Altitude Min. : 2,840 meters / 9,317 feet
Altitude Max. : 4,450 meters / 14,600 feet
This trek is ideal for travelers wishing to get off the beaten track but still experience the breathtaking ruins of Machupicchu. It is a wonderful journey through rural communities in the stunning Sacred Valley of the Incas, offering a wide variety of flora, fauna, wildlife, and spectacular scenery. On the final day, you will be rewarded with the magnificent view of Machupicchu. This is a true Andean odyssey!
Day 01
We pick you up from your hotel and travel by bus for 1 hour to the village of Huaran (2,840m) located in the Sacred Valley between Pisac and Urubamba. Huaran is the starting point of the trail. We will meet up with the horsemen and pack the horses. Leaving the Sacred Valley behind, we head northwards following a gently climbing trail parallel to the small Cancha Cancha river. It is a fairly tough 4-hour uphill trek to our destination, the small village also named Cancha Cancha (3,800m), where we will spend the night.
Moderate
12 km / 7.5 miles
4 hours roughly
3,800 meters / 12,467 feet
2,840 meters / 9,317 feet
Day 02
Leaving Cancha Cancha, we continue up the valley, passing small thatched stone houses. After an hour, the path flattens out before climbing steeply for a 2-hour trek to the first pass, called Pachacutec Pass (4,450m). From the pass, you will be rewarded with superb views of Pachacutec Lake and the snowy peaks of Pitusiray. The path continues for an hour along a narrow ridge until dropping down into a beautiful secluded quarry filled with glacial lakes and rich in birdlife. The lip of the quarry descends into the next valley, following a series of cascading waterfalls to the village of Quishuarani (3,700m), about 1 hour of easy walking. We will camp here for the night.
Difficult
15 km / 9.3 miles
7 hours roughly
3,700 meters / 12,139 feet
3,800 meters / 12,467 feet
Day 03
Heading south through a small valley, we walk for around 3 hours downhill, surrounded by beautiful landscapes, until we reach the road that leads to the town of Lares (3,100m). From the town, we walk for another 20 minutes to finally arrive at the hot springs of Lares, where you can enjoy a soak in the open-air thermal springs (bring a swimsuit). At about 1 pm, our transportation will pick us up to depart for the town of Ollantaytambo, where we take the train to Aguas Calientes in the late afternoon. Overnight in Aguas Calientes.
Moderate
10 km / 6.2 miles
3 hours roughly
3,100 meters / 10,170 feet
3,700 meters / 12,139 feet
Day 04
We start early to see the sunrise over the magnificent ancient city of Machupicchu! We take the first bus up to the ruins and have a fully guided tour of around 2 hours. Your extra time in the citadel depends on your return train time. In the afternoon, we take the train back to Ollantaytambo, where our driver will be waiting to transfer you back to Cusco in private transportation, leaving you at your hotel.
Easy
No Includes
Bring with You
Take into account the following recommendations
