Pack for adventure, these epic four days will be filled with some of the most beautiful natural and historical places Peru has to offer. On this 4 day adventure you will visit, Machu Picchu, the Rainbow mountain, Sacred Valley's - Maras (salt mines) & Moray (several terraced circular ancient agricultural sites) and an amazing trek to Humantay lake filled with glacial blues.
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Today your FlashpackerConnect guide will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco City at 7am.
On this Moray/Maras tour in the Sacred Valley, we combine the most special Incan ruins the surrounding area has to offer. You will enjoy unparalleled landscape of the Peruvian Andes throughout your journey and get a true taste of the local culture. With our tour guide by your side you will learn all about the landscape, Incan history, and why the area is so important. The tour starts with a visit to Chinchero market home to the famous Peruvian weaving and textiles.
Following this we will make our way to Moray- “the Inca agricultural greenhouse or laboratory”, consisting of three archeological remains which looks like amphitheater style. After visiting Moray we head to Maras, located 7 miles from Moray at altitude of 3,380m. This is a small village, as a model of a miniature town known for its salt mines which have been exploited since pre- Inca times as a means of economic exchange and securities. You will have time to explore the area, shop for products the locals have made from the salt and even try chicha, a corn made beer that is very important to the Inca's history. After time exploring we may have time to visit one more site- the fortress of Ollantaytambo before boarding the train to Aguas Calientes.
*Overnight in Aguas Calientes (hotel not included)
Today is the most magical day of your journey. Depending on your entrance time to Machu Picchu your guide will help you determine the best time to wake up for your tour. If you have the early entrance you will wake up around 4am to catch the first bus up to Machu Picchu and see the sun rise over the ruins. If you have a later entrance you will be able to enjoy a it more sleep before taking the bus up to the ruins (entrance times will be assigned to you depending on how far in advance you book). Your guide will take about 2 hours explaining the highlights of Machu Picchu and the beautiful sites. Afterwards, if you have booked the option to hike Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain you will have time for your hike and have free time to walk the ruins on your own. In the afternoon, you will get back on the bus and head to Aguas Calientes town. You will then board the train back to Ollantaytambo, where a private van will be waiting for your ride back to Cusco arriving between 6-8pm.
*Overnight in Cusco (not included)
Duration: Full Day 3am- 5 or 6pm
Distance: 6.4 km (4 mi) Round Trip
Elevation: 3,869m (12,690 feet) / 4,200m (13,779 feet)
Difficulty: Easy/ moderate
We pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at 3am and drive 4 hours to the village of Soraypampa, located in the lush valley of the Apurimac River. Here we will enjoy breakfast before we start our trek up to the lake.
With beautiful views surrounding us, we ascend up the mountain 1.5 hours (1200 ft) for 2 miles taking numerous breaks to enjoy the scenery. After conquering the hill, we will gaze down on a turquoise lake , which is surrounded by steep peaks and an impressive glacier.
The hike is dominated by Salkantay Peak, one of Peru’s most sacred mountains, towering 20,600 feet with a sheer and snowy face. The equally impressive Humantay Peak, rising 19,412 feet, is also within view. Shamans and other natives will often give blessing when reaching the crystal-clear waters of Humantay Lake. Once we reach the lakeshore, we relax, enjoy a snack, go for a swim (if you are brave!) or give thanks to Pachamama (Mother Earth). When you are ready to hike back down, we will descend to Soraypampa and have lunch while enjoying the breathtaking panoramic views of the snowy peaks. We drive back to Cusco and drop you off at your hotel.
*Overnight in Cusco (not included)
Your day starts in Cusco where you are picked up from your hotel at 2:15am for a 3.5 hour trip via private van to the start of the trail. You will be given a local Peruvian style breakfast prepared by our chef and fuel up for the hike ahead of you.
The hike to the rainbow mountain will take around 2 hours and is a distance of 4 kilometers (2.5 miles). Throughout your journey you will pass through a vibrant green valley with the snow capped peak of Ausangate towering in the distance. You will see hundreds of roaming alpaca, and have the chance to truly see how Quechua people live. As you get closer to the Rainbow Mountain you will begin to see the first signs of the colored minerals that formed the painted hills. Your guide will explain what makes up the existence of the Rainbow Mountain and how it was formed, and finally with one last push you will hike up to a vantage point that gives you a 360 degree view of the beautiful landscape that makes up the sacred land.
We will have snacks on top and take a relaxing break to soak up the vistas, where you can enjoy the beauty that surrounds you. At this time you can also enjoy some coca tea that the locals prepare for visitors. After about an hour we will continue on to the red valley, another awe inspiring area not to be missed by trekkers but seldom visited. From here, we continue our hike back to the trailhead (1 hour), where you will have a gourmet lunch prepared by our chef in a traditional mud-house and depart back to Cusco. Arriving in Cusco around 4pm.
*Overnight in Cusco (not included)
This is a challenging day of hiking. Hikers should be reasonably fit, and spend some time in Cusco to acclimate (we recommend 3 days in Cusco or similar elevation). The main reason this trek is difficult is because of the elevation. The terrain is a gradual climb and you are walking in a valley for the majority of the trek. Please consult your doctor for proper advice on trekking in high altitude.
Note: This itinerary is subject to change without prior notice according to weather conditions, strikes, roadblocks, or other events which are beyond our control. We will always do our best to follow the itinerary as closely as possible.
