Discover Peru’s iconic archaeological sites on a hiking adventure to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu that features an optional 1-day trek on the legendary Inca Trail. Visit Lima’s Larco Museum with a curator, explore Inca ruins and Andean traditions in the Sacred Valley, and experience Machu Picchu from different angles.
Activity Level: This is a Moderate Active Journey. Travelers should be reasonably fit and capable of walking or hiking for several hours over terrain that is at times steep and uneven. Travelers can expect 3 to 7 miles of hiking or walking on most days with some elevation gains. Day-by-day activity descriptions can be found on the itinerary page at the end of each day. Read more about Active Journeys activity levels here.
This Active Journey is limited to a maximum of 18 travelers per departure
Walking and Hiking Inca Trails: An Active Journey to Peru
With Optional 1-Day Inca Trail trek
9 days from $3,899
Discover Peru’s iconic archaeological sites on a hiking adventure to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu that features an optional 1-day trek on the legendary Inca Trail. Visit Lima’s Larco Museum with a curator, explore Inca ruins and Andean traditions in the Sacred Valley, and experience Machu Picchu from different angles.
Activity Level: This is a Moderate Active Journey. Travelers should be reasonably fit and capable of walking or hiking for several hours over terrain that is at times steep and uneven. Travelers can expect 3 to 7 miles of hiking or walking on most days with some elevation gains. Day-by-day activity descriptions can be found on the itinerary page at the end of each day. Read more about Active Journeys activity levels here.
This Active Journey is limited to a maximum of 18 travelers per departure
Overview
Daily Activities: This is a Moderate Active Journey. Travelers should be reasonably fit and capable of walking or hiking for several hours over terrain that is at times steep and uneven. Travelers can expect 3 to 7 miles of hiking or walking on most days with some elevation gains. Day-by-day activity descriptions can be found on the itinerary page at the end of each day.
Elevation: Parts of this itinerary take place at high altitude, ranging between 7,000 and 12,000 feet.
Options: While this journey includes well-paced activities throughout the itinerary, you can always opt to sit out certain excursions or there may be opportunities to take a shorter or easier walk or hike. Travelers may choose to travel to Machu Picchu by train and coach or on an invigorating full-day trek on the Inca Trail.
Accommodations: As hotels are selected based on location and character, some may be set in smaller, boutique properties and/or restored historic buildings. They may require additional walking or stairs to get to guest rooms and may not be equipped with elevators.
To see itinerary, please click on an option below.
Itinerary
Day 1 – Lima, Peru
Arrive in Lima, and transfer to your hotel in the beachfront Miraflores district. After time to get settled, gather with your trip leader and fellow travelers for a welcome briefing and dinner. (D)
Day 2 – Lima
Pay a visit to the Larco Museum, a lovely colonial mansion that harbors a world-renowned collection of pre-Columbian ceramics and art. Learn how to prepare Peru’s national dish during a ceviche-making demonstration at the museum's garden restaurant, then join a museum curator for a private tour of its impressive exhibitions, and hear the stories behind notable artifacts. After lunch, tour the Huaca Pucllana, a pre-Inca clay complex and pyramid that rises up in the middle of the Miraflores neighborhood. During free time this afternoon, relax at the hotel or join your trip leader for a walk along the Malecón de Miraflores to Love Park and to La Marina Lighthouse overlooking the Pacific Ocean. In the evening, head to the hotel’s rooftop terrace for a pisco sour happy hour before dinner on your own. (B,L)
Walking: 3-4 hours, museum, ruins, and afternoon walking tour, mostly flat.
Day 3 – Cusco / Sacred Valley
Rise early for your flight to Cusco, the oldest continuously inhabited city in South America, set high in the Andes mountains. Descend into the Sacred Valley and stop for a picnic lunch next to a lagoon, taking in stunning views of lush mountains in every direction. Continue to the village of Chinchero, a hub of traditional weaving that is home to extensive Inca terraces and ruins. Explore them with a local guide this afternoon. Arrive at your hotel on the valley floor this afternoon and settle into your room. During a traditional welcome ceremony conducted by a shaman, learn about the sacred rituals of the indigenous people of the Andes. Gather for a group dinner tonight. (B,L,D)
Fly to Cusco with time to acclimatize to higher elevations in the region (10,000-12,000 feet). Short afternoon walking tour in Chinchero.
Day 4 – Sacred Valley
Spend a full day discovering the incomparable Sacred Valley, a which follows the Urubamba River between steep, verdant slopes. Attracted in part by its fertile land, the Inca made their base here, establishing Cusco as their capital and building villages, agricultural centers, and fortresses all along the 62-mile valley. Begin the day with a scenic drive to Ollantaytambo at the western end of the valley. Explore the dramatic ruins of a temple-fortress that climb the slopes on either side of town, and see evidence of the Incas’ remarkable city planning. Continue on the slopes above Pisac, a vibrant market town at the eastern end of the valley. Walk the trails through ruins, terraces, and ancient stairways constructed by the Inca, then head down to explore the markets below. In Pisac’s Plaza de Armas, meander among market stalls where textiles, handicrafts, and local produce are colorfully displayed. A short drive brings you to a community-run restaurant for a traditional pachamanca meal, cooked in an earthen pit beneath hot stones. Back at the hotel this evening, gaze at the night sky at the on-site planetarium and enjoy a leisurely dinner. (B,L,D)
Hiking: Pisac Ruins, 1-2 miles ,rocky, mountainous trail; 100 feet of elevation gain.
Walking: Ollantaytambo ruins, 1-2 miles, stone walkways with many steps.
Day 5 – Aguas Calientes / Machu Picchu
Return to Ollantaytambo to catch the morning train toward Machu Picchu. Here you have a choice: continue by train to the village of Aguas Calientes, nestled in the cloud forest, and enjoy lunch before taking the bus up the mountain for your first visit to Machu Picchu. Explore various sections of the citadel with your guide, then return to Aguas Calientes and opt to visit local hot springs (at additional cost).
Alternatively, disembark the train at the Kilometer 104 marker and hike the remainder of the journey on the historic Inca Trail. The full-day hike climbs steadily into the mountains, passing lesser-known Inca sites such as of Wiñaywayna and offering gorgeous vistas at every turn. Arrive at the Sun Gate, where you’ll catch a first glimpse of Machu Picchu before finishing the last leg of this legendary trail. Descend by bus to Aguas Calientes and meet the rest of the group for dinner. (B,D)
Option 1: Inca Trail Trekking: 7-8 miles, challenging mountain trail, 6 to 7 hours over stone steps and rocky trail with several ascents at altitude; 2,000 feet of elevation gain. *Please note the Inca trail 1-day trek must be pre booked to secure permits, please advise interest at the time of initial deposit or shortly thereafter.
Option 2: Machu Picchu visit by train: 1-2 miles, stone walkways with many steps.
Day 6 – Machu Picchu / Cusco
After breakfast, ride the bus back up the mountain for a second visit to Machu Picchu with your expert guide. During today’s visit, you’ll explore the sacred site more in depth, learning about the spiritual significance of the sites and getting a closer look at the Inca’s astonishing stone masonry. Enjoy unparalleled views of the citadel and monuments of Machu Picchu from different viewpoints. Following your visit, sit down to lunch at the Sanctuary Lodge, located next to the ruins. Return to Aguas Calientes by bus and board an afternoon train to Ollantaytambo. Continue through the Sacred Valley by coach, taking in the stunning views on the drive back to Cusco. Check in to your hotel and enjoy an evening at leisure. (B,L)
Walking: 1-2 miles, stone walkways with many steps
Day 7 – Cusco
Hit the trail or head to the kitchen on your choice of excursion this morning. Those who choose to hike will begin with a tour of Sacsayhuaman, a 15th-century Inca fortress overlooking Cusco that boasts some of the best examples of the Inca’s stone building techniques. Continue uphill by vehicle to the Temple of the Moon, which affords incredible views of the city below. Then follow ancient Inca trails to hike back towards the city, passing Inca ruins and stopping for a picnic in a scenic spot. Or choose to delve into the bustling market of San Pedro to select fresh produce before taking a cooking class with a local chef. You’ll learn to prepare Peruvian favorites such as causa and lomo saltado. Then sit down to feast on the dishes you’ve created. The remainder of the afternoon is yours to explore Cusco as you wish. Tonight, meet up with the group for dinner at one of the city’s excellent restaurants. (B,L,D)
Hiking (optional): 4 miles, mostly downhill mountain trails; 1,200 feet of descent.
Day 8 – Cusco / Lima
Join an archaeologist for a morning tour of the Machu Picchu Museum, set with the colonial Casa Concha. Peruse the world’s largest collection of artifacts recovered during the various excavations of Machu Picchu—returned to Peru from Yale in 2011, a century after the site was rediscovered by explorer Hiram Bingham. Among the fascinating items on display are artifacts found during the restoration of Casa Concha. Transfer to the airport for your flight back to Lima, where you’ll have a free afternoon, before capping off your adventure in the land of the Inca with a farewell dinner. (B,D)
Walking: 2-3 hours, museum tour, mostly flat.
Day 9 – Return Home
After breakfast, transfer to the Lima airport for your flight home. (B)
Included meals are denoted as follows: Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), Reception (R), Dinner (D)