Huchuy Qosqo, Sacred Valley and Inca Trail – 6D/5N

Your guide or trekking assistant will meet you at your hotel to present the final details and check the equipment.

From Tambomachay, we walk for 4.5 hours to the Queullacocha pass, with a splendid view over Cusco and the Andes.

After lunch at the summit, we continue for 4 hours across Andean lagoons and pampas toward Patabamba.

Rosalio and his family welcome us with a pachamanca, a traditional dish cooked underground.

We spend a friendly evening with them, at the heart of the local culture.

Distance: 15 km
Ascent: +675 m
Descent: -675 m
Maximum altitude: 4,275 m

Night with a local family in Patabamba.

After breakfast with Rosalio’s family, we begin our walk toward the balcony overlooking the Sacred Valley, with a panoramic view of Pisac, Calca, Lamay, and the snow-capped peaks of Pitusiray, Sawasiray and Verónica.

We climb up to the Pukamarka pass, our second challenge of the day, then descend toward the León Punku canyon, where we have lunch surrounded by impressive rock formations.

In the afternoon, we take a section of the Inca Trail that leads us to the ruins of Huchuy Qosqo, known as the “Little Cusco.”

We end the day at Natividad’s home, for another night of sharing and Andean hospitality.

Distance: 14.50 km
Ascent: +500 m
Descent: –650 m
Max altitude: 4,080 m

Night with a local family in Huchuy Qosqo.

Last day of effort: We walk 4 hours from Huchuy Qosqo to the Tauca pass (4,435 m), the highest point of the trek.

At the summit, spectacular view of the Urubamba mountain range.

After a good break, we descend for 3 hours toward the Piuray lagoon and the village of Chinchero, where we have lunch.

In the afternoon, free time or transfer to Cusco or to the Sacred Valley, according to your program.

Distance: 12 km
Ascent: +800 m
Descent: -575 m
Maximum altitude: 4,400 m

Night in the home of Sonia’s family.

Departure for the Sacred Valley!

First stop of the day: Chinchero, a charming Andean village where we will attend a fascinating demonstration in a textile workshop. There, you will discover ancestral weaving and natural dyeing techniques passed down since Inca times.

We will then continue our visit to Moray, a mysterious archaeological site in the shape of a circular amphitheater, once used as an Inca agricultural laboratory. Thanks to your guide’s explanations, you will understand how these terraces made it possible to experiment with different crops at various altitudes.

Our adventure continues to the Maras salt mines, a unique landscape with thousands of white pools clinging to the mountainside. From there, we will begin a beautiful downhill hike that will lead us to the banks of the Urubamba River, an ideal moment to enjoy the calm and natural beauty of the valley.

After meeting our driver again, we will end the day in Ollantaytambo, one of the last still-inhabited Inca villages. We will explore its impressive Inca ruins, a strategic site that served as both a fortress and a religious center.

Night at Hotel Sol Natura Ollantay in a standard room.

You will take the train from Ollantaytambo to KM 104, where our adventure on the Inca Trail will begin.

We start early with a transfer from your hotel in Cusco to Ollantaytambo, where we take the train toward Machu Picchu. We get off at km 104, the starting point of our hike on the short Inca Trail.

Our first stop is Chachabamba, an Inca site surrounded by forest. Then, we walk about 3 hours to Wiñayhuayna, an impressive site with more than 40 agricultural terraces and ceremonial structures.

We continue toward Intipunku (the Sun Gate), an ancient checkpoint offering a unique panoramic view of Machu Picchu.

Finally, we descend to Aguas Calientes, where we will spend the night.

After your discovery of the Inca citadel, you will take the bus to go back down to the village of Aguas Calientes.

The ride takes about 30 minutes.

Night at Hatun Inti Classic in a standard room.

Machu Picchu rises at 2,430 m in the heart of the Andean forest, a place as grand as it is mystical. A true urban masterpiece of the Inca Empire, its walls and terraces seem carved into the mountain.

We will enjoy a 2-hour guided visit with our local guide, then you will have free time to explore Machu Picchu at your own pace.

Next, we will descend to Aguas Calientes, take the train to Ollantaytambo, then a bus to return to Cusco.

You must go to the main avenue in Aguas Calientes to take a shuttle that will take you to the entrance gate of Machu Picchu. The ride lasts about 30 minutes.

Discovering Machu Picchu will be one of the most unforgettable moments of your trip to Peru. This iconic Inca citadel, nestled between the Andes and the Amazon rainforest, is one of the 7 New Wonders of the World and embodies Inca architecture in perfect harmony with nature.

Revealed in 1911 by Hiram Bingham, it still fascinates with its landscapes, temples, and mysteries. Walking through its stone streets, agricultural terraces, and sacred squares is an experience rich in history and energy.

Visiting Machu Picchu means connecting with the greatness of the past in a breathtaking setting.

After your visit to Machu Picchu, you will walk back down to Aguas Calientes. The hike lasts about 1h30.

If you eventually prefer to take the bus down to the village, it is always possible to buy your ticket at the exit of the site.

You will take the train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo. Then you will be taken in charge by the train company and board a shuttle bus that will take you to Wanchaq station in Cusco.

You should expect 1h45 by train and then 2 hours by shuttle bus.

Private transfer to your hotel upon arrival in Cusco.