We will start with an easy first day. Departing from Cusco early in our private transport through the Sacred Valley of the Incas to the village of Socma, which is within walking distance from Ollantaytambo. Just before arriving at Socma, we will make a stop to take photos of some petroglyphs from the stone age.

Today’s hiking takes us along the back of the valley of Socma to a small Inca site and a beautiful waterfall that is located in the upper part of the valley we will pass by fields of cultivated potato, corn and quinoa, you will have the opportunity to see a variety of birds and native plants and learn about the traditions of the Andean peoples. The tour leader will teach you a little bit about Quechua (the language of the Incas) so that you can communicate with people you see during the trip.

After a relaxing walk, finally, we arrive at our destination, the Inca site of Perolniyoc. After a guided tour of the site, we will hike a short distance to our campsite at Rayan (3650m / 11975 ft) where we will stop. In the afternoon after lunch, we will visit one of the local families to learn more about their daily life and practice Quechua.

Today is the longest day of the trek. After our nutritious breakfast, we will continue up the valley towards the first step in the walk. This area is still cultivated by the local population, despite the high altitude, and we will also see local people working on their fields. One of the few plants that seem to thrive at this altitude is a type of mint (muña), and the aroma infuses the air throughout the morning.

In total, it’s about a 4-hour hike up to “El Paso”(4440m / 14567 feet) where we will stop to contemplate the landscape and catch our breath before continuing on for another 20 minutes for a lunch. After lunch, the hike is easier, until we get to the top of the mountain where we will have unique views of the valley and the Nevado La Veronica. From here we will start descending to the village of Cachicata (3820m / 12532ft.) going through an archaeological site to which the local people call Puerta del sol (the Gate of the Sun).

Like all the mornings in the mountains, our staff will wake you up with warm coca tea inside your tents. Then we will depart to explore the Inca quarries of Cachicata, with abandoned and unfinished lying rocks throughout the site which used to be the quarry for the construction of the archaeological center of Ollantaytambo.

After this guided tour we will return to enjoy our delicious breakfast and then continue our trek to the village of Ollantaytambo in the afternoon for our lunch and then board the train with direction to Aguas Calientes where we will spend the night in a hotel.

We will get up early to try to take the first bus to Machu Picchu to enter the site. We will have a guided visit of 2 hours around the most important places on the site, during which you’ll learn about the Incas and the reason why Machupicchu was built.

After your tour, you will have free time to enjoy more of the place and if you have permission to climb the Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain we will show you the access point. Then you will have to return to the town of Aguas Calientes by Bus on your own for lunch and take the train back to the town of Ollantaytambo from where we will take you in our private transport to your hotel in Cusco.