11-Nights Hiking the Inca Trail: Lima, Cusco & Sacred Valley - Arts & Culture from $6,253

Itinerary Details

Day 1: Welcome to Peru

Transfer: Jorge Chavez Lima International Airportto Lima - Miraflores

Hotel: Innside Lima Miraflores (4 Star Rating)

INNSiDE Lima Miraflores is an avant-garde hotel surrounded by the ocean, city, and culture. Energy and modernity burst from every corner of a hotel that reflects the soul of the city of Lima. A lively space in the magical district of Miraflores, surrounded by stores, restaurants, bars, picturesque gardens and also the immensity of the Pacific Ocean. An ideal hotel for travelers seeking new experiences while still feeling at home. Its urban rooms and suites offer all the comforts you need to make your vacation truly unique. But there is so much more to INNSiDE Lima Miraflores. Its gastrobar, 24-hour fitness center, terrace with heated pool, and spectacular Cataleya Rooftop Bar are all designed to enjoy life at its fullest.

Day 2: A Taste of Lima: Coffee, Pisco Sour & Huaca Pucllana

Your private-guided gastronomy tour begins with a transfer to a charming garden in the Barranco district of Lima where you will enjoy a cup of organic Peruvian coffee alongside your local guide. After learning a bit about the neighborhood, set out to explore its colorful streets and cultural landmarks, such as the iconic Bridge of Sighs. You'll soon visit a popular local market to sample a few fresh exotic fruits, discover local ingredients, and learn how they have influenced the evolution of local and global cuisine alike. Your next stop will be a restaurant in the nearby district of San Isidro, where you'll sip on a classic pisco sour accompanied by a delicious tasting of dishes that showcase the superfoods that make Peruvian cuisine so popular. Your tour winds down at an iconic restaurant located next to the impressive pre-Inca ruins of Huaca Pucllana. Here, settle in for a selection of gourmet dishes with the spectacular pre-Inca temples as your backdrop. Pairing culture and delicious cuisine and finishing with a return transfer to your hotel, this tour serves as the perfect introduction to Peruvian gastronomy and parts of Lima often overlooked.

Day 3: Into the Andes: From Lima to the Sacred Valley with Sulca Textiles Museum

Transfer: Lima - Miraflores to Jorge Chavez Lima International Airport

Upon arrival to Cusco Airport, please collect your baggage and head to the arrivals area. Here you will be greeted by a local assistant holding a sign with your name on it. Your journey toward the Sacred Valley soon begins, passing through the charming Imperial City of Cusco. Along the way, stop for special visit to the Sulca Museum, where Peru's textile history is showcased through unique pieces recreated by the talented Sulca family, inspired by Pre-Columbian, Inca, Colonial, and Contemporary cultures, and crafted using ancestral techniques. It is the perfect place to acquire your first authentic souvenir from the Andes. You will then continue toward your hotel in the Sacred Valley, crossing majestic mountains and fertile fields, and typically arriving in the early afternoon.The Boleto Tourism Card (BTC) allows you to access archeological and cultural sites in Cusco and the Sacred Valley. The BTC is a mandatory requirement for travellers visiting the area, and is included in your itinerary.Sitting somewhat lower than Cusco, the Sacred Valley offers a gentler introduction to Andean altitude; still, a relaxed afternoon remains the wisest start to your adventure. Ranging from roughly 6,750 to 9,800 feet (2,050 to 3,000 meters) above sea level, let the extraordinary landscape welcome you to the region. Sweeping valley views, terraced hillsides, and comfortable accommodations are more than enough to fill a few hours as your body adjusts to the mountain elevation. Drink plenty of water, take things slowly, and eat lightly at dinner to ensure you're ready for the adventures ahead.

Hotel: Hotel La Casona de Yucay (4 Star Rating)

Surrounded by imposing mountains and snow-capped peaks, the hotel will amaze you with spectacular views and beautiful gardens where you can relax and experience the magic of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Located in Yucay, a picturesque town in the heart of the Sacred Valley, the land chosen by the Incas as their resting place, the hotel is the ideal location from which to visit major archaeological sites such as Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo, Pisac, Maras, Moray, and Chinchero. This colonial mansion, built in 1810, will transport you back in time to a place where history, nature, and warm service come together to create unique experiences.

Day 4: Kayaking in the Sacred Valley

This morning, enjoy a quieter part of the Sacred Valley and some time off the beaten path. The setting today will be the wonderful Piuray Lagoon, in Chinchero, which has supplied the city of Cusco with its calm waters since the times of the Tahuantinsuyo and which you will explore by kayak with the help of a local guide. Arriving to the shore of the lake, you can appreciate the views of imposing snow-capped mountains that surround the lagoon (Soray, Veronica and Salkantay) while enjoying a welcome snack. After a stretching session and a safety briefing, grab your equipment (kayak, paddle, and vest) and begin the adventure. During the experience, you will be always accompanied by a guide and will be able to safely enjoy the peace and tranquility offered by this remote place. If you are feeling adventurous, after a breathing session, get set for an invigorating cold plunge in the lake. Back on shore, you will have the option of enjoying lunch or exploring the surroundings of the lagoon before being returned to your hotel in the Sacred Valley.

Day 5: KM 88, the Llaqtapata Community & Camp Chamana

Awaking before the morning sun, your journey along the Inca Trail begins after meeting your guide in the lobby of your hotel, and following a drive to the trailhead, begins at a section that few will ever visit. Most groups cross the Urubamba River at Km 82, instead you'll follow the river downstream and cross at Km 88, setting the tone for the rest of the trip; isolated, away from the crowds and with landscapes all to yourself. Upon arrival in Camp Chamana, a small village that's part of the Llaqtapata Community, a warm lunch awaits at your private campsite. As evening approaches, you will have the option to visit the archaeological sites of Wayna Q'ente and Llaqtapata, charming ruins of Incan stone walls, stairs, or a series of other incredible ancient Incan monuments and constructions that will leave you inspired. By the end of the day, kick back during teatime, enjoy a hot shower, and settle in for a warm dinner, all while reminiscing on the day's uniquely beautiful trekking. Through the course of the day, you will have covered approximately 5.7 miles (9.2 kilometers), taking roughly four hours and 30 minutes to complete.

Meal(s): Dinner, Lunch

As there are strict luggage restrictions in place on board the train to Aguas Calientes, a luggage transfer service has been arranged to bring your additional belongings to Cusco. Once you have completed your experience in and around Machu Picchu, your baggage will be ready and waiting for you in Cusco.

Day 6: The Cusichaca Valley, Huayllabamba & Llulluchapampa

As the sun rises, continue your journey up the narrow Cusichaca Valley, passing houses inhabited by farmers and herdsmen, until finally reaching the Andean community of Huayllabamba. From here the cobble-stoned Inca Trail ascends steeply through an ancient native forest bursting with birdsong. The trail begins to level near your campsite for the night, at Llulluchapampa, situated just below the first pass. Here you'll experience breathtaking views of Mount Huayanay and a first glimpse of the rare Andean cloud forest of Quenua, or Polyepis trees. Their reddish bark peels into paper-like sheets, hence their familiar name, which translates to "Paper Tree". Through the course of the day, you will have covered approximately 7.27 miles (11.7 kilometers), taking roughly eight hours to complete.

Meal(s): Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Day 7: Warmiwanusqa, the Pacaymayo River & the "Village at the End of the Clouds"

The day begins with a steady ascent up to Warmiwanusqa (Dead Woman's Pass), some 13,871 feet (4,228 meters) above sea level where you'll be met with panoramic views of the terrain you've just mastered. Take a breath here; you'll reach the highest point in your journey and are in a place that very few people will ever see. The pass is so named because its crest resembles woman who is laying down (and importantly, not because... well). Perhaps more importantly, this peak is nearly 5,905 feet (1,800 meters) higher than Machu Picchu itself. Now, the much-welcomed descent to the Pacaymayo River lies ahead. Settle in for a hearty lunch in Pacaymayo, then begin to descend to the ruins of Runkuraqay and through your second pass. From here, walk down to the site of Sayacmarca on the original Inca Trail, passing a dry lake and to what will be your first signs of the mist-filled Andean cloud forest. Many plants and animals thrive in the cloud forest, including endemic species found nowhere else on Earth; here you likely to spot a range of hummingbirds, butterflies, and orchids. Trek along a steady ridge that offers some respite from the day's arduous climbs and challenging descents, then catch your breath further down trail while admiring incredible views of the Aobamba Valley below. Continue along the ridgeline through classic Andean landscapes with views of snow-capped Mount Salkantay on the western flake and Mount Pumasillo silhouetted on the horizon to the north. Your guide will lead you along the flag-stoned trail until you arrive at the campsite at Phuyupatamarca, whose name in Quechua means "village at the edge of the clouds". Through the course of the day, you will have covered approximately 7.46 miles (12 kilometers), taking roughly eight hours to complete.

Meal(s): Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Day 8: Machu Q'ente, the Trail of Hiram Bingham & Aguas Calientes

Today may be the day you've been dreaming of; it is the day you will get your first glimpse of the citadel of Machu Picchu. Early (but not too early), you'll wake for a brilliant sunrise view just a short hike up the hill from the campsite, where porters will be waiting with tea; this site is known to deliver some of the finest sunrise views anywhere around Machu Picchu. After breakfast, continue the trek along a buttress passing by the ruins at Phuyupatamarca. These ruins contain an irrigation system that was built over five centuries ago... and it still works today. Now, the flag-stoned trail will begin to wind sharply downwards, taking you into the cloud forest and toward the well-conserved ruins of Winay Wayna ("Forever Young") located just below the ridge. Walking in the Inca's footsteps, along the very same trail they once used, you will now trek for two hours through dense, misty cloud forest until you reach Machu Picchu via Inti Punku (the Gate of the Sun). Here is the moment: marvel at your first sight of the magnificent citadel of Machu Picchu spread out ahead. After some time soaking up the glorious view, board a bus back to Aguas Calientes, where you'll spend the night at a local hotel. Through the course of the day, you will have covered approximately 6.77 miles (10.9 kilometers), taking roughly six hours to complete. Please note, dinner this evening is on your own accord, and not included.

Hotel: El Mapi by Inkaterra (3 Star Rating)

El Mapi by Inkaterra is located right at the foot of the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu and just across from the train station for Cusco/Machu Picchu train. This is a very reasonably priced hotel for Machu Picchu with full amenities. While the ruins may be ancient this hotel has all the modern comforts.

Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch

Day 9: Machu Picchu, Train to Ollantaytambo & Drive to Cusco

After an early breakfast, a quick, half-hour bus ride brings you and your guide up the road to the gates of Machu Picchu where you'll set out a guided three-hour tour of this ancient hilltop citadel. Exploring the various sectors and entering some of the houses and temples will bring these iconic ruins to life. Wandering among these centuries-old structures blended seamlessly into the mountain-top surroundings leaves even the most seasoned of adventurers with a sense of wonder and reverence, and with the gift of memories to enjoy for years to come. In the early afternoon, return to the village where a train will take you back to Ollantaytambo. After returning to Ollantaytambo train station, you will be picked up and driven back to the city of Cusco, bidding farewell to your guide upon arrival to your hotel.

Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch

Hotel: Hilton Garden Inn Cusco (4 Star Rating)

Explore the ancient neighborhood of Santa Ana from the Hilton Garden Inn Cusco hotel. Admire the natural beauty, local architecture, and vibrant culture outside this modern hotel. Walk into the welcoming lobby with plenty of natural light, a colonial courtyard, and two fireplaces. Take in hillside views near iconic Cusco attractions - the Centro Historico de Cusco, Cusco Cathedral, and Plaza de Armas are all within two kilometers. The hotel is four kilometers from the city center and Sacsayhuaman, with Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport a 15-minute drive away. Enjoy courtyard yoga sessions and the all-day restaurant.

Day 10: Morning at Leisure in Cusco & Cocktails by Night

Cusco asks only one thing of you on a day at leisure; take it slowly. At roughly 11,150 feet (3,400 metres) above sea level, the city rewards a gentle pace, and as it happens, a gentle pace is exactly what it deserves. The Plaza de Armas is one of the great public squares in the Americas, and a morning coffee at one of the surrounding cafe terraces, watching the city go about its day, is time well spent. From there, the cobblestone streets of San Blas invite unhurried exploration; artists' workshops, ceramic studios, and intimate galleries fill the neighborhood's whitewashed buildings. The mercado of San Pedro offers an authentic and vivid glimpse into daily Andean life. Come evening, Cusco's restaurant scene is a pleasant surprise. No matter what you're looking for, you'll find fare that is sophisticated, deeply rooted in Andean ingredients, and more than capable of anchoring a memorable evening.Explore Cusco's historic center after dark on this private guided cocktail walking tour, led by a professional bartender with a passion for Peru's most celebrated spirit, pisco. Winding through some of the city's most atmospheric streets, you'll make three carefully chosen stops at standout bars and restaurants, each offering a unique and refreshing perspective on pisco-based cocktails. The evening opens with an introduction to pisco's history and character, complete with a tasting of its essential varieties. From there, cocktails grow more adventurous - think coca sour, exotic fruit preparations, and ginger-infused concoctions - as your technique and appreciation deepen with each visit and sip. The night finishes at a bar overlooking Cusco's impressive and illuminated Main Square, where a shared piqueo of snacks and a final cocktail provide the perfect, memorable finale to an unmissable evening. Please note, this tour is exclusively done on foot and does not include transportation.

Day 11: Culinary Cooking Class & Market Tour by Mama Seledonia

Step into the kitchen of Mama Seledonia for a cooking experience that nourishes both the palate and the soul. Founded by the passionate and talented Seledonia Montalvo, this initiative goes far beyond great food; it provides meaningful employment opportunities for single mothers from vulnerable communities, making every dish you prepare all the more enjoyable. The experience begins with a guided tour of the vibrant Cascaparo market, where Cusco and the Sacred Valley's array of unique, hearty and healthy native ingredients take center stage and the building blocks of Andean cuisine come to life. Together with your local guide, you'll handpick seasonal produce before heading to Seledonia's kitchen to roll up your sleeves and learn how to prepare a few traditional dishes. The session concludes with a shared tasting of everything you've prepared, making for a warm, purposeful, and delicious way to connect with the culture and community of Cusco.

Day 12: Depart from Peru

Transfer: Cusco to Cusco Airport