7 Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Trek

This is one of our longer treks along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu that we offer. Travelers will spent time in Cusco before embarking on their trek along the trail to Machu Picchu! 

 7 DAY INCA TRAIL LINK

ITINERARY

DAY 1 - FLIGHT TO THE IMPERIAL CITY OF THE INCAS 

After arriving in Cusco, a representative from Valencia Travel Cusco will be waiting to pick you up.  You'll be transferred to your hotel in our private transportation. You will have a whole day to relax and enjoy what Cusco has to offer. There is the option of taking a free walking tour of Cusco. The tour is around 2 to 3 hours. Places visited include:

• Plaza Regocijo
• Plaza de Armas
• Plaza Nazarenas
• The town of San Blas
• The stone of  12 angles
• San Pedro Market

DAY 2- OPEN DAY

On this day, you will have two options to choice from:

CUSCO CITY TOUR

You'll be picked up at 2 pm and will go to the following places:

• The main cathedral - Plaza de Armas
• Qoricancha - Temple of the Sun
• Sacsayhuaman - Stones that weight up to 120 tons
• Q'enqo - dedicated to the Earth
• Pucapucara - Used to be a military control center
• Tambomachay - Temple of the Water

This tour end around 6 pm after which you'll be dropped off at your hotel.  

SACRED VALLEY TOUR

After having breakfast and picked up from your hotel. We will travel to the Urubamba valley and visit the following towns:

• Pisac - Famous for its indigenous market held every Sunday 
• Urubamba - We will have lunch here
• Ollantaytambo - An ancient Incan town still inhabited
• Chinchero- Also famous for its marketplace

This will be a full day excursion and you will be return to Cusco at the end of the tour. 

DAY 3 - THE START OF THE ADVENTURE

We will pick you up from your hotel and travel by bus to Piskacucho, also known as kilometer 82. This is where our journey begins as we head to Ollantaytambo for breakfast. This meal is not included. Upon arrival at kilometer 82, we will have some free time. It will be necessary to show your entrance tickets, passports and student card at the trail's first control point. The start of our journey will require us to cross the Vilcanota River and follow it along the right side.  The first day is relatively easy and we will have views of Incan fortress of Huillca Raccay, the incredible Incan site of Llactapata, also called Patallacta.  We will get to see how the Urubamba mountain ranger divides the jungle, the Andes and the beautiful snow capped peak of W'akay Willca, known in books as Veronica. Our first campsite called Ayapata is located in the small village of Wayllabamba.  

DAY 4 - THE TRAIL TRIAL, WE GO OVER 2 PASSES

After having breakfast, we will start a steep ascent towards the highest pass called Abra de Warrmihuañusca or Dead Woman's Pass.  Along the way, we will get the chance to see a variety of birds including hummingbirds. We will also get to admire a variety of native plants and trees including the polylepis or Q'ueuña trees. You will feel a real sense of achievement upon reaching the top. After resting, we begin our descent to our lunch stop which is located in Pacamayu. After lunch, we begin our second two hour steep climb towards Runkuraqay pass.  We will arrive at our campsite around 5 pm. 

DAY 5 - BEAUTIFUL SCENERY

After having breakfast, we will start our day with a gentle climb heading towards the archaeological site of Phuyupatamarca (meaning town in the clouds). We will also reach the third highest point along the trail and view the spectacular surrounding areas including mountains and canyons. Then, we will continue walking through the cloud forest towards the Incan site of Intipata. We will then arrive to our third campsite called Wiñay Wayna ( meaning forever young). A short distance from our campsite is the Incan site of the same name. 

DAY 6 - MACHU PICCHU IN ITS GLORY

On our final day, we will head towards the Sun gate or Inti Punku to catch the sunrise. This will be the place where you will have your first dramatic view of Machu Picchu with the sun above it. Afterwards,we will keep walking along the trail to a spot where you'll be able to take the classic picture postcard shot. Finally, we will visit Machu Picchu itself! Your guide will give you a two hour tour of the site, after which, you will be able to explore this ancient citadel by yourselves. You will meet your guide in Aguas Calientes for lunch and be given your return train tickets to Cusco. The train included goes to Ollantaytambo and then you will take a bus back to Cusco. Your train will leave Aguas Calientes in the afternoon so you'll need to be at the station 30 minutes early. Once in Cusco, a Valencia Travel Cusco Representative will take you to your hotel for the night.  

DAY 7 - BYE BYE CUSCO

After having breakfast in the hotel, you will be picked up and taken to the airport to catch your flight.