The Women-Only Inca Trail is much more than a journey to Machu Picchu—it’s a celebration of feminine strength, connection, and personal transformation in the heart of the Andes. Guided entirely by women from the Alpaca Expeditions team, this exclusive experience blends Inca history, Peruvian cuisine, breathtaking nature, and empowering wellness traditions designed to uplift your body and spirit.
From your first steps on the Short Inca Trail to your unforgettable arrival at Machu Picchu through the legendary Sun Gate, every moment invites you to deepen your connection with the land, with other adventurous women, and with yourself. You’ll learn ancient stories, savor authentic Peruvian flavors in a hands-on cooking class, enjoy panoramic hikes surrounded by mountains, and unwind during a restorative Andean wellness ritual created to balance energy and harmony.
Across four inspiring days, you’ll explore majestic landscapes, immerse yourself in ancestral culture, share empowering moments with remarkable women, and return home renewed—with memories, friendships, and inner growth that will stay with you forever.
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You will be welcomed at the Cusco airport by our friendly representative and transferred to your hotel. Remember, landing at 3,300 meters can be hard on the body. Do not feel concerned if you have shortness of breath or a small headache. This is common and should go away quickly. You can reduce the symptoms by staying hydrated with.
At 2:00 p.m., participants will be picked up to begin this immersive culinary experience, where they will be introduced to the richness of Peruvian gastronomic culture. The activity begins with a 30-minute talk by a chef instructor, who will present the country’s history, geography, and biodiversity.
The experience continues with a tasting of seasonal exotic fruits, highlighting the characteristic tropical flavors of Peru. Then, at the “El Mercado” interpretive center, visitors can explore colorful local ingredients such as potatoes, chili peppers, corn, and quinoa, and also sample the traditional chicha de jora (fermented corn beverage).
The practical portion begins with the preparation of a classic Peruvian ceviche, accompanied by chicha morada (purple corn drink). Afterward, participants will enjoy a pisco tasting, followed by the preparation of iconic cocktails such as the Pisco Sour and the Chilcano.The experience concludes with a hands-on work session, where participants will prepare lomo saltado (Peruvian stir-fry), perfecting their Peruvian stir-fry techniques.
Rumipunku or similar (3 – stars)
N/A
N/A
Your short Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu with Alpaca Expeditions begins with a pickup from your hotel between 4:00 and 4:20 am. We’ll then head to the train station and depart on the 6:10 am train from Ollantaytambo. The trail follows the Urubamba River until kilometer 104, where we’ll begin our hike. Along the way, you’ll enjoy spectacular views of cultivated fields, snow-capped mountains, and the majestic Urubamba River. The Urubamba River is one of the sources of the immense Amazon River, making its presence truly breathtaking. At kilometer 104 (2,000 m), we’ll begin our impressive trek. Once you disembark the train and are ready to set off, we’ll offer refreshments and take a group photo. Afterward, we’ll head to our first Inca site. We’ll give you a brief introduction to this historic Inca site, as well as a walking tour. Finally, we’ll begin our trek along the Classic Inca Trail. We’ll enjoy spectacular views of Machu Picchu, the Urubamba River, and other nearby Inca sites.
After a three-hour hike, we’ll reach the most beautiful Inca site on the Inca Trail: Wiñay Wayna (Eternally Young), at an altitude of 2,600 meters (8,500 feet). Few people have the opportunity to see these elaborate fountains, temples, and agricultural terraces. These sites offer a perfect opportunity to learn about Inca history. The landscape surrounding this place is a breathtaking cliff surrounded by beautiful mountains.
A short walk away, we’ll arrive at the Alpaca Expeditions campsite, used by hikers who choose the Classic Inca Trail. There, you can enjoy a hot, homemade lunch, freshly prepared by the Alpaca Expeditions chefs. You’ll also have the opportunity to refill your water bottles and rest a bit after eating.
From Wiñay Wayna, we’ll hike to the Sun Gate. Here, we can admire the picturesque landscape of the famous Machu Picchu. After enjoying these unique views, we’ll begin our descent to Machu Picchu.
One of the many advantages of this trek is that by the time you arrive at Machu Picchu, the other hikers will have already left. This will allow you to explore the entire area without interruption. After taking photos and exploring the site, we’ll take a bus down to Aguas Calientes and transfer to your hotel. Dinner will be at a restaurant (dinner included). After dinner, we recommend you go to bed early to make the most of the following day.
Intipunku or similar (3 – stars)
Lunch and Dinner
Included
After breakfast at your hotel, you’ll have time to pack your suitcases (please leave them at the hotel’s luggage storage for pickup) and backpacks. Then, we’ll take a short 5-minute walk to the bus station to be among the first in line for the ascent to Machu Picchu.
The first buses depart at 5:30 a.m. and arrive around 6:00 a.m. Remember to bring your original passport to the checkpoint. Your guide will take you to the perfect spot to enjoy the sunrise over the mountains and take incredible photos (weather permitting).
After sunrise, embark on a private two-and-a-half-hour guided walking tour of Machu Picchu, exploring the citadel and learning about its fascinating history.
Return to Aguas Calientes and train journey
You must take your bus back to Aguas Calientes at least 2 hours before your train departure to allow time for lunch (not included), collect your luggage, and board the train to Ollantaytambo.
Train options: Vistadome Train
Departure time: Between 2:55 PM and 4:31 PM
Train duration: Approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes, with panoramic views of the river and surrounding mountains
Upon arrival in Ollantaytambo, a private Alpaca Expeditions vehicle will take you back to Cusco (approximately 2 hours). Your luggage will be returned, and you will be dropped off at your hotel.
Rumipunku or similar (3 – stars)
Breakfast
Included
In the afternoon, immerse yourself in a truly unique wellness experience. Begin with the Mystical Spa Terra, a holistic massage inspired by ancestral techniques that combines natural oils and warm stones to relieve tension and restore balance.
You will then experience our four-hand massage, a premium treatment where two therapists work simultaneously in perfect harmony. This technique offers profound relaxation and effective tension relief, and you may choose the level of pressure to tailor the session to your needs. Because the brain cannot track the movements of four hands at the same time, the mind naturally surrenders, allowing for a deeper state of relaxation than with a traditional massage. Two therapists can also address different areas simultaneously, providing more complete coverage and focused attention on problem points while still treating the entire body. The synchronized movements create a unique sensory experience that elevates the massage to an art form, leaving you in a state of blissful euphoria and deep renewal. It is especially recommended for guests seeking a luxury spa experience, those with high stress levels, people celebrating special occasions, or anyone wanting a more thorough and efficient full-body treatment.
At the end of this unforgettable experience, we will escort you back to your hotel in Cusco.
None
Breakfast in the Hotel
Included
Alpaca Expeditions is a 100% peruvian, indigenous owned company. Started by Raul Ccolque, a former porter and tour guide, Alpaca Expeditions separates ourselves by our dedication to both our customer and our team. We work very hard to make sure that all our clients needs are taken care of throughout the tour with us. At the same time, we never forget about our brothers and sisters working tirelessly for us to make all of this possible. Responsible and sustainable tourism that gives as much to our community as to our clients.
Everyone on the Alpaca Team is from Cusco region, living the traditions and history they share with you while on one of our tours. Our guides are all graduates of university studying tourism, history and english. Our chefs are trained every February by a professional cooking team learning new meals, adding varieties of entrees for all types of eating. And all our porters are from HUARQUI, HUACAHUASI, PATACANCHA, QUISWARANI, CANCHACANCHA, QUEYUPAY, UMACHURCO and CCACCACCOLLO villages, very often working this job on top of maining their farms back at home. Most of our team has been with us for years, as we have the most loyal, hard working, happy employees in Cusco. We know how lucky we are to have the best team trekking and you will immediately fall in love with all the men and women who call Alpaca Expeditions their home.
Our goal at Alpaca Expeditions is to create the best experience for all of our clients. We create journeys that are to be remembered for a lifetime. Journeys you can be proud of and can share with everybody around you.
In the pursuit to stand out from the rest, Alpaca Expeditions has obtained four ISOs plus our carbon footprint certificate to date. These achievements result from our efforts to implement the internationally-recognized integrated management system. They also represent our commitment to all of our clients and staff of operating sustainability and responsibility in every way possible.
