Peru in the Footsteps of Incas 10 Days and 9 Nights

Upon arrival in Lima, your Travelution Peru host will escort you to the nearby Wyndham Costa Del Sol Hotel at Lima’s airport. If you arrive early, we can arrange optional Lima tours and trips to nearby sites to fill your time. With most international flights arriving quite late and flights to Cusco departing early, staying in an airport hotel will allow you to maximize your sleep so you can begin your vacation feeling well-rested.

Upon your arrival, one of our representatives will be waiting for you right outside of the baggage claim area holding a sign with your name on it. You will then be transferred to your hotel in the sacred valley. You will make a stop at Awanacancha, where you will see the four Andean camels (Llamas, Alpacas, Huanacos and Vicuñas) and then see a traditional Andean textile center that serves as a perfect introduction to the Andean life.

You will visit the colorful and famous market of Pisac, which has a large number of local artisans that gather from different communities to sell their handicrafts and unique food. You can then go to Pisac’s impressive archeological complex, which has a simply breathtaking view. Then you will be transferred to your hotel for a light lunch and rest in order to acclimate better to the altitude.

We leave The Sacred Valley and head to the Chinchero Plateau to explore Chinchero, an important town in Inca times. The most striking remnant of this period is the massive stone wall in the main plaza, which has 10 trapezoidal niches, and the colonial church. Next, we’ll proceed to the enigmatic Inca ruins at Moray. Visually, these stepped-terrace ruins resemble an ancient amphitheater, though some experts believe they served as agricultural laboratories where the Incas could experiment with new farming techniques. Enjoy a delightful picnic lunch, where you can savor dishes made with locally grown produce. Visit the salt mines of Maras. This village is a salt-producing center that dates back all the way to pre-Inca times. There more than 4,000 salt pools carved into the mountain.

We leave the Sacred Valley and head to Socma Valley, which is a short drive. We will hike for 45 minutes until we get to Ñaupa Iglesia, which was an Inca shrine; the guide will explain the Inca religious and Andean traditions. After visiting this place, we will hike uphill until reach the Andean community of Socma; this community is nestled in the heart of the Andes. Here we will meet our horses and porters who will accompany us during the whole trek. After a delicious lunch prepared by our chef, we will continue to Perolniyoc waterfall, where we will see some native trees and the waterfall. After this mazing waterfall, we’ll finally arrive at our destination, the Inca temple of Perolniyoc. After a guided tour of the site, we’ll carry on a short distance to our campsite at Rayan (3,650m / 11975 ft.), where we’ll stop for camping. In the afternoon, perhaps some of the local families or children will visit us so you can practice the Quechua you learned in the morning and have fun together. 

Overnight: Rayan Pata, 3,650mts / 11975 ft

Hiking Details: 3.7 miles / 6 km; approximately 4-5 hours hiking, 

Altitude min/max: from 2,900 mts / 9,514 ft to 3,650m / 11,975 ft.

Today is the longest day of the hike. Setting out from our campsite, we’ll carry on up the mountain, making our way to the first pass on the trail, 4370 mt / 14,337 ft. This area is still cultivated by the local people despite the high altitudes, and we’ll see the people caring for their fields. One of the few plants that seems to thrive at this altitude is a type of mint (Muña) and the scent infuses the air throughout the morning

It’s about a four-hour walk to the pass (4,440 mts / 14,567 ft.), where we will have an amazing view of the snow-capped mountains of the Urubamba range (Veronica, Chicón, Ausangate, Pachatusan and Salcantay) and the fields of Chinchero, Moray and Maras plateau. After lunch the walking gets easier; having reached the top of the mountain, the terrain levels out and we hike across the high plateau through a strange landscape of what appear to be burial mounds but are actually glacial moraine (piles of rock deposited by glaciers during the Ice Age).

Early in the afternoon, we walk down to reach the Inca quarry of Cachicata. Then we get to our campsite (3,820 mts / 12,532 ft.) by late afternoon, passing by the Inca water canal and an archaeological site which is the sun gate, with an amazing view of one of the most sacred peaks in the Andes, Veronica Mountain. 

Overnight: Cachicata, 3,820 mts / 12,532 ft.

Hiking Details: 9.32 miles / 15 km; approximately 8 – 9 hours hiking, 

Altitude min/max: from 3,820 mts / 12,532 ft to 4,440 mts / 14,567 ft.

Today is dedicated to exploring Cachicata. Despite its proximity to Ollantaytambo and the wide variety of interesting features, hardly anyone actually comes up here. Cachicata is one of the biggest Inca quarries in Cusco, which supplied stones for the town and fortress of Ollantaytambo. The stones were slid down the hill and over the river in order to reach the fortress. There are various points of interest including several large buildings, quarried stones left half-finished and abandoned throughout the site, chullpas (burial houses) and a cave with Inca mummies still in place.

After a guided tour of Cachicata we’ll continue our way down the mountain following the original platform used for transporting the stones to Ollantaytambo, and arrive to the town by early afternoon. After your hike you will be privately transferred to the hotel. 

Overnight: Sacred Valley, 2,950 mts / 9,678 ft.

Hiking Details: 3.7 miles / 6 km; approximately 5 – 6 hours hiking, 

Altitude min/max: from 2,950 mts / 9,678 ft to 3,820 mts / 12,532 ft.

A 7 a.m. train departure from Ollantaytambo gets you to station Km #104. After registering at the checkpoint, you’ll begin the three-hour hike to Wiñay Wayna, during which you’ll see ruins, waterfalls and many varieties of flora and fauna. You’ll take lots of photos on this picturesque stretch of your Peru tour. Spend one to two hours exploring the beautiful Wiñay Wayna ruins. From here it is a two-hour walk to Machu Picchu. You will arrive at the famous ruins in the late afternoon when there are few visitors. After a brief tour, transfer by bus to Aguas Calientes where you’ll spend the night at a charming hotel. The evening is free to explore this small village and soak in the hot springs. 

Overnight: Aguas Calientes Machupicchu, 6,232 ft / 1,900 mt

Hiking Details: 7.54 miles / 12.14 km; approximately 6-7 hours hiking, 

Altitude min/max: from 7,053 ft to 9,022 ft

Free time to explore or hike Huayna Picchu. We have an early breakfast and head up to the ruins to experience the peace and solitude of this magical place. Our knowledgeable guide leads us through, explaining the significance of the various structures and the theories behind Machu Picchu’s purpose and construction methods. We have the rest of the morning and early afternoon to attempt the optional hike up Huayna Picchu and/or explore the ruins on our own. We catch the afternoon tourist train to Ollantaytambo and from there take the bus to Cusco, arriving at approximately 7 p.m. The day concludes with our guide joining us for a final celebration dinner at a traditional local restaurant. Overnight in Cusco. 

Hiking: Optional Huayna Picchu hike may be unguided and is steep with some exposure. Permits are limited. An alternative optional hike may be available if Huayna Picchu permits cannot be obtained.

Overnight: Cusco City, 11260 ft / 3435 mt

Huayna Picchu – 07:00 am Shift

Hiking Details: 1.25 miles; approximately 2-3 hours hiking, 

Altitude min/max: from 7,970 ft to 8,835 ft

In the morning, privately guided walking tour of Cusco begins with a pleasant stroll through the cobbled streets of the San Blas district where you will visit a colonial church notable for its incredibly ornate wood-carved pulpit. Carrying onward, proceed to the Koricancha Temple, once walled in plated gold and featuring courtyard statues made of solid gold, Conquistadors described it as “fabulous beyond belief.” Today, the Church of Santo Domingo rests on the site of the original temple, making it an excellent location to learn about the intersection of Inca and Spanish culture and architecture from your expert local guide. Concluding with a visit to Plaza de Armas and Cusco Cathedral, this encompassing tour is an excellent introduction to the traditions and history of this incredible city. After a local lunch, we have a guided tour of Cusco and its nearby ruins; you’ll tour prominent Inca sites in and around Cusco, including temples, the megalithic Sacsayhuaman fortress, the carved stone surfaces and subterranean altars of Kenko, the small Puka Pukara fortress that protected the capital and the Tambomachay water temple.

After breakfast, transfers back to the Cusco airport will be arranged for travelers departing today. Trip members can opt to return to Lima for connecting flights home or extend their travels in Peru.