Ultimate Peru Adventure Package (10 Days)

Day 1 - Collection from Lima Airport, Overnight in Lima

On arrival in Lima, our English-speaking guide will collect you and transfer you to your hotel in the district of Miraflores. If your flight arrives in the evening, we recommend using the Lima Airport hotel, which is a one-minute walk from international arrivals.

Day 2 - Mid-morning Flight to Cusco, Light Orientation Walk of Cusco

Today you will return to Lima Airport for a short one-hour flight to Cusco. Today is designed to be kept light and is used as an acclimatization day in preparation for the up-coming Inca Trail hike. On arrival in Cusco you will be met by our guide and transferred by private vehicle to your hotel.

In the afternoon, our expert guide will collect you for a light orientation walk around Cusco. You’ll start with a short walk to Cusco’s main square – Plaza de Armas; a beautiful colonial plaza home to Cusco’s grand Cathedral. From here you’ll follow Calle Triunfo (Triumph Street), an original Inca road heading to the Antisuyo or the north-east quarter of the empire. Along the way you will pass by Palacio Inca Roca before arriving at the famous Twelve Angled Stone. Further up the hill is the art district of San Blas. If you are looking for more of a cultural experience, then ask the guide to take you to Cusco’s San Pedro Market. From strange Amazon Jungle fruits, to tasty cow’s head soup to spiritual materials used by Keros, the market will leave you amazed and somewhat stunned at the same time!

Day 3 - Rafting Chuquicahuana, South Sacred Valley

Today you will get off the beaten track, heading deep into the Andes for a day of rafting. After a 2-hour scenic drive you will arrive at the small town of Chuquicahuana. This upper section of the Urubamba River is more pristine than other parts of the river closer to Cusco. The river offers class III – IV rapids depending on the time of year you raft. Your guide, a professionally certified Peruvian rafting guide, will help you with your equipment, including a wetsuit, wet boots, a helmet and a splash jacket. Once you are outfitted for the river, you will have a short safety briefing from both your guide and the support kayaker. After some practice maneuvers on a calm section of the river, you will set off for a 2-hours action packed journey downriver. At the end of the raft you will arrive at your pre-prepared campsite for lunch. Enjoy a hearty hot and cold picnic lunch (prepared by your own dedicated chef), before heading back to Cusco, arriving mid-afternoon.

Day 4 - Mountain Biking, Moray Ruins and pre-Inca Salt Pans

Your adventure continues with a thrilling mountain bike ride from Chinchero to the Sacred Valley. You will set off from Cusco around 8am, with high-end Kona bikes (or similar) loaded on the top of your transport. About an hour outside of Cusco your guide will unload and prepare the bikes. Before heading off, you’ll receive a safety briefing and safety equipment.

You’ll start by follow dirt tracks of mixed terrain, taking you through colorful fields of quinoa, potatoes and corn. After approximately 2-hours of fairly relaxing cycling you’ll arrive at the Inca ruin of Moray. Plunging deep into the natural curvature of the land, these circular terraces were once used by the Incas for agricultural testing of different crops. After taking some time to explore, you’ll continue to the traditional village of Maras. After a moment to rest in the colonial plaza, you will head out of the village taking a gradual decent to your lunch spot. Here, overlooking the snowcapped mountain peaks of the Sacred Valley, you’ll have a hearty picnic style lunch complete with camping tables and chairs. From the camp site a thrilling single-track drops quickly in altitude all the way to the village of Yuanahuara in the Sacred Valley. Along the way you’ll stop at the Salt Pans of Maras, where you’ll get the opportunity to see how local campesinos mine the pans, as they have done so before Inca times.

Day 5 - Classic Inca Trail

In the morning you’ll be transported to the village of Piskacuchu, or more famously known as KM82 of the Ollantaytambo – Machu Picchu railroad (2,700 m / 8,858ft). Here you will meet your team of porters that will accompany you on the trek. The classic 4-days Inca Trail is an ancient Inca highway 43 km (27 miles) in length and is just a fraction of some 20,000 km’s (12,500 miles) of original trail built during the reign of the Incas. En-route to the sacred citadel of Machu Picchu you’ll experience breath-taking mountain scenery, mystical Inca archaeological sites and lush cloud forest rich in Andean flora and fauna.

From the trail head check-point you will follow mainly flat terrain to Miskay (2,800 m / 9186 ft). Here you will stop for a short break and observe vistas of the Inca settlement of Llactapata. Continuing on for another 5-6 hours following a gradually ascending path, you will arrive at the first campsite Wayllabamba (3000m / 9843ft). Your porters will have already set up your tents for your arrival. In the early evening dinner will be served in the dining tent.

Distance hiked: 12 km (7 miles)
Duration: 5-6 hours
Difficulty: Easy / Moderate

NOTE: On this controlled route, campsites and routes may vary slightly in accordance with regulations set out by Peru’s Ministry of Culture (this applies to all 4-days of the trek).

Day 6 - Classic Inca Trail

After a good night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast, you’ll head out for what is generally considered the toughest day of trekking on the Inca Trail. The trail climbs steeply by 1,200 m (3,937 ft) over a distance of 9 km (5 ½ miles) to the first pass Abra Warmihuañusca (4,200 m / 13,780 ft). Today the landscape changes dramatically from sierra to puna to cloud forest. Keep your eyes open as black-chested buzzard eagles, tiny hummingbirds or even the Peruvian Condor are frequently spotted. Half way up to the pass you’ll stop at a campsite for a rest and lunch. Upon finally reaching the pass, you will be rewarded with impressive views of the surrounding mountain landscapes. After taking a well-deserved rest, you’ll descend steeply for another 2 hours to the campsite in the Pacaymayo Valley (3, 600m / 11,808ft). Dinner is served in the evening.

Distance hiked: 11 km (6.8 miles)
Duration: 7-8 hours.
Difficulty: Moderate / Challenging

Day 7 - Classic Inca Trail

Today is the longest day of the trek and you’ll cover some 16 km (10 miles) of undulating terrain. You’ll leave the campsite with a steep climb to Abra Runkurakay (3,970 m / 13,025 ft). Half way, you’ll stop to explore the small ruin of Runkurakay, an oval building probably used as a watch post or tambo for Inca chaskas. After reaching the pass you’ll descend into rich cloud forest and onto Yanacocha (Black Lagoon). Continuing for a short distance you’ll reach the ruin of Sayacmarca (dominant town) (3,624 m /11,890 ft). The town has terraces, patios and ceremonial fountains. Continuing up an easy climb, you’ll arrive at the pass of Abra Phuyupatamarca (3,700 m / 12,139 ft). Passing a small Inca tunnel, you’ll descend to the ruins of Phuyupatamarca (town in the clouds). This archaeological site is one of the most complete ruins on the Inca Trail and contains terraces, a high vantage point, and an intricate series of ceremonial baths connected by water channels. You will descend following a stone stepped pathway to the ruin of Wiñaywayna (2,650 m / 8694 ft) a beautiful and secluded mountain side Inca citadel. Close-by your porters will have set up camp for the evening. Your last dinner on the Inca Trail will be served on your arrival.

Distance hiked: 16 km (10 miles)
Duration: 8-9 hours
Difficulty: Moderate

Day 8 - Classic Inca Trail, Guided Tour of Machu Picchu

You’ll depart the campsite around 5am to complete the final stretch of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. After 1-2 hours of fairly flat terrain on paths that hug the mountainside, you’ll arrive at Inti Punku (the Sun Gate). From this high vantage point you’ll get your first glimpse of the beautiful Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. It is an easy one-hour decent to the Caretakers Hut, where you are afforded panoramic views over Machu Picchu. On arrival, your guide will take you on a 2-hours guided tour of Machu Picchu. Learn about how Machu Picchu was constructed and its principal buildings. Understand about the residents who once lived there, how they farmed the land and their cultures and beliefs. Discover the relationship to the cosmos and learn about the spiritual ceremonies that took place there. Visiting Machu Picchu is a once-in-a-life-time experience, the sheer scale and beauty of this ancient Inca city is simply breath-taking.

Distance hiked: 4 km (2.5 miles)
Duration: 2-3 hours
Difficulty: Easy / Moderate

Day 9 - Re-visit Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu Trek

Today we simply include shuttle bus and re-entry tickets to Machu Picchu. Refreshed from a good night’s sleep and a hot shower, take some time to venture back to Machu Picchu, and fully absorb the incredible energy of this magical Inca citadel. We include tickets to Huayna Picchu Mountain, the famous view point overlooking Machu Picchu. If you are feeling energetic, we recommend hiking the full trail which takes in the hidden Moon Temple. If you want to take it easy then opt for the short trail (40-minutes) which goes straight to the top. In the afternoon you will return to Cusco (3 ½ hours).

Why not include the luxury Belmond Hiram Bingham Train on your return to Cusco? Talk to a luxury Peru vacations travel advisor about the available options.

Day 10 - Fly to Lima, International Flight Departure

On the last day of your vacation, we will transfer you to Cusco Airport, where you will fly to Lima. Here you can connect to your international flight home. If you wish to explore Lima, then talk to your luxury Peru travel expert about additional activities and tours.