Cusco adventure in 7 days, with 4 Days Incatrail ( or Lares/ salkantay/ Inca Jungle)

Cusco, the inca capital. A city full of adventure. For people who like to visit cusco in a different way, this is the perfect start packet.
Cusco claim to be the oldest continuously inhabited city in the Americas. It was the religious and administrative capital of the Inca Empire, and the equivalent of Mecca for the Inca’s subjects; every person of importance throughout the empire tried to visit Cusco once in his lifetime. Most travelers usually end up seduced with this vibrant city and stay longer than first planned. The first thing that hits the newly arrived visitor to Cusco are the Inca walls, enormous granite blocks carved to fit together perfectly without the aid of mortar beds. Many of the walls were simply built upon during the construction of a new Spanish city. It’s a tribute to the Incas that their anti seismic design has survived the test of time while the Spanish colonial architecture has been rebuilt several times following a wave of earthquakes that have hit the city. Located at an altitude of 3.360m above sea level, Cusco was referred as the ‘Navel of the World’. In this  7 days you do some trekking, you can choose 4 days trekking Incatrail- Lares – Salkantay or inca jungle.

Look below for optional excursions

You can choose this tour in 3 options 

1 Budget tour: in hostals

2 classic tour: in 3* hotels

3 Luxe tour: all 4 * hotels

DAY 1.- ARRIVAL IN CUSCO + CITY TOUR.
City tour in Cusco

Upon arrival in the city of Cusco, you will be transferred to your accommodation. In the afternoon we start our tour in a shared old tram. This short trip is one of the most funny memorable part of holiday. The guide have limited English, but funny.  Drive thru the historical center of Cusco, and climb all the way to the Christ statue above Cusco for stunning views over the city. Have a glimp of the ruins of sacsayhuaman. Stop at a smal corn museum and an other old wooden tram with nice pictures from cusco 50 years ago. Later on you are free to visit on your own the Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun) and the Cathedral of Cusco. 

DAY 4 .- SACRED VALLEY TOUR PISAQ + OLLANTAYTAMBO
We will pick you up from your hotel to start the Sacred Valley of the Incas tour. We will first visit the archaeological group of Pisaq, which is characterized by its astronomical observatory, visiting the market in the city of Pisaq. We do a nice Pic Nic lunch in the sacred valley in beautiful surroundings.( in the private tour , in pool its lunch buffet)

After your lunch we will visit the archaeological group of Ollantaytambo, monumental work of Inca architecture. We stay the night in Ollantaytambo.

Day 1: Cusco – Ollantaytambo – Wayllabamba 4 h
At 7.30am you will be picked up from your hotel in Ollantaytambo.  It’s also recommended to buy some coca leaves or a pair of walking sticks (10 soles) if you require.
After breakfast the bus will drive you to Piskacucho (2650 m.a.s.l.). Piskacucho is a small community located at the beginning of the Inca trail. From this point you will hike for about 12 km. During the hike you will walk along the Urubamba river, have a little break at the Miskay community (2800 m.a.s.l.)  and you will have an amazing view of an Inca building called: Patallacta.
Around lunch time you will reach a nice natural spot where our cook and porters are waiting for you to have lunch.
After lunch you will hike up hill for about 2 hours until you reach the campsite where you will stay your first night. During the last 2 hours you will enjoy the Vilcanota ridge and the Veronica snow covered mountain on the opposite side of the Urubamba river (5832 m.a.s.l.).

Day 2: Wayllabamba – Warmiwañusca – Pacaymayo 7 h
After an early breakfast you will climb up for 9 km along a beautiful narrow ravine. On this section hikers will experience a hard time because of all the steps. We advise you to take it easy and take a rest whenever you feel it is necessary.

After a few hours you will reach Lluluchapampa. At this point you will start to climb to the highest and most famous mountain pass: the Abra Warmihuañusca (Dead Woman’s Pass 4200 m.a.s.l.). It will take about 2 hours to get to the top. We recommend you to just take it easy, without pushing yourself too much. Don’t worry if you get delayed; the group will wait for everyone at the top of the pass. Once we reach the pass, we will have a break to enjoy the view and take some photos.
After our break we will continue our way downhill to Pacaymayo Valley (3650 m.a.s.l.). During our way to Pacaymayo we will have lunch and we will likely see different kind of birds and the Andean bear (Tremarctus Ornatus).
Once we reach Pacaymayo we will have diner. This is also where we will stay overnight.

Notice:
We recommend you to carry some chocolates, candies and coca leaves with you during the hike. This will help to keep your sugar level high. It will also help against altitude sickness

Day 3: Pacaymayo – Puya Patamarka – Wiñay Huayna 8 – 9 h
After breakfast we will continue hiking for 15 km. Day 3 is the longest but most impressive and interesting day since you get to see a number of archaeological sites.
This day we will start by hiking up a steep path that will lead us to the Runkurakay pass (3970 m.a.s.l.). During our way, you will stop to visit the archaeological ruins of Runkurakay (3800 m.a.s.l.) After we have reached the top, we will walk down to Yanacocha and arrive at Sayacmarca (3624 m.a.s.l.). After visiting this archeological site, we will enter the rain forest.  In the rain forest we will be walking up and down until we will come to the last climb of the trail that will lead you to the third pass: Abra de Phuyupatamarca (3650 m.a.s.l) From this point the rest of the trail is mostly downhill. During the way we will be visiting the ruins of Phuyupatamarca.
At the end of the day we will reach Wiñaywayna, where you will spend the night at a camp site. Close to the camp site there is a restaurant where you can enjoy hot showers, cold beers maybe even a bit of a party. This night you will also say goodbye to the cooks and porters, since they will take an early train to Cusco the next morning.
look at this website for the day to day program of the trekkingIf Incatrail is full you can replace for Lares or Salkantay or inca jungle!

Day 4: Wiñay Huayna – Machu Picchu – Cusco

On day 4 we will have to wake up at 4.00 a.m. After breakfast, around 4.30am, we will hike to Inti Punko ( Sun gate). This gate will take you to Machu Picchu. It’s about an hour hiking along a narrow trail of rainforest. Our tour guide will show you around the wonderful Inca village called: Machu Picchu for about 2,5 h.

Machu Picchu is the best known of the Inca ruins, as it is recognized worldwide, yet it is not mentioned in any of the writings of the Spanish Conquistadors. It is believed to have been constructed around the mid-15th century and was “rediscovered” by American historian Hiram Bingham in 1911. The guided tour of this fascinating place is an awe-inspiring experience. Visit the Main parts of Machu Picchu. After the explanation (about 2 hours) in total you can stay 4 h maxima at Machu Picchu.

We are going to visit one of these circuits,

Ministry of Culture has introduced fixed circuits from November 2021, depending on which one is available on the purchase dates. The ticket can only be used once to enter. You will then gain access to one of the circuits below. It’s a one way walk, you can’t turn back.

Circuit 1 Alto Corto     

Circuit 2 Alto Largo

Included in the incatrail is the standard ticket, without Huayna or Machu Picchu mountain.

After you are done exploring Machu Picchu you can walk down, or take the bus (included in the price) to Aguas Calientes to have lunch (not included).
In the afternoon you will take the train back to Ollantaytambo or Poroy, from where there will be a transfer to Cusco, where you will arrive late evening after an amazing 4 days!

Notice:
Sunrise will depend on time of year and the weather conditions. End of our service.

DAY 7. – DEPARTURE FROM CUSCO
At the specified time, transfer from the hotel to the airport or bus station, you will get help from our staff.
End of our services.

Included in this Package
-Transfers in / out (airport – hotel – airport)
– Assistance staff in English and Spanish.
– City tour in Cusco in city tram.1 H  (In 4 * private) otherwise shared tour
– The Sacred Valley of the Inkas tour (In 4 * private) otherwise shared tour
– Incatrail 4 Days  ( or Lares or Salkantay )
– Entrance tickets to the various tourist centers
– Entry ticket to Machupicchu and incatrail 
– Train tickets there and back Expedition train
– Hotel for 2 nights in Cusco 1 In Ollantaytambo 
– All breakfasts at the hotel
-porters to carry tents and camping material ( no sleeping mats or sleeping bag)
–Bus down (Consettur to Machupicchu)
-1 Pic nic in the Sacred Valley ( in the private tour)
-3 Breakfst + 3 lunch +3 diner during incatrail
-all camping material ( excluding sleeping bag )
-Professional bilingual guide (English – Spanish) for all excursions.
-Personal assistance during your visit in Cusco.

Not included:
-Entrance at “Hot Springs
-meals not listed.
-sleeping bag and walking sticks
-Other things not mentioned are in the program.

IF YOU HAVE MORE DAYS IN CUSCO HERE ARE BEAUTIFUL EXCURSIONS

If you want to hike for 1 day to get used to altitude, here some options 

If inca trail is full, below other options to  Machu Picchu

What do we need for a reservation?
* Full name as it appears in your passport.
* Scanned copy of your passport.
* exact arrival date and flight number.
* vegetarian or not.
* room type 2 beds or 1 large bed.
* We ask for a 40% deposit when booking the rest 4 weeks before departure. Bank transfer to our Peruvian bank account or Wetravel (+ 4.5%)