Explore Family Inca Trail Adventure

Leaving Cusco this morning we drive through the Andes to arrive at Chequerec Community, a typical Andean village where we will start to trek through narrow paths traditionally used by the locals. During this hike, we will see small indigenous villages, cultivated fields, peasants working, curious children and a variety of animals as well as a varied flora. This is a great opportunity to discover different lifestyles and be in contact with the natural atmosphere of the Andes and its people. After a few hours of walking, we will arrive at the community of Misminay. Located at 3,700m, its location is spectacular as a natural balcony from where we can look at the splendid landscape and snow – capped mountains that surround the Sacred Valley; this view certainly astounds and leaves a deep impression on all those who visit this place.

We will be received by the people of the village, and welcomed with a typical sweet spearmint tea; this agreeable herb is edible and medicinal for this people. Families live together in tiny, one or two-room adobe homes raising guinea pigs, cows and sheep. Fathers work as porters for hikers during the dry season and tend crops of potatoes, corn beans and quinoa during the wet months, while mothers watch the herds, take care of the household and raise their children. Women also weave, producing the family’s colorful ponchos, chullos, skirts, shawls and other items, on their backstrap looms.

After lunch we will have a demonstration of weavings made by the women of the community who will show us traditional and ancestral techniques. There will be also the opportunity to learn more about the local agriculture, they will show us instruments used by the Incas and still used today, especially in the highlands. Tonight we will take dinner at the community meeting room before overnighting at a local house.

Day 5: Mountain bike to Moray and Maras, on to Ollantaytambo

After breakfast, we leave Misminay for some easy downhill biking lasting for a few hours. We will drive from Misminay to Cruzpata in the pampas of Chinchero. Here we will practice with the bikes before beginning our route along a hilly track (single track , dirty road and down hill, helmets are provided). We pass the Huaypo Lagoon to reach the experimental Agricultural Site of Moray a very unique archaeological site which consists of enormous natural depressions or hollows in the ground surface that the Inkas used for constructing irrigated farming terraces around them. This place was an important center of domestication, acclimatization and hybridization of wild vegetable species that were modified or adapted for human consumption. After a short visit at this site, we continue by bike toward the town of Maras. After visiting the Salineras of Maras (Salt mines), we have a 30-40 minute descent walking to Pichingoto in the Sacred Valley, crossing the Urubamba River where our private bus waits to transfer us to Ollantaytambo town.

Day 6: In the Sacred Valley; free for optional activities including white water rafting

Our base at Ollantaytambo makes the perfect place from which to discover the sites and activities around the Sacred Valley. Today there is the option for a full day’s rafting of the white waters (grade 2-3) of the Urubamba River before returning to our comfortable accommodation in Ollantaytambo to prepare for the forthcoming Inca Trail.

Day 7: Start the Inca Trail trek with overnight camping in Llaqtapata (2700m)

This morning we drive to Ollantaytambo, an original Inca town. Here we have a short walking tour to stretch our legs, visiting a traditional house and our first view of Inca terracing. We continue by bus for another hour to reach KM82, the starting point for the classic Inca Trail. The trail was first explored by Hiram Bingham in 1911 and opened for walkers in 1970. The famous ruins of Machu Picchu are not the only historical remains within the area: many other interesting sites are hidden in places which can only be reached on foot, and have scarcely been explored.

We meet our porters and support staff, beginning our trek after lunch. The route crosses the Urubamba river, following a wide dirt trail alongside the riverbank. The undulating path takes us into the Sacred Valley of the Incas to Llaqtapata (2,700m). Here we camp opposite the ruins of Llaqtapata, a spectacular spot with amazing night skies.

Todays six kilometre walk is expected to take around two-and-a-half hours with an ascent of 100 metres.

Day 8: Trek to Llulluchapampa (3800m) with stunning views of the snowy peaks

After a hearty breakfast we cross the river to visit the Llaqtapata Inca ruins before continuing with the trek. Today we follow the course of the Kusichaca river past small communities, crossing it to reach Wayllabamba, a quiet village of Inca origins and the last settlement on the route. After lunch we gradually ascend through the start of the cloud forest to Llulluchapampa (3,800m) which affords stunning views of the snowy peaks of Veronica (5,750m). Here we set up camp for the night; there is a well maintained toilet black at this site.

Todays nine kilometre walk is expected to take around six hours with 1,080 metres ascent.

Day 9: Trek over the Warmiwanusca (Dead Woman) Pass (4200m), to our third camp at 3600m

Today is an earlier start as we trek over the Warmiwanusca (Dead Woman’s) Pass to 4,200 metres. The two hour ascent is one of the more challenging sections of the trek, we take is slow and steady with many stops to admire the view and sunrise. After a rest and photo opportunity we descend along a stepped path to the valley of the Pacamayo river with its tropical vegetation. Here we break for brunch before beginning the ascent (mainly on steps) to the second pass of the day. We visit the ruins of Runkuraqay and then it’s the final ascent to cross the Runkuraqay Pass (3,950m).

After the pass it was a long gradual descent passing into the start of the main cloud forest to reach the bottom of the valley. The Sayacmarca ruins are visible on a rocky outcrop, they command an imposing view and have only one means of access, a narrow granite stairway. We cross the valley to reach the Sayacmarca campsite for a late lunch. From here the trail goes through cloud forest with vines, exotic flowers (among them orchids) and luxuriant trees, with views (if we are lucky) of the snowcapped peaks of Salkantay. We walk through an Inca tunnel and along a ridge above the Urubamba River to our campsite above the Phuyupatamarca ruins (3,579m). The campsite has amazing panoramic views of the surrounding peaks and down the valley towards Machu Picchu mountain.

Todays 10 kilometre walk is expected to take around eight hours with 1,000 metres ascent and 630 metres descent.

Day 10: Travel through the Inti Punku – the Gate of the Sun to discover Machu Picchu