The trip starts at 1:00 pm today in Cusco, the historic capital of the Inca Empire and one of the most beautiful cities on Earth. Your guide will pick you up and take you for a traditional Peruvian meal at a favorite local restaurant. Afterwards, spend the afternoon on a relaxed walking tour around Cusco’s stunning historic center. It’s important to take it easy if you’ve arrived from sea level today, as you need to adjust to Cusco’s altitude of 11,200 feet.

Meals included: Lunch
Accommodation: Cusco hotel

Your guide will pick you up at 8:00 am and you'll have a short drive to where the hike begins at Tambo Machay. From here, you'll climb gently through alpine pasture to the first of four mountain passes you’ll cross today, affording incredible views of the Cordillera Urubamba.

You’ll pass serene Lake Quellacocha before descending partly on Inca roads through the rapidly changing ecological layers that characterize the Andean sierra. End your hike in the isolated and traditional community of Huchuy Qosqo, where you’ll stay the night in a memorable homestay.

Total hiking: 8.7 miles / 6-8 hours
Hiking altitude: 10,000 feet (minimum) / 13,940 feet (maximum)
Camp altitude: 11,350 feet

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: Irene’s place (Huchuy Qosqo)

This morning you’ll explore Huchuy Qosqo. Thought to have been one of the palaces of the eighth Inca, Viracocha, it’s an impressive Inca site with a variety of architecture featuring both stone and mud brick buildings. Since there’s no road access to Huchuy Qosqo, there are few visitors and you’ll probably have the site to yourself.

After exploring Huchuy Qosqo, you'll hike down a steep descent to the road and the village of Lamay, where you’ll have lunch before driving to Ollantaytambo. From here, you’ll take the train to Aguas Calientes where you’ll spend the night.

Total hiking: less than 1 mile (2km) / 2 hours (all steep downhill)
Hiking altitude: 8,860 feet (minimum) / 11,350 feet (maximum)

Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Family-run hotel in Aguas Calientes

A spectacular stone city surrounded by incredibly steep, incredibly green mountains, Machu Picchu needs no introduction and is deservedly one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. You’ll be up at sunrise so there’s time for your guide to show you around Machu Picchu’s main citadel, as well as their favorite hidden nooks and crannies, before the crowds arrive. Afterwards, you'll have time to explore this massive and still-mysterious site before you catch the train back to Cusco.

Meals included: Breakfast and lunch
Accommodation: Cusco hotel

Today you'll explore the Valle Sur just outside Cusco. A favorite of Aspiring Adventures, this area offers a one-day snapshot of the incredible variety of this whole region. You’ll see lakes, wetlands, and mountains and visit the ornate church of Andahuaylillas as well as an interesting museum of shrunken skulls.

Within Peru, the South Valley is a noted gastronomic destination and during your time here you’ll sample local specialty foods such as toqto (pigskin), cuy (guinea pig), or for the less adventurous palate, chicharrones (pork chunks) and the area’s famous chuta bread. Tonight you’ll spend the night in the village of Raqchi, home to a group of gracious and funny people. They’ll open their homes and lives to you, giving you a unique insight into traditional Andean life.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: Raqchi homestay

Today you'll hike Rainbow Mountain. Known locally as Vinicunca, this mountain offers a challenging day hike to view an amazing mountainside where a combination of sedimentary mineral layers and erosion has created a colorful spectacle of yellows, greens, reds, and purples. It's a challenging 9.3-mile hike at high altitude and over a rough trail, but the incredible views make it all worthwhile! This evening you’ll enjoy a final dinner together in Cusco.

Total hiking: 9.3 miles
Hiking altitude: 17,060 (maximum)

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: Cusco hotel

You can book your flight out of Cusco for any time today. If you’re staying on in Peru, your guides are delighted to help out with suggestions and assistance for the rest of your time here.

Meals included: Breakfast