Walking in the Andes

You’ll be warmly greeted on arrival in the ancient capital of the Inca and escorted to your deluxe hotel. Take some time to refresh and then join your personal guide for a walking tour designed to reveal Cuzco’s centuries-old history. Begin in the lively San Blas district; once an Inca settlement, it’s now busy with cafes and artisan galleries set in handsome Baroque buildings of the Colonial era. Then descend along cobblestone streets to Plaza de Armas and visit the Cathedral and Qorikancha, once the most important temple of the Inca Empire. This evening, you’ll dine at Inkagrill. Today’s in-town 2.5 to 3-hour walking tour covers about 1.5 miles. Some of the terrain will be uneven with cobbled and stone-paved streets. Meals D

Enjoy the drive to Tambomachay, an Inca site with stone terraces, aqueducts and fountains that originate from nearby springs. A gentle 2-mile descent takes you to other ancient sites like Puka Pukara. Finish at Sacsayhuaman, a hilltop fortress heralded for its remarkable masonry and sweeping views over Cuzco. After lunch, this day is yours to enjoy as you wish. Take advantage of our hotel’s heart-of-it-all location to explore this welcoming town at your own pace.   Our morning drive brings you to an elevation of 12,267 feet. From Tambomachay, the walk is mostly downhill with several stops to explore other sites like Puka Pukara and Kenko. Sacsayhuaman is a vast site that will involve a bit of walking over uneven, mostly unpaved terrain. Overall, this morning’s 4 to 4.5-hour excursion will cover about 3 miles. Meals B+L

Board the Vistadome Train for the scenic journey into the Sacred Valley. You’ll disembark at kilometer 104 while we take your luggage to your hotel. Cross the footbridge and begin your 6-hour hike along the Inca Trail. Vistas of forested valleys and snowcapped peaks are spectacular as you make your way to ancient Inca sites like Chachabamba and Wiñay Wayna. Waterfalls, orchids and other exotic bromeliads add to the magic. A final ascent brings you to the Gate of the Sun, where the dramatic view of Machu Picchu unfolds below. Descend into the Lost City and continue to the Inkaterra Pueblo. Our enchanting retreat is set in a riverside cloud forest below the ancient citadel.   Today’s hike will bring you to a peak elevation of about 8,700 feet. The longest ascent between sightseeing stops is a 5-mile section from the Chachabamba archaeological complex near our starting point to Wiñay Wayna.  This trek is usually made in about 4 hours – including some brief stops to rest, hydrate and take in the glorious views. The total distance covered today will be about 8 miles, which you’ll do in 6 to 7 hours. The terrain is uneven and includes unpaved sections, ancient stone steps and stone-paved trails that wind along cliffs in the highland jungle. Meals B+L+D

Arise early this morning and ascend to Machu Picchu to explore the ancient citadel in the soft morning light as your personal guide sheds light on the glory of the Inca Empire. At this early hour, the day visitors from Cuzco and the Sacred Valley have not yet arrived – allowing for a more powerful and enriching experience. After lunch at the Sanctuary Lodge, situated adjacent to the citadel, you can return to Machu Picchu to explore further at your own pace or choose one of these included adventures: Mandor Waterfall: This 4-mile hike takes you into the cloud forests along the Vilcanota River. Passing coffee and banana plantations, you’ll have a chance to see river otters, coatis and numerous bird species. Inca Bridge: This one-hour walk along an ancient stone path west of Machu Picchu leads to a wonderful view of the celebrated Inca Bridge.   Machu Picchu sits at an altitude of about 7,900 feet. Your morning walking tour will last about three hours, covering 1.5 miles. The uneven terrain is largely paved with ancient, Inca-carved stone trails and steps.   Meals B+L+D

Delight in some free time or join one of the morning nature walks offered by our hotel. Then head to the train station to board the Vistadome Train for the return journey into the Sacred Valley. You’ll step off in Ollantaytambo, a town that dates to Inca times. Ascend to the imposing fortress that looks down upon this ancient town and hear the dramatic history of how this mighty citadel was successfully defended by the Inca in a fierce battle with the Spanish. Then, check in to the Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba for an enchanting 3-night stay in the heart of the Sacred Valley.  There are some 200 or so stone steps that lead to the top of the Ollantaytambo fortress. Making the ascent is well worth the effort; at the summit, you’ll find some of the finest masonry work of any Inca site and the views over the town and valley are inspiring. Meals B+L+D

This morning, visit the hummingbird gardens at Ensifera Camp, the best place to see the smallest birds in the world. Native to the Americas, they’re fascinating to watch as the expert birder recounts their habits and characteristics. Afterwards, enjoy the colorful local market in Urumbamba. Then head to Maras to see the salt mines; worked for generations by the same families, these remarkable terraced pools cascade down the mountainside and across the valley. Nearby, you’ll spend time in  the workshop of a famed Andean milliner – where his daughter carries on the family tradition. Then journey across the highlands to the circular terraces of Moray, perhaps one of Peru’s most fascinating and enigmatic sights. Scholars speculate that the ancient Inca may have used these terraces a type of agricultural testing station to study the effects of temperature and wind upon their crops. Today’s lunch on the Wayra Ranch includes a lively demonstration featuring Peruvian Paso horses. Dressed in the traditional garb of the Qoriilazos (Peruvian cowboys), these skilled riders will demonstrate extraordinary passion, discipline and training.  Meals B+L+D

Today’s privately guided exploration begins high above the Vilcanota River where you’ll explore ancient Inca ruins including Intihuatana – an oval stone structure built around a sacred rock that was used to track the sun’s movements. The trail takes you through other Inca sites including buildings that are believed to have been used for religious, military and residential purposes. Reaching the floor of the valley, you’ll explore the artisan market in the town of Pisac where youll have lunch before returning to your Sacred Valley resort. You’ll have time to refresh and relax before dinner.  Meals B+L+D   After exploring the Inca ruins of Pisac at 10,700 feet, your ascent to Intihuatana covers a little over a mile and brings you to an elevation of 11,500 feet above sea level. Your 90-minute afternoon descent brings you down to the Pisac market which sits at 9,500 feet in elevation

Enjoy the scenery on this morning’s chauffeured drive to Ccorccor. Here in this quiet community, your private guide will be on-hand to translate and offer insight as you work alongside villagers in their fields; it’s a great opportunity to learn about farming techniques that have changed little over the generations. Weaving and cooking are other activities that offer insight into the daily life and traditions of this Andean village. Enjoy a picnic lunch nearby Piuray Lagoon. Continue to Cuzco and check in once again to the 5-star Inkaterra La Casona. Enjoy a free afternoon and dinner is at your leisure.  Meals B+L

Your private car and driver will take you to the airport this morning for your onward flight. Meals B