Ancestral Peru - Inca Trail - 8 Days

Itinerary

Includes international flights from a choice of UK airports, including London, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

• Day 1: Arrival in Lima Arrival Day

  

  Welcome to Lima.

  Upon our arrival, we will be assisted at the Lima airport and then transferred to our hotel. We suggest that your flight to Lima arrives before 11:30 a.m. so that you can be on time for your first excursion in Lima.

  Accommodation: Jose Antonio Lima (Standard Room)

  Meals included: None.

  Accommodation: San Agustín Dorado or similar

• Day 2: Cusco City Tour

  

  Today we will learn about the two characters of Lima: the modern one, reflected in the districts of Miraflores and San Isidro; and the historic one, encapsulated in its historic center declared a World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. Along the tour through different districts of the city, we will see how the old and the modern coexist in buildings such as the Museum of Italian Art, Palace of Justice, Museum of Lima, Plaza San Martín, among others. We will discover the center of Lima on foot, having the Main Square as the focal point: a beautiful colonial square worthy of photography, surrounded by emblematic buildings such as the Government Palace, the Cathedral and the Archbishop|s Palace. We will have the opportunity to enter one of the most iconic ecclesiastical spaces in Lima, the Convent of Santo Domingo, also declared Cultural Heritage of Humanity and where the relics of three Peruvian saints are found: Santa Rosa de Lima, San Martín de Porres and San Juan Macías. The tour would not be complete without a visit to the Rafael Larco Herrera Museum, one of the most important in the country, exhibiting a valuable collection of almost 45,000 pieces of pre-Hispanic cultures, especially the Mochicas. This museum stands out for being one of the first in the world to have visitable storerooms and to provide virtual access to its entire collection. We will marvel at the quality of its pieces of jewelry, textiles and its enigmatic "erotic room", dedicated to ceramics alluding to fertility.

  Accommodation: Jose Antonio Lima (Standard Room)

  Meals included: Breakfast.

  Accommodation: San Agustín Dorado or similarMeals: BreakfastActivities: Lima City Tour: Historical Center, Santo Domingo Convent and Larco Museum (Half-day tour)

• Day 3: Cusco

  

  This charming half-day tour of Cusco offers us history, living culture and art. We will be able to appreciate how the Andean and Spanish cultures, as well as the past and the present, coexist in harmony in the Imperial City. We will arrive at the center to walk the halls of the San Pedro market, the oldest in the city. Designed in 1925 by Gustave Eiffel, today it brings together hundreds of merchants selling local products. We will also visit the Koricancha temple, which during the Inca empire was a center of worship of the Sun and on which the Santo Domingo convent was later built as part of the evangelization process. Its baroque style façade built on solid Inca walls perfectly summarizes the syncretism of cultures in the city of Cusco. To appreciate the greatness of the Incas, we will ascend to the monumental fortress of Sacsayhuaman, which with its enormous carved stone walls constitutes one of the best examples of Inca military architecture. We will tour the archaeological center of Kenko, a ceremonial place where the sun, the moon and the stars were worshiped. We couldn't take a tour of the city without visiting the Cathedral, the most important temple in the city. It was built by the Spanish on top of the palace of the Inca Huiracoha. Its interior houses a wonderful collection of colonial art composed of goldsmith pieces and representative canvases of the Cusco School of Art.

  We recommend: A light and easily digestible diet on the first day to facilitate acclimatization to the altitude. Avoiding the consumption of meats, fried foods, or heavy meals can help prevent altitude sickness. Additionally, we'd like to remind you that you can enjoy hot infusions 24/7 at the hotel reception. Feel free to take advantage of this complimentary option for your convenience.

  Accommodation: San Agustín Dorado (Standard Room)

  Meals Included: Breakfast

  Accommodation: San Agustín Dorado or similarMeals: BreakfastActivities: Cusco City Tour: San Pedro market, Korikancha Temple, Cathedral, Sacsayhuamán, Kenko

• Day 4: Cusco – Sacred Valley

  

  In the Sacred Valley we will find ancient history and living culture. We will visit Chinchero, a place where many communities are still organized under the Inca system of ayllus and proudly wear their typical costumes. We will take the opportunity to visit the Parwa cultural center. Here we will learn about the textile processes, the products from which the vibrant natural dyes are obtained, and the traditional weaving techniques used to manufacture them.

  In addition, we will be able to see the work of the artisans live and, if we want to take a souvenir with us, purchase some of their pieces. In a short walk we will pass in front of the church of Nuestra Señora de Monserrat and reach the archaeological complex, which during the Tahuantinsuyo was an agricultural and livestock center, with terraces and aqueducts.

  We will also arrive at the archaeological site of Moray, which during the Tahuantinsuyo functioned as an agricultural research center, something like a laboratory. Its enormous concentric terraces and the variety of microclimates they created allowed the growth of a wide variety of crops. In the valley we will also enjoy a typical lunch and visit Ollantaytambo, an ancient military, religious and agricultural center of the Incas. Strategically located on a mountain, it offers an unbeatable view of the town, the only one that maintains the original Inca urban design and which we can also visit to see its stone streets, its market and breathe the spirit of the Andes.

  Accommodation: San Agustín La Recoleta (Standard Room)

  Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

  Meals: Breakfast, LunchActivities: Essence of the Sacred Valley: Chinchero, Textile Session, Moray and Ollantaytambo

• Day 5: Cusco – KM 104 – Aguas Calientes

  

  We recommend: To fully enjoy the route, it is important to be physically and mentally prepared for the journey. The Inca Trail is of moderate intensity, with significant ascents and descents, following a rustic path that requires prior physical preparation. It is essential to adopt an active lifestyle and maintain a healthy diet for months before arriving in Peru.

  What to pack? Don't let the weather work against you! The best strategy is to dress in layers that can adapt to the intensity of the hike and weather conditions, using appropriate clothing. For the upper body: a synthetic shirt under a fleece or sweatshirt, a waterproof jacket for rain, a hat, and sunglasses.

  For the lower body: trekking pants with optional thermal leggings, and hiking boots. A small backpack (10 to 20 liters) to carry snacks and personal items. Always pack sunscreen, insect repellent, a canteen to refill at the camps, a camera or phone, a personal first-aid kit, and any prescribed medications.

  Day 1 We will leave Ollantaytambo on board the train to Machu Picchu until kilometer 104 of the railway. From this point, we will start the hike to the Wiñay Wayna complex, surrounded by exceptional landscapes on the banks of the Urubamba River. Wiñay Wayna was a special site on the Inca Trail route, fulfilling a religious and agricultural role. Its constructive style is similar to Machu Picchu, standing out for its impressive terraces on the mountainside. We will have time to walk around it and encounter the abundant flora of the place - among which orchids stand out - before lunch. We will resume our hike on the Inca Trail through lush vegetation towards Inti Punku, the gateway to Machu Picchu. Crossing the Sun Gate is a unique experience, the perfect reward after the arduous hike. We will enter Machu Picchu, leave the citadel, and board the bus that will take us to Aguas Calientes or Machu Picchu Pueblo to renew our energies.

  Approximate duration: 6 hours Total walking distance: 10 km Minimum altitude: 2,169 meters above sea level Maximum altitude: 2,678 meters above sea level Terrain: plains and valleys Difficulty rating: 3 out of 5

  Accommodation: El Mapi by Inkaterra (Superior Deluxe Room)

  Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

  Accommodation: El MaPi hotel by Inkaterra or similarMeals: Breakfast, Lunch

• Day 6: Machu Picchu - Cusco

  

  Day 2 Machu Picchu is pure magic, and today, we will have the opportunity to visit it accompanied by our expert guide. Built-in the 15th century by the Inca Pachacutec, the citadel is an amazing example of Inca architectural knowledge and ability to adapt to the rugged Andean environment. Our guided tour will take us through the principal enclosures inside the llaqta while learning about the history, organization, and importance this World Wonder had during the Tahuantinsuyo. We will explore its internal terraces and temples with the impressive backdrop of the Huayna Picchu mountain. At the end of the tour, we will return by bus to Agua Calientes or Machu Picchu Pueblo to await the departure of our train back to Ollantaytambo.

  Accommodation: San Agustín Dorado (Standard Room)

  Meals included: Breakfast.

  Accommodation: San Agustín Dorado or similarMeals: Breakfast

• Day 7: Cusco – International Departure

  

  At the scheduled time, we will be transferred to the airport to board our flight.

  Meals included: Breakfast.

  Meals: Breakfast

• Day 8: Arrive Home

  

  Today you'll arrive home and an relax after an amazing adventure!