Inca Trail & Salt Flats

Lima is a bustling, busy city and one of the most important in South America. Any trip to Peru will likely begin and end in the capital and visitors take advantage of the fact that Lima is widely regarded to be the culinary capital of the continent and home to many of the best restaurants in South America. Home of the ceviche and the Pisco Sour it is a city where the past and present mix beautifully, from the colonial center to modern Miraflores, through to the ancient Incan and pre-Incan culture which can be seen in Lima’s various museums.

A city of almost 11 million people, it is nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes mountains. This unique location means it enjoys a microclimate of zero rainfall and is spread along the coast atop cliffs that offer beautiful sunset views and peaceful ‘malecóns’, even a short trip is guaranteed to be richly rewarding and a perfect introduction to Peru and its culture.

Meals (x)

Today we rise early and transfer to the airport in Lima for our flight to Cusco. Upon arrival, we are met and transferred into the Sacred Valley. This is recommended as it is at a lower elevation than Cusco, making for easier acclimatization to the altitude.

On our way to Pisac, we make a stop at Awanakancha, where you will have the opportunity to buy local handicrafts and visit the mini zoo which houses many of the animals native to the Andes. From there we head on to Pisac, where our expert local guide will show you around the Temple of the Sun, ancient baths, altars, fountains, and ceremonial platform. From there, we take a quick sojourn to the ever lively and colorful market of Pisac where many colorful crafts are available for purchase.
Lunch will be enjoyed at a local restaurant, followed by an important pre-trek briefing. Our guides will go through the route, safety measures and overall itinerary of the classic 4-day Inca Trail trek you are about to undertake. The night is free for relaxation and preparation for the amazing experience you have ahead of you, and you get the chance to ask any questions you may have after a short presentation lecture.

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We pick you up from your hotel in the valley and head to the archaeological site of Pumamarca. These wonderful Inca ruins are a fantastic introductory guide to the characteristic society of the Incas, replete with typical agricultural terraces. Pumamarca is a testament to the extensive knowledge of agriculture in extremely complex conditions. Let’s not forget, Peru is the country that gave the world the potato and the tomato, in thousands of varieties, amongst other fruits and vegetables!

Afterwards, you will begin your walk towards Ollantaytambo, this ancient fortress served as an administrative center and went down in history as the only place where the Spanish conquistadores failed to impose their military advantage and suffered heavy losses in battle. At the end of the visit, we take a few moments to discuss and reflect on the morning’s visits and enjoy a delicious picnic lunch in the imposing yet beautiful shadows of this fantastic ruin.

Meals (B, L)

The second day is the most challenging day of the trail, and that means that not only are you reaching the highest point of the hike, but also one of the most rewarding. Although this may sound daunting, the overall climb is only about a thousand meters at a steady pace over the course of the day, and our expert guides are there to help you manage the pace at a sensible level.

After a healthy breakfast, you will begin to ascend towards the first and highest pass of the Warmiwañusca route (4215 meters above sea level) from where you will have a spectacular view of the Vilcabamba and Vilcanota mountain ranges. This ascent will take you almost all morning, with arrival at Lllulluchapata scheduled for around lunchtime. After having time to rest and eat, you will continue your walk to Pacaymayo, where the camp will be set up at 3600 meters above sea level.

Meals (B, L, D)

The second day is the most challenging day of the trail, and that means that not only are you reaching the highest point of the hike, but also one of the most rewarding. Although this may sound daunting, the overall climb is only about a thousand meters at a steady pace over the course of the day, and our expert guides are there to help you manage the pace at a sensible level.

After a healthy breakfast, you will begin to ascend towards the first and highest pass of the Warmiwañusca route (4215 meters above sea level) from where you will have a spectacular view of the Vilcabamba and Vilcanota mountain ranges. This ascent will take you almost all morning, with arrival at Lllulluchapata scheduled for around lunchtime. After having time to rest and eat, you will continue your walk to Pacaymayo, where the camp will be set up at 3600 meters above sea level.

Meals (B, L, D)

Today we put in a hefty 16 kilometers (10 miles) of trekking, but we are now over the peak of Warmiwañusca, and begin our descent. Despite the distance, this is not considered the hardest day of the trek and you will eat up the miles surrounded by beautiful scenery. Although we begin with an ascent to Runcuracay, (4000 meters above sea level) we soon begin to descend for a couple of hours to Phuyupatamarca, where we rest and have lunch in spectacular surroundings.

After lunch, we venture on to Wiñaywayna against a backdrop of snowy mountains and wild valleys. This day is also notable for the fact that we enter the cloud forest part of the trip so keep an eye out for the ever-changing environment, differing flora, and also the beginning of sights of smatterings of Inca ruins and settlements. We set up camp for the night upon arrival in Wiñaywayna.

Meals (B, L, D)

Today is the last day of the trek, and the most important. We have a very early start – trust us, it’s worth it! – so we can access Machu Picchu at dawn and stand at the aptly named Sun Gate. Here we experience the sunrise over the mountains and the citadel before venturing on to the entrance of Machu Picchu Itself. The sight of the sun rising over Machu Picchu is equally as impressive as the sight of the surrounding mountains from within the citadel itself, and one exclusively available for those that venture off on the Inca Trail.

Machu Picchu is divided into two sectors, the urban and the agricultural. Our expert guide will take you through both and show you the key spots in the ancient citadel such as the Temple of the Sun and the Room, the Intihuatana Stone, and the Room of Three Windows. The residential buildings feature exquisite stonework with no cement or mortar and are characterized by small trapezoid windows that face the morning sun. Enjoy a roughly two-hour guided tour of the ruins before making our way to the train station for our ride back to Cusco, where we enjoy a very cozy bed for the evening.

Meals (B)

Today, we pick you up at your hotel for your tour of Cusco and its most important archeological sites. Cusco, known as the Imperial City, and declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is home to Inca structures with a smattering of colonial influence. You start your tour at the iconic San Pedro market, a local market where you can explore the myriad colors, flavors, textures and traditions of modern Cusco.

The visit continues with the Koricancha Temple, an ancient Inca palace and cult center of the Sun God, above which the order of the Dominicans built a church. It remains standing to this day. Still standing to this day, this temple/church really is a remarkable building and an amalgamation of the two cultures. From there, we ascend to the Fortress of Sacsayhuaman, an impressive example of Inca military architecture. Afterwards, you will explore Q’enqo archeological site, where important Inca ceremonies took place before moving on to the Plaza de Armas, home to the Cathedral, and the centerpiece of the city.

Meals (B)

This morning, after breakfast, and at the scheduled time, transfer to the Wanchaq train station to board the Titicaca train to Puno. Note: he trains from Cusco to Puno run on Wed, Fri, & Sunday.

This spectacular train trip starts in the historical city of Cusco and goes South through the high Andes, to Puno, nestled on the shore of Lake Titicaca.

The Andean Explorer train is a cozy and immersive way to enjoy the beautiful mountain landscapes of the Peruvian Altiplano. The train slowly ascends from Cusco until arriving at a high, open plateau characteristic to the Southern Andes mountain range, slowly making its way over the deep Huatanay River valleys. It is common to spot vicunas and alpacas grazing in the open pastures between villages.  The trip includes a stop at La Raya, the highest spot of the route, to observe the spectacular landscape at 4,300 meters above sea level, and a three-course lunch aboard board.

Upon arrival, assistance, and transfer to your hotel.

Meals (B, L)

After a comfortable’s nights rest and energizing breakfast, we depart for a roughly 3.5-hour drive in comfortable, private transport towards Copacabana, the main Bolivian town on the shore of Lake Titicaca.

In Copacabana, we will spend some time visiting the main sites of interest, such as the main square and ‘Virgen Morena.’ Following our brief visit, we make our way to the docks and embark on our boat crossing towards Huacani, on Sun Island (Isla del Sol), where a delicious typical lunch (Aptapi) awaits us. The trip continues towards the ruins of Pilko Kaina, an Inca temple thought to have been constructed by emperor Tupac Inca Yupanqui.

Last, we enjoy a light hike to La Estancia Ecolodge, tastefully constructed with adobe over original Inca terraces, where we will overnight with wonderful views of Lake Titicaca.

Meals (B, L)

Today we strongly advise you to wake early enough to enjoy a spectacular sunrise over Lake Titicaca! One of the highlights of the entire trip.

After a sumptuous breakfast, we will hike down through Yumani, utilizing original Inca stairways before arriving at the ‘Water of Eternal Youth,’ a natural fresh-water spring used for centuries. We continue towards the port and again board our vessel for the trip to Moon Island, which takes approximately 30 minutes.

On Moon island, we will visit the exquisite Inca ruins of Iñak Uyu. Presumed to be a burial site reserved exclusively for women of noble or aristocratic status. Following, we navigate back to Copacabana and continue our drive to La Paz by road, a journey of roughly 3.5 hours. Upon arrival, we are transferred to our hotel and have the evening at leisure.

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La Paz has been elected as one of the 7 wonder cities in the world. It is located in a valley at the foothills of the Andes Range, situated at 3,632m / 11942 ft. above sea level.

Today’s tour takes us through local street markets rich in handicrafts, weavings, and curious witchcraft items. Take your time to explore the stands and engage with the vendors. From there, we slowly make our way through the colonial section of the city, visiting San Francisco Church, Gold Museum, Murillo Square, viewpoint “Mirador de Killi Killi”, ending finally at the outdoor replica of Tiwanaku temple.

Then, descending to the more modern, southern part of La Paz we arrive at the Valley of the Moon, where a clay mountain has been impressively shaped by erosion. The day trip is capped off with a ride by cable car “Teleférico”, for the last view of La Paz from commanding heights. Evening at leisure.

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Today, we wake up in La Paz and are transferred to the airport for our flight to Uyuni. Upon arrival, we transfer from the airport to the quaint, salt-processing village of Colchani. Colchani boasts a population of roughly 600 inhabitants and is one of the gateways to the Uyuni Salt Flats.

Uyuni is the world’s largest salt flat, formed over millennia from a prehistoric lakebed. It’s a roughly 12,000 sq km of surreal, salt-encrusted emptiness just begging to be explored. Once home only to small-scale salt miners, it is now on the radar for intrepid travelers, and in recent years highly coveted for its rich deposits of lithium for use in lightweight batteries.

You will stay at Kachi lodge, with unique, dome-like accommodations in the center of the flats.  Lunch is served on arrival, and in the afternoon you may choose from a list of interesting activities offered on-site. One such activity is to visit the nearby Coquesa town, known for its bizarre cave of mummies.

At night, enjoy a delicious dinner while you take in the spectacularly clear views of the heavens with telescopes.

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After a good night’s sleep in deep isolation, a delicious breakfast is prepared for your enjoyment.

In the morning, the suggested activity is a morning trek to the “island” close to the camp, with a healthy cactus forest and impressive views of the surrounding area, which can be combined with a visit to Incahuasi Island, a somewhat larger, but similar, salt flat island and enjoy a boxed lunch with views included.

In the afternoon, after some downtime, you have the option to visit the archaeological site of Alcaya, a precolombian city belonging to the Chullpa people, rich in artifacts and mummified human remains. Or, for those in need of more physical activity, there is the possibility of hiking to Tunupa Volcano’s crater. In the rainy season, you may also paddle-board in the flats.

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Wake up to your last sunrise over Salar Uyuni. Today, you will pack your bags and make you want back to the Uyuni Airport. Enjoy your last glimpses of these spectacular vistas en route.

Flight from Uyuni to La Paz, with transfer to your comfortable hotel upon arrival. You have the evening at leisure.

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Today, pack your bags for the flight home. At the predetermined time, you will be collected from your hotel and transferred to the airport for your flight home.

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