Heart of the Incas + Inca trail 8D/7N

  • Activity TypeTrekking
  • DifficultyModerate
  • Service LevelUpgraded Comfort
  • Group SizeMin 2 ppl, Max 8 ppl

Overview

Our lodge and camp based trip is  perfect for your  comfort eather you are traveling in family, friend or looking to meet other travellers, you  will be exploring the main tour  attactions in Cusco while you acclimitaze to the altitude and get ready to trek the classic Inca trail, You will be touring the Colonial Cathedral that keeps amazing coleccion of art from XVII and XVIII century such as the LAST SUPPER  from XVII century where you comtemplate the local dish that includes a GUINEA PIG, Temple of the Sun Qoricancha that kept Ina architecture remainings with an imprisive tecnique built of stones and not having any mortar in between,  Saysayhuaman another magnificent site where in it’s walls mantain rocks that weigh over 100 tones that seems it was not built by humans,  Salt mines in the middle of the mountains that has been in used for over 3000 years ago by many generations, Sacred Valley itself is unique with many Incan sites along the valley, offering to travellers spectacular views of snowcapped mountains and the Urubamba river (the main river of Cusco area), this incredible journey is followed by a journey through most espectacular ancient Inca trail for 4 days and ending in mysterious city of Machu Picchu, Peru by Locals will put everything together from the airport to airport, we arrange entrance tickets to all attraction to be visited, transportation, hotels, train tickets, meals, guides and full 24 hours support with our 24/7 number (WhatsApp) +51 989585967

  • Day 1: Arrival
  • Day 2 : City tour
  • Day 3: Sacred Valley tour
  • Day 4,5,6,7 : Inca trail &  Machu Picchu
  • Day 8: Resting  and departure

Add on:  Do want to know more of Cusco? we may have  more great options for you such RAIN BOW MOUNTAIN hike, lake cayac, biking, or maybe conect to the jungle, we are here for you to give you the best advice.

High lights 

  • Tour with our passionate local guides that love our culture  and guided Machu Picchu more than 1000 times
  • Enjoy hotel stays at the heart of Cusco
  • Savor the Peruvian cousine at the top restaurants
  • Tour the most classic tour attractions in Cusco
  • Enjoy the train ride to Machu Picchu
  • Tour the iconic world’s wonder of Machu Picchu
  • Take a day hike to the famous Rainbow Mountain

Details

  • Type of tour: Lodge based, camping, historical, van transport and  train ride, one day hike
  • Type of transport: Private van in every tour from the start to the end and train rides
  • Duration: 7 days / 6 nights (3 night hotel & 3 night camping)
  • Level of difficulty: This tour includes a lot of activities and almost every site we tour requires or about one hour and half walking and about 60% of it is history lessons, in case the classic Inca trail it is considered chalening trek so it riquires a good fesical condition
  • Group size: Our tour group sizes are very important to guaranty the quality of our service of giving you a personalized service thats the reason we run with an average of 10 guests .  This is not only to guaranty the quality of your service but make you feel as our family. Can you imagine having 20 people in a groups and trying to hear or see your guide? not the same than having close to you all the time and learning about this amazing country.
  • Accomodation: The hotels we use are 3 start and highly recommended by travelers and a great quality of camping equipment for you to enjoy the experience.

Our guides: PERU BY LOCALS was a dream  that came thuth on 2015 for Jose Condor who guided tours in Peru and especially Cusco from 2014 un till today and have been to Machu Picchu for over  1000 times, now Peru by Locals has a group of top guides around among men and women that had a proffessional degree and get refresh trainning every year these folks had been to USA training with NOLS (National Oudoor Leadership Shool) training about WILDERNESS FIRST RESPONDER since you health is very important to us and our guides are totally trained to assist in all your needs while on you are vacationing, we invest on our guides because we believe they are the main ingredient of any trip.

Location: This trip starts in Cusco city or Sacred Valley at your request, you will need to fly to Lima which is the capital of Peru, then to Velasco Astete of Cusco airport which is a small domestic airport.

Departures: This hike is operated by PERU BY LOCALS 100%, when you book your hike or take any tour package. You go with us, we don’t rearrange tours, and we depart every day and year-round; the size of the groups is from 2 to 5 people on average, which allows us to give you personalized service.

We take bookings year round and this hike does not need to book with a long time in advance so, anytime you are ready join us and reach us for any questions you have to our 14/7 number +51 989585967 or email us to info@perubylocals.com

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival to Cusco

When you arrive to Cusco airport, one of our PERU BY LOCALS representatives will meet you and drive you to your hotel. On the way he/she will show you some samples of Inca and colonial constructions  and the historic center, it is  only 15 minute drive to your hotel in the historical area of the city where the hotel is located

Peru by Locals guide will meet at your hotel after your arrival, to brief you about your trip, where you will get a detailed information about your stay as well as answere you all your questions if you have any then you will go for a lunch in our chosen Peruvian restaurant to wellcome you to this amazing country and culture the rest of the time you may just want to relax and explore the historic center of Cusco to adjust to the altitude or visit Peruvian cousine restaurants. Overnight in Cusco.

Inclutions: Pick from airport, lunch or dinner dependiing the time of your arrival to Cusco, hotel, briefing

Day 2: Cusco City Tour

Your designated guide will meet you at your hotel by 8am to start xplore Cusco streets that still keep the beauty of Inca work, and you should not miss the San Pedro Market, local market that is the main provider of all the food for hotels and restaurants in Cusco.

In the afternoon you will meet your guide who will guide you to the main attractions. You will visit the Cathedral of Cusco, where you can view colonial paintings by the Cusco school of painting at the time, including a painting of the Last Supper with the local specialty, cuy (guinea pig), as the main dish. The local painters managed to capture the culture and history in uniquely historical way in the art work such as paintings.

The following place will be Qoricancha or the Temple of the Sun. In the Inca times with its amazing architecture that kept on its walls for centuries, this is one of the greatest examples of the Inca buildings in Cusco.

Next you will visit Saqsayhuaman, where you will have a guided tour of this incredible architectural site, built with stones that weigh up to 120 tons and amazingly fit together without the help of a mortar! There is probably not a place in the world that can beat the architectural skill of this place. Afterwards you will tour the Inca archaeological site of Qenqo, considered to be the Temple of the Mother Earth and also once probably the tomb of the most important king of the Incan empire Pachakuteq.

Finally, you will visit the Incan sites of Pukapukara and Tambomachay that used to be ceremonial places in past times.

You will be back in your hotel by 6 pm for the dinner time.

Day 3: Sacred Valley tour

The Sacred Valley of the Incas is an incomparably beautiful stretch of small villages and ancient ruins spread across a broad plain and rugged mountain slopes northwest of Cusco. It is the main valley of Cusco, capital of the Inca Empire. It was the best place for maize production in Peru as well as a great source of natural wealth.

You will leave Cusco by 7am  for a guided tour of the  first Incan named as Chinchero that offers you great views of the Sacred Valley of the Incas and still keeps amazing set of agricultural terraces and a gret Colonial catholic

Leaving Chinchero the drive journey will offer you great views to Sacred valley and farm fields then you will have a guided tour to Salt mines an espectacular places wher you will encounter over 3000 salt ponds where the locals procces the salt by hand the way thier ancestors did. The tour will be followed by visiting Moray. Also you will visit Moray, the agriculture experimentation place of the Incas where later archeologists found evidences of coca leaves and cotton, which impressed them because that place very high in elevation but the Incas managed to grow almost everything.

Our lunch today will be at Tunupa resturant  one of the top restaurants in the Sacred Valley for sure its  a treat.

Ollantaytambo is the last place to be visited with its majestic Inca architecture. Your guide will give you tour of the temples, the bath of the princess, terraces etc.

You will be back in Cusco by 5 pm to pack your belonings for the Inca trail.

Included: Guide, entrance tickets to tractions to be visited, lunch, transport

Days 4-7: Cusco Inca Trail

The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is one of the most beautiful treks in the world. The trail leads to the ancient city of Machu Picchu, the final destination of many Incas’ pilgrimage in days gone by.

Your guide will introduce you to the history and culture of the Incas, as well as the amazing building and architectural techniques they used and that have withstood many earthquakes over hundreds of years.

Dramatic scenery, soaring mountain peaks, heavenly views above the clouds… around every mountain corner a breathtaking scene awaits you.

Along the way you will be able to see many Incan ruins where you have the chance to learn the history.

The Inca Trail is inside the historic sanctuary of Machu Picchu, where biologists have recorded over 350 species of orchids and ornithologists have recorded over 400 species of birds, including the biggest hummingbird in the world (Patagonia gigas), known as the giant hummingbird. The spectacled bear, which has facial coloring that resembles eyeglasses and is also known as the andean bear, can also sometimes be seen by those fortunate enough to spot it.

Inca trail itinerary

Day 4: Piscacucho to Wayllabamba (Inca trail)

This day kicks off with an early morning pick up from your hotel in Cusco to the starting point of the Inca trail.

Piscacucho, also known as km 82, is starting point of the trek where you will have a chance to purchase last minute supplies and equipment such as bottled water, rubber tips for your walking poles and coca leaves, in case you did not get them beforehand.

Our hike starts along a trail surround by cacti and a dry forest, with a view of Waqayhillca, the tallest mountain along the Urubamba mountain range.

We can expect to arrive at our camp by 4 pm with a delicious dinner served by our chefs at 7pm.

Along the way you will get to see some Incan ruins.

QUICK FACTS:
Distance covered:12 km (7.5 miles)
Time:7 to 8 hours
Lowest elevation:2700m (8,858 feet)
Highest elevation:3000m (10,168 feet)
Level of difficulty:Moderate

Day 5: Wayllabamba to Paqaymayo (Inca trail)

Early wake-up call in the morning, with a nice cup of coca tea served to you in your tent by one of the crew members.

You will also be given a bowl of warm water to wash your face and brush your teeth before having a delicious breakfast.

We will start our hike around 7am. Today is especially demanding because of the altitude and the ascent to Dead Woman’s Pass, which is the highest point on the Inca Trail.

We will reach the top of Dead Woman’s Pass at Wamiwañusqa (4,215m), around noon and we descend to the campground at Paqaymayo (3650m) for two hours where we spend the night.

QUICK FACTS:
Distance covered:11 km (7 miles)
Time:7 to 8 hours
Lowest elevation:3000m (9,842 feet)
Highest elevation:4215m (13,776 feet)
Level of difficulty:Demanding

Day 6: Paqaymayo to Wiñawayna (Inca trail)

Today is the longest stretch on the Inca Trail, but in return, you will have amazing views, see Inca ruins and beautiful orchids.

We start with a one hour ascent to the second pass on the Inca Trail, Runkuraqay (3,950 m / 12,959 ft). After taking some time to rest here, we descend to explore the Inca ruins at Sayaqmarca before we head to our lunch camp.

After lunch, we start our long descent towards the last camp at Wiñayhuayna where we will spend the last night.

QUICK FACTS:
Distance covered:16 km (9,941 miles)
Time:8 to 10 hours
Lowest elevation:3650m (11,975 feet)
Highest elevation:3950m (12,959 feet)
Level of difficulty:Moderate to demanding

Day 7: Wiñawayna to Machu Picchu (Inca trail), return to Cusco

We leave Wiñayhuayna earlier than any other day of the trek, and hike for one and a half hours to the Sun Gate, where we will have our first view of the sacred city of the Incas, Machu Picchu.

After a guided tour you will have time to explore Machu Picchu at your leisure.

When you are ready to leave, a bus will take you down to Aguas Calientes, where a farewell lunch with the rest of the group before taking the train back to Cusco will mark the end of your hike.

In the afternoon you will catch the train back to Cusco.

At the Cusco station a representative of PERU BY LOCALS travel will meet you to take you back to your hotel in Cusco.

QUICK FACTS:
Distance covered:6 km (3.7 miles)
Time:5 to 7 hours
Lowest elevation:2400m (7,874 feet)
Highest elevation:2700m (8,858 feet)
Level of difficulty:Moderate

Day 8: Departure from Cusco

Today is your relax day for shopping, and when you will be ready to depart one of our representatives will meet you to take you to the airport of Cusco for your journey home or to your next destination.

Add on: Add on:  Do want to know more of Cusco? we may have  more great options for you such RAIN BOW MOUNTAIN hike, lake cayac, biking, or maybe conect to the jungle, we are here for you to give you the best advice.

Services

SERVICES INCLUDED

  • Transport to and from your hotel in Cusco
  • Organic meals (3B, 3L, 3D)
  • Entrance tickets to the Classic Inca Trail and Machu Picchu (does not include Huayna Picchu, but if you would like to climb it, we can arrange the ticket for you at additional cost of US$ 70 per person
  • Porters, who will carry all the equipment (food, tents, chairs, table, etc.)
  • Personal porter who will carry your belongins such as sleeping bag, sleeping pad or cloths for the ninght up to 6kilos / 13Lbs
  • Cook
  • Boiled drinking (cooled down) water from day 2 onwards
  • Professional trekking guide, knowledgeable in history, tradition, fauna and flora. Our guides are trained in Wilderness firts responder in USA standars, we believe your safety is our priority
  • Walkie talkies, we are conected with Machu Picchu park in case of any emergencies we can conect them in real fast time.
  • First Aid Kit, carried by your guide
  • Equipment (sleeping tent, dining tent, kitchen tent, table, chairs, air mattresses)
  • Duffle bag if needed (in time you get your briefing with you guide, you can request for a duffle bag or email us before comming so we can have it ready for you)
  • Bus tickets from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes
  • Train tickets from Aguas Calientes to Cusco (expedition). If you prefer vistadome service, we will upgrade it at additional cost of US$ 25 per person
  • Toilet tent with toilet sit

SERVICES EXCLUDED 

  • Sleeping bag (can be rented from us at a cost of US$ 20). our sleeping bags are washed after each use
  • Lunch on day 4, after touring Machu Picchu you will  catch a bus  to Aguas Calientes town for a the last lunch with the group and a restaurant can be recomended by your guide.
  • Gratitudes for porters and guides, a recomended amount is 15% of the totals cost of the trek for the whole team of porters.
  • Huayna Picchu ticket

Packing list

  • Original passport – Please remember to bring your original passport, which should be the current one;if you have acquired a new one after you made your booking, bring both (the one you used for booking your trip and the new one). The information you provided us in time of your booking have to match your tickets in Machu Picchu
  • Good walking shoes – They should be broken already; if you have acquired new ones, make sure to break them down before you come. They should be comfortable for your feet
  • Down warm fleece – The jacket should be warm enough for the nights
  • Few t-shirts – Made for hiking; as you will sweat a lot, you may consider bringing at least 3 or 4 of them
  • Socks – Bring at least 3 pairs
  • Sun hat – As some days can be sunny, we recommend you to bring a sun hat that can keep the sun off your face because most tours are outside.
  • Light long pants – They are recommended since the temperatures can be warm sometimes.
  • Sunscreen – SPF 35+ recommended
  • Sunglasses
  • Camera – With spare batteries or phones take great pictures nowadays
  • Bug repellent – There are mosquitos all year round so make sure you pack your bug repellent for Machu Picchu
  • Water bottle – Machu Picchu national park does not allow to bring plastic bottles, please make sure you have a Nalgene bottle or camel bag, before we leave the hotel in Cusco make sure you have filled up your water bottle for the first day then you will be able to get more from us whenever you will need it.
  • Toiletries
  • Prescription medicines, please inform your trip leader of any medications you are taking
  • Book to read – you will have some spare time during drives to read your favorite book or those that are about Machu Picchu that may make your journey more interesting (the following books are recommended by us:Last Days of the Incas by Kim MacQuarrie, Turn Right at Machu Picchu: Rediscovering the Lost City One Step at a Time by Mark Adams

Important information

OFTEN ASKED QUESTIONS

WHERE DO I MEET THE TEAM?

The day you arrive to Cusco airport your guide will be there with a sign of PERU BY LOCALS and your name (Cusco airport is domestic and very small)

HOW LONG BEFORE SHOULD I BOOK THIS TRIP?

The Machu Picchu permits should be booked in advance, We recommend you book this trip at least with a month in advance of course it is much better to book once you have your travel dates.

WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE IN MACHU PICCHU DURING THE YEAR?

Weather in the region is extremely variable and you should pack for a variety of conditions. In addition, our trek passes through ten bio-zones ranging from high altitude alpine conditions to high jungle. During a sunny day, you can expect temperatures of about 18–25°C (65–77°F), however, on the second day the weather is very unpredictable and temperatures can drop to 6°C (42°F) during the day at the pass (but you won’t spend a lot of time up there).

The Machu Picchu area has a humid climate and tends to be warmer since it is located at a lower altitude and near the Amazon Jungle. The average temperatures at Machu Picchu are between 23°C to 25°C (73°F and 77°F), with the minimum temperature around 18°C (64°F). The Cusco area has only 2 well-defined seasons: the wet season and the dry season. The wet season starts in November and ends in March, During this period, it rains almost every day for three or four hours, but also there are several sunny days. The dry season begins around March and lasts until October. June and July are the coldest months. Paradoxically at noon, the temperatures can reach 23 °C (77°F), the annual highest temperature.

WHAT I AM GOING TO EAT ON THE TRIP?

All restaurants we use are a la carte so, you have many options from meat to vegetarian options. If you are vegan or have a strict diet le us know so, we can get you specialized restaurants for your diet.

SHOULD I TIP THE GUIDES? IF I DO, HOW MUCH I SHOULD I TIP?

We recommend tip your guide 10% and 5% for the driver at the end of your trip.

HOW BIG MY GROUP IS GOING TO BE?

We are specialized in small groups, because that way our clients get personalized service especially when you encounter lots of things on tours, such as Incan sites, flowers, flora, and fauna – your guide spends lots of time with you so you can learn more about our culture and history.

We limit the size of our groups on treks to up to 8 people, but we almost always end up from 2 to 5 guests.

HOW DO I GET WATER ON THE TOURS?

We will ahev wáter available in the car we sue for the tours so, We recommend you to bring Nalgene water bottles or camel bags so that way we can make less garbage., you will encounter locals selling bottled water along the way but not everybody is responsible, many people litter and that is sad. We need to take care of our home and nature – that is why we recommend you refill your bottles when you can and thank you for being part of our green home, hotels in Peru don’t have spots to fill your wáter bottles.

CAN I PAY THE REST OF THE BALANCE ON THE CREDIT CARD OR DOES IT HAVE TO BE IN CASH?

We take the balance of the payment in cash, so you won’t need to pay extra fees, Of course, you can use PAY PAL or CREDIT CARD, but you will need to pay the fees that are usually over 6%.

On the day of your briefing when your guide will meet you, one of the representatives will meet you too to collect the rest of the balance for your trek.

PERUVIAN CURRENCY

The Peruvian sole is the currency of Peru, and usually fluctuates in the 3.3 to 3.8 Nuevo sol to 1 US Dollar.

LANGUAGE

Spanish is the national language of Peru, also a 20% of Peruvians speak Quechua (Inca language) Our guides are fluent in Spanish and English.

Why Peru by Locals

  • Peru by Locals offers tailor-made treks and tours and we cater to your interests when we plan your tour
  • We are committed to providing world-class tours based on exceptional customer service.
  • We are a locally owned and highly experienced travel company based in Cusco, Peru.
  • Our staff consists of members which have decades of first-hand experience in the Peruvian tourism sector.
  • All the management and staff in Peru by Locals speak English, Spanish, and Quechua (the language of the Incas).
  • Our guides and staff members are professionally trained and educated in the history of the Incas, Peruvian history, culture and traditions, first aid in the wilderness, guiding treks and tours, the fauna and flora of the region, and tourism management.
  • We are committed to protect our environment.
  • We are committed to creating Jobs and empowering local people. We believe in fair labor practices and honor and treat all our employees with dignity.
  • We have programs to help with the development of the porters’ families and communities, such as planting trees and buying school books and school equipment for poor local communities.
  • We honor native communities that have stewarded the land you visit
  • We have also started an Education Fund to support the education of the children of porters. A percentage of income from every tour and trek goes to education of needed once.
  • Our trips are designed carefully to your needs and we create diverse unique itineraries from 1 to 15 days in length, a we offer wide range of tours and treks and all the tours. We guarantee you the experience of a lifetime!
  • Peru By Locals organizes free worry trips for you to enjoy fully.

Peru small group specialists

Our tours are designed for those who love adventure, want to explore new places, experience the local culture, love food, like history or photography for all ages whether you are traveling alone, with friends, in couples, family. At Peru by Locals there is not

Small groups are the best and the average tour or trek group is around 4 to 8 people. Why is this great? Well, have you ever waited in line while 40 other people get a coffee in the morning? Believe it or not, it is not fun. Taking small groups allows us the flexibility to take you on an adventure to places that nobody else goes.

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