Hike to Machu Picchu and Rainbow Mountain  - 8 Days

Today, following an early breakfast at our hotel, we will commence our exploration of the Sacred Valley with visits to Pisac (2,972m/9,750ft.) and Ollantaytambo (2,792m/9,160ft.). Pisac, situated along the Vilcanota River, is renowned for its Incan ruins and bustling market, which attracts many tourists. While at Pisac, we’ll tour the Archaeological Park, which includes the largest Incan burial site, a temple complex featuring a sun temple, ceremonial altars, and intricate water channels. After concluding our visit here, we’ll have some free time to wander through the Pisac local market.

Ollantaytambo showcases magnificent architecture with remarkable stonework and advanced agricultural techniques. The key attractions in this town include the Temple of the Sun, perched atop a pyramid of seventeen terraces, and the Terraces, a distinctive feature of the Sacred Valley. Following a full day of exploration, we will return to our hotel in Cusco. This day tour will help our bodies acclimatize to the lower oxygen levels while offering an opportunity to immerse ourselves in the local culture of the Sacred Valley. We will spend the night in Cusco.

After an early rise and breakfast, we will continue the day’s hike up the highest point on the Inca Trail, called Warmihuañusca or “dead woman’s pass” (4,215m/13,828ft). This morning hike is physically challenging, especially for those not used to high altitudes, but it’s also incredibly scenic. In the first part of the hike, we’ll walk for about 1.5 hours through thick vegetation until we reach a campsite called Three Stones, where we’ll take a short break. As we continue our ascent, the landscape will change as we enter the inter-Andean forests full of Unca trees.  After that  2 hours of uphill hike, we will reach another campsite called Llulluchapampa (3,850m/12,631ft.), which is our lunch spot.

After lunch, we will continue our hike for about 2 hours to the highest point on the Inca Trail, Abra Warmihuañusca (the Dead Woman’s Pass) at (4,215m/13,828ft.). We will take plenty of photographs before descending to Pacaymayo Valley (3,500m/11,483ft.). The views from the Dead Woman’s Pass are marvelous where we get to see glaciers, valleys, and unending mountains. After descending for a few hours, we will reach our campsite for the day. Overnight Camping in Pacaymayu.

Today is our last hiking day and the wakeup call is very early at around 4:00, leading us to the “Inti Punku” or Sun Gate (2,730m/8,956ft.), which is the main entrance to the breathtaking Machu Picchu. This part of the trail is relatively easy, and it offers a fantastic spot to view Machu Picchu, especially if the weather is clear.  From the Sun Gate, we will descend for almost an hour to arrive at the Guardian’s House from where we get to gaze at Machu Picchu (2,430m/7,972ft.) in all its grandeur. We will have a complete guided tour of Machu Picchu City that will take about 2 hours. During this tour, we will visit amazing places like the Inca Bridge, temples, and palaces.

If you choose, there’s an optional hike to Huayna Picchu (at an additional cost and must be booked in advance). In the afternoon, we’ll take a bus down to the town of Aguas Calientes, where you’ll have lunch and receive your train tickets for the journey back to Cusco. The train will take you to Ollantaytambo, where our guide will be waiting to drive you the rest of the way back to your Cusco hotel.

Your adventure in Peru ends today. A representative of Himalayan Glacier will pick you up from our hotel and drop you at the International Airport for your onward journey or back home. However, you have options to extend your stay and join other tours that Peru has to offer. Himalayan Glacier is more than happy to assist with arranging other remarkable tours and extra nights in the hotel.