Glamping on the Inca Trail

Welcome to Cuzco, which was the geographic, cultural and political hub of a vast Inca empire, which stretched from present-day Quito, Ecuador, to Santiago, Chile, at its peak. After Spanish conquistadors invaded, they built on top of Inca structures, resulting in unique architecture, a fusion of Spanish and Inca styles. There is a noticeboard in the hotel reception with details of where and when the group welcome briefing will be held.

Remember to take it easy on arrival in Cuzco (and drink plenty of water) to help your body adjust to the altitude.

Superior accommodation: Costa del Sol Wyndham (or similar)

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We embark on a tour of Cuzco this morning, a chance to see the city highlights and adjust to the altitude. Starting at 8am, we first visit the Qorikancha (Sun Temple), which was the most sacred temple in the Inca empire. We then tour Cuzco Cathedral, a gothic-baroque-renaissance masterpiece, before heading to the hills above the city to visit the imposing Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman and then the Qenqo Archaeological Complex. Finally, we visit mysterious Tambomachay, whose exact purpose is unknown, though it may have functioned, at least in part, as an Inca spa.

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Today we visit the magnificent Sacred Valley of the Incas, which runs along the Urubamba River near Cuzco. It’s the true heartland of Inca culture and tradition, with the high Andean scenery dotted with old towns and pre-Columbian villages.

Here we visit the Pisac ruins, a former citadel that guarded a road from the lowlands and gives way to terraces carved into solid rock. We then visit the Inca ruins at Ollantaytambo, the one-time royal estate of Inca emperor Pachacuti.

Superior

Early this morning, we transfer to the start of the Inca Trail at Piscacucho, known among adventurers as Km82, stopping in Ollantaytambo for a hearty breakfast and any last-minute shopping needs. From there, we proceed to the trailhead to gear up for the Inca Trail.

The trek kicks off with a hike to the checkpoint, where you must present your original passport. After, we have a captivating four-hour hike alongside the Urubamba River, exploring villages and fascinating archaeological sites, including Llactapata, an Inca marvel with administrative, political and economic significance at the base of a mountain.

Enjoy lunch in Tarayoc village, a buffet prepared by our skilled chef using fresh local produce.

The second leg is a two-hour trek along the left bank of the Cusichaca River, culminating at Wayllabamba, where tents are set up for your arrival. The camp team also provides warm water for washing, assists in bed preparation and hosts a delightful tea time and dinner.

Classic

The morning begins, as all do on our Inca Trail trek, with a hot drink delivered to your tent. Today’s journey is both challenging and rewarding, marking the most demanding and best-known stretch of the trail. A slow and steady climb takes us through a cloud forest to the meadows of Llulluchapampa, then we summit Dead Woman’s (Warmihuañusca) Pass, the highest point on the trek at 13,829ft (4,215m).

After a well-deserved round of high fives and photos at the summit, we begin our steep descent on original Inca steps to reach our campsite in the scenic valley of the Pacaymayu River (11,811ft/3,600m). Warm up in the dining tent with a hot, fresh meal followed by a well-deserved sleep under the Andean night sky.

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After a hearty breakfast, we start the day with a climb, which takes us past the ruins of Runquracay and over the Runquracay Pass (12,894ft/3,930m), our second and final pass. From here, the Inca Trail becomes a clearly defined rolling path of flat boulders, providing access to sites only available to those on foot. One of the standout archaeological sites we visit is Sayacmarca (11,893/3,625m), perched high above the green cloud forest. From here, we enjoy views of Salkantay mountain as we hike to our spectacular campsite on the ridge above the Inca site of Phuyupatamarca (12,073ft/3,680m), where we can enjoy the sunset and sunrise.

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From Phuyupatamarca, we take the famous Inca steps: a 1.2mi (2km) stone staircase that rapidly descends into an immense panorama, with the peaks of the Vilcabamba range above and the Urubamba River far below.

Reaching Wiñay Wayna, we have plenty of time to explore these beautiful ruins and eat lunch before continuing along a relatively flat section of the trail (by Inca standards), through cloud forest and wild orchids to reach Inti Punku (the Sun Gate).

From here, we get our first full sight of Machu Picchu, with the Huayna Picchu mountain rising behind… congratulations, you made it!

Inti Punku is traditionally busy with photo-taking trekkers in the morning, so our late afternoon arrival affords us unobstructed views of the magnificent ruins. We also get a chance to snap some classic photos of Machu Picchu before we take the 30-minute bus down to the town of Aguas Calientes for a shower and comfortable bed for the night.

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Well-rested and refreshed, we return to Machu Picchu this morning for our guided tour. Machu Picchu is an architectural and engineering marvel, the staggering mountain backdrop making it even more dramatic. The Spaniards never found it, the Incas left no records of it, and so Machu Picchu remained an enigma, a city lost for centuries in the jungle until it was rediscovered in 1911 by the American historian Hiram Bingham. Your guided tour highlights the history, culture, architecture and mysteries that Machu Picchu still holds today.

This afternoon, we catch the train back to Ollantaytambo (1hr 30min) and continue by private bus to Cuzco (1hr 30min).

Accommodation: Costa del Sol Wyndham (or similar)

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We begin our return journeys home after breakfast. But if you’re not ready for the adventure to end, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay in Cuzco.