Sacred Valley, 2 day Inca Trail & Rainbow Mountain Trek Package 4Days

Day 1: Sacred Valley Of The Incas (Pisac + Moray + Maras + Ollantaytambo)

Your adventure begins with your guide picking you up from your hotel lobby at 7am. First, we drive to a close-by Camelid farm. Here you have an opportunity to feed and pet different breeds of alpacas, llamas and vicuñas (a rare and national animal of Peru). Watch local women use the wool from the animals to weave beautiful garments with intricate patterns. They have their natural dyeing process with all the organic material needed on full display. Visit their museum and souvenir shop with the option of purchasing a good selection of fair-trade alpaca and vicuña apparel. Inside the shop, there are shopping assistants to answer all your question but they do not pressure you into purchasing anything. Be sure to grab your certification if you purchase merchandise made with Vicuñas wool, they are protected by the government of Peru.

Next stop is the Mirador of Toray. Enjoy unspoiled views of the valley below, with its lush vegetation and the serene Urubamba River gently curving its way through the entire the Sacred Valley. This panoramic view of the valley is the perfect spot to catch a selfie and the lighting at this hour of the morning is golden.

After a short uphill drive, we make our way to the historical Archeological site of Pisac. Learn about the agricultural practices of the Incas and how they used the different level of the terraces below with varying micro-climates for their farming. They built their living quarters and food storage warehouses at the top of the hills, to take advantage of the cooler temperatures in order to preserve their produce. Discover at this Sacred Valley entry point the value this region had in terms of sustenance to the Incas and modern Cusco alike. The biggest Inca cemetery is also located here, with thousands of niches wrapped around the mountain side adjacent to the archeological site. According to local legend, there are still human remains inside some of the gravesites.

Following the walking tour, we take a scenic drive through the valley, passing through a small rural town with locals going about their normal day to day lives. We stop on the outskirts of Sacred Valleys´ commercial town of Urubamba for our lunch. Enjoy a scrumptious buffet lunch, with a great selection for any and all dietary needs/specifications. (Lunch is not included)

After replenishing our energy, we head over to the Pre-Inca Salt Mines of Salineras. As you approach the salt mines you will be met by thousands of salt pans that has the valley coated in a murky brown color. The locals have been mining salt for generations. They have full ownership and rights to these pans and have passed their ancient methods from one generation to the next. The small stream at the top fills up all the salt pans and once the water evaporates, they cultivate the salt to be sold for profit. Over 90% of the salt consumed in Peru comes from this humble small town. Any salt bought from the vendors at the mines directly supports this small local community.

Next, we visit another set of Inca Ruins. The ruins of Moray are a great example of how advanced the Incas were for that period. Even though they did not build initial structure, they did however see the opportunity to use this as a natural ¨greenhouse¨. Each layer has different temperatures, they used these different micro-climates to test the optimum growing point of their crops. They brought in different samples of soil from the Empire to achieve maximum results. The sun also hit each level at different angles, making sun absorption different at every section, they also built an intricate irrigation system. The locals of this area were using this for their own farming until it was reserved for tourism in the 70s.

Finally, we head to the bustling town of Ollantaytambo, the gateway to Machu Picchu and the world-famous Inca trail. Watching over the town is the Archeological site of the same name. This is where the last and greatest battle was fought between the Incas and the Spanish Invaders. Even though the Incas won this battle, they were later forced to retreat further into the jungle because their numbers had been continuously depleting from the Spanish flu and the many wars they had endured. The site has many boulders that had been carved, which had either been damaged from the war or a sign that this site was still incomplete at the time of the invasion. Your guide will give a comprehensive tour of this site and share all the important history associated with it.

Here you spend the night at your hotel in Ollantaytambo, ready to start the Inca Trail the next day.

• 2* Accommodation: Tunupa Lodge or similar
• Tickets: Boleto Turistico (tourist ticket)

Day 2: Ollantaytambo – Km104 – WiÑAy Wayna – Sun Gate – Machu Picchu

An early start to an exciting day; you will leave the hotel with your guide at 5:30am. When you arrive at the train station, you will receive your lunch to add to your daypack. Your train departs Ollantaytambo at 6:10am and you will have just over an hour on the train to enjoy the passing scenery and enjoy your breakfast.

You get off the train at the famous Km104, where your trek begins! (2,000m/6,560 ft. above sea level). After crossing the Urubamba River on a picturesque foot bridge, you will show your passport at the checkpoint and visit your first Inca site. The first hour and a half of this trek is a gentle upward climb. Along the way you will stop at several outlooks where you have an expansive view of the Urubamba River. You also pass through several microclimates, including a cloud forest, so be ready for damp or even rain at any season of the year. The following hour and a half of the trek is a slightly steeper uphill with a beautiful waterfall as your reward at the end!

Be sure to take some time for photos as you cross the bridge below the waterfall. As you do you will find yourself gazing up at the spectacular Wiñay Wayna! (2,600m/8,500ft above sea level) These amazing Inca ruins have a fascinating history and some parts are still hidden by the dense jungle. Hiking through lush sub-tropical jungle your guide will be happy to tell you all about the ruins, the incredible flora and fauna of this microclimate and answer any questions you have before the short 5-minute walk to your lunch spot.

You have lunch at a covered shelter at the Wiñay Wayna campground, which is the last campground for those hiking the Classic Inca Trail. Nearby are restrooms and outdoor sinks to wash your hands. Take your time enjoying your hearty, gourmet lunch and admiring the tropical flowers around the campground. Be sure to notify us of any food allergies or dietary restrictions when you book!

After lunch, you have a mostly flat walk to the Sun Gate, from which you have your first view of Machu Picchu! The hour-long walk is a gentle path rolling up and down, and does end with a set of steep stairs carved directly into the bedrock by the Inca. Once you reach the stairs you will know that you’re almost at the Sun Gate! As you turn the corner from the Sun Gate, you will enjoy your first breathtaking view of Machu Picchu. So, take some time to savor the moment and take photos. The last 60 minutes down from the Sun Gate provide many opportunities to take more unique photos of Machu Picchu. There are also a couple more important Inca sites between the Sun Gate and Machu Picchu, so make sure to go slowly and enjoy your time walking in the footsteps of the Inca. Don’t be afraid to ask your guide questions about these historical places.

Once you reach Machu Picchu, you will have time to take more photos from the viewing platforms above the site (Guard House), where you can take the famous postcard pictures of Machu Picchu. You will arrive in the afternoon, as the archeological area starts to empty of tourists, which gives you the opportunity to take beautiful photos in the afternoon light with fewer people in your shots. Take your time to enjoy this magical experience before wrapping it up with a bus ride down to Aguas Calientes. After checking into your hotel you will have a delicious dinner, then have time to walk around this picturesque little town, visit the hot springs, or just throw up your legs and rest after such an exhilarating day.

• Meals included: Breakfast at your hotel, box lunch, dinner at a restaurant in Aguas Calientes
• Distance: 12 kms/7.5 miles
• Time: 6hrs approximately
• 3* Accommodations: Ferre´ Hotel Machu Picchu
• Difficulty: moderate
• Tickets: 2 expedition train tickets, 2 bus tickets and entrance tickets into Machu Picchu

You will leave an overnight bag at the Ollantaytambo train station to be sent by train directly to Aguas Calientes.

Day 3: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco

This is the day you’ve been waiting for! After an early breakfast at your hotel, you’ll take one of the first buses up to Machu Picchu so that you can be there to witness the sunrise. It is a truly extraordinary site and not something you’ll want to miss! Your guide will give you a guided tour of Machu Picchu, which takes about two hours. You will see many of the most important parts of Machu Picchu Citadel and learn about the significance of the ancient buildings.

After your tour, those who have booked in advance for an extra hike up Huayna Picchu will have time to enjoy those views on their own. When you have had your fill of the exceptional views of Machu Picchu, you will take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes for lunch (not included). Depending on your train departure time, you may also have time for some shopping, sightseeing or a visit to the museum or hot springs.

The Expedition train will take you back to Ollantaytambo at 2:55pm or 3:20pm, following the spectacular Urubamba River. Close to Aguas Calientes, the canyon is narrow and the river has many beautiful sections of whitewater. You can also see Wiñay Wayna from the train, if you look up high on the steep canyon wall! Back at Ollantaytambo, your driver will meet you at the exit from the train station to take you back to your hotel in Cusco in our private vehicle. You can expect to arrive at your hotel by 7:00pm.

• Meals included: Breakfast at your hotel
• Difficulty: Easy
• 3* Accommodation: Waman Qorikancha or Maytaq Wasin
• 4* Accommodation: Costa del Sol Ramada or Casa Andina Private Collection

***IMPORTANT:

• You can upgrade to the Vistadome Train for the same times, 2:55pm or 3:20pm, 4:22pm, or 4:43pm. The cost is $67 USD.
• Early trains can be organized by requested and it has to be done by booking time.
• The Huayna Picchu Mountain Hike depends on availability and let us know about it at booking time.