Run the Inca Trail!

Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
8 days | 7 nights

	Location: Lima/Cuzco, Peru

	Dates: May 17–24, 08 June 21–28, 08 July 12–19, 08 August 16–23, 08 August 23–30, 08

	Price: $2250, $1995 for the first 10 people that sign-up per trip. (Double occupancy; add $300 for single) Deposit Required: $495, remainder due 120 days prior to start.

	Note: Register online via Active.com. Fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Join us for the trip of a lifetime to the world’s oldest and most magical trail. For years, people from near and far have traveled here for the ultimate outdoor adventure experience. Now it’s your turn to descend through the Sun Gate to the silent stone city of Machu Picchu from the ancient Inca Trail. You’ll wind through the glory of the snow capped Andes Mountains across majestic passes to an exhilarating 13,772 ft.

Along the way you might turn momentarily from the wildest scenery imaginable to marvel at the impressive Inca engineering of the trail's hand-carved flagstones cut by the locals an incredible 500 years ago.

Archeological treasures are everywhere for you to see and study while still others remain hidden and undiscovered in the underbrush. As you bound across the trail’s winding path through tunnels, between boulders, past flowing fountains, exotic vegetation clinging to ancient ruins, passing high above on nature's edge, we will provide you with the ultimate in American Style comforts and experienced guides along the way. Be sure to get your name on the waiting list!

Overview
We spend 2 days in Cuzco (10,909 ft.) enjoying the sites—but also importantly, acclimatizing to the elevation of the Inca Trail at 13,000 plus feet. We then head off for four days and three nights exploring the entire Inca Trail on our journey to visit the lost city, Machu Picchu, perhaps the grandest archeological site in the Americas.

Fitness Level
You may run/walk or hike the trail—we will have support for all paces. Our only requirement is that you have completed a trail 10K (6.2 mile) or similar activity prior to Peru. We cover the trail’s almost 28 mile over 4 days. You will only need to carry a daypack with water and snacks while on the trail.

Pricing Philosophy
Unlike other tours, our price includes absolutely everything once you arrive in Peru: your round trip flights Lima–Cuzco–Lima, hotels, food (not alcohol), entrance fees, camping equipment, tour guides, rafting, taxes, porters, buses—you name it! Our goal is to provide you the option of leaving your wallet home. The only additional cost is your flight to Lima and back: about $700–$950. We cover everything once you reach South America.

Permit Issues
Permits are issued in a unique fashion for the Inca Trail. Unlike our other places where we secure a permit for a group, the government of Peru requires us to submit each person individually with a name and passport number. The issue here is that there are only a total of 500 permits issued each day. That 500 includes everyone—guides, porters, tourists, etc., leaving only about 180 per day for visitors. The down side is that we are competing for the spots with the rest of the world. The up shot is that once you have your spot, you’re guaranteed.

Therefore, your reservation fee of $495 is not refundable or transferable. The government of Peru has really cracked down on all sorts of schemes over the years from unreliable tour operators using fake names, or family and friends to grab spots that they tried switching onto clients later in the year. So, it’s important to reserve early to ensure you make the trip to one of most coveted locationsin the world.

Itinerary: 8 Days | 7 Nights

Day One: Arrive in Lima, Peru
Our guides will meet you upon your arrival from your international flight and take you to your hotel in Lima, the 4-Star Hacienda Hotel.

Day Two: Lima–Cuzco. Early morning flight to Cuzco.
In Cuzco you’ll stay at the 3-Star Hotel Garcilaso. Located in the heart of Cuzco just one block from the main square. Time is allowed this morning to begin the adjustment to the high elevation before our afternoon tour.

Afternoon guided visit of the four ruins near the town of Cuzco: the Sacsayhuaman Fortress, a pre-Inca architectural masterpiece; Kenko, a rock sanctuary whose main attraction is the monolithic altar representing a puma, the red Fortress of Puca-Pucara; and Tambomachay, a beautiful fountain fed by a spring forming a series of basins continuing to the city of Cuzco; We’ll also visit the Main Square, the Cathedral and the Koricancha or Temple of the Sun.

Saqsayhuaman: This is an Incan architectural masterpiece showing impressive megalithic ruins that are located on the peak of a hill and dominates the north of the city. The historians of the Spanish conquest gave it military purpose which later became a religious sanctuary and finally a place of work.

Qenko: Presumed a site of adoration, and supporting this presumption is the presence of an enormous stone block, 18 ft high that resembles the appearance of a puma. There is a labyrinthine entrance leading towards several underground galleries, passages, channel and stairs with signs of an earlier culture. These reveal themselves in a series of drawings and engravings including outstanding figures of pumas.

Puka Pukara: Due to its proximity to Tambomachay, it is believed to have had a relationship with its defense, as well as the control of the route to Calca that led to the Antisuyo (Forest county of the Inca). It is a fortification formed by platforms, stairs, passages, turrets, windowsills and a wall that defends the whole constructionin one circular shape.

Return to your hotel to freshen up before we enjoy dinner at one of the locals’ favorite restaurants.

Inca Trail

Day Three: Cuzco
We’ll continue our acclimatization with an easy exercise day choosing from either a full guided day hiking tour of the Sacred Valley or a scenic rafting trip on the Urubamba River. Either choice will give you an opportunity to dive into the local history and culture.

Inca Trail

Day Four: Cuzco–Wayllabamba
After an early morning breakfast, you will be transferred to Chilca by bus, where you will meet the Quechua porters and have a light snack. Crossing over the turbulent Vilcanota River, with magnificent views of Nevado Veronica we will continue the expedition admiring the Llactapata archaeological site, and stopping at the Huayllabamba river for lunch. We will visit the archeological sites of Patallacta, Qente, and the valley of Cusichaca and the magical Polylepsis forest. Today our journey will last approximately 7 hours. Camp and dinner at 9,800 feet.

Day Five: Wayllabamba–Pacaymayu
Today is one of the most demanding days of the trip as we gain significant altitude. We will see outstanding views east to the Huayanay peaks and west into the rugged Vilcabamba Range. After breakfast, we will climb up through the first pass at 13,750 feet at Warmiwanusqa. Passing three ecological areas, the Yunga, Quechua and Puna, we will climb 3000 feet in five hours. Today we camp and eat dinner near Pacaymayu.

Day Six: Pacaymayu–Winayhuayna
After breakfast, we will trek down through the valley of Pacaymayu to the famous archaeological sites of Runquraqay. We will continue to the second pass and the restored town site of Sayaqmarka (“Town in a Steep Place”) and explore the Sayaqmarka Ruins. The Inca Trail in this section is a white granite roadway, traversing a thickly forested mountainside. We will then descend to the magnificent archeological Phuyupatamarka (“Cloud Level Town”) and have lunch. We will then begin the decent to Winaywayna where a visit of the ruins and dinner will conclude the day.

Day Seven: Winayhuayna–Machu Picchu–Cuzco
Early morning wake up at 4:30 am for breakfast and to begin the trek to be the first at the archaeological site of Machu Picchu for the sunrise. We will descend rapidly from cloud forest into high jungle habitat. Orchids and humming birds are commonly seen along this spectacular section of the trail high above the river. We will arrive at Intipunko “Gate of the Sun” to observe the sunrise over Machu Picchu from an elevated vantage point. We continue down to the royal road and at last the “Lost City of the Incas”. A guided tour of the marvelous citadel, visiting the Main Plaza, the Royal Quarters, the Temple of Three Windows, the Circular Tower and the Sacred Sun Dial and Burial Grounds. After the guided tour, you can enjoy an afternoon of self-exploration and discovery. In the afternoon, return to Cuzco by train. Transfer to your hotel.

Day Eight: Cuzco–Lima
Transfer from your hotel in Cuzco to the airport for your return flight to Lima and onwards for your international flight home.