Description

DAY 01 / CUSCO – PUKUTUNI SCHOOL – PUCACCOCHA (B/S/L/D)

Pick up will be at 4 AM, and it will be a three-hour drive to the trailhead at Pukutuni School. Here you will enjoy some breakfast and meet your crew: chef, porters, and horses men. It will be a three-hour hike until your lunch spot at Upis village, in the skirt of Ausangate Mountain. After lunch, you will climb for another 1.5 hours uphill to the first pass called Vicuña Pass (4850 meters) and then approximately 3 hours to your evening campsite at Pucaccocha. All along the way, there are stunning views of the valleys, waterfalls, and glacier peaks.

Distance: 16 km/9.16 miles

Campsite altitude: 4600 masl/15092 ft

Weather: Cold

DAY 02 / PUCACCOCHA – CONDOR PASS – ALPACA PASS – SORORNI LAKE (B/S/L/D)

After an early, nutritious breakfast, you will continue the hike with a 2-hour climb to Condor pass (4900 meters). On the way, you will have magical views of Ausangate mountain and lagoons, and perhaps you will see some lamas and alpacas. It is then a gradual downhill hike for 2 hours to our lunch spot. After lunch, you will have a small climb to Alpaca pass (4950 m) where you can see a small part of Rainbow Mountain. After one more hour of downhill hiking, you will get to this evening’s campsite. Here you will experience one of the most beautiful spots to take in the Andean sky.

Distance: 8 km/4.97 miles

Campsite altitude: 4700 masl/15420 ft

Weather: Cold

DAY 03 / SORORNI LAKE – RAINBOW MOUNTAIN – KAYRAWIRI – OLLANTAYTAMBO – AGUAS CALIENTES (B)

Spending the night in the mountains means you will be one of the first to arrive at the colorful Rainbow Mountain. You will again enjoy a nice breakfast with hot drinks to start your morning. You will hike 2 hours, gradually uphill to get to this famous mountain. On the way, you can see some wild vicunas. Upon your arrival, the views will be stunning, and because it will be so early, you should be able to take spectacular photographs of all the colors. Your guide will explain to you about the colors and minerals. Once you are ready to leave, it will be 1 hour to the end of the trail, where you will say goodbye to your trekking team and continue from this point with just your guide. It’ll be a 4-hour drive to Ollantaytambo where you’ll have some dinner before catching your 7 p.m. train to Aguas Calientes. Then you’ll have the opportunity to take a nice hot shower and sleep in a comfortable bed in a local hotel.

Distance: 6 km/3.73 miles

Rainbow mountain elevation: 5030 masl/16503 ft

Weather: Cold

DAY 04 / AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO (B)

Today will be the most important day of your expedition. To get the most out of the day, we encourage every group to have an early breakfast before catching one of the first buses up to Machu Picchu (starting at 5:30 a.m.). The hotel will hold your bags for you while in Machu Picchu. This way, you will only be required to take your backpack with all essentials up to Machu Picchu. The bus ride from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu will take approximately 30 minutes.

Once in Machu Picchu, your guide will introduce you to the beauty of Machu Picchu. You will head directly to a well sought out location from where you will watch the sunrise and take photographs. Your guide will guide you around the main sectors of the citadel, for a total of 2.5 hours. During this guided tour, you will learn some more about the history and culture of the Inca Empire.

At the end of the tour, you will have some time to yourself, or you can climb up the Huayna Picchu Mountain for some more spectacular views of Machu Picchu (please note that there are only 400 visitors allowed per day), your guide will show you where to begin this hike, which will take no more than 2 hours round-trip. Alternatively, you may visit the Temple of the Moon or the ancient Inca Bridge.

For your return from Machu Picchu, we recommend heading back to Aguas Calientes no later than 2 hours before your train departure. The train return from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo will take approximately 2 hours. In Ollantaytambo, our staff will be waiting for your right by the station´s exit door, ready to bring you back to Cusco by car. The car ride to Cusco will be approximately 2 hours and will have you dropped off at your hotel in Cusco.

Note: Machu Picchu Mountain may be hiked as well, instead of Huayna Picchu Mountain. This hike is more challenging and takes three hours minimum, round-trip.

END OF OUR SERVICES

B= Breakfast / L= Lunch / D= Dinner / S= Snack

INCLUDED

• Pre-departure briefing.
• Transfer in private transport to the trailhead and back to Cusco.
• Spanish / English speaking professional tour guide.
• Porters and horsemen.
• Emergency horse to ride in case you feel tired.
• Chef and cooking equipment.
• Meals according to itinerary.
• Happy hour of Coca tea and snacks.
• Drinking water throughout the trek.
• First – Aid Kit.
• Duffel bag to place your belongings.
• Sleeping tents.
• Foam sleeping mats.
• Small pillows for sleeping.
• Rain poncho.
• Guided tour in Machu Picchu.
• Round trip bus ticket from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu.
• Expedition Train Ticket from Aguas Calientes.
• Transfer from the Train Station to your hotel in Cusco.
• Satellite phones.

NOT INCLUDED

• Domestic and International flights.
• Travel insurance.
• Hotel accommodation.
• Lunch and dinner on the last day.
• Tips.
• Personal trekking equipment (Sleeping bag, inflatable air mattress and walking poles).
• Hiking boots, clothing or other personal items.
• Huayna Picchu entrance.
• Additional tours.