CUSCO

ITINERARY

Day 1: Cusco

Welcome to Cusco, Peru! Your adventure starts at 2 pm with a welcome meeting at your hotel. After the meeting your tour leader will take you on a walk around downtown Cusco. You’ll visit the facade of Qoricancha temple, the local San Pedro market, the main square, past the 12 Angled Stone, Regocijo Square and San Blas Square. This evening why not head out and have some dinner with your trekking buddies!

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Included Activities

Cusco - Orientation Walk

Optional Activities

Cusco - Full Boleto Turistico Pass (access to 16 archaeological sites, transport & guides not included) - PEN135

Cusco - City tour - USD15

Meals Included There are no meals included on this day.

Day 2: Inca Trail (3100m)* or Quarry Trail (3700m) or Cusco

Depending on your pre-arranged travel arrangements, during the next four days you may: hike the classic Inca Trail*, hike the Quarry Trail or stay in Cusco for another two days before taking the train to Aguas Calientes. While away from Cusco, the bulk of your luggage will be stored at your hotel. If you’re hiking the Inca Trail* or the Inca Quarry Trail, the evening before you leave Cusco you'll receive a small duffle bag to carry your clothes in for the next four days (5 kg maximum). Route 1 Inca Trail*: Today travel by minivan to the 82 km marker and meet your crew of local porters, cook and guide. The first day includes uphill trekking to the campsite, which is at 3,100 metres above sea level. On the way you’ll see the ruins of Llactapata, which was burnt to the ground by the last Inca emperor to discourage Spanish pursuit down the trail. In the evening, set up camp while the cook makes dinner. Make an early start today and drive to Choquequilla, a small ceremonial place where Incas worshipped the moon. Drive to the starting point of the trek, Rafq'a, and meet the horsemen who join us on the hike. After an hour’s walk, reach the small community of Socma. Carry on to the Perolniyoc cascade lookout, an opportunity to stop for photos and a food break. Continue to the campsite, which is 3,700 meters above sea level. You should reach the campsite around lunchtime. After lunch, set off to explore the Q'orimarca archaeological site, which once served as a checkpoint to the Incas. Route 3 Cusco: For those travellers disinterested in hiking the trail or who are unable to, spend two extra nights in Cusco before travelling by bus to Ollantaytambo. From here take a train through the winding Urubamba Valley to the town of Aguas Calientes where you’ll spend a third night.

Accommodation

Route 1 & 2: Camping (with basic facilities)/Route 3: Hotel (1 night)

3 Night / 4 Day Inca Trail (or 2 Night / 3 Day Quarry Trail)

Meals Included

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Special Information *Please note that Route 1 - Inca Trail is currently closed until further notice. Included lunch and dinner on this day is for travellers on the trekking options.

Day 3: Inca Trail (3650m)* or Quarry Trail (3600m) or Cusco

Route 1 Inca Trail*: This is the most challenging day of the trek, as we ascend a long steep path (approximately five hours) to reach the highest point of the trail. Colloquially known as 'Dead Woman's Pass', Warmiwanusca sits at a height of 4,200 meters above sea level, providing amazing views of the valley below. The group will then descend to the campsite in the Pacaymayo Valley at 3,650 metres. Route 2 Quarry Trail: This is the most challenging and rewarding day of the hike. A three-hour walk takes us to the top of the first pass of Puccaqasa (approximately 4,370 meters high). After enjoying picturesque views of the valley, it’s a short walk before stopping for lunch. Afterwards, make the two-hour hike to Kuychicassa, the highest pass of the trek at 4,450 meters. From here, descend to the sacred site the Incas called Intipunku (Sun Gate), with views of the Nevado Veronica mountain. Head to the campsite, only a stone’s throw away at Choquetacarpo. Route 3 Cusco: Today, perhaps your free day indulging your inner foodie in the eateries of Cusco. Head to lunch at the arty Fallen Angel restaurant, and if you still have room for dessert, the ChocoMuseo offers tastings and chocolate-marking workshops. All optional activities are at your own cost. Accommodation

Route 1 & 2: Camping (with basic facilities)/Route 3: Hotel (1 night)

Meals Included

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Special Information *Please note that Route 1 - Inca Trail is currently closed until further notice. Included lunch and dinner on this day is for travellers on the trekking options.

Day 4: Inca Trail (2650m)* or Aguas Calientes (2040m)

Route 1 Inca Trail*: Start the day with a climb through the Pacaymayo Valley to Runkuracay pass (3,980 metres). Enjoy views of the snow-capped mountain of Cordillera Vilcabamba before descending for around two to three hours to the ruins of Sayacmarca. Continue over the trail’s third pass to the ruins of Phuyupatamarca (3,850 metres), also known as 'Town Above the Clouds'. Start the two-hour descent down the Inca steps to the final night's campsite by the Winay Wayna archaeological site. Route 2 Quarry Trail: Today’s hike will all be downhill. The first stop is the incomplete Kachiqata quarry, where the Incas were intercepted by the Spanish. Around midday, come to the end of the trek. Explore the cobbled streets of Ollantaytambo before taking the short train journey to Aguas Calientes. This is where you’ll meet up with the travellers in your group who didn't hike. Visiting the natural hot springs in town is a soothing way to spend the late afternoon. Spend the night in a comfortable hotel before tomorrow’s visit to Machu Picchu. Route 3 Train: In the morning take a bus and train which is nestled in the hills at the foot of Machu Picchu. For those who want to, there’s time to visit Machu Picchu independently before the guided tour the next day. If you’d like to do this, please advise your group leader at the welcome meeting at the beginning of the trip. Otherwise, you might like to while away the afternoon in the natural hot springs of Aguas Calientes. Accommodation

Route 1:Camping (with basic facilities)/Route 2 & 3: Hotel (1 night)

Meals Included

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Special Information *Please note that Route 1 - Inca Trail is currently closed until further notice. Included lunch and dinner on this day is for travellers on the trekking options.

Day 5: Machu Picchu (2430) - Cusco

Route 1 Inca Trail*: The day starts before dawn with breakfast at 4.30 am. Say farewell to the porters as they descend to the train station and begin hiking by 5.30 am. The walk to Intipunku (the Sun Gate) takes around two-and-a-half hours. Weather permitting, enjoy unforgettable views over the ‘Lost City of the Incas’ Route 2 Quarry Trail: Depending on weather conditions, take a bus at 5:30 am this morning along the winding road to Machu Picchu. The journey takes around 30 minutes. At Machu Picchu, join up with the travellers in your group who hiked the Classic Inca Trail. If skies are clear, enjoy spectacular views over the ancient city from the Sun Gate, before going on a guided walk around the ruins. Route 3: In the morning at 5.30 am, take a bus up to Machu Picchu. The city was built around 1440 AD as a country retreat for Incan nobility, but there’s evidence that the land had been a sacred Incan site for much longer. Take a guided tour around the ruins of temples, palaces and living quarters, and enjoy free time afterwards to wander around on your own before the group returns to Cusco. Visiting Machu Picchu: According to Machu Picchu visiting regulations, all visitors must follow a pre-determined route within the site. This route must be followed in one direction only and once the guided visit commences exiting and re-entering the site is not permitted. Once the guided visit concludes, visitors must exit the site and personal exploration of Machu Picchu is not permitted. For all trails - after taking advantage of the seemingly endless photo opportunities, it's time to return to Cusco for a well deserved shower and a pisco sour. Your evening is then free for the last night of your adventure. Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Included Activities

Machu Picchu - Guided tour

Meals Included

Breakfast

Special Information *Please note that Route 1 - Inca Trail is currently closed until further notice. Sunrise at Machu Picchu: Due to safety reasons the final checkpoint for all trekkers does not open until 5 am therefore the estimated arrival time to Machu Picchu Sungate for Inca Trail* trekkers is approximately 7.30 am. For Quarry Trail trekkers and train travellers the first bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu departs at 5.30 am. The estimated arrival time is between 6 and 6.30 am. The sun rises at Machu Picchu at approximately 5.30 am, therefore it's not possible to be there in time for sunrise. Due to Intrepid's safety policies, our leaders are prohibited from recommending or assisting with booking trips to the mountaintop ruins of Wayna Picchu.

Day 6: Cusco

Your adventure comes to an end this morning. There are no more activities planned and you're free to leave the accommodation at any time.

Optional Activities

Cusco - Pisco Making - Urban Adventures - USD51

Cusco - Stand Up Paddle Boarding - USD75

Cusco - Totem painting workshop - USD59

Sacred Valley - Mountain Biking - USD120

Sacred Valley - Via Ferrata & Zipline - PEN265

Rainbow Mountain Hike - USD97

Meals Included

Breakfast