DAY 1: ARRIVAL DAY
Meet Peru Cusco Guide at the Airport of Cusco, please look for your Private Machu Picchu Guide holding a sign with your name on it. Our Guide will transfer you to your Hotel. We will help you to check in. Today you will take it easy acclimatization day because Cusco is at 3400 m. We will have plenty of recommendations for places to explore on your own.
DAY 2: SACRED VALLEY TOUR VISIT SAQSAYHUAMAN, PISAQ, OLLANTAYTAMBO
Your private guide will collect you from your hotel. Drive to the archeological site of Saqsayhuaman considered one of the most important temples in the Inca times. After your visit, you continue driving to Llama and Alpaca farm Awanacancha. Along this drive, you will stop at beautiful viewpoints to see the remarkable farming communities and the sacred valley, a large valley surrounded by Snowy peaks of mountains. In the middle of the valley flows the Vilcanota or Urubamba River, which was very important during the Inca period for agricultural production until today. We use irrigation systems for the production of corn, potatoes, quinoa, and vegetables in this valley, and is one of the sources of the Amazon River. Eventually, you will get to Pisaq archeological site, where you will explore with your private guide. After you finish, you will come down to the colonial town of Pisaq. Where you will explore the biggest local and handcraft make in the area. As well their specialty in this town is making Empanadas, a type of bread. If you like, you can try it after you drive along this beautiful valley, looking at the towns located on both sides and traditional Guinea pig restaurants. If you want to see and try it, let your Guide know to stop. As well, you have a choice of recommendation to stop for lunch. After lunch, you will visit the Ollantaytambo archeological site, considered the last Inca living town, a beautiful small hospitable town. Where you spend the night in the hotel at 2800 m.
DAY 3: CUSCO PISCACUCHO TO AYAPATA BASE CAMP
Our staff, led by our professional guide, will collect you from your hotel. You will drive for two and a half to the starting point, Km82 or Piscacucho, a community in the lower part of the sacred valley. This is the start of the Inca Trail, where you will have a checkpoint pass. We will start our hike by crossing the bridge over the Urubamba River and hiking along its left shore as it flows northwest along the sacred valley, following the trail in flat terrain until we arrive at Miskay. From here, you will start to ascend to the beautiful viewpoint to see the impressive Inca site of Llaptapata. We continue hiking along Kusichaca Valley. Near the Kusichaca River until we arrive for our lunch in Hatunchaca. The morning hike before lunch will be about four hours. After lunch, we continue our ascend for 2 hours and a half until we arrive at our base camp, Ayapata. On the first day, you will be able to enjoy the spectacular views of the Urubamba mountain range and Huayanay snowed-capped mountain 5800 m. Not to mention the diversity of wild flora and fauna that can be found throughout today’s hike.
Duration: 8.7 miles, 14 Km.
Time: 6 to 7 hours.
Altitude: 3300 m.
DAY 4: AYAPATA WARMIHUAÑUSCA PASS TO CHAQUICCOCHA CAMP
We wake up early in the morning to have breakfast. Today we begin the most challenging part of our trek. We will start to ascend into the tropical forest by native trees, Unka. Along this climb, the landscape changes from the subtropical valley to Sierra Puna. On the way to the first mountain pass, WARMIHUAÑUSCA (dead woman pass – 4200 m/ 13776ft), you may see domesticated llamas and alpacas grazing on Ichu, one of the few plants that grow at high altitude. This will be the biggest point that we reach in this journey. After spending time taking your photos. We will descend for two hours to have lunch in Pacaymayo Alto. After lunch, we will continue our ascend to Runkurakay pass, 3900 m./ 12,402 ft. After, we will descend until we get to our camp, Chaquiccocha. You will also be able to visit this beautiful Inca remains as a Runkurakay and Sayacmarca. We also cross an area of the so cloud forest, which is the habitat for many different birds like Hummingbirds and sparrows.
Duration: 9.95 miles 16. Km
Time: 8 to 9 hours.
Altitude: 13.776 ft. 4200 m.
DAY 5: CHAQUICCOCHA TO WIÑAYHUAYNA CAMP
We wake up at around 6.00 a.m. We continue our hike in the lush cloud forest we are across so rich in Andean flora and fauna from Chaquiccocha to the third pass Phuyupatamarca means temple above the clouds. From above, you can observe a sophisticated sacred complex made up of water fountains with solid foundations and also overlooking spectacular views of the Urubamba River, Salkantay, and Pumacillo mountains. From this point, you will be able to see Machu Picchu mountain. We continue our trek down the long descending stone steps that lead us to Wiñaywayna 8692ft./2650 m, an impressive Inca complex made up of an agricultural center with numerous religious sectors and an urban sector, close to which our camp is located. After visiting the archeological site to enjoy our last Dinner.
Duration: 9.95 miles /16 km
Time: 4 to 5 hours
Altitude: 11.766ft. 3700 m.
DAY 6: EXPLORE MACHU PICCHU AFTERNOON BACK TO CUSCO
We will wake up early 3:30 a.m to leave our camp Wiñayhuayna and to get to the first checkpoint. Located very close to the camp. This checkpoint opens at 5:30 a.m. After we are starting an early morning hike to Intipunku or the sun gate. This will take us one hour. Hiking along a trail up and down on the edges of some cliffs in a highlands jungle. From this point, we may see the sacred City of Machu Picchu. From Intipunku, we will descend into Machu Picchu, and 40 minutes later, we enter the citadel from the highest point through the house of the Guardians. We then descend to the control point, where we register ourselves and leave our backpacks. We immediately begin a complete guided tour of the citadel, which will take around 2 hours. You will then have free time to walk around.
Note: (If you got your extra ticket to climb to Huaynapicchu, and they sell just 400 permits per day) where you can experience spectacular views of all of Machu Picchu, the valleys, and the mountains that surround it. In the afternoon, we will meet in the town of Aguas Calientes. From here, you take the train back to Ollantaytambo and private transportation back to Cusco to your hotel. Please let us know of any changes, or we will make arrangements for any extra activities you would like.
Duration: 3 miles / 7 km
Time: 2 hours
High point: 8,586 ft/2700 m
DAY 7: DEPARTURE FROM CUSCO
Today, we will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the airport. After having a wonderful lifelong experience with us. Unless you keep traveling with us. In extension tours, we will get you to the destination. Please let us know of any changes, or we will make arrangements for any extra activities that you would like to do it.
PROFESSIONAL TOUR GUIDE
All of our guides of Private Machu Picchu hold a degree in tourism, they studied at Cusco National University. They are passionate about sharing our Peruvian History, culture, gastronomy, and others, they are fluent in English speaking and many of them speak our local language (Quechua) they will make sure your safety and lifelong memories.
HOTELS
On this tour, we will include a one-night Hotel in Aguas Calientes. We can easily add extra nights before or after the tour if needed, please let know our travel specialist. Upgrade Hotels are always possible. We can also book the tour without any Hotels if you prefer to book them on your own.
TRANSPORTATION
We provide private transportation through the sacred valley to the train station and back to your hotel. It is also included trip bus ticket from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu.
TICKETS
The entrance fees are included to visit the sacred valley tour and Machu Picchu.
TRAIN TICKETS
Train tickets are in expeditions tourist class around trip from Ollantaytambo. If you would like to upgrade to Vistadome train, the fee is $75 one way and $100 round trip from Ollantaytambo.
CLIMATE AND WEATHER
The Cusco Region mainly presents two seasons, the rainy season, from November to April, with the heaviest rainfalls usually occurring between January, February, and March, and the dry season from May to October. The dry season is colder, so temperatures can drop to below 0 degrees at night.
Along the Inca Trail, the temperature ranges from 15-20°c during the day if it’s sunny, to 10-28°c during the day if not sunny, or 05-15°c at night in the first two campsites. At Wiñay Wayna and Machu Picchu, at a lower altitude, temperatures are usually warmer, though warm clothes are still recommended at night.
There are benefits and drawbacks to visiting Cusco and Machu Picchu during each season. The dry season is usually crowded at all the sites, and especially on the Inca Trail, you need to ensure your permit at least six months in advance.
The rainy season can be a very pleasant time for you who are looking to do cultural tours or for you who will design your vacations without trekking, including visiting Cusco and Machu Picchu with fewer people.
The altitude of Cusco city: 3400 meters
The population of Cusco: 1,300,000
MACHU PICCHU TICKETS
With the new regulations of the Peruvian government, the Machu Picchu entrance tickets go on sale from 6.00 am to 3.00 pm.
WAYNA PICCHU TICKETS
With the new regulations from the Peruvian government, the Wayna Picchu tickets go on sale from 7.00 am until 10:00 to 11:000 am. The hike Will take 45 minutes up and 30 minutes down all the way. The step is not recommendable for people who have vertigo.
Note: It’s essential to book in advance to ensure your entrance tickets to the sites.
MACHU PICCHU MOUNTAIN TICKETS
The hike will take you 1.45 hrs and 1:00 hrs down. The tickets go on sale in two windows of time from 6 to 7 a.m., and the second group is from 8 to 9 a.m. Takes longer, but it’s more beautiful.
STRIKES
It is the biggest problem in South America, not just in Peru. It can affect us on our tour treks. Roads are often blocked as well as trains stop their operations. Usually, the advice is two weeks in advance to prevent do not affect too much any of this country’s problems on our tours. In the worst-case, Private Machu Picchu Will let you know to cancel the tours or treks. Your health and safety are our top priorities.
ARRIVAL AT CUSCO
Cusco has an airport, mostly for domestic flights from inside the country. Our international airport is Jorge Chavez in Lima.
LATAM Airlines is the biggest company that operates in Peru and has connections all over the world. It is the only airline that doesn’t have too many cancellations in the weather conditions here in Cusco. The time flight from Lima to Cusco is one hour. You can always connect your flights to Puno, Arequipa, Puerto Maldonado Jungle, Iquitos, or the north of Peru, in our extension tours.
There is always a bus option from Lima to Cusco. The time will take you 22 hours.
FOOD
Peruvian cuisine is recognized for its biodiversity of products and continues conquering the whole world. Peruvian food is being awarded internationally for owning the most delicious food in the world.
The Cusco Region has unique gastronomy for the use of local products like potatoes, quinoa, corn, a variety of vegetables, and its exotic fruits, plus guinea pig and alpaca meat. Your travel expert will recommend restaurants that you can visit here in Peru and Cusco.
On our treks, we provide you with delicious food. You just need to make sure to let us know your dietary restrictions before departure on our treks, as well as our chefs are well-experienced in cooking in the mountains.
WHAT WE RECOMMEND TO BRING
- Backpack with a change of clothes for the whole period of the trek.
- Strong footwear and waterproof trekking boots are recommended.
- Sandals or jogging shoes for higher comfort while at camp.
- Warm clothes, including jackets and fleece. Thermal clothing is also recommended, especially for sleeping.
- Camera and batteries (batteries consume more quickly under cold conditions).
- Sun block or sun cream.
- Hydrating cream for face and body.
- Insect repellent – minimum recommended 20% deet – no malaria risk has been reported.
- Toilet paper and tissues.
- Snacks: biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, dried fruits, etc. Please note that we provide a snack, and our meal service is complete and well-supplied. This recommendation applies to all clients being used to a specific snack, as it may happen that it’s not included in our selection.
- Water container and water for the first morning. Important notice: plastic water bottles are no longer allowed on the Inca trail. Plastic water containers or camelback or metal ones are recommended.
- Optionally water sterilizing tablets in case you pick up water from streams or rivers along the route; otherwise, we provide filtered, boiled water, which is safe to drink and has not reported any health problems so far.
- Small towel.
- Swimsuit (If you have an extra day in Aguas Calientes town, you can go to the hot springs).
- Cash in soles or in Dollars.
- Original Passport, travel insurance, and any important health document you may have to follow any restrictions.
- Original international student identity card (In case you have applied for a student discount).
- Optional, walking sticks or hiking poles (rubber covers necessary to avoid damaging the Inca Trail). If not, we have some here for rent.
OPTIONAL SERVICES TO BE HIRED
An extra hotel night in Aguas Calientes can be booked for you at an additional cost depending on the Hotel you choose. Please note that the additional entrance fee cost is not included if you wish to revisit Machu Picchu the following day.
Massage sessions: us$50 per 1-hour session. Our massage therapists have the highest recognition in Cusco.
RECOMMENDED PACKING LIST FOR TREKS
- Passport.
- Valid student card in case you booked as a student.
- Immigration stamp.
- 25L or 30L day pack.
- Water bottle or camelback with 2L of storage.
- Footwear, waterproof hiking boots.
- 4 or 5 hiking t-shirts, three hiking pants considering one nice outfit for Machu Picchu, five sets of undergarments, four pairs of socks, one fleece and down jacket for cold nights, a set of rain gears jacket, pants, a sun hat, wool hat, headlamp, warm waterproof gloves, shoes for camp, quick-dry small towel.
- Battery charger. There is no place to plug in while trekking.
- Sunscreen, face moisturizer, insect repellent, hand sanitizer, wet wipes, toothbrush and paste, toilet paper, personal medication, band-aids, moleskin, and others.
- Camera, phone, music player.
