Details

On this two-week expedition we trek to the sacred Incan city of Machu Picchu on the iconic Inca Trail. The trek takes four days to reach the entrance of Machu Picchu, the Sun Gate. The highest point of the trek is Dead Woman’s pass at 4,200m. After a rest day in Cusco exploring the historic capital of the Inca we fly into the Amazon Basin.

We fly from Cusco into Puerto Maldonado heading deep into the Amazon rainforest via motorized canoe on the mighty Tambopata River. The canoe will take us upstream to the Madre de Dios wildlife reserve. We will be hosted for three nights in a forest lodge, exploring the surrounding areas and experiencing the life of the Amazon rainforest.

This adventure holiday combines the best bits of a visit to Peru. We will be staying in a mixture of hotels, lodges, and homestays. During the trek we will be camping. The price for this expedition is £2,250. This includes all transport from Cusco including internal flights to Puerto Maldonado. All food is included while trekking and in the wildlife reserve.

Day One - Arrival

Arrival in Cusco. We take time to acclimatize to the city’s 3450-metre high altitude.

Day Two - Cusco

Today we drive to Tambomachay, an archaeological site just outside Cusco. After a short visit to the archaeological Inca sites of Tambomachay and Sacsayhuaman we take a short 2hr downhill walk back to Cusco. In the evening we prepare our equipment for the Inca trail.

Day Three - KM 82 to Wayllabamba Camp 11km 4hrs

This morning we set off on a journey from Cusco to Kilometer 82, where our trek begins. Today is a fairly leisurely hike. Along the way there are stunning views of snow-capped Veronica Peak (5860m). We will reach the campsite around 5 pm.

Day Four - Wayllabamba Camp to Paqaymayo Camp 12km 8hrs

Today is the most challenging part of the trek as we climb to Warminwanusca, or Dead Woman’s Pass (4200m). Along the way we will trek through some of the most spectacular mountain scenery to be seen anywhere in the Andes. This is the first and highest of three Andean passes on the Inca Trail, with breathtaking views over the snow-capped Vilcanota and Vilcabama mountain ranges.

Day Five - Paqaymayo Camp to Winaywayna Camp 16km 9hrs

Today we cross two more passes and see plenty of Inca ruins. The first pass is Runquraqay at 3,950m where, on a clear day you can catch a glimpse of the snow-capped Cordillera Vilcabamba. Then we hike through cloud forest on a gentle climb to the second pass of the day at 3,700m.

Day Six - Winaywayna Camp to Sun Gate 6km 2hrs

The day starts before dawn with breakfast served nice and early. We say farewell to our porters and then enter the Inti- Punku (sun gate) as the sun rises over Machu Picchu. After a guided tour of Machu Picchu we take the bus down to the small town of Aguas Calientes. After lunch we board the tourist train to Ollantaytambo town then take a bus transfer to Cusco.

Day Seven - Cusco

Today is a free day to relax and explore the sights of Cusco.

Day Eight – Puerto Maldonado

Today we take an early flight to Puerto Maldonado, a large town in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon. We board a motorized dugout canoe for our journey to the Madre de Dios reserve. We will stay in a forest lodge deep in the jungle.

Day Nine –Madre de Dios

After a leisurely breakfast we hike into the Tambopata Reserve. It is possible to observe a great variety of animals such as monkeys, macaws, black alligators and parrots. In the afternoon we visit the medicinal garden located very close to the lodge. We’ll learn about medicinal plants such as Ayahuasca, Chacruna, Chuchuhuasi and others, which are used and prepared by the locals to cure diseases.

Day Ten – Tambopata Reserve

Today we visit the mammal’s clay lick that is visited by white-lipped peccaries, deer, agouti, and tapir.

Day Eleven - Cusco

After breakfast we return to Puerto Maldonado to take the flight back to Cusco. On the way back we’ll be able to observe the animal that are particularly active at this time of the day and hear the frequent cries of the howler monkeys.

Day Twelve - Cusco

Relax in Cusco after our Amazon experience. Cusco is a large town with a mix of Incan and Spanish Colonial history. There is plenty to see and do. This will be your last chance to buy any last minute souvenirs before our last night out in Cusco.

Day Thirteen - Home

Fly home. Transfers back to the airport are included. Extra nights and tours can be arranged if you want to explore more of Peru.