Cusco intensiv

[die Tourbeschreibung ist momentan nur auf Englisch verfügbar]

Day 1:

Cusco. Today is a free day to relax, acclimatise and enjoy all that this town has to offer. You may want to take a guided city tour in the afternoon, or simply unwind and enjoy the markets, cafes and bars.

Overnight Cusco.

Day 2:

Depart Cusco. The drive winds its way up the hillsides and over the mountains, taking you past many local ruins and finally descending into the Urubamba Valley - more commonly known as the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The valley is lush, peaceful and very picturesque, with many tiny villages that seem to have not changed for hundreds of years. Ruins run the length of this valley all the way to Machu Picchu, evidence that this was an extremely important area for the Incas, both ceremonially and strategically.

First stop is the Pisaq Ruins, located high up on the side of the valley. This is one of the best examples of the huge terracing system that the Incas used to produce the vast amounts of corn and potatoes they needed. Guided tour included.

Next stop is the tranquil village of Pisaq, which has a fantastic and very colourful market. It is a great opportunity to meet the local Quechua people, and buy some locally made crafts.

The tour then follows the Urubamba River down the valley to Ollantaytambo. The group will stop for lunch at either the village of Pisaq or at a stop along the valley. Ollantaytambo village is a traditional Incan Village with its buildings, courtyards and narrow lanes retaining their original form. Rising above the village are the impressive Ollantaytambo ruins which gaze across the valley like a fortress. Guided tour included.

Overnight at Hostel Munay Tika, Ollantaytambo.

Day 3:

Ollantaytambo to Wayllabamba. 7.30am departure to the head of the trail, enjoying breakfast en-route. On this first day we trek for around 2-3 hours through spectacular scenery as the trail continues to climb steadily upwards from 2380m to 3000m, simultaneously enjoying magnificent views of Mount Veronica in the distance, before stopping for lunch. After our break we hike for a further 3 hours towards the picturesque village of Wayllabamba, camping near here for our first night.

Total 14kms / 7 hours trekking

Day 4:

Wallyabamba to Pacamayo - Dead Woman’s Pass. Day two is the toughest day as we reach the highest point of the trail at Dead Women’s Pass with an altitude of just over 4200 metres above sea level.

Leaving Wayllabamba, the trail climbs again, passing through sub-tropical vegetation before giving way to woodland, which in turn gives way to scrub vegetation. As you ascend higher, passing through rugged terrain, the views of the valley below become increasingly spectacular. One last steep ascent brings us to the fabled “Dead Woman’s Pass” and a welcome rest break – congratulations! You made it! This is the highest point on the trail at 4200m. Once your energy returns, we descend to the Pacamayo Valley and our campsite, situated at 3600m. This is the coldest night on the trail, where temperatures fall to 2 to 4 degrees in December and –3 to –5 degrees in June.

Total 12 kms / 7 hours walking.

Day 5:

Pacamayo to Winaywayna. An exceptionally beautiful day trekking along a paved Inca Trail. Today should be easier on your lungs as there are a lot more descents than ascents! Leaving our campsite we ascend steeply, passing the ruins of Runkuracay believed to have been a resting place for couriers on the Inca Trail hundreds of years ago. We cross the Abra de Runkuracay Pass, situated at 3500m, descending into another valley. At this point the trail changes from being a dirt track to the original flagstoned Inca Trail. We pass Sayacmarca ruins and the trail undulates. We cross a third pass at Puyupatamarca, and descend via around 2000 stone stairs to our campsite at Winaywayna at 2700m. There is a hostel near our campsite where you can enjoy a hot shower (5 Soles) as well as a bar and restaurant where you can purchase bottled water. We recommend you take care of your personal belongings at this particular campsite as all groups camp here together.

Total 16kms / 6 hours

Day 6:

Winaywayna – Machu Picchu - Cusco. We rise very early on the morning of Day 4, trekking through woodland for a couple of hours, before climbing up stone stairs to arrive at the Sun Gate for dawn on the final day. Providing the weather is clear, the view from the Sun Gate down to Machu Picchu is breathtaking and something you will never forget. Imagine what it was like for the explorer Hiram Bingham who discovered this long lost city back in 1911 and gave the world one of its most breathtaking ancient sites. The city, with its temples, stairways and gabled dwellings is probably one of the most astounding engineering feats of the whole of the Ancient American civilisations. What you see is never to be forgotten - but have your camera ready as well, just for the record. Upon reaching the ruins, our experienced local guides will give you a tour of the ruins for approximately two hours and then the rest of the day is yours to explore. If you’re still feeling energetic you can climb the nearby Huayna Picchu Mountain and enjoy some more great views of the city and snap some brilliant pictures as well! Alternatively you can kick back under a tree in the plaza at Machu Picchu. We descend to the town of Aguas Calientes to enjoy a buffet lunch and enjoy a hot shower. That afternoon you can lie back and relax in the hot springs at Aguas Calientes. The return train to Cusco (or train and bus combo) leaves Aguas Calientes at around 4 or 5 pm, arriving back in Cusco around 8.30pm, followed by a transfer back to Main Plaza in Cusco arriving about 9pm.

Total 7kms / 2-3 hours

Overnight at Hotel Marqueses, Cusco.

Day 7: Tour finishes, Cusco.