This is the ultimate package meticulously crafted to offer one of the most exceptional experiences when visiting Cusco and Machu Picchu. Exploring the Sacred Valley means immersing yourself in the heart of the Inca civilization, where they established astounding Inca villages that provide a unique opportunity to delve into Inca history.
Before reaching the first Inca site, Pisaq, in the Sacred Valley, you will have the privilege of visiting one of the local villages. Here, you can delve into farming practices and local traditions. In these villages, people proudly adorn themselves in vibrant traditional clothing and converse in the Andean local language, such as Quechua. You’ll also have the opportunity to observe llamas and alpacas, and learn about Inca textiles, witnessing how they utilize natural plants to obtain various colors for painting textiles made from llama or alpaca wool, known as handmade crafts.
Next, your journey will lead you to the Pisaq Inca site, where you’ll explore this incredible Inca village. Following a delightful lunch in Urubamba, you will embark on a drive to Ollantaytambo, where you will visit the renowned Inca site and explore its unique Inca buildings. You’ll also marvel at the second-largest Inca store, which will leave you in awe of how they transported such massive rocks. Be sure not to miss the Temple of the Sun, an exceptional Inca architectural gem, and take some time to leisurely wander around this historic site.
Afterward, you will be transported to your hotel, providing you with the opportunity to spend the night in the last living Inca city. In the evening, you can leisurely stroll through the village’s narrow streets, which retain their original Inca character, and observe the ancient water channels that have stood the test of time. Finally, you can unwind at the hotel and get some rest before your guide meets you the next day at Ollantaytambo to commence the incredible 4-day, 3-night Inca Trail expedition to Machu Picchu.
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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 water and tea. You will have a free day to acclimatize and visit the impressive main square of Cusco. ( Provide us your flight details to pick you up and transfer to your hotel )
You will have briefing at 6pm at our office. your guide will overview all about the sacred valley and Inca Trail, duffle bags will be given to you as well.
Rumi Punku or Similar ( 3-star hotel )
Not Included
N/A
We start our day with a pick up from your hotel at 7:30 to 8:00am. We will visit a local community of Cacacollo where Alpaca Expeditions support local Andean Women, Textiles and Agriculture are the daily work of many families and the economic livelihood for them, the enterprising women will show and teach us the elaboration of Andean textiles, we will also have the option to see the agricultural areas where they grow all kinds of vegetables, after that we continue our journey to Pisac Inca site where you will enjoy the beauty of the site and surounding area, Break for lunch at the local restaurant Parwa in Lamay. After lunch, will drive along the sacred Valley to get the living Inca city of Ollantaytambo, where we will visit famous inca site and appreciate how important Ollantaytambo was in the time of the Incas and nowadays. Once the tour is over, the guide will take you to the hotel where you will spend the night.
Sol Natura ( 3-star hotel ) or similar
Breakfast – Lunch
Included
Our trekking guide will pick you up from your hotel in Ollantaytambo at 6.30am. We will take you to the Porter House where you enjoy the breakfast prepare by our chef. After that We will then drive to Km 82, we’ll go through the first Inca Trail checkpoint to begin our trek. Please make sure you have your original passport with you to enter the Inca Trail. The first 2 hours of the trek are relatively easy as we make our way to our first Inca site. Patallacta is an ancient Inca checkpoint for the approach to Machu Picchu.
From Patallacta it’s another 2-hour hike to our lunch stop. After lunch, we will hike for another 2½ hours until we reach the first night’s campsite at Ayapata (3300 meters). On this last stretch, we pass through 2 small communities. If you want to buy any energy drink, snacks, or essential items you may have forgotten such as batteries you can do so here. We’ll arrive at our campsite by 5:00 PM. After settling in for a bit, you can relax and have a hot drink and snack with your team of porters, chefs, and guides. By 7:30 PM, your dinner will be ready, and after you can get some well-deserved rest.
8.7 miles/14 km (6-7 hours)
3300 meters (high) above sea level
Moderate day (getting used to the Inca Trail)
Warm and windy
Your porters will wake you up early with a hot cup of coca tea to get you ready for the day. We will have an early start since it will be our longest day. We’ll hike for roughly 4 hours to the highest pass of the trek, Dead Woman’s Pass (4215 meters/13829 feet). On reaching the pass, we’ll stop for a short break to enjoy the views before setting off again to descend to the next valley (Pacaymayu Valley – Hidden River). It’s another hour and a half down the side of the valley to our lunch spot, where you will have a chance to refill your water bottles. After lunch, we begin ascending again to the second pass of the trek. It’s 2 hours over the pass where we will stop at a small Inca site (Runcu Raccay) and see two huge waterfalls cascading down the opposite side of the valley. After the second pass, it’s another hour downhill hike to reach the magnificent Inca site, Sayacmarca (an otherwise inaccessible village).
We’ll stop here to rest and have a quick tour. Afterward, we will be able to watch the sunset over the Vilcabamba mountain range. It’s then just another 20 minutes until we stop for the night at our second campsite Chaquicocha (Dry Lake, 3600 meters). After dinner, if you’re not too exhausted, we can do some star gazing, and we’ll point out the fascinating Inca constellations. In the magnificent Southern Hemisphere sky, away from all the artificial lighting, this sky is something to behold!
9.94 miles/16 km (7-8 hours)
3600 meters (high) above sea level (chilly weather)
Top day (you will have survived the two highest passes)
Andes and Cloud Forest
Cold and rainy
Completing Day 2 and beginning Day 3 certainly deserves a pat on the back! We will start early again, waking up at 6:30 am to begin what is commonly felt to be the most beautiful day of the whole Inca Trail. We hike for 2 hours along what we like to call “Inca flat” (gradual inclines) and begin to enter the jungle, known as the Cloud Forest. As we walk, we will have the opportunity to see Salkantay, the second highest snow-capped mountain in the Sacred Valley, and a fantastic panoramic view of the Vilcabamba mountain range. Towards the end of the Inca flats, we begin to make our way up to the last peak at Phuyupatamarka (3600 meters) from where we’ll have great views overlooking the Urubamba River. Down the valley, we get our first view of Machu Picchu Mountain, but the site itself is still hidden. From Phuyupatamarka it´s a 3-hour walk down a flight of steps to our last campsite, close to Wiñay Wayna (Forever Young). Wiñay Wayna is the most spectacular Inca site on the trail after Machu Picchu and the most popular campsite because of its proximity to Machu Picchu. During the descent, we visit 2 Inca ruins, Phuyupatamarka (Town in the Clouds) and Intipata (Terraces of the Sun). We arrive at our campsite around 1:00 PM to have lunch.
Then we will relax so that you are ready for your final day at Machu Picchu. At around 4:30 PM your guide will give you a short orientation, and you will visit the Inca ruins of Wiñay Wayna for an hour and a half there. Your guide will explain the significance of the site and combine all the information given during the trek. This way you will be fully prepared for your visit to Machu Picchu the following day. We like to spoil our guests as we enjoy our last feast with the porters and chefs. It’s an Inca Trail tradition to organize a ceremony in the evening to introduce the team to the tourists once again. This is to thank them for the great job done (if you wish to provide tips for them then you can do so at this time). It is advisable to go to bed at a reasonable time to get up in the early hours of the morning to arrive to Machu Picchu at the crack of dawn in the hopes that the weather will give us a beautiful sunrise over the ruins at Machu Picchu.
6.2 miles/10km (5 hours)
2.600 meters (high) above sea level (chilly weather)
Easy day – all downhill!
High Cloud Forest
Warm and very humid
Today marks the most anticipated day of your journey, the long-awaited visit to Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
We’ll wake up early at 3:00 a.m., and breakfast will be served at 3:30 a.m. Shortly after, we’ll begin a short walk to the park ranger checkpoint, where we’ll wait for the gates to open at 5:30 a.m.
Why so early? Our porters must reach the railway at Km 107 to catch the only daily train passing at 5:30 a.m. Out of respect for their effort, all groups wake early so the porters can return safely to Ollantaytambo. Your duffel bags will be transported by porters to Aguas Calientes and left at the restaurant where you’ll later have lunch.
The final section of the Inca Trail from Wiñay Wayna to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) is narrow, and park rangers only allow hikers to enter after dawn for safety. This portion takes about one hour, with lush cloud forest vegetation and occasional sightings of orchids. Just before reaching the Sun Gate, you’ll climb the steep “Gringo Killer” steps , about 20 original Inca steps that mark the final challenge before your reward.
Arriving at Inti Punku, you’ll witness your first breathtaking panoramic view of Machu Picchu. During Incan times, this gate served both as the main entrance to the citadel and as a solar observatory during the solstice, when sunlight aligned perfectly through its opening to illuminate the Sun Temple window. We’ll spend about 15–30 minutes here (weather permitting) before continuing for another hour of gentle downhill trekking to reach the citadel.
By 7:30–8:00 a.m., we’ll arrive at the main viewpoint of Machu Picchu, the iconic photo spot. After soaking in the view, we’ll exit briefly to use the restrooms (S/2) and leave any large backpacks in storage (US$5).
We’ll then re-enter to begin our 2-hour private guided tour along Circuit 3B, exploring temples, water fountains, and sacred plazas. Your guide will explain the fascinating history and mysteries behind the Incan architecture.
After your tour:
When finished, take the bus down to Aguas Calientes for lunch at a local restaurant (not included). Your guide will provide your train tickets at this time.
Return Journey:
You’ll board your train to Ollantaytambo between 2:30 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. (Expedition or Voyager class, depending on availability). The scenic ride lasts about 1 hour 45 minutes, offering spectacular views of the river and surrounding mountains.
Upon arrival in Ollantaytambo, an Alpaca Expeditions driver will be waiting to transfer you by private bus back to Cusco (approx. 2 hours). You’ll arrive between 6:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., where your stored luggage will be returned, and you’ll be dropped off at your hotel.
The most exciting and magical day – arrival at Machu Picchu!
High Cloud Forest and Subtropical Zone
Hot and very humid (bring plenty of water)
Breakfast Only
Rumi Punku or similar (3-star hotel)
You will have one last chance for souvenir shopping in Cusco. There will be optional time to visit the Weaving Center Museum on El Sol Avenue. We will transfer you to the airport for your flight to Lima. ( Let us know your flight details to schedule the transfer to the airport).
Breakfast Only at hotel
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.
