Inca Trail to

4 days / 3 nights

AT A GLANCE

DAY 1 – OLLANATAYTAMBO - PISKACUCHO – LLACTAPATA - WAYLLABAMBA easy - 5 hours - camp 3.060 m - 11 km WAYLLABAMBA – YUNCACHIMPA - WARM- DAY 2 IWAÑUSCA – PAQAYMAYU moderate - 7 hours - pass 4.200 m - 12 km PAQAYMAYU – CHAQUICOCHA – SAYAC- DAY 3 MARCA – WIÑAYWAYNA CAPAC NAN moderate - 7 hours - pass 3.850 m - 14 km WIÑAYWAYNA – MACHU PICCHU – AGUAS DAY 4 CALIENTES - - CUSCO easy - 2 hours - hotel 3.400 m - 6 km The Inca trail, Cápac Ñan, in Quechua language, is the name of the extended road network (more then 40.000 km in total) built by the Incas to con- nect different parts of their vast empire, this road linked different villages and towns of what is cur- rently the countries of North of Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, , Ecuador and Colombia. The capi- tal and core center was the city of Cusco. Now- adays, many of these trails have disappeared. The best known path of this network is the Inca trail between Km. 82 of the railway to Machu- picchu, known as Piscacucho town and cross the ancient towns of Huayllabamba, Warmiwa- ñuska, Runkurakay, Sayacmarca, Wiñaywayna, Intipunku to finally arrive at Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas. The stunning views, the flora, fauna, the impressive archeological re- mains, legends and myths make of this trail a life time adventure.

1 Day 1 CUSCO – PISKACUCHO – WAYLLABAMBA Breakfast at the hotel. We’ll depart from the hotel and reach the locality of Piskacucho located at km 82 on the railway between Cusco and Machu Picchu. The exciting Inca trail begins at the bridge over the Urubamba River. Roughly at 10 am we will start our walk towards the archeological site of Llactapata, the largest ruins along the Inca trail. This walk is go- ing to be gentle and a good warm up for the second part of the day. At Hatunchaca the staff of cooks and porters will prepare lunch and after a brief rest we will restart to walk. Approximately 2 hours later we will arrive at the Andean community of Wayllabamba where we’ll place of our first camp. Lunch, dinner and overnight at the camp.

Day 2 WAYLLABAMBA – WARMIWAÑUSCA – PAQA- YMAYU Breakfast at the camp. Early in the morning we’ll start our hike towards the highest point of the Inca trail where we’ll have the opportunity to observe dif- ferent climates and microclimates passing through the rain woodlands of Yuncachimpa to the grassy mountain of Warmiwañusca. After a slow ascent we will arrive at 4.200 m that is the highest pass of this trek. Time to rest and descent for lunch. After a restoring meal we’ll continue the trek towards Paqaymayu, also known as the river of dawn, where the staff will be awaiting with the camp and dinner ready. Lunch, dinner and overnight at the camp.

Day 3 PAQAYMAYU – CHAQUICOCHA – WIÑAY- WAYNA After breakfast we’ll continue our journey towards the archeological site of Runkurakay and cross two high Andean lagoons that will lead us to the second highest pass at 3.850 m. Continuation downwards to Sayacmarca or “Dominant Town”, from where it will be possible to enjoy an impressive view over the val- ley of the Aobamba. From here the path ascends a bit towards a clouded forest until Phuyupatamarca or village on the clouds. This archaeological group has a beautiful ritual fountain, a leafy vegetation and a spectacular panoramic view of the valley of the river Urubamba. After a brief rest we will start descending across the clouded forest by a series of long steps that will take us towards Wiñaywayna or “Forever Young”. Our third camp awaits us and we will have free time to explore the surroundings. Lunch, dinner and overnight at the camp.

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Day 4 WIÑAYWAYNA – MACHUPICCHU – AGUAS CALIENTES - CUSCO Breakfast at the camp. Very early in the morning we will begin a trek of approximately 2 hours, up to ’s sector or “Sungate” and we’ll have the chance to admire the sunrise on the majestic city of Machu Picchu. From here we’ll descend to register our arrival at the check point and start our visit to the Citadel for approximately 2.5 hours. You’ll have extra time to explore by yourselves the mysteries of this enigmatic site. The impressive Inca citadel is placed on the side of a mountain. Its Quechua name means “Old Mountain”, but it is also known as “the Lost City of the Incas” since it remained hidden from the West until discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911. It was built in the fifteenth century, and is attributed to the Inca Pachacutec. The archeological complex is divided into two zones that are contained within approximately twen- ty hectares. On the sides of the mountain, you can see up to four meters high agricultural terraces. Several pla- zas and buildings, the most important being the Temple of the Sun, the Intihuatana or solar clock and calendar, the Temple of the Three Windows, the Main Temple and the Condor Sector, make up the urban sector. There is also an impressive monolith of carved stone, three me- ters high and seven meters wide at the base, named the Sacred Stone. In order to build Machu Picchu, the Incas had to use blocks of stone brought from long distances. The finish of the walls features different quality levels and techniques. One of the highest quality walls is the central one of the Main Temple where the stones fit to- gether perfectly. Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary in not only a priceless archeological site, it is also associated with rich animal and plant life. In 1983, UNESCO placed it on the World Cultural and Natural Heritage Lists. Later in the day, we’ll have a short transfer by bus to the train sta- tion of Aguas Calientes where we’ll take the train back to Ollantaytambo. We’ll travel alongside the impressive valley of the Urubamba River with its deep gorges and tropical vegetation. At the arrival at the train station of Ollantaytambo we’ll transfer to the hotel in Cusco. Breakfast and overnight in the hotel.

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