Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Choquequirao & Vilcabamba

Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Vilcabamba & Choquequirao: Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Cusco

Your guide will greet you at the Cusco airport and escort you to your hotel. In the afternoon, you will receive a guided sightseeing tour of the city – visiting the Main Square, the Cathedral and the Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun) as well as several other Incan sites central to Cusco. We’ll grab transportation and drive you to the outskirts of the city to visit the Inca sites of Tambomachay, Quenqo, Puca Pucara and the impressive Fortress of Sacsayhuaman – famous for its enormous carved stones, some of them standing over 26 ft high and weighing over 60 tons.

Day 2: Cusco – Sacred Valley of the Incas – Pisac – Ollantaytambo (B, L)

After breakfast at the hotel – your guide will pick you up for a day trip through the Sacred Valley, where you’ll be able to explore the history and culture of the surrounding area. The Sacred Valley was one of the main areas the Incas settled; there is an abundance of fertile plains in this high area of the Andes. You will also witness vast contour terracing and irrigation channels left behind by the Incas.

We’ll make our way toward the ruins at the outskirts of Pisac where you can wander through amazing works of stone art and impressive agricultural terraces before we head down to the town. You’ll have some free time to Pisac to roam through the bustling handicraft market full of Peruvian weavings, jewelry and pottery. You can also see a traditional Indian market where various goods are haggled for and traded daily – or peruse the local food market and try some of the local delicacies.

Moving on, we continue along the Urubamba River towards the historic Inca stronghold of Ollantaytambo. You’ll receive a guided tour of the ruins – then you are free to spend the rest of your night wandering around. Ollantaytambo has been transformed into the staging ground for travelers wishing to visit Machu Picchu or hike the Incan trial – so make some friends, do some shopping, or try some local pisco sours! It’s up to you.

Day 3: Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Ollantaytambo (B)

Waking up early – we’ll walk to the station where we will board a train to Aguas Calientes. The train ride is scenic – feel free to relax and enjoy the spectacular views. After disembarking, we’ll grab a bus up the mountain to the citadel of Machu Picchu! Once at Machu Picchu, your guide will give you tour of the complex. After the tour, if you have booked permits to climb Huayna Picchu peak or the Machu Picchu mountain (both optional) we will make our way to the respective gates. No matter what you choose to do, you’ll still have additional time to explore Machu Picchu. Your guide will let you know when you need to be back so you can catch your transfer back to Ollantaytambo.

Note: The Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu mountain entrance fees are not included in this tour and you must inform us in advance if you are interested – so we can purchase the tickets for you. There are limited permits provided each day by the Peruvian government and it is common for them to sell out. Also if you want to spend another day in Machu Picchu – just let us know. It is easy to extend your tour an extra day.

Day 4: Ollantaytambo – Huancacalle (B, L, D)

Today is a long ride from Ollantaytambo, as we pass the Vilcabamba Cordillera, your guide will explain the history of the area and how this was the route the Spanish army took when they pursued the Incas to their ultimate defeat at Vitcos. Gaze out the window at the changing scenery while listening to the history lessons and antidotes from your guide as you pass by local plantations and villages and enjoy the countryside. There will be a few breaks along the way at minor Inca archaeological sites so you can stretch your legs and explore, before continuing on your way to the campsite at Huancacalle.

Day 5: Huancacalle – Choqutacarpu (B, L, D)

After breakfast, you’ll meet your horseman and horses as we begin the trek by heading to the nearby Ñusta hispana (White Rock), one of the most sacred of the Inca shrines. We’ll continue on towards Cerro Rosapata and the ruins of Vitcos, the last refuge of the Inca’s, where they were defeated in 1572, signaling the end of the Incan empire. Vitcos is a fascinating place that isn’t often visited due to it’s distance from Cusco. After leaving the ruins, you’ll ascend a valley to our campground at Choquetacarpu pass.

Day 6: Choqutacarpu – Quelcamachay (B, L, D)

Rising early, we’ll ascend an well preserved Incan stone road up to another pass before breaking for lunch. Then we’ll cross the pass and descend a spectacular valley that is surrounded by towering granite pinnacles – This was the route used by the Incas to connect the main outposts of their Vilcabamba kingdom. We’ll traverse this ancient trail till we reach our camp among huge granite boulders at place called Quelcamachay (cave of the drawings) below the massive glaciers of Nevada Pumasillo, (19.900ft), which means the Puma claw in Quechuan, the ancient language of the Incas.

Day 7: Quelcamachay – Yanama (B, L, D)

Taking a last look at Quelcamachay, we’ll start to traverse the valley and cross a high ridge towards the Yanama Valley, descending to small village of Chungana. We’ll pass several small forgotten farms, and cultural remnants of the distant past. The Quechuan people here live much as their Inca ancestors did, using their hands, planting potatoes with a digging stick, and following a rugged Andean existence made tolerable with the use of coca leaves and corn beer. We’ll continue on downhill towards the Yanama River to our camp site on the outskirts of Yanama.

Day 8: Yanama – Maizal (B, L, D)

We will get an early start and ascend to the San Juan pass (14,000 ft) keeping an eye out for Andean condors. This is a small, indigenous village, and depending on time, we can visit some local homes to learn about how they live and the ancient traditions that they have kept intact for centuries, if you wish. Then we’ll begin our descent through a long section full of serene views of the surrounding mountains, green valleys and arid mountain peaks.

Day 9: Maizal – Choquequirao (B, L, D)

After breaking camp, we’ll descend to the Rio Blanco, before ascending to the Pinchaunoyo archaeological site to explore. This site was used for agricultural by the Incas, as well as a rest stop when they traveled on their expeditions to Machu Picchu. We’ll continue our descent to a ridge where we’ll have our first panoramic view of the Choquequirao pass. We will continue on until we reach Choquequirao where you can explore while your campsite is setup and dinner is prepared. We will be camping right below the Inca ruins to maximize your time at the site.

Day 10: Choquequirao (B, L, D)

After an early breakfast, we will head into Choquequirao where your guide will give you a history lesson and guided tour of this impressive Inca site. Due to the mountain topography, the site is spread out: several buildings, terraces and houses are constructed on different levels and there are temples, astronomical observatories and water channels to explore. After the tour, you will head back to camp for lunch and a break. The rest of the day you are free to explore the ruins on your own. There are multiple sections to the ruins that you can hike too, such as the llama area – which is a steep, downhill, thirty minute hike where you will see farming terraces with llamas built out of white stones into the walls. As the day winds down, you can make your way to the Usno area and watch the sun set over the ruins.

Day 11: Choquequirao –  Playa Rosalinda – Chiquisca (B, L, D)

We will have an early breakfast, break camp, and begin our journey back to Cusco. The trail is downhill and we will pass by several sugar cane farms while enjoying the scenic views of the valley. We will spend the night in Chiquisca.

Day 12: Chiquisca – Cusco (B, L)

We will hike until the end of the trail, where you will have a farewell lunch with your porters and say goodbye to your team. Our private van will pick you and your guide up and drive you back to Cusco. Along the way we will stop by the village Curahuasi, where the famous Anis (local liquor) is farmed. Once we arrive in Cusco, your guide will drop you off at your hotel.

Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Vilcabamba & Choquequirao: Included

• Fluent English/Spanish guide that is very knowledgeable of the surrounding region and its customs.
• Private transfer from and to your hotel.
• Pre-departure briefing at your hotel the night before your trek.
• All train and bus fares.
• Camping equipment, dining tents with tables and chairs, where you enjoy delicious meals, camping tents to sleep.  (We will provide a list of items you should bring when you book).
• Sleeping Thermarest, but sleeping bag you need to bring with you or you can rent it from us.
• Porters who will carry the gear & cook
• Portable toilet
• You have a daily meals, breakfast, lunch or box lunch and dinner. Water, tea and coffee are including with the meals.
• Entrance fee to Machu Picchu.

Our rent prices for equipments for the whole trek is
Sleeping bag 55 $
Walking Sticks 36 $

Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Vilcabamba & Choquequirao: Not Included

• Meals that are not referenced in the itinerary.
• Alcohol drinks
• Sleeping bag
• Travel Insurance
• Tips for your guide are not included and are optional

Note: The Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu mountain entrance fees are not included in this tour and you must inform us in advance if you are interested – so we can purchase the tickets for you. There are limited permits provided each day by the Peruvian government and it is common for them to sell out. Also if you want to spend another day in Machu Picchu – just let us know. It is easy to extend your tour an extra day.

Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Vilcabamba & Choquequirao: What to Expect

• Original passport (International Student card (ISIC) if applicable)
• Sleeping bag suitable for temperature of trip
• Day back pack for things needed during the day
• Comfortable walking boots
• Rain Gear: poncho a good rain jacket for wet season
• Canteen or camel back
• Warm jacket or flees for cool evenings
• Woolen sweater or fleece
• Trousers, one waterproof of one normal
• Shorts
• T-shirts or light cotton shirts
• Hat with brim
• Walking pool
• Flash light / head lamp (the campsite has its own light but you will need this in your tent)
• Personal medications
• Insect repellent
• Sun screen
• Binoculars, camera and film
• Extra money for drinks, tips, souvenirs etc. (soles or dollars)
• Sunglasses
• Toiletries
• Travel insurance is essential
• Plastic bag for wet or dirty clothes. Copy of your passport

Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Vilcabamba & Choquequirao: Pricing

Pricing is primarily dependent on how many people are in your group. The amounts listed below are general rates so you can get an idea of how much things cost. These rates may go up or down based on a few different things (we’ve listed some common items below). When you reach out to request a booking, we will give you a specific rate quote at that time.

1-2: $3301

3-4: $2246

5-6: $2079

7-8: $1962

9+: $1890