Compare Lights of Peru, The Inca Empire by Say Hueque vs Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu - 4D/3N by Action Peru Treks

Day 1: Welcome to Your 8-Day Trip to Perú - Lima

Transfer from the airport to your hotel – Day at leisure

Upon your arrival in Lima, we’ll be waiting to drive you from the airport to your hotel. Enjoy your leisure time in Lima!

Lima is the capital of Peru; the jumping-off point for nearly all trips to the country. In the Colonial Era, it housed the viceroyalty, making it the most powerful city-hub of South America.

Today, its native and foreign heritage coexist; its well-preserved, amazing colonial churches and archeological sites (heading south to Caral Sacred City) exist in harmony with Peru’s beautiful beaches overlooking the Pacific Ocean and its delicious seafood.

Day 2: City Tour in Lima

Today we’ll pick you up at your hotel to explore Lima’s old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site packed with fascinating historic buildings.

We’ll start with a scenic tour in the colonial downtown, which expands from the Main Square, where you can appreciate the grandiose architecture of the Spanish Empire, like that of the Cathedral, which was built up in the 16th century and finished after 80 years of hard work!

Our next stop will be to Casa Aliaga, a colonial mansion that was granted in 1535 by chief conquistador Francisco Pizarro to Jerónimo de Aliaga, one of his captains.

The last part of this historical day tour in Lima will be dedicated to the Larco Museum. Located in the traditional Pueblo Libre district, this meticulously maintained museum is housed in a beautifully restored viceroyal mansion. Its exhibits boast the most complete pre-Hispanic collection of gold and silver artifacts, as well as pieces of ancient erotic art.

Since we’re on the topic of love encounters, we’ll finish the day at the “Love Park” built in 1993 to celebrate love in all its forms. Nestled in the upscale coastal district of Miraflores, you can admire the cliffs from its colorful mosaic benches and take in the most beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean.

After enjoying this romantic place and meeting the famous sculpture which immortalized the tender kiss of two passionate lovers, we’ll drive you back to your hotel.

Day 3: Continue Your Perú Travel Itinerary - Cuzco

Transfer from your hotel to Lima airport
Today we’ll pick you up at your hotel and take you to Lima airport to continue your 8-day trip in Perú. Take an hour’s flight to Cuzco, maybe the most international destination of Peru, since (but not only because…) Machu Picchu, the world-renowned Inca fortress, is located only 4 hours away! 

Transfer from the airport to your hotel in Cuzco

Upon your arrival in Cuzco, we’ll drive you to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of the evening exploring the city at your own pace.

Day 4: Pisac and Ollantaytambo Fortress - Cuzco

Full-day tour to Pisac and Ollantaytambo Fortress
Continue exploring the Sacred Valley, and visit Pisac, famous for its craft market where you’ll find the most exquisite pieces of jewelry, ceramic, and textile craftwork. We’ll continue our trip by visiting the archeological site of Pisac to admire the stone terraces built by the Incas, and last, we’ll head to Ollantaytambo to visit its stunning fortress. Admire the remaining towers and walls that used to keep the citadel safe and the royal guests it used to host. You will sleep in Cuzco tonight, at the end of the day, a transfer will drop you at your hotel.

Day 5: Travel to Machu Picchu - Return to Cuzco

Tour to Machu Picchu, discover the legendary city!
Your tour to Machu Picchu begins with a 4-hour train ride to Aguas Calientes (literally, hot water). This town is also known as “Machu Picchu Pueblo” and is the last stop before entering the remains of the most important archaeological site in Peru. Machu Picchu means “Old Mountain” and is considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

You’ll finally reach Machu Picchu (the ancient sanctuary and retreat for the Inca Pachacutec) after a short transfer by bus through the mountains.

Here, when we arrive at the exact destination that is the highlight of your trip, we will have special moments which will most certainly be cherished forever. Enjoy your first impressions of this jaw-dropping place, and breathe the magic in the air.

At the end of the tour, you will take a bus back to Aguas Calientes and the train back to Cuzco where a transfer will drive you to your hotel.

Day 6: City Tour in Cuzco

City tour in Cuzco and archeological sites

Today we’ll pick you up at your hotel to start your Cuzco tour with a visit to the Coricancha, also known as the “Temple of the Sun” the construction of which was ordered by Inca Pachacútec (1438-1471).

This is where the Sun (Inti, in Quechua) was worshipped during the reign of the Inca Empire, and during that time its walls were fully covered with gold sheets and its courtyards were adorned with golden corn and life-sized sculptures of llamas.

We’ll continue on to visit the Cathedral, the most important building in the Main Square (whose construction lasted almost a century) and one of the most splendid Spanish colonial churches in America.

Our next stop will be the Sacsayhuamán fortress, an emblematic Incan piece of work, which protected the Holy City. The Sacsayhuamán complex was constructed with giant megalithic blocks, the transportation and construction of which continue to be a mystery.

This day will end with a visit to some archeological main attractions. You’ll visit Qenqo, located just over 2 miles away from Cuzco City, an archaeological complex mainly used for religious purposes, and where it is believed that agricultural rituals took place.

You will finally visit the vestiges of Puka Pukara, located 4.5 miles away from Cuzco. Puka Pukara, which means “red fortress”, was an architectural complex presumably used for military purposes.

At the end of this full historical and natural immersion in Cuzco’s heritage, we’ll drive you back to your hotel.

Day 7 Hike to Humantay Lagoon - Cuzco

Hike to Humantay Lagoon

You will leave Cuzco early in the morning heading to Soraypampa. On the way, pass by the city of Limatambo, an important entrance to Cuzco during the Inca Empire, and see the archaeological site of Tarawasi. Make a quick breakfast stop in a local restaurant before reaching Soraypampa and begin a mountain hike to Humantay Lagoon. Enjoy the stunning scenery of this wonderful place and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere. Heading back to Cuzco, take lunch at a restaurant along the route.

Day 8 The End of Your 8-Day Travel Itinerary to Peru

This is the end of your 8-day travel itinerary to Peru…at least for now! At the appropriate time, we’ll pick you up from your hotel and head to the Cuzco airport to take your flight.

Keep on exploring other amazing destinations in Perú. Fire up your wanderlust with our featured trips to Argentina, Chile, Brazil, and Peru.

Day 1: Cusco – Trailhead at KM 82 – Ayapata

Your guide will pick you up at your hotel in Cusco at 4:30 a.m. to drive to the trailhead at Kilometer 82. The early start is rewarded by the most beautiful drive through the Sacred Valley with dawn breaking around us.

Along the way, we stop at the Raqchi lookout to take photos (weather conditions permitting). This gorgeous location overlooks the valley of Urubamba with the Chicon glacier clearly visible in the background as well as Mount Veronica and the Urubamba River.

Our drive then continues to the market town of Ollantaytambo, where we will stop briefly to take advantage of more photo opportunities.

We then arrive at the trailhead at Kilometer 82, also known as Piscacucho where the Classic Inca Trail begins. Our porters and chef will meet us here with a nutritious breakfast! After breakfast, we go through the Inca trail checkpoint and our adventure on the Inca Trail begins.

The trek starts easily with 2.5 hours of relatively flat terrain to reach the Wilkaraqay Inca site. Here we will have spectacular views of the Llactapata ruins, which was a checkpoint on the Inca trail approach to Machu Picchu. Your guide will talk about the history of the site as well as provide an overview of the history of the Inca trail.

Back on the trail, we hike for two more hours to Hatunchaca (2,598 m/8,525 ft) where we will have a delicious lunch.

In the afternoon, we will hike for another 2.5 hours until we reach our campsite at Ayapata. This campsite is a little further along the Inca Trail than the traditional night-one campsite at Wayllabamba. We chose this deliberately because it is more isolated and much quieter, allowing us to truly enjoy the spectacular display of stars visible in this part of the Andes.

Our chef will prepare a sumptuous dinner for us all to enjoy together before we retire for a well-earned night's rest in our comfortable tents.

Meals: Lunch/Dinner
Accommodations: Camping
Maximum altitude: 3300 m/10,824 ft
Minimum altitude: 2,750 m/9,020 ft
Distance to walk: 14 km/8.7 miles
Approximate walking time: 7 hours
Difficulty: Moderate

Day 2: Ayapata – Dead Woman’s Pass – Pacaymayu – Chaquicocha

After breakfast, we begin our hike to the famous Dead Woman’s Pass! For the first two hours, we will be in the cloud forest, passing through various bio-zones, including the low Sierra and the high Puna. There are many opportunities to see a variety of plant and birdlife and if we are lucky we may also spot White Tailed Deer roaming wildly.

After this two-hour hike, we reach Lluchapampa (3,800 m/12,460 ft). This is a small camp and it is the last location on the trail to buy supplies. After a 15-minute break, we will continue on the trail.

The portion of the trail leading to Warmiwañusca “Dead Woman’s Pass” at (4,215 m/13,825 ft) takes around two hours through the most beautiful mountain scenery and the grasslands of the high Andes. We will pause at the top of the pass to admire the majesty of the highest point of the Inca trail (and take photos of course!)

We then descend to the Pacaymayu camp for lunch. After lunch, we climbed approximately 45 minutes to the Inca site of Runcuraccay. Your guide will provide a tour of the ruin before we continue uphill for an additional hour to the Runcuraccay pass (3,950 m/12,959 ft).

After a 90-minute descent, we arrive at the Inca site of Sayacmarca (3,657 m/12,000 ft). Here we will have the chance to see one of the most amazing sunsets across the Aobamba valley!

From here it is just 25 minutes to our campsite for the night at Chaquicocha (3,600 m/11,800 ft).

Once again, we have selected a quieter, more isolated campsite to really enhance our experience on the trail.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Accommodations: Camping
Maximum altitude: 4215 m/13,825 ft
Minimum altitude: 3,300 m/10,824 ft
Distance to walk: 16 km/ 10 miles
Approximate walking time: 8-9 hours
Area: Andes and Cloud Forest
Difficulty: Challenging

Day 3: Chaquicocha – Phuyupatamarca – Wiñay Wayna

Day 3 of the Classic Inca Trail starts with a 2-hour hike to the Inca ruins at Phuyupatamarca (3,680 m/12,073 ft). From here we will enjoy spectacular views of Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu Mountain, and Huayna Picchu Mountain, before getting a guided tour of the ruins.

Now it is time to head into the rainforest! We will walk downhill for 2 ½ hours until we reach our camp. During this stretch of the trail, we will visit Inti Pata. Many people feel that the most beautiful pictures of the entire Inca trail can be taken from here. Leaving Inti Pata it is then just 40 minutes to our campsite at Wiñay Wayna (2,680 m/8,792 ft).

Arriving at the campsite we will have lunch and then enjoy some time relaxing before visiting the archeological site that bears the same name as the camp.

Wiñay Wayna is the largest and most beautiful archeological site on the Inca trail and means forever young in Quechua, and we are one of the few companies that provide a guided tour of Wiñay Wayna.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Accommodations: Camping
Maximum altitude: 3600 m/11,808 ft
Minimum altitude: 2,680 m/8,792 ft
Distance to walk: 10 km/6.2 miles
Approximate walking time: 6 hours
Area: High Cloud Forest
Difficulty: Easy

Day 4: Wiñay Wayna – Sun Gate – Machu Picchu – Cusco

We rise very early on our final day to complete the last few kilometers of the Inca Trail. Leaving after breakfast, the trekking here is fairly easy going for around an hour, and brings us directly to Inti Punku or the “Sun Gate”.

This is the ancient entrance of the sacred city and gives us our first incredible views of Machu Picchu and (weather permitting) the spectacular sunrise over the Andes.

Our trek ends with one final 45-minute downhill hike to the entrance gates of the city. We will go to the classic photo spot for pictures as soon as we arrive. Then there will be a short break before starting our 2-hour guided tour of Machu Picchu. All of our guides are experts in the history and mythology of the site, and really bring the visit to life!

After the tour, we travel to Aguas Calientes by bus and then take the train to Poroy or Ollantaytambo where our private transportation will be waiting to transport you back to your hotel in Cusco. Arrival time in Cusco depends on the time of your train ticket but will be in the evening when your adventure on the Classic Inca Trail has come to an end,

Meals: Breakfast
Maximum altitude: 2700 m/8,856 ft
Minimum altitude: 2,430 m/7,972 ft
Distance to walk: 6 km/3.73 miles
Approximate walking time: 2 hours
Note: This itinerary is subject to change without prior notice according to weather conditions, strikes, roadblocks, or other events that are beyond our control. At Action Treks Peru we will always do our best to follow the itinerary as closely as possible.