The Inca Trail

The overnight group flights to Cuzco leave London this evening.
**

Day 2

Set amidst hills in the altiplano, the Imperial City of the Incas, Cuzco
(3,400) was the geographical, cultural and political centre of a vast empire
which, at its peak, stretched from present day Quito in Ecuador to Santiago
in Chile. After the Spanish conquistadores invaded the city, they started
building on top of the Incan structures, resulting in unique architecture, a
fusion of the Incan and Spanish colonial styles.

The group flight usually arrives around midday and there will be time for a
short orientation tour of the city or free time to wander the cobbled streets
admiring the old houses, visiting its interesting museums, churches and
pre-Columbian buildings, or to sit in a café and sample a coca-tea.

It is recommended to take it easy upon arrival into Cuzco and to drink plenty
of water to allow your body time to acclimatise to the altitude (3,400m).

There will be a welcome briefing in the hotel lobby this afternoon/evening.

*Hotel Warari / Koyllur (or similar)**
*

Day 3

Today has been left free for exploring Cuzco, one of South America's most
beautiful cities. The Plaza de Armas is a fantastic spot for people-watching,
and Qorikancha – the Sun Temple, located in the Santo Domingo Church and
monastery, are worth a visit. The Mercado San Pedro is the place to try some
local produce and there are many handicraft markets to shop for souvenirs
such as alpaca jumpers and scarves.

Outside the town are more Inca ruins, notably the fortress of Sacsayhuaman
where the Inca armies made their last stand against the Conquistadores. Cuzco
is also the gateway to the Sacred Valley of the Incas and should you wish to
visit the sites, your leader can help organise an excursion, including Pisac
Market (optional).

If you fancy something more active then there are an array of other optional
activities available from Cuzco including paddle-boarding on a lake, mountain
biking, or a combination of via ferrata and zip-lining in the Sacred Valley.

In the evening you will need to pack and weigh your duffel bag ready for the
Inca Trail tomorrow – remember to keep your passport somewhere accessible
for the Inca Trail checkpoint.

*Hotel Warari / Koyllur (or similar)*

Day 4

The Classic Inca Trail is a tangential branch part of a 45,000km road network
linking the whole empire to Cuzco. It was built in the 15th Century to reach
Machu Picchu but was abandoned soon after the Spanish conquest. American
adventurer Hiram Bingham travelled along the trail when he came across Machu
Picchu in 1911. The trail opened to the public in 1970.

We leave Cuzco early and drive for roughly two hours to Ollantaytambo, our
last chance to buy any items needed for the trek. From here we veer off the
road and follow a track beside the river (45 minutes) to the start of the
Inca Trail at Piscacucho, commonly known as Km82. After greeting our trekking
crew, we show our passports at the checkpoint and begin the Inca Trail trek.
The trail runs alongside the Vilcanota River beneath the impressive
snow-capped Nevado Veronica, passing through cactus gardens and fields of
corn until we reach the enormous Inca ruins of Llactapata, where we continue
up a side valley to camp near the hamlet of Huayllabamba.

*Walk Profile: approx. 11km / 6-7hrs walking*

*Full-service Camping - Huayllabamba Camp*

*Inca Trail - Meals Included: /breakfast lunch dinner/*

Day 5

This is the longest and most strenuous day of the trek. A long climb takes us
first through an area of cloud forest to the meadows of Llulluchapampa, then
over the Warmihuañusca (Dead Woman's) Pass – at 4215m the highest point
on the trek. After quite a long, steep descent we camp in the scenic valley
of the Pacamayo River (3600m).

*Walk Profile: approx. 10km / 6-7hrs walking*

*Full-service Camping - Pacamayo Camp*

*Inca Trail - Meals Included: /breakfast lunch dinner/*

Day 6

We start the day with an easier climb which takes us past the ruins of
Runquracay and over the Runquracay Pass (3930m). From now on the Inca Trail
becomes a clearly defined path made of flat boulders. As we leave behind the
ruins of Sayajmarca, we suddenly enter rainforest; at one point the trail
passes through an Inca tunnel. We spend the night at a spectacular campsite
on the ridge above the Inca site of Phuyupatamarca (3680m) to benefit from
the views of sunset and sunrise.

*Walk Profile: approx. 12km / 5-6hrs walking*

*Full-service Camping - Phuyupatamarca Camp*

*Inca Trail - Meals Included: /breakfast  lunch  dinner/*

Day 7

From the ridge, we embark on the infamous Inca steps: a two kilometre stone
staircase taking us rapidly downhill amid a panorama of overwhelming
immensity, with the peaks of the Vilcabamba range above, and the river
thousands of metres below. After visiting the attractive ruins of Wiñay
Wayna, we have an undulating walk through cloud forest high above the river
to Inti Punku, the Sun Gate. From here we get our first full sight of Machu
Picchu itself, with Huayna Picchu rising behind.

Traditionally busy with groups of trekkers clamouring for photos, we plan our
arrival at Inti Punku later in the day so we can enjoy unobstructed views of
the magnificent ruins. Whilst most groups choose to visit Machu Picchu today,
we'll pass around the edge of the ruins and exit the site, descending to
Aguas Calientes for a well-earned rest, a shower and a comfortable bed for
the night. Our trekking permits allow us one entry into the site, which we
use for our tour tomorrow when we are refreshed and more able to enjoy it.

There is usually time for an optional visit to the hot springs in Aguas
Calientes, however in recent years they have become over-crowded and the
water quality can suffer as a result. We will be reunited with those who have
been on the Moonstone Trek or the Train Option at the hotel this afternoon.

*Walk Profile: approx. 9km / 6-7hrs walking*

*Hotel Inti Punku El Tambo (or similar)**
*

*Inca Trail - Meals Included: /breakfast lunch/*

Day 8

In order to beat the day-trippers arriving from Cuzco and reach the ruins as
early as possible, a very early start is required to queue for Machu Picchu;
only government-registered buses can make the 30-minute drive up the winding
road to the site entrance, and during high season (May-October) queues can be
hours long. 

Machu Picchu is one of the architectural and engineering marvels of the
ancient world and what makes it all the more dramatic is its mountain
backdrop of staggering immensity. The Spaniards never found it; the Incas
left no records of it, and so Machu Picchu remained a great enigma, a city
lost for centuries in the jungle until it was rediscovered in 1911 by the
American historian Hiram Bingham. 

New regulations for visiting Machu Picchu are now fully enforced; of the
three possible visiting slots, we will purchase the morning slot from 06:00
until 12:00 (unless unavailable), you will be limited to a maximum of four
hours within the site and must be accompanied by a guide. There will also be
three set routes to follow around Machu Picchu; we select the most
comprehensive route. 

We catch an afternoon train back to Ollantaytambo (1hr 30 mins) and continue
by private bus to Cuzco (2hrs 30 mins).

*Hotel Warari / Koyllur (or similar)**
*

Day 9

For land only travellers, the trip ends in Cuzco after breakfast today. Those
who are travelling on the group flights will be taken to Cuzco airport to
catch the overnight flight back to London.

Day 10

The group flights arrive into London this afternoon.
**