Thrilling Short Inca Trail- 5 Days (PT)

Arrival to Cusco

• Cusco Airport Transfer: Arrival in Cusco, assistance at the airport and transport to your hotel.
• The rest of the morning is free to rest in order to avoid ill effects due to the high altitude.
• Spend the rest of the day relaxing and exploring this fascinating city.
• Overnight at the Hotel in Cusco.
• Meals included: None.

• Suggested flight schedule --- Lima depart (10:50am) - Cusco arrival (12:15pm)

Tour to the Sacred Valley (Pisac, Ollantaytambo & Chinchero)

• Breakfast at hotel; pick up from your hotel at 07:30am. We will embark on a journey back in time to the Inca´s Sacred Valley beginning in Pisac, 31 km from Cusco. The ancient Incan archeological site and city is located on the top of a mountain. There you will have the chance to witness the impressive stonemasonry skill of our ancient ancestors.
• Afterward you will go down into the quaint little town and wander through its colorful market where you can buy intricate, beautifully hand-crafted products.
• Afterward lunch will be served at a local restaurant.
• Then, you will continue to Ollantaytambo, a military, religious, and agricultural center of the Incas located at the top of a mountain. Note: unlike other small towns, this one has maintained its original Incan design including outstanding stone buildings and narrow streets. It was once used as a fortress and administrative and urban center.
• Finally, we will stop in Chinchero, a place where the townspeople are famed for their preservation of traditional Andean spinning and weaving techniques. For this reason, they set up a market in the town square to sell their handmade crafts.
• Overnight at the Hotel in Cusco.
• Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch.

Hike on the Short Inca Trail

• Breakfast at hotel. Pick up from your hotel at 05:40am and transfer to Poroy station to catch the train that will take you to KM 104 head of the Inca Trail where you will meet your guide.
•  Around 09:30am we start by visiting the Chachabamba archaeological site (2,170m/7,119ft) here you can quickly take in the beautiful fountains as we begin the 5 hours climb to the Inca Trail. This route will have you enjoying the most magnificent views of the great valley and beautiful waterfall which is in the vicinity of the splendid Wiñayhuayna Archaeological Site (2,700m/8,858ft), which means “Forever Young”.
• Upon reaching the Inca Trail we continue through slim paths surrounded by lush vegetation made up of broad-leaf plants and huge ferns. The steep mountain precipice adds to the excitement. All of a sudden, the stone threshold of the Inti Punku or Sun Gate (2,670m/8,759 ft) materializes along your path and you face truly memorable scenery; a blend of natural beauty and man’s creativity in the form of the enchanting city of Machu Picchu framed by spiraling canyons and forested peaks. The final 45 minutes are spent walking down the royal flagstone pathway into Machu Picchu’s core.
• The first day ends at a local hostel in Aguas Calientes (2,050m/6,726ft) located at the base of Machu Picchu Mountain, take 30 minutes bus down.
• Approximate distance: 10 km (6, 21 miles) - Estimated time walking: 5-6 hours.
• Overnight at the Hotel in Aguas Calientes.
• Meals Included: Breakfast, Box-lunch and Dinner.

• Expedition train --- Cusco (06:40am) – Km 104 (09:20am)

Visit to the Sanctuary of Machu Picchu & Back to Cusco

• Breakfast at the hotel; at 06:00am you will ride a bus to Machu Picchu archeological site (2,430m/7,972ft) declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007, the hilltop citadel deserved every bit of its fame.
•  Around 07:30am the guided tour begins, the guide will expertly direct you throughout the astounding ruins and its main streets. You can then wander around the town squares as well as climb the intricately carved stairways made of stone. Machu Picchu is considered to be the world’s spiritual center by esoteric wisdom. The guided tour takes around two hours.
• From 10:30am to 12:30pm once the guided tour is over, you will have some free time to explore the citadel on your own.
• From 12:30pm to 13:30pm take bus to Aguas Calientes.
• From 13:30pm to 15:00pm take lunch at local restaurant in Aguas Calientes.
• Return to Cusco: later board the train for the return trip to Cusco. You will stop at the Poroy station and then be picked up and driven to your hotel in Cusco.
• Overnight at the Hotel in Cusco.
• Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch.
• Expedition train --- Aguas Calientes (15:20pm) – Cusco (19:05pm)

• Note about train tickets: We will attempt to book tickets on this train, but if there are timetable changes or trains are fully booked, we may need to book an alternative service.

Colorful Cusco Walking Tour – Flight to Lima

• Breakfast at hotel; pick up from the hotel at 09:00am – walking tour will begin at Colorful San Pedro market, there's probably no better market to experience Cusqueñan life. Enjoy a first-hand look at how local residents live day-to-day outside the postcard perfection of Cusco’s main square. The guide will explain the history of this market as you wander through the narrow aisles laden with colorful fabrics, meals, fruit juice, breads, shaman stalls, etc.
• After we visit Cusco's main square, a busy and vibrant space that marks the colonial center of the city; which features wide stone pathways and well-kept colorful gardens.
• After, we will head to the Temple of the Sun (Qorikancha) upon which the Convent of Santo Domingo has been built. Interesting fact: according to a legend, this temple was entirely gold plated which left many conquerors impressed with its magnificence when they came here! - The tour will end around 13:00pm.
• At 15:00pm pick up from the hotel and transfer to Cusco airport.
• Meals Included: Breakfast

• Suggested flight schedule --- Cusco (17:00pm) – Lima (18:20pm)