requested in advance)

OUR REVIEWS

People who stayed in this apartment, have only the best opinions about it.

We toured Peru by car for 2 weeks and were completely enthusiastic about the entire trip. Nora and Mario responded to all our wishes and put together a perfect and individual trip for us: the hotels were great, the excursions were great, the organization was perfect! We didn't have to worry about anything - everything was as described

Migu Tinman

Germany

Andean Origins ist eine Reiseagentur, welche als eine von wenigen Fly-and-Drive anbietet. Wir haben uns für eine zweiwöchige RdReise durch Südperu entschieden. Schon während der Reiseplanung und -vorbereitung waren wir von der Aufmerksamkeit und Professionalität überzeugt. Das Vorschläge konnten von uns abgeändert werden und wurden perfekt aufgenommen bzw. integriert. Von der Ankunft am Flughafen in Lima, über die Übergabe des KFZ, bis hin zur Deponierung von Eintrittskarten in den Hotels war alles durchdacht und für uns vorbereitet. Auch während eines "incidents" vor Ort, war Andean Origins erreichbar und hat sich um uns gekümmert. Sehr begeistert waren wir auch von den ausgewählten Hotels (Standard, Location, Sauberkeit,...). Andean Origins bleibt unser Ansprechpartner für die nächste Reise und ist absolut empfehlenswert. Zusammengefasst: es war wunderbar. Danke für alles.

Wilfried

Germany

We have booked a three-week round trip with a car as a self-driver. All the hotels were excellently chosen the journey very well thought out. We received an exact map (using an app) and were able to navigate very well. Even before a road blockade (strike) we were informed and were able to avoid a traffic jam. The selected guides were exceptionally qualified and quickly responded to all special requests. The excursion to Rainbow Mountain suggested as an alternative was also sensational and very well described. We would book here again and again. Many thanks for everything