Inca Trail Discovery: 7 Days of Adventure in Peru
A Captivating Journey: Easy Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Embark on the “Inca Trail Discovery,” a 7-day journey that unveils the heart of ancient Incan civilization in an accessible and sustainable way. Start your adventure in Lima, exploring the city’s rich history and vibrant culture. Then, travel to Cusco, the Inca’s historic capital, where colonial architecture and Incan archaeological sites blend seamlessly. Journey through the stunning Sacred Valley, witnessing the incredible Ollantaytambo ruins and engaging with local traditions. The highlight is an easier version of the famous Inca Trail, a path that offers breathtaking views, fascinating Inca ruins, and the lush beauty of sub-tropical jungles and rainforests. This trek leads to the majestic Machu Picchu, an awe-inspiring ancient city nestled high in the Andes. Your journey emphasizes small-group experiences, eco-friendly practices, and meaningful cultural exchanges, ensuring a responsible and unforgettable adventure.
Highlights
- Lima’s Cultural Tapestry: Begin in Lima, Peru’s capital, to explore its vibrant blend of rich history and contemporary culture, setting the stage for your adventure.
- Cusco’s Incan Majesty: Discover Cusco, the historic Incan capital, where stunning colonial architecture and mysterious Incan archaeological sites coalesce in a breathtaking cultural showcase.
- Sacred Valley Wonders: Journey through the Sacred Valley, experiencing the awe-inspiring Ollantaytambo ruins and connecting with enduring local traditions amid Andean landscapes.
- Inca Trail Adventure: Trek the accessible Inca Trail, a path filled with breathtaking vistas, intriguing Inca ruins, and diverse ecosystems, culminating in the iconic Machu Picchu.
- Machu Picchu’s Ancient Splendor: Marvel at Machu Picchu, the spectacular Incan city set high in the Andes, epitomizing the ingenuity and spirit of the ancient Inca civilization.
Brief Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Lima
Land in Lima, transfer to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day at leisure, exploring or relaxing as you acclimate to Peru.
Day 2: Lima Gastronomic and Walking Tour
Discover Lima’s rich history and vibrant culture with a gastronomic and walking tour of its key sites. Enjoy the flavors of Peru with a sampling of local cuisine.
Day 3: Journey to Cusco
Board a flight to Cusco, the historical heart of the Inca Empire. Explore Cusco’s colorful streets, visiting its main attractions and soaking in its unique atmosphere.
Day 4: Sacred Valley Tour
Sacred Valley Wonders: Visit Pisac, Ollantaytambo, and Chinchero, exploring these iconic Inca sites and learning about their historical significance.
Day 5: Short Inca Trail – Km 104 to Aguas Calientes
Start the Short Inca Trail at Km 104, hiking through stunning landscapes and visiting ancient ruins en route. Spend the night in the town of Aguas Calientes, prepping for Machu Picchu visit.
Day 6: Machu Picchu Exploration
Embark on an early morning tour of the Machu Picchu sanctuary, exploring its ruins and learning about its history. Enjoy some free time to explore the site on your own or take optional hikes.
Day 7: Departure from Cusco
Spend the morning at leisure in Cusco. Transfer to the airport for your flight home or to your next destination.
Prices for this trip
Hotel Category | Double or Triple room | Single room Additional cost |
---|---|---|
Budget | US$ 1140 | US$ 181 |
Tourist | US$ 1249 | US$ 207 |
Superior Tourist | US$ 1418 | US$ 323 |
* Minimum 2 passengers to confirm the booking; solo traveler is subject to an additional fee.
* Small group min 2, max 12 — group tour; join other travelers at each destination (If you want a private tour just for you, ask your travel agent).
Includes and excludes
Included
- Accommodation: 6 nights in Lima, Cusco, and Aguas Calientes hotel with breakfast
- The itinerary includes all admission costs (Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Inca Trail, and Machu Picchu).
- English-speaking local guides lead the trek (an assistant guide for groups of over eight trekkers).
- All transfers: airport, train station, bus station transfers, Hotel pickup, and drop-offs.
- Train ticket: Cusco to Km 104 and Aguas Calientes to Cusco (Expedition Class).
- Meals: According to the itinerary (vegetarian or special diets are available).
- We bring a first-aid kit, including an emergency oxygen bottle.
- All ground transportation.
- 24-hour support by our local staff.
Not included
- The price does not cover domestic or international flights. Consult a travel agency if necessary.
- VISA procedures, travel insurance, pre, and post-tour accommodation.
- Additional personal costs (alcoholic beverages, laundry).
- The price does not cover gratuities for tour guides, drivers, and support staff.
- Guidance in another language (Germany, French, others), in case you request them, please ask your travel agent.
- Additional items are not included explicitly in the itinerary description.
- Entrance fee to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain.
Trip code: EXINTR7D01-SIC
Day 1 – International Arrival in Lima
- Lima Airport Transfer: Arrive in Lima at any time. Our representative will be waiting at Lima airport with a customized sign with the client’s name.
- Upon arrival in Lima, assistance at the airport and transfer to the lodging.
- No scheduled activities exist, so check into lodging and restore the energy.
- Overnight at the Hotel in Lima.
- Meals included: None.
Day 2 – Lima Colonial Walking Tour
- Hotel breakfast; enjoy a free morning to explore the city alone.
- At 14:00, pick up and transfer to Lima historical center. We will take a fascinating walking tour. We will show our clients the palaces, castles, magnificent Saint Francisco Monastery, and spectacular subterranean Catacombs throughout our city.
- We visit the main square, the Archbishop’s Palace, the Municipal Palace, the train station Palace, the unique old-fashioned “Cordano Bar” colorful mansion palaces, the Jiron del Union Pathway, the Post Office Palace, the Dominicans Tower, and the Historical Rimac Bridge, as well as the lovely surrounded wooden Balconies.
- The historical center is considered a World Heritage protected by UNESCO.
- The tour will end around 18:00.
- Overnight at the Hotel in Lima.
- Meals included: Breakfast.
Day 3 – Flight to Cusco & Colorful Cusco Walking Tour
- Hotel breakfast; at 06:30, picked up from the hotel and escorted to the airport to trip to Cusco, the ancient Inca capital.
- Upon arrival in Cusco, assistance at the airport and transfer to the lodging.
- The rest of the day is free for relaxation to minimize the adverse effects of the high altitude and explore this wonderful city.
- Hotel pickup at 14:30. The walking tour starts in the colorful San Pedro market; there is probably no better place to witness Cusquean life. Enjoy a firsthand look at how residents live day-to-day outside the postcard perfection of Cusco’s main square. The guide explains this market’s history as its wanders through the narrow aisles laden with colorful fabrics, meals, fruit juice, bread, and shaman stalls.
- After, we visit Cusco’s main square. This busy and vibrant space marks the city’s colonial center, featuring wide stone pathways and well-kept colorful gardens.
- Afterward, we will go to Qorikancha, where Santo Domingo’s convent sits atop the ancient temple. For some unknown reason, numerous invaders were awed by the splendor of this temple when they first arrived because, according to tradition, it was fully gold-plated.
- The tour ends around 18:00.
- Overnight at the Hotel in Cusco.
- Meals Included: Breakfast.
Day 4 – Tour to the Sacred Valley (Pisac, Ollantaytambo & Chinchero)
- Hotel breakfast; pick up from the hotel at 07:30. We embark on a journey back in time to the Inca’s Sacred Valley, beginning in Pisac, 31 km from Cusco. The old Incan archaeological site is on the summit of a mountain.
- Afterward, go down into the quaint little town and wander through its colorful market, where it can buy intricate, beautifully hand-crafted products.
- Afterward, have lunch at a nearby restaurant.
- We next go to Ollantaytambo, an Inca military, religious, and agricultural hub perched on a mountain. Unlike other little villages, this one has retained its original Incan architecture, with magnificent stone structures and winding alleyways.
- Finally, we will visit Chinchero, a village renowned for preserving ancient Andean spinning and weaving traditions. For this reason, they set up a market in the town square.
- The tour ends around 18:30.
- Overnight at the Hotel in Cusco.
- Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch.
Day 5 – Inca Trail: Km 104 to Aguas Calientes
- Hotel breakfast; pick up at 05:40 from the hotel and transfer to Poroy station to board the train to KM 104 and meet the guide.
- The train will stop at the Chachabamba archaeological site (2,170m/7,119ft) head of the trail; we begin the 5-hour climb to the Inca Trail. This path rewards us with amazing views of the big valley and gorgeous waterfall near the famous Wiñayhuayna Archaeological Site (2,700m/8,858ft), which translates as “Forever Young.”
- We continue along tiny trails with luxuriant flora of broad-leaf plants and giant ferns. The precipice of the high mountain adds to the thrill. The Sun Gate’s (2,670m/8,759 ft) stone threshold materializes unexpectedly along the route.
- Behold the magnificent city of Machu Picchu, surrounded by twisting gorges and wooded peaks. The remaining 45 minutes we spent going towards Machu Picchu enter.
- There are 30-minute buses from Machu Picchu citadel to Aguas Calientes (2,050m/6,726ft).
- Overnight at the Hotel in Aguas Calientes.
- Meals Included: Breakfast, Box lunch, and Dinner.
Day 6 – Visit the Sanctuary of Machu Picchu & Back to Cusco
- Hotel breakfast; at 06:00. Take a bus to the Machu Picchu archaeological site (2,430m/7,972ft). Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007, the mountaintop fortress earned every bit of its notoriety.
- Around 07:30 am, the guided tour begins; the guide expertly directs through the astounding ruins and main streets. Then wander around the town squares and climb the intricately carved stairways made of stone. Machu Picchu is considered the world’s spiritual center by esoteric wisdom.
- The guided tour takes around two hours and 30 minutes.
- From 12:30 pm to 13:30, take the bus to Aguas Calientes.
- From 13:30 to 15:00, take lunch at a local restaurant in Aguas Calientes.
- Board the train to return to Cusco later in the day. Arrive at Poroy station and then be picked up and transported to the Cusco hotel.
- Overnight at the Hotel in Cusco.
- Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch.
Day 7 – Departure from Cusco
- Hotel breakfast; Our representative will meet in the hotel lobby at the specified hour and help with the departure—airport transfer.
- Meals Included: Breakfast.