Description of the experience
The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is rated among the best trekking trips in the world because of the exquisite beauty of its natural surroundings. It includes different ecological areas from high deserts to the Andean tropical rain-forest. Following this ancient Inca Trail, we will be walking past mysterious archaeological sites, half covered by the jungle overgrowth that looks like you are discovering them for the first time, and finally arriving to the lost city of the Incas: Machu Picchu. Our journey is conducted by experienced guides that will make your trip pleasant and safe. Our service includes native “Quechua” porters for your luggage and we will provide delicious meals during the trip. Additional extra night at Aguas Calientes for a more extensive visit to Machu Picchu Citadel on the next day.
We will pick you up very early from your hotel and transport you to start the trail (km 82).There, you will begin the journey, warming up on the relatively flat part of the trail. After two hours, you will reach the first archaeological center of Patallacta, where you will appreciate the impressive landscapes, flora and fauna. This site and others will show the importance of this valley in the context of Incan history. After lunch, we will continue ascending to a semi-tropical valley for two hours until arriving at our camp, Hatunchaca, where we will spend the night..
After breakfast, we will start hiking early on the morning of the second day, passing through different climatic and ecological zones. We will ascend to Warmiwañusca. We will walk amongst abundant vegetation with various types of trees. This pass is known by many as the world’s highest cloud forest. After the toughest part of the journey, an ascent of nearly 5 hours, we will arrive at the highest point, known to some as Dead Woman’s Pass. From there, we will take a well-deserved break and observe the beauty of the deep valleys. If we’re lucky, we will see the flight of the condors and will pass among the thick clouds in the sky. After this rest, we will descend towards our second camp at Pacaymayu.
We will climb steeply up the opposite side of the valley wall, towards the second pass. About halfway up lies a small, round, roofless stone building. This Incan ruin is known as Runkuracay, a building thought to have been an astrological site and a sort of checkpoint for couriers following the trail to Machupicchu. After a short tour, we will continue to ascend towards the second pass, the Abra de Runkuracay. On the far side of the pass, the trail descends towards a valley and a shallow lake. At this point, the trail changes from a dirt path to a narrow stone roadway, containing the exact stones that were in place when the Incas walked the trail. The trail after the pass leads to a second, larger Inca site, Sayacmarca (“Town in a Steep Place”). This Inca´s ruin was built on a rock overlooking the trail and is accessible only via a single narrow stone staircase. On the left of the staircase lies an overhanging rock wall and on the right a sheer drop with expansive vistas of the Peruvian countryside. This site is roofless and slightly overgrown, but the walls still stand strong and the shape of the fortress can easily be seen. We will also see a stone aqueduct, which carried water to the farmlands. After touring Sayacmarca, we will descend to the valley floor. The roadway takes the form of a long causeway leading across what may once have been a shallow lake. We will stop at this valley to enjoy lunch. After lunch, you will begin to climb again. At this point, you will pass through interesting Incan structures, including a tunnel that is eight meters long and wide enough to allow humans and animals to pass through. After this tunnel, we will reach the third pass and enjoy the third Incan site, Phuyupatamarca (“Cloud-level Town”). We will learn about the ritual functions that the Incas used this site for. Here we will see baths that Incas bathed in before they reached Machupicchu. The highest baths were reserved for the nobles, while the lower down baths on the side of the structure were used by the lower class. Third campsite at Phuyupatamarka
After breakfast we will descend for around 2 ½ hours and arrive to the Incan site known as Intipata a huge farming terraces, and you have a gorgeous view of the valley, then descend to the fascinating Wiñaywaina at 8,700 feet (2,650 meters) We will stop at this site that means “eternally young,” and have lunch before continuing to the Sungate. After an hour of walking, we will arrive to the Sungate where we will have our first view of Machupicchu. After a rest, we will descend towards Machupicchu where we will take pictures and rest before taking the bus to the nearest campsite Puente Ruinas, close to Aguas Calientes town.
we will wake up very early to take the first bus to the city of Machupicchu, where we will be the first visitors of the day to enjoy the magic and mystery of one of the wonders of the world. The tour with your guide will take around 2-3 hours. After that you will have free time to explore the entire city on your own. In the afternoon, we will take the bus down to Aguas Calientes to board the train to Cusco.
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