Sacred Land of the Incas

Tour Itinerary

• Day 1: Lima

  Bienvenidos! Welcome to Peru. With Indigenous cultures dating back millennia, this country is a fascinating land of Amazonian rainforests, diverse wildlife and soaring mountains. Your adventure begins in Lima with a welcome meeting at 2 pm at your hotel.

• Day 2: Amazon Jungle

  Rise and shine early today for your journey into the wilds of the Peruvian Amazon. Take an early transfer to Lima airport, then fly to Puerto Maldonado. Here, you’ll pack a small duffle bag with essentials for the next two days.

• Day 3: Amazon Jungle

  Get ready for an unforgettable day exploring the depths of the jungle! Set out on a half-day trek guided by local experts on the area's flora and fauna. Learn from your guides about the medicinal and practical uses for some of the plants that grow here, which Indigenous people have been studying and using for thousands of years.

• Day 4: Cusco

  Leave behind the natural wonders of the Amazon for the man-made wonders of Cusco. Return to Puerto Maldonado to collect your luggage, then take a short flight. If Lima is Peru's head, then Cusco is definitely the heart.

• Day 5: Ollantaytambo

  Hop on a private bus this morning and travel through the lush terraces of the Sacred Valley to Ollantaytambo – one of the few places where the Inca defeated the Spanish. On the way, stop at a village to enjoy lunch and conversation in a community that still practices many Inca traditions.

• Day 6: Inca Trail

  Depending on the travel arrangements you made before the trip, during the next four days you’ll be either hiking the Inca Trail (Route 1), hiking the Quarry Trail (Route 2) or staying in Cusco for two days before taking the train to Aguas Calientes (Route 3). All routes visit Machu Picchu. 

• Day 7: Inca Trail

  Route 1 Inca Trail: This is the most challenging day of the trek, as you ascend a 5-hour long steep path to reach the highest point of the trail. Route 2 Quarry Trail: This is the most challenging and rewarding day of the hike. A 3-hour walk takes you to the top of the first pass of Puccaqasa, about 4370 m high. Route 3 Cusco: Today, take a taxi to Tambomachay, an archaeological site just outside of Cusco. From here you’ll take a 2 to 3 hours walk back to Cusco.

• Day 8: Inca Trail

  Route 1 Inca Trail: Start the day with a climb through the Pacaymayo Valley to Runkuracay Pass at 3980 m. Enjoy views of the snow-capped mountain of Cordillera Vilcabamba before descending for around 2 to 3 hours to the ruins of Sayacmarca. Route 2 Quarry Trail: Today’s hike will all be downhill. The first stop is the incomplete Kachiqata quarry, where the Incas were intercepted by the Spanish. Explore the cobbled streets of Ollantaytambo when you finish your trek. Route 3 Train to Aguas Calientes: After a 1.5-hour drive to Ollantaytambo. This is where you’ll meet up with the travellers in your group who hiked the Quarry Trail. You’ll catch a 1.5-hour train through the winding Urubamba Valley to Aguas Calientes.

• Day 9: Inca Trail

  Route 1 Inca Trail: This is the final and most spectacular leg of the trek to Machu Picchu – one of the famed Wonders of the World. Route 2 and 3 Machu Picchu to Cusco: Take an early bus up to Machu Picchu at 6:00 am. The city was built around 1440 AD as a country retreat for the Incan nobility, but there’s evidence that the land had been a sacred Incan site for much longer.

• Day 10: Cusco

  Enjoy free time to relax, shop and explore more of Cusco's many sights. Maybe rest your weary legs at a cafe on Plaza de Armas or head to the San Pedro Market where you can find vegetables, meats, local cheeses, chocolates, herbal medicines and many local handicrafts.

• Day 11: Puno

  This morning after breakfast, travel through the dramatic scenery of the high altiplano to Puno – located on the shores of serene Lake Titicaca. At an altitude of 3800 m, Lake Titicaca is the world's highest navigable lake.

• Day 12: Llachon community

  This morning, you’ll take a tour of the immense lake by motorboat, stopping at the floating Uros Islands that look like they could come from a Pixar or Studio Ghibli movie.

• Day 13: Puno

  This morning after breakfast, board another motorboat and cruise to Taquile Island – known for the intricate, hand-knitted textiles the locals produce. Here, knitting is strictly a male domain and women do the spinning.

• Day 14: La Paz

  This morning, head to the bustling highland city of La Paz in Bolivia. At the border, say goodbye to your Peruvian leader and welcome your new Bolivian leader. After border formalities at the Peruvian migration office and document checks as you cross the border, you’ll discover the colonial architecture of La Paz.

• Day 15: La Paz

  With no activities planned for today, you’re free to leave after breakfast.