Day 1: Cusco – Patabamba – Huchuy Qosqo

We will begin the tour with an early morning pick up at 7:30 a.m. from your hotel, to drive right over to Patabamba (3800m). The day’s hike will start there and will continue through Andean landscapes and over the Pukamarca Pass (4,200m). We will carry on along a path that leads to the town of Tauca where we will find archaeological remains and wild crops such as tarwi, and a large number of cacti.

Following the path, we will descend towards the beautiful, remote Andean town, Pukamarca at 4010m, where we may enjoy views of the surrounding area, immense mountains, and snowy peaks of Veronica, Pitusiray, Chicon and San Juan. After a short break, we will continue downhill on a mystical ancient path which will lead us to the Leon Punku Ravine. Passing through a narrow crevice between immense rock walls, we will visit some Inkan remains: various Inka bridges and sets of stairs (some of the best Inka stairs anywhere). This canyon is absolutely magical, with various geological formations surrounded by majestic rocks and boulders that direct the river flow to Huchuy Qosqo (3600m). We will later continue on to Huchuy Qosqo, where we will set up camp for the evening.

Day 2: HuchuyQosqo – Lamay – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes

Huchuy Qosqo is an Inkan archaeological complex which is perched precariously on the side of a mountain with imposing architecture that includes a large, open ceremonial center, from which there’s an amazing, panoramic view of the Sacred Valley, the Vilcanota River, and the Vilconata snow-capped mountain range. While in the complex, we will receive a guided tour, and afterwards we will climb down the steep mountainside* to Lamay (3000m / 9840 ft.), a town dedicated to agriculture and cattle raising. Later in the afternoon, we’ll take private transport to Ollantaytambo and board an afternoon train to Aguas Calientes. The train ride to Aguas Calientes is an absolutely gorgeous route, renowned around the world for its beauty. Upon arrival to Aguas Calientes all clients will be shown to their respective hotels.

*please note, this descent is very steep and the path is full of gravel. We recommend taking it slow and using trekking poles for support.

Day 3: Machu Picchu – Cusco

After enjoying an early morning breakfast at your hotel, you will want to take the earliest bus up to Machu Picchu that you can. The first bus leaves at around 5:30 a.m., though the queue starts much earlier, and the journey is about 30 minutes. You will be able to explore the ruins a bit, or climb Huayna Picchu (if you booked in advance) before taking part in our 2.5-hour guided tour of the site. Afterwards, you will have some more time to explore on your own, before returning to Aguas Calientes to catch the afternoon train back to Cusco, at around 5:05 p.m. or earlier for the Vista Dome, but it is subject to availability. We’ll arrive in Poroy at approximately 8:00 p.m. and meet an agency representative who will take you back to your hotel in Cusco.