On the Trail of the Incas

Known as The City of Kings, Lima is packed with stunning colonial architecture and religious buildings. We’ll tour some of the most important sites, including Huaca Pucllana, the Plaza de Armas, Lima Cathedral, and the Santo Domingo Convent. Afterwards, we’ll head to the Larco Museum to marvel at a wide range of pre-Columbian art and artefacts. We’ll round off in the Cafe del Museo to sample a local dessert made with an endemic Peruvian fruit known as "lucuma". 

After our flight to Cusco, we’ll travel to Yucay in the Sacred Valley - our base for the next four nights. On the way, we’ll visit the Alpacas and Llamas at Awana Kancha farm to learn about local weaving techniques before lunch at a local restaurant.     

Distance: 2.5 miles (4 km)  

Ascent:  1400ft (430m)  

Descent: 1400ft (430m)  

Altitude: 2970m - 3400m  

Journey through the Andes and the famous Taray viewpoint to take in the Sacred Valley. On arrival at Pisac Inca complex, we’ll explore the extensive ruins on a guided tour, passing through structures that served as homes, storage rooms, and temples. We’ll also admire Inca altars, carvings, tunnels, caves, and the famous Intihuatana (sundial). Next, we’ll follow a section of the Inca trail, circling a mountain to the religious part of Pisac, Intiwatana. We’ll enjoy a picnic lunch before continuing to the town of Pisac via a tall waterfall. After visiting the market, we’ll transfer back. During our tour we’ll also visit a traditional bakery to try freshly-baked

Today we’ll learn about the gastronomy of Cusco and the Sacred Valley by discovering the amazing variety of local crops including potatoes, tarwi, quinoa, beans, and more. Driving to the community of Huayllafara in Lamay, we’ll be welcomed by the people who live and work on the land and taken to their Interpretation Centre. Here, we’ll learn about Andean agricultural methods and traditional farming techniques as we taste a variety of fantastic homegrown produce. Our hosts will share traditional recipes and we’ll sit down to lunch together. This is an amazing opportunity to become immersed in Andean life and culture. In the afternoon, we’ll return to our hotel.   

Distance: 5 miles (8 km)  

Ascent: Negligible  

Descent: 2132ft (650m)  

Altitude: 3500m - 2850m  

This morning we’ll visit Chinchero, a town famous for its textiles made on backstrap looms. We’ll join a local family of weavers in their courtyard to learn about this ancient Andean craft. We’ll watch as wool is carded, spun, and dyed. We’ll also learn about the different techniques used to create belts, ponchos, and shawls. We’ll then trek down into the Sacred Valley of the Incas to the town of Huayllabamba. This route follows an original and rarely-used Inca trail still at many points in pristine condition. Here we meet our vehicle and continue to our hotel for our final night in Yucay. 

Distance: 6.83 miles (11km) approx  

Ascent: 165 ft (50m)  

Descent: 2401ft (732m)  

Maximum altitude: 3532m  

Maras and Moray are two amazing attractions located within a short distance of each other in the Sacred Valley. Firstly, we’ll visit Moray, an Inca archaeological site where several large terraced circular depressions were used to test crop production in various microclimates.   

After visiting the ruins, we follow an ancient mule trail with spectacular views of the snow-capped Cordillera Vilcanota. We’ll also see examples of the finest Andean farming on our way before heading back across the plains to the interesting town of Maras for lunch.  

We’ll then descend to the famous Salinas, 3,000 salt evaporation ponds that have been in use since Inca times. We’ll explore this amazing site, then descend to the Urubamba River before transferring to our hotel in Ollantaytambo where we'll stay for the next 2 nights. 

Distance: 3.72 miles (6km)   

Ascent: 164ft (50m)  

Descent: 1968ft (600m)  

Maximum altitude: 3400m  

We’ll start our day with a short drive north to the ruins of Pumamarca, 30 minutes above Ollantaytambo. Learn about the history and purpose of this less visited site with your guide and enjoy wonderful views. We’ll then follow an old Inca Trail down the steeply terraced valley towards Ollantaytambo. We may see people ploughing with oxen or the colourfully-dressed locals walking down to town from the communities above. We’ll then explore the old streets of Ollantaytambo.  

This remarkably well-preserved fortress town was the site of the last big battle between the Incas and the Spanish before the remaining Inca rebels fled into the jungles of Vilcabamba. The short but steep climb up to the ruins is well worth the effort and its Inca sun temple displays some of the finest stonework in the area, as well as providing spectacular views along the Sacred Valley. The site was unfinished, and some magnificent stones still lie un-erected, providing important clues to the building methods. We’ll stay in Ollantaytambo for the night.   

Distance: 6.83 miles (11km) approx  

Ascent: 168ft (550m)   

Descent: 76ft (250m)   

Maximum altitude: 2650m  

Today we’ll embark on a shorter two-day version of the full Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu. We’ll transfer to Ollantaytambo station to board the train for a 1.5-hour scenic ride to a point known as Kilometre 104. From here, we’ll begin walking. It’s around four hours to the archaeological site of Wiñay Wayna and we’ll stop en route at the recently restored ruins of Chachabamba. Wiñay Wayna is a great spot to take lunch amid a spectacular series of agricultural terraces and water features.  

As we continue towards Inti Punku (the Puerta del Sol), lush vegetation flanks us on either side. We’ll enjoy the scent of wild orchids and the sounds of brightly-coloured tropical songbirds. We’ll then have our first spectacular view of Machu Picchu with plenty of time for photos. Before actually reaching Machu Picchu, we’ll take a side road and head by bus down to the lively town of Machu Picchu Pueblo to check into our hotel.  

We’ll walk to the starting point of the bus for the short, zigzagging ascent up the road to Machu Picchu – the engineering marvel that was lost to the jungle for years. Rediscovered in 1911 by Yale professor, Hiram Bingham, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007.  

A guided walking tour (around two hours) takes us to the most spectacular parts of the extensive archaeological complex. Afterwards, we’ll have free time to explore and enjoy the views of the agricultural terraces, surrounding mountains, and deep gorges.  

In the afternoon, we’ll board the train for an interesting ride along the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The scenery is beautiful and the train jolts softly along, allowing you to sit, stare out the window and reflect on all you have seen before our waiting bus whisks us back to our Machu Pichu Pueblo.  

Located at an altitude of 3,399m above sea level, Cusco is considered the oldest city on the entire American continent. Our half-day city walking tour starts with visiting Plaza de Armas and its impressive cathedral. Admire historic pieces from the Cusqueña School of Art, including the Macaw-winged cherubs and the guinea pig served at The Last Supper. Another highlight is Qoricancha temple, once home to the centre of the Inca Sun worship with its life-sized statues in solid gold. 

You’ll have time to visit San Pedro Market to buy tropical fruits fresh from the Amazon. Or, venture through the impressive Inca-walled streets up through the San Blas artisan district to San Cristobal church with your guide – the view over the red-tiled rooftops of Cusco is spectacular. Our hotel for the next two nights is located close to the centre of the city. There is also an optional visit to Chicuchas Wasi, a local school project that gives some of the poorest young girls in Cusco access to education.  

Distance: 3.1miles (5km) approx 

Ascent: 325ft (100m) 

Descent: 650ft (200m) 

Maximum altitude: 3750m 

We’ll enjoy a walking tour to explore the gorgeous countryside surrounding Cusco, firstly visiting the impressive site of Sacsayhuaman where huge stone ramparts surround a grass amphitheatre. Once the scene of fierce battles, it now hosts the recreation of traditional Inca ceremonies such as Inti Raymi and Warachikuy. Starting from the outskirts of Cusco, we pass the Temple of the Moon Inca ruins before joining Antisuyo - a recently restored Qapaq nañ (Inca road).  

We’ll continue to hike through an impressive eucalyptus forest before reaching the Inkilltambo ruins and stopping for a snack. After spending time exploring, we’ll continue along an Inca trail passing some interesting remains of colonial kilns and looking out for Inca Burial chambers. We’ll then meet our transport for a short drive back to central Cusco. Tonight, we’ll enjoy a special dinner of Peruvian delicacies along with traditional music, dancing. and a folklore show.  

Distance: 2.48 miles (4km) approx  

Ascent: 492ft (150m)  

Descent: 492ft (150m)  

Maximum altitude: 4,970m  

We’ll leave Cusco and travel towards Puno by bus, stopping en route at Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain. Located in the heart of the Vilcanota Mountain range, centuries of mineral deposits have caused the spectacular formation of this multi-coloured mountain landscape – a real sight to behold. We’ll then take a short trail where, on a clear day, you can see the snow-capped peaks of Ausangate, Mariposa and Nevado del Inca. At the peak of our trail. We’ll explore the Bosque de Piedras (Rock Forest) with its unique formations. Well then continue to Puno and our hotel.  

Today we’ll venture to the shores of Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable body of water. We’ll cruise out to two of Titicaca’s islands: the floating islands of the Uros (one of the world's most innovative feats of human engineering) and the natural island of Taquile. On both, you’ll witness traditional ways of life, including the skills of the master weavers and boat makers who live on the lake. On Taquile, we’ll visit the small and rarely visited rural community of Luquina, where we’ll enjoy a buffet lunch at the local fisherman’s house.   

The floating islands of Uros were originally built for defence and made from the totora reeds that grow around the lake. We’ll explore the main island and see the houses and watchtowers built of reeds. You’ll enjoy a short presentation by a local resident about how the islands are made and also meet one of the local families to see how they live.

After breakfast enjoy your last day at leisure before transferring to the airport for your return flight home via Lima.

We arrive back in the UK.