Adventure Journey to Machu Picchu – 10 Days

Upon arrival at Lima International Airport, our representative will greet you and transfer you to your hotel. After check-in, you’ll receive a comprehensive tour briefing, including your travel vouchers, an overview of all the services included in your itinerary, and useful information to help you prepare for your journey through Peru. The remainder of the day is free for you to relax after your international flight or explore the surrounding area at your own pace.

Enjoy a free morning to relax and prepare for an unforgettable journey through our wonderful country. In the afternoon, at 1:30 PM, you’ll be picked up from your hotel for a guided sightseeing tour of Lima, the ‘City of Kings.’ This excursion combines the best of Lima‘s attractions across its three historical periods: pre-Hispanic, colonial, and contemporary. Learn about the various pre-Columbian cultures that thrived here for thousands of years before Lima became part of the Inca Empire and was later founded by the Spaniard Francisco Pizarro on January 18, 1535.

After breakfast at your hotel, transfer to Lima airport for your flight to Cusco. Upon arrival, you’ll receive a warm reception, assistance, and transfer to your hotel. Enjoy a free morning to acclimatize to the altitude. At 1:30 PM, begin a guided sightseeing tour of Cusco. Visit Koricancha (the Temple of the Sun), one of the most significant shrines during the Inca era. Explore the impressive Cusco Cathedral in the main square. The tour continues to Sacsayhuaman, a magnificent megalithic work by the Incas, standing on a hill overlooking the city—even these enormous stones showcase extraordinary Inca perfection. Next, explore Qenqo, a unique limestone outcrop used for religious cults. The tour concludes with visits to Puca Pucara and Tambomachay.

After breakfast at your hotel, you’ll be picked up at 8:30 AM. After a 1.5-hour drive, arrive at ‘CASA CUSI,’ our private campground on the shores of the Upper Urubamba River. Our professional rafting guides will provide a safety talk and equip you with all the necessary rafting gear. You will float for approximately 2.5 hours, navigating Class II and III rapids, ideal for an introductory rafting experience. Afterward, we reach the take-out point where our private bus will be waiting to take us back to CASA CUSI, where a hot sauna and a full-course lunch will be provided. Our return to Cusco should be around 5:00 PM.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before an 8:00 AM pickup. A 1 hour and 20-minute bus ride takes you to the village called Chequerec (near Chinchero), where your mountain biking adventure begins. Passing the Huaypo Lagoon, you will witness a spectacular panorama of diverse fields blending into the snow-capped peaks of the Urubamba and Vilcabamba Cordilleras. The bike ride starts with an easy flat section, then slowly ascends, and finally becomes a moderate descent to the archaeological site of Moray. Continuing our trip, we arrive at Maras, where a tasty picnic awaits. Afterward, a 1-hour downhill ride allows you to soak in the peace of the Andean countryside. After this great lunch, re-energized, you’ll continue riding to the impressive Maras Salt Mines and then begin another downhill ride of approximately 40 minutes to the Sacred Valley (Pichingoto), the endpoint of our magnificent bike tour. We return to Cusco at approximately 4:30 PM.

Begin your trek with a 4:00 AM pickup from your hotel in a private transport, enjoying a scenic morning drive to Soraypampa, our trek starting point. The road follows a beaten track along the right shore of the Apurimac River, crossing the town of Mollepata (2800m/9184ft) and Cruzpata to finally reach Soraypampa (3800m/12464ft). We start our hike towards the base of Mount Salkantay, crossing Salcantaypampa, and then begin a 2-hour steep ascent to Soyroccocha, situated just next to the impressive Salkantay Glacier. Continuing uphill, we reach the highest point of the trek, Abra Huayracmachay (4525m/14846ft). From this point, we start descending into the cloud forest. Along the route, we can see the remains of an ancient Inca path, approximately 6 meters wide. We arrive at our camping place, Huayracmachay (3850m/12628ft).

After breakfast, continue your hike with an easy downhill walk along the Salkantay River, enjoying the increasingly lush vegetation, passing waterfalls, and plantations of passion fruit and coffee. The arid highland landscape begins to transform into a vibrant cloud forest filled with trees and bromeliads. After 3 hours, we arrive at the settlement of Chaullay, and after another hour and a half, we pass the town of Colpapampa. From Colpapampa, the Salkantay River becomes the Santa Teresa River. After a rest, we continue our descent to the banks of the Totora River where we can enjoy a delicious dip in the thermo-medicinal waters. Following the Santa Teresa River, we pass the waterfalls at Coripacchi, the settlement at Wiñaypoko, and finally arrive at Lucmabamba (2100m/6888ft) campsite.

Following breakfast, begin your walk up to Llactapata. Along the way, you can see plantations of banana, coffee, and avocado, as well as exuberant local flora. We enter spectacled-bear territory and will probably be accompanied by flocks of parrots as we descend. We cross the river and start climbing for 2-3 hours up to Abra Q’elloqasa (2860m/9381ft), from where we have an exceptional panoramic view of Machu Picchu. We enjoy amazing views from Llactapata (2650m/8692ft), from where we can view both Machu Picchu and Mount Salkantay, appreciating the added value of the Llactapata archaeological site, which has recently been restored. A 2-hour descent then brings you closer to Aguas Calientes.

Early in the morning, take a bus up to the breathtaking citadel of Machu Picchu. Embark on a comprehensive guided tour of this awe-inspiring Inca masterpiece, exploring its temples, agricultural terraces, and ceremonial centers. Learn about its profound history, ingenious architecture, and the enduring mysteries that surround it. After your guided visit, you will have free time to explore on your own, climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (if permits are booked in advance), or simply immerse yourself in the incredible atmosphere. In the afternoon, descend back to Aguas Calientes to catch your train to Ollantaytambo or Poroy, followed by a comfortable transfer to your hotel in Cusco.

Enjoy a final breakfast at your hotel in Cusco. Depending on your international flight schedule, you will be transferred to Cusco airport for your departure, concluding your unforgettable adventure in Peru.