Footsteps of the Incas

Our team will pick you up from your hotel in the morning or afternoon to begin your half-day tour of the city of Cusco. Known as the archaeological capital of the Americas, Cusco is the oldest city in the Western Hemisphere and was once the heart of the Incan Empire during the 14th and 15th centuries. Today, the city showcases a unique blend of ancient pre-Inca and Inca architecture with Spanish colonial influences, offering a fascinating journey through history. On this tour, we will visit some of the city’s most remarkable sites, where you’ll have the chance to appreciate its extraordinary cultural heritage.

Our first stop will be the Cusco Cathedral, the city’s main temple, located on the Plaza de Armas. Here, you’ll admire its impressive architecture and view several masterpieces from the Cusco School of art. Next, we’ll head to Qoricancha, the Temple of the Sun, once the most important Inca temple, dedicated to the sun god Inti. On top of this sacred site, the Santo Domingo Convent was built, yet much of the original Inca stonework remains intact. We’ll then visit Sacsayhuaman, the ceremonial fortress with megalithic stone walls, offering a panoramic view of the city of Cusco. Our next stops will be Q’enqo, a mysterious site with underground passageways, Puca Pucara, a fortress showcasing Inca military architecture, and finally, Tambomachay, a stunning site featuring aqueducts, canals, and waterfalls, highlighting the Inca’s mastery of water manipulation. After exploring these incredible sites, we’ll return to your hotel, where you’ll have the rest of the day free to relax or explore.

Our day begins with a journey through the Sacred Valley, once the heart of the Incan Empire. This fertile region has served as an important agricultural center for thousands of years, with its ruins stretching from Pisac to Ollantaytambo before reaching Chinchero.

Our first stop is Pisac, an important Inca site known for its extensive agricultural terraces and strategic location as the southern gateway to the valley. After exploring the ruins, we’ll visit the town’s artisan market before continuing to Ollantaytambo, an Inca fortress that guarded the northern entrance of the valley. As we climb its terraces and walk through its narrow streets, we’ll gain insight into its military, religious, and agricultural significance.

Finally, we head to Chinchero, a traditional Andean village home to the Royal Hacienda Ruins of Tupac Inca Yupanqui. Here, we’ll see a well-preserved Inca wall in the main square and visit the colonial church built atop Inca foundations. After taking in the beauty and history of Chinchero, we return to Cusco.

We will start the day in Cusco, where we’ll have an early breakfast before departing for Km 82 (Piscacucho), the official starting point of the Inca Trail. After meeting our trekking team and passing the checkpoint, we’ll begin the hike with a gentle, relatively flat section of the trail, following the Urubamba River and taking in breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. After about two hours, we will arrive at Patallacta, an ancient Inca settlement with extensive agricultural terraces. This site provides an excellent introduction to the history of the trail, giving us a glimpse of the sophisticated engineering and farming techniques used by the Incas. We’ll take a break here to explore and appreciate the landscape before continuing on.

From Patallacta, we will continue our trek, gradually ascending into a semi-tropical valley. The changing scenery, with its denser vegetation and fresh mountain air, marks our transition into higher altitudes. After about two more hours, we will arrive at Huayllabamba, a small Andean community and our first campsite along the trail. Here, we will settle in, enjoy a nourishing dinner, and rest for the night, preparing for the more demanding trek ahead.

We will start the day early with a hearty breakfast before beginning one of the most challenging yet rewarding sections of the Inca Trail. As we ascend, we will pass through several ecological zones, moving from the lush cloud forest—home to native trees, orchids, and a variety of bird species—into the high-altitude grasslands of the Andes. The trail steadily climbs, winding through breathtaking landscapes and offering glimpses of the vast valleys below. This section is known for its steep and demanding ascent, leading us toward the infamous Warmiwañusca, or Dead Woman’s Pass, the highest point of the entire trek.

After nearly five hours of uphill hiking, we will finally reach the pass at 4,215 m (13,828 ft). Here, we will take a well-deserved break to admire the panoramic views of the surrounding mountain ranges and deep valleys carved by ancient glaciers. If we’re fortunate, we may even spot a majestic Andean condor soaring overhead. From this point, we will begin our descent, following a winding stone path into the valley below. The final stretch of the day leads us to Pacaymayu, our campsite for the second night, where we will enjoy a warm meal and much-needed rest under the starlit Andean sky.

After breakfast, we will begin our ascent up the opposite side of the valley toward the second pass of the trek. About halfway up, we will come across Runkuracay, a small, round Incan structure believed to have served as an astronomical site and checkpoint for Incan messengers. After a brief visit, we will continue our climb toward Abra de Runkuracay, the second mountain pass of the trail. From here, we will begin our descent into a valley, where the dirt path transitions into a narrow Incan stone roadway, laid centuries ago and still intact today.

As we continue, we will reach Sayacmarca, or “Town in a Steep Place,” an impressive Incan site built on a rocky outcrop overlooking the trail. Accessible only by a narrow stone staircase, this fortress features an intricate aqueduct system that once carried water to nearby farmlands. After exploring the site, we will descend into the valley, following an ancient causeway that once crossed a shallow lake. We will stop for lunch before continuing through a landscape filled with more Incan engineering marvels, including an 8-meter tunnel carved through solid rock. Reaching the third pass, we will visit Phuyupatamarca, or “Cloud-Level Town,” a site believed to have been used for ritual and religious purposes.

From here, we will begin our final descent, passing through lush cloud forest before arriving at Wiñay Wayna, or “Forever Young,” an impressive archaeological site featuring beautifully preserved terraces and buildings. This will be our final campsite, where we will enjoy dinner and rest before the grand finale of our journey—Machu Picchu the following morning.

On the final day of our journey, we will wake up early and begin our trek along a wide, relatively flat path. After about an hour and a half, we will ascend a narrow staircase of stone steps leading to Inti Punku, the legendary Sun Gate. This is the moment we have been waiting for—after days of trekking through breathtaking landscapes, we will finally be rewarded with our first panoramic view of Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas. Standing at this vantage point, we can take in the awe-inspiring sight of this ancient citadel, nestled among the towering Andean peaks and shrouded in mist.

From the Sun Gate, we will descend into the heart of the archaeological complex, where we will explore the remarkable temples, plazas, and terraces that make Machu Picchu one of the Seven Wonders of the World. As we walk among the well-preserved ruins, we will have time to reflect on the incredible journey that brought us here. After taking in the beauty and history of this iconic site, we will take the bus down to Aguas Calientes, where we can relax, have lunch, or explore the town before boarding the train back to Cusco, marking the end of our unforgettable adventure.

As your adventure in Peru comes to a close, we’ll ensure your departure is smooth and stress-free. One of our representatives will meet you at your hotel at the designated time and escort you to Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport. Once there, you’ll have ample time to check in for your flight and prepare for your journey home or onward.

We hope that your time in Cusco has been filled with unforgettable experiences. As you bid farewell to the Inca imperial capital, we wish you safe travels and look forward to welcoming you back for another adventure in the future.