Peru's must-sees in a flash !

Day 1:

Transfer from downtown Cusco to Chinchero then hiking 3-3.5 hours  on an Inka trail from Chinchero ruins to the Sacred Valley.  

Normally, we leave from the main square at 9am in order to transit to the town of Chinchero in around 45 minutes - 1  hours drive outside of downtown Cusco. Please buy your snacks for lunch before the starting point. Such is the diversity on this route it can only be seen to be believed!

We start trekking from some Inka Terraces and find some great views and eucalyptus forests. The descent should  take us no more than 3 hours to complete.

On the second half of the day (the afternoon) we have lunch in a restaurant in the town of Urubamba, we can also take any laundry from these last days to be washed, then go to our homestay in the community of Chichubamba. Tonight we stay with Nerys and her sister Monica who run the homestay accommodation in Chichabamba and also  cacao workshop were you can roast and make artisanal chocolate, along with their neighbour Bernadiño who has his  artisanal ceramics workshop where you get to mould clay and paint designs.

Then to our homestay in the community of Chichubamba.

Included – Breakfast, lunch, Dinner, trek leader, local transport, accommodation in homestay, towels and showers.

Not included – Extra snacks

Day 2:

Hike to Viewpoint of Salt Terraces of Maras, drive to Ollantaytambo  and trek the Patacancha valley and ruins of Pumamarca.

At around 9am we head off from our homestay and go to the viewpoint of the Salineras Salt terraces. The Salt Terraces of Maras are thousands of small plots of land where salt precipates naturally forming deposits all around, the salt is then taking and process to becoming what we have on our dinner tables in Cusco and elsewhere. Salt ornaments as well as bath-salts, spiced salts and salty chocolate are all for sale at the various shops located on-site. It may be possible to trek down to the Sacred Valley in 1 hour and have the car meet us there but there are some  discussions at this moment about whether or not to permit tourists or trekkers to pass through the route.

We then drive another 30-40 minutes alongside the river Urubamba to Ollantaytambo town. On the way, we could  offer to stop at a Chicha house – a local tavern where they make corn beer. Learning the process of the staple drink  of the Peruvian Andes

OPTIONS INSTEAD OF THE SALT TERRACES.

If you would like the opportunity to horse ride in the morning, then this can be arranged the evening before.  

Price is $60 USD per person and lasts around 2 hours.

Rafting on the Urubamba river is another option – level beginner, river grade 2-3 max. 1.5 hours in river. Starts from  and finishes town after Ollantaytambo. Includes briefing safety equipment, professional raft guides, transport and  lunch. Arrangements should be made 24 hours in advance

Price is $60 USD per person and lasts 3 hours. Minimum 4 people.

At lunch, we can have in a typical restaurant and to conclude our first part of the day.

In the second part of the day, we would start around 1-1.30pm from the main square of Ollantaytambo town. We need to climb about 2 hours to get to the small Inka fort of Pumamarka. Along the way we take a gradual path, steeper in some places passing through Inka terraces, a few river crossings and some remote farm-houses. With of course some splendid viewing

Time to take in the views and have some snacks at the ruins. From there it is an easy 1 hour quick descent down zigzag pathways and steps to the village of Pallata in Patacancha valley and onto or homestay community of Huilloc around 1 hour or less if we get a taxi or local van.

Included – Breakfast, lunch, entry fees, Dinner, trek leader, transport where applicable, accommodation in  homestay, towels and showers.

Day 3:

Travel to Lucmabamba via the hot springs of Cocalmayo  

Today is more of a travel day but still with some time to relax at some wonderful hot springs at the end of the drive. We start around 9.30am for our family breakfast at our homestay, we need to travel back down the entire Patacancha  valley and time to the valley and onto the town of Ollantaytambo.  

Then we head up a continuously snaking road up to the pass of Abra de Malaga at 4450m with some astounding  views of the Veronica glacier if clear enough (can often be misty) and dramatic scenery behind us. We then glide  down the other side into the denser vegetation which soon transforms into more tropical like growth, banana  plantations quickly appear everywhere and humidity becomes suddenly obvious.

Snaking roads on one side, and Banana plantations on the other

We stop for a buffet lunch in beautiful surroundings and a chance to visit a small Inka site called Huamanmarca. In the afternoon, we will get to the hot-springs of Cocalmayo where we can relax until sunset.

We then head to the community of Lucmabamba and stay next to the coffee plantations with Sonia, Walter and their children Rodrigo and Bridget.

Included – Breakfast, lunch, hot-springs entry fees, Dinner, trek leader, transport where applicable, accommodation  in homestay, towels and showers.

Day 4:

Tour of the coffee plantations and trek part Inka Trail to ruins of  Llactapata. Lodge & Machu Picchu panoramic viewpoint.

In the morning, we start with an interactive coffee tour with the native people of the area and demonstrate the  traditional methods of which they organically cultivate their coffee plantations. There will be opportunity for everyone to toast and grind the coffee beans as well as try their organic coffee. You can buy products from them if you wish.

We will then continue through the coffee and banana plantations, we can also look out for granadillas - a member of  the passion fruit family, yucca and avocados. After lunch, A walk uphill of around 700m and 3 hours takes you  through beautiful garden-like scenery. Fruit trees, flowers, coffee and banana plantations are in abundance. Some of  the path is ancient Inka trail and just over 3 hours with stops you should arrive to the most wonderful view over to  Machu Picchu. Here there are some Inka Tambos (Small rest houses) known by the name as Llactapata. We walk  from here down until 15 minutes to our rustic mountain lodges.

Llactapata was supposedly an Inka site or religious temple with incredible energies. We try to appreciate this  remarkable site and view point to Machu Picchu by getting there when there are no groups and it will be peaceful.  We then descend with another 30 minutes to our simple lodges but incredible viewpoint that offer what is hopefully an  amazing panoramic for both the sunset and sunrise.

Ascent: 3-3.5 hours/4.5 mile’s – 6900ft to 8950ft. Descent: 0.5 hours/1 mile 8950m – 8530ft

Included – Breakfast, box-lunch, coffee tour, Dinner, trek leader, transport where applicable, accommodation, towels  and showers.

Day 5:

Trek from Llactapata to Hidroelectrica and hike to Mandor waterfalls  on the railway to finish in Aguas Calientes/Machu Picchu village.

After breakfast, we hike downhill for 2 hours to the start of the railway known as ‘hidroelectrica’. Around 10, we can  continue on a flat section along the railway for 2 hours.

Lunch will be taken at a spot about half-way along the railway - there could be the option to detour at some local  waterfalls known as ‘Mandor garden’. depending on time and trek stamina.

We should arrive to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu village) by late afternoon. At this time we can relax once  checked into the hotel. We offer a free evening to decide where you want to eat as dinner is not included for the final  evening. We will arrange for the guide to meet you in reception at some time in the evening so you have the plan fresh for the next morning when you go to Machu Picchu.

Descent: 2 hours/3.5 miles – 8530ft to 6590ft + Level walking: 3 hours/6.5 miles

Note: There is a train to take 2 times daily to get to Machu Picchu village in 1 hour. It is an extra cost of $33  USD and can be purchase on the day. 3pm is the only ideal train.

Accommodation: Aguas Calientes decent hostal. Mantu Boutique 3 star,  

Included – Breakfast, lunch, trek leader, transport where applicable, accommodation, towels and showers

Not included – entry to waterfalls, dinner

Day 6:

Machu Picchu guided visit and return by train and road to Cusco

Today is the day to visit the ruins of Machu Picchu. We start after breakfast around 7.30am before taking a 25 minute  shuttle bus to the main entrance where we meet our guide and go inside to explore and some personal time with  photos. We then proceed on a tour of the main citadel with the guide and the most important parts of this Inka city.

Our time-slot only allocates us a few hours to enjoy, but with an early start people will be getting hungry early too, so  we can head down to get lunch in town and then board our train at 2.30, 2.55, or 3.20pm to get as back to  Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley in 1.5 hours, then a 2 hour drive by road onto Cusco for a reasonable hour  around 6-7pm so time to eat out in the evening once back.

Included – Breakfast, Machu Picchu guided tour, Machu Picchu entry ticket, shuttle bus up to ruins, train to Sacred  Valley, transfer from train stations to Cusco

Not included – Huayna Picchu entry permit ($20 USD – subject to availability), return shuttle bus ($12 USD), train upgrades such as Vistadome, lunch or dinner.  

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