Ultimate Inca Trail

Cusco – Lares – Huacahuasi. Arrive in Cusco before the tour, as you will be picked up from your accommodation early this morning to begin the journey towards Lares. Along the way, we stop in the traditional village of Calca, known for its colourful local market where fresh produce, snacks, breakfast items, and trekking supplies are sold. On your guide’s recommendation, you can also purchase freshly baked bread to share with local children along the trail.

Upon arrival in the mountain village of Lares, you can opt to visit the village’s natural thermal springs. Surrounded by Andean scenery, the warm mineral pools offer a chance to relax while our cooks prepare lunch nearby.

After lunch, we begin our first hike towards Huacahuasi. The trail ascends gradually through mountain landscapes and rural communities, providing an introduction to trekking in the Andes while we take in panoramic views and crisp mountain air. The hike takes approximately four hours and serves as good preparation for tomorrow’s more challenging high-altitude trekking.

By evening, we arrive at our campsite in the village of Huacahuasi at 3,850 metres, where our tents are already prepared. We are welcomed with hot drinks, popcorn, and snacks before enjoying dinner together beneath the clear Peruvian sky.

Huacahuasi – Ipsayccocha – Patacancha – Ollantaytambo. Today, we begin our ascent towards Ipsayccocha Pass, the highest point of the trek at 4,400 metres. Following breakfast, we hike through dramatic mountain scenery where herds of llamas and alpacas graze across the highlands alongside traditional agricultural terraces still used by local communities today.

After approximately three hours of uphill trekking, we reach the pass and take time to appreciate the spectacular views across the surrounding mountains and valleys. Temperatures can be cool at higher elevations, so layered clothing is recommended for comfort throughout the day.

We then descend for around 30 minutes to the shores of Ipsayccocha Lagoon at 4,350 metres. Surrounded by rugged peaks, the lagoon’s clear turquoise waters provide a peaceful setting for a freshly prepared lunch beside the lake.

In the afternoon, we continue downhill through green valleys and rural countryside for approximately two hours towards the traditional village of Patacancha. From here, we transfer by road to the historic town of Ollantaytambo, often considered the gateway to Machu Picchu.

This evening, we enjoy dinner together before settling in for the night in Ollantaytambo, surrounded by the atmosphere and stone architecture of this ancient Inca settlement.

Ollantaytambo – Chachabamba – Wiñay Wayna – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes. We have an early start this morning as we depart Ollantaytambo by tourist train, travelling alongside rivers and mountain valleys towards KM 104, the starting point of our Royal Inca Trail experience.

Upon arrival, we begin our guided hike with a visit to Chachabamba, an archaeological site hidden within lush Andean vegetation. Here, we learn about the site’s historical importance and the role it once played within the Inca network.

Continuing along the original Inca Trail, we make our way towards Wiñay Wayna, one of the most significant archaeological sites on the route to Machu Picchu. Surrounded by cloud forest and mountain scenery, we explore its stone terraces, ceremonial baths, and temple structures while gaining further insight into Inca engineering and daily life.

Later, we continue to Inti Punku, the Sun Gate, where we catch our first view of Machu Picchu from above. Arriving in the late afternoon allows us to see the ancient citadel in softer evening light, creating a very different atmosphere from the busy daytime hours.

We then descend towards Machu Picchu for a short introductory visit before boarding the bus to Aguas Calientes. Upon arrival, we check into our hotel and enjoy dinner together.

Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Ollantaytambo – Cusco. After an early breakfast, we take the bus from Aguas Calientes up to Machu Picchu, arriving just before sunrise. As the first light reaches the terraces and stone temples, we take in the atmosphere of one of the world’s most remarkable archaeological sites before the larger crowds arrive.

Once inside Machu Picchu, we begin a guided tour exploring the history, engineering, and cultural significance of the ancient Inca city. As we walk through sacred plazas, temples, residential areas, and ceremonial spaces such as the Temple of the Sun and the Intihuatana stone, we gain a deeper understanding of the site and the civilisation that built it.

After the guided tour, you will have free time to continue exploring Machu Picchu at your own pace. You may wish to revisit favourite viewpoints, take photographs among the stone pathways, or, if pre-booked, climb Huayna Picchu for panoramic views over the citadel and surrounding mountains.

Later, you return by bus to Aguas Calientes, where you can opt to visit the town’s thermal baths to relax after the morning’s exploration.

In the late afternoon, we board the train from Aguas Calientes before continuing by road back to Cusco, where you can make your own way to the airport or your accommodation.