Inca Route tour day by day

Day

Itinerary

Accommodation

01

Arrival to Lima:
We will pick you up from the airport upon arrival and take you to the hotel in Lima.

Lima

02

Flight to Cusco:
In the morning we will take you to the airport in Lima for your flight to Cusco (1 hour). Once in Cusco, we will take you to the hotel there. You will have time to rest and to drink a "coca tea" to get used to the altitude.

Cusco City Tour: 1st day
After settle in the hotel, you will visit the highlights of Cusco City as the Cathedral (great example of the colonial architecture of the 17th century); San Blas church with the best wooden carved pulpit (a magnificent piece of art of the 17th century); and the Archbishopric's Palace with a collection of paintings of the 17th century.

Cusco

03

Cusco City Tour: 2nd day
You will visit the Inca remains in Cusco. The tour will start in Sacsayhuaman, there are massive walls made of huge stones that fit perfectly, an impressive example of the Inca architecture. From there you will ride on a horse for 3 hours to visit 2 other archaeological sites: Qenqo (a temple where the Incas mummified their dead) and Tambomachay (a temple where the Inca king went to take ceremonial baths to purify himself).

Cusco

04

Excursion to the Incas Sacred Valley:
We will take you to Pisac, the first town in the Urubamba Valley. There you will do a short hike (without backpacks) of 3 hours to visit the Inca temple on the top of a mountain. Then, we will take you back to Pisac to lunch and to do some shopping in its famous handicraft market. Afterwards, we will take you to Ollantaytambo town, after a nice ride along the valley. In Ollantaytambo you will tour a huge Inca temple. Finally, you will return to Cusco city in the evening.

Cusco

05

Inca Trail: 1st day.
From Piscacucho (a.k.a. "Km 82") to Wayllabamba (Distance: 9 Kms / 5.6 miles). A bus will pick you up from the hotel to take you to the beginning of the Inca Trail (2,720 mts / 9,000 ft); from there you will hike for 2 hours before lunch, and then 2 hours more to reach the campsite. You will see Llactapata ruins and camp at Wayllabamba (2,950 mts / 9,800 ft) with an amazing view of the Veronica snow-capped mountain.

Campsite

06

Inca Trail: 2nd day.
From Wayllabamba to Pacaymayo (Distance: 12 Kms / 7.5 miles). This is the toughest day of the trek. After 4 hours hiking, you will reach the Warmiwanuska pass, the highest point of the trail (4,200 meters / 14,000 ft). After a short rest at the pass, you will descend to the Pacaymayo campsite (3,600 mts / 11,900 ft); there you will lunch and rest.

Campsite

07

Inca Trail: 3rd day.
From Pacaymayo to Winay Wayna (Distance: 16 Kms / 10 miles). This day is the nicest one, the hike starts with a climb to the Runkurakay pass (3,990 meters / 12,960 ft), from there the view of the mountains and the cloud-forest is very impressive. After the pass, the path is mostly downhill and the sceneries change dramatically. Along the path there are 3 main Inca sites: Sayacmarca, Phuyupatamarca and Winay Wayna. You will camp in Winay Wayna campsite at 2,700 meters (8,900 ft).

Campsite

08

Inca Trail: 4th day.
From Winay Wayna to Machu Picchu (Distance: 5 Kms / 3.2 miles). You will wake up early in the morning (4:30 AM) to reach Inti Punku (Sun's Gate) before 6:30 AM to watch the first sun beams hit Machu Picchu (2,400 mts / 7,900 ft). Once in the Inca city you will have a guided-tour for 2 hours; afterwards, you will have free time to explore the ruins by yourself. In the afternoon, you will take the train back to Cusco (4 PM). You will be back in Cusco in the evening (8:30 PM).

Cusco

09

Free day in Cusco:
You will have the day free to do some shopping and to tour the city by yourself.

OPTIONAL: Rafting in the Urubamba river
In the morning (9 AM), we will take you to the Urubamba river. There you will be on a raft for 2 hours and a half. The level of the white-water rafting is very good, adventurous but safe (class II and III). After a picnic lunch, you will return to Cusco at 6 PM.

Cusco

10

Journey to Puno:
At 8 AM you will take the bus to Puno. Along the road you will see wonderful sceneries as snow-capped mountains and valleys. You will arrive to Puno at 2 PM.

Puno

11

Excursion to lake Titicaca: 1st day
In the morning, you will take a boat to visit the Uros and Amantani islands. The first stop is the Uros islands, known as the "floating islands". They are made of "totora" reed by their inhabitants. Afterwards, you will continue to the Amantani island, there you will be welcome by the community and you will stay with a local family in their house. After lunch, you will walk to the top of a hill in the island to watch the sunset on the lake. In the evening, you will be the guest of a party with the local people.

Amantani

12

Excursion to lake Titicaca: 2nd day
After breakfast, you will continue your journey to the Taquile Island by boat. After one hour, you will reach this island home of an ancient community. The people there still wear typical clothing and they have preserved many of their ancient traditions. Finally, you will return to Puno in the afternoon (4:30 PM).

Puno

13

Tours in Puno:
You will visit two archaeological sites: Sillustani and Chucuito. The first one is an Inca cemetery with big towers built as tombs for the noble men. The second one is an Inca temple for fertility with phallus-shaped stones, it's very funny.

Journey to Arequipa:
In the afternoon (2 PM), you will take the bus to Arequipa. You will arrive there at 8 PM.

Arequipa

14

Arequipa City Tour:
In the morning, you will tour the highlights of the city of Arequipa as the Cathedral, La Compania cloisters and the Santa Catalina Convent. You will enjoy the nice architecture of this lovely city.

Journey to the Colca Valley:
After lunch, a 6 hours bus ride will take you to Cabanaconde town in the Colca Valley. There you will stay in a nice hotel.

Cabanaconde

15

Colca Canyon Trek: 1st day
You will hike down 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) from Cabanaconde town to the bottom of one of the deepest canyons in the world. At the bottom you will stay in a lodge with bamboo huts and a nice swimming pool filled with spring water.

Oasis Campsite

16

Colca Canyon Trek: 2nd day
Early in the morning (4 AM), you will hike up for 3 hours from the bottom to the top of the canyon. Once back in Cabanaconde town, you will have the chance to eat breakfast and to wash yourself at the hotel before the bus to Arequipa. You will be back in Arequipa city at 7 PM.

Arequipa

17

Free day in Arequipa:
You will have the morning and afternoon free to do some shopping and to enjoy this lovely city at your own pace.

Journey to Nazca:
In the afternoon (4:30 PM), you will start your journey to Nazca by bus. You will arrive to Nazca past midnight. We will pick you up from the bus station to take you to the hotel.

Nazca

18

Nazca Lines:
In the morning, you will fly over the Nazca Lines and discover this mystery of ancient times. The flight lasts 35 minutes and you will see many of these mysterious figures on the desert.

Journey to Ica:
After lunch (2:30 PM), you will take the bus to Ica. The ride is slightly over 2 hours. Upon arrival, we will take you to the hotel.

Ica

19

Ica Desert:
In the morning you will ride on a "buggie" through the sand dunes of this amazing desert. You will have fun sliding down on a sand-board too. After two hours you will return to the hotel for a swim.

Journey to Lima:
After lunch (1:40 PM), you will take the bus to Lima. You will arrive in Lima at 7 PM. We will take you to the airport upon arrival.

Lima

20

Transfer to the airport:
We will take you to the airport on time for your flight back home.