DAY 1: CUSCO HUANCACALLE TO PILLAOPATA
Our staff, led by our professional Guide, will pick you up from your hotel. After, you will drive for 1:45 hrs. To Ollantaytambo, here we will stop to have a quiet optional breakfast. After, we will continue our drive to Malaga. Here we will enjoy a view of the tropical Forest of Veronika Mountain or Huacaywillka.
From this point, we will keep driving to Challway; on the way we will visit fruits, coffee, and coca leaves plantations and farming villages where we will have the opportunity to stop and learn about the jungle products. We will continue driving for another 3 hours to Huancacalle town, where we will have lunch.
After lunch, we will start our adventure by visiting Rosaspata or Vitcus and Ñustahispana. Our Guide will explore this beautiful Archeological site, considered the last city of the Inca civilization, in a unique place in Cordillera Vilcabamba. After we explore the archeological site, we will trek for one hour to the camp Pillaopata.
Altitude. 3400 m. to 2700 m, Distance: 8 km, Time: 3hrs. Driving time: 6 hours.
DAY 2: PILLAOPATA TO RACCACHACA
After a delicious breakfast, we will begin our ascent for four hours until Asutina passes 4000 m. This morning hike will be in lush green vegetation overlooking the Vilcabamba Valley’s beautiful quiet landscape until we reach the highlands, where we will see a few cow farms until Asutina. From this point, we will enjoy the views of several peaks around the Vilcabamba mountain range. After your spare time, we will descend for one hour for lunch. After lunch, we will continue trekking in the lush green vegetation overlooking beautiful green mountains for three hours. Until our camp Raccachaca, a small farming local community located at 3800 m.
Altitude: 2700 m. to 3800 m, Distance: 18 km, Time: 8 to 9 hrs.
DAY 3: RACCACHACA, MOJON TO LAJOCCOCHA
Today is the longest and highest point in this journey. We will have an early start and a lovely breakfast in a silent environment with a few horses and cows grazing in these wild mountains. We may even see the spectacled bear in the highlands: we will marvel at the highlands fauna. Our climb will take us for five hours until Yanaccocha pass 4500.
Another unique viewpoint to see the Cordillera Vilcabamba. After this point, we will gradually descend for one hour to Yanaccocha for lunch. After lunch, we will continue our gradual ascent to Mojon pass 4600 m. This is the highest point on this trek, with spectacular views of the snowed-capped mountain of Mojon and overlooking the Urubamba mountain range. Enjoying our free time, we will descend for three hours to Lajoccocha to our camp at 3700 m.
Altitude: 3800 m, to Lajoccocha 3700 m, Distance: 20 km, Time: 9 to 10 hours.
DAY 4. LAJOCCOCHA TO AGUAS CALIENTES
Today we have a wonderful morning hike with beautiful lush green vegetation. Most of the path is the original Inca trail connecting to Machu Picchu; today, you will experience the change of the ecosystem from the high Andes to the green tropical forest full of native flora and fauna from the area until Mutuypata. From here, we will take transportation to the Hidroelectrica train station, where we will have our last lunch and meet our trekking crew. After, we will take the train for 45 minutes to Aguas Calientes town, where we will stay in the hotel.
Altitude: 3700 m. to Aguas Calientes 2000 m, Distance: 12 km, Time: 4 to 5 hrs.
DAY 5: EXPLORE MACHUPICCHU BACK TO CUSCO
After Breakfast, your Guide will pick you up from your hotel for a short bus journey to the entrance of Machu Picchu; today, you will explore this magical Inca city of the Inca civilization and enjoy learning about it was built and discovered for 3 hours. You will then have leisure time to wander around, and if you get a Ticket for Wayna Picchu, you can climb.
Note: There are just 400 visitors allowed per day. You must book the entrance with us in advance to ensure your permit.
In the afternoon, we meet in the town of Aguas Calientes. We take the train back to Ollantaytambo or Poroy, depending on the space, and private transportation back to your Hotel Cusco.
BRIEFING
The night before your trek, we will go to your Hotel at a coordinated Time with you for your briefing. We will provide you with a duffel bag that will stay with your porters while you hike. This duffel bag should not exceed 7 kg or 14 pounds and does need to include your sleeping bag and air mattress.
PERMITS
As soon we receive your details and deposit, we will purchase your permits, depending on availability. These permits are for a specific date and in your name. They cannot be changed once they are confirmed. Only your passport number is allowed to be updated. The permit includes an entrance to Machu Picchu.
PROFESSIONAL LICENSE TOUR GUIDE
All of our guides who are part 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). Furthermore, they will make sure of your safety and lifelong memories.
PORTERS
We include a personal porter who is responsible for carrying your duffel bag. You will not have access to your duffel bag until your campsite. There is no extra fee for this.
TRANSPORTATION
You will have transportation included in this trek from Cusco Hotel or Sacred Valley to Km. 82 starting point and return to your hotel from the train station could be from Ollantaytambo or Poroy.
We include the Vistadome train from Aguas Calientes. You may want to upgrade to the first-class train, Hiram Bingham.
We include the bust ticket from Machu Picchu citadel to Aguas Calientes town.
EQUIPMENT
We provide you with very nice four-season EUREKA TENTS. That is shared by two people. You will also have a dining and cooking tents.
FOOD
We provide you with an experienced chef who is an expert in cooking in the mountains, respecting the food restriction of our clients. Please let us know in advance before your departure. The first-day breakfast and the last-day lunch are not included. Other than that, we provide you with breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks for the hike.
WATER
Essential and is required to bring your own water bottle for the trek. We will provide you from the first lunch filtered, boiled, cooled down water to refill your water bottle at every campsite or lunch spot.
FIRST AID
Every tour guide who is part of Private Machu Picchu receives training in first aid from the high mountain specialists we do every February. Your tour guide will have a first aid kit for basic medical situations. Also, in all of our treks, we provide oxygen for emergencies. In the worst cases, our staff will get you off the trail and assist you in getting to the clinic if needed.
TAXES AND FEES
All taxes and permit fees associated with this trek are included in the listed price.
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.
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.
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.
