Peru

Inca to the Andes - 7 Days in Peru

This special itinerary includes hiking on the iconic Inca trail and Rainbow Mountain, while still allowing time to enjoy Cusco

Inca to the Andes - 7 Days in Peru

This special itinerary includes hiking on the iconic Inca trail and Rainbow Mountain, while still allowing time to enjoy Cusco

Our "Inca to the Andes" 7 days in Peru itinerary packs in adventure to all the classic sites such as the Sacred Valley of the Incas, Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and Rainbow Mountain giving you a taste of high altitude adventure.

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Trip ITINERARY

DAY 1: DEPART TO CUSCO

LIMA —> CUSCO


You will be greeted outside the Cusco airport by a FlashpackerConnect representative who will transfer you to your hotel.


Overnight in Cusco


DAY 2: SACRED VALLEY

Your full day Sacred Valley tour includes 4 main sites: Pisac, Pisac Market, Ollantaytambo and Chincherro. Your guide will pick you up from your hotel lobby between 7:00am and 7:30am. You will be taken on a road that winds around the mountains north of Cusco. On the way, we will stop at a famous point known as El Mirador (Lookout Point) where you will gain some insight into the Inca history. From Here we continue on to Pisac giving you a tour of the ruins and allowing you to walk around and explore on your own for about 30 minutes. Afterwards we will head to the bustling Pisac market where you can spend some time walking around the market bargain hunting

After exploring, we will stop for lunch at a local buffet (lunch not included) where you can enjoy a wide variety of Peruvian style dishes. From here we will continue along the Urubamba River towards the town of Ollantaytambo. Once we reach Ollantaytambo, we will visit the ruins, an important area of Incan construction, built during the Inca’s heydays. This is an extraordinary Inca site because you can find rock formations representing the Inca god, Wiracocha. From here we take you to the ruins of Chincherro to explore before returning you to your hotel Cusco. (Substitute Moray/ Maras upon request) (B)

Overnight in Cusco

DAY 3: INCA TRAIL TREK

Cusco to Aguas Calientes

You be picked up from your hotel in Cusco at 4am, and go directly to the Ollantaytambo train station. From here, we take the train for about 1 hour 45 minutes to the start of the 2 Day Inca Trail. The trek will take you along the most wonderful stretch of the Inca trail visiting many beautiful Inca sites and a variety of flora and fauna, while taking in stunning panoramas of the Andes.

The hike begins in the Sacred Valley and works its way up along the Inca trail (4hr hike) to the archeological site of Wiñaywayna (2,700 m/8,858 ft) before continuing to Machu Picchu via the sun gate. As you walk your way to Machu Picchu, you will hike through the lush cloud forest that covers the mountain. Here you will get to see a wide variety of plants including various flowers such as orchids, and many birds along the way. You may also see some larger animals such as Viscachas. After a full day hiking you will get to the sun gate. In the afternoon where you will get the first glimpses of Machu Picchu on the mountain ridge below. After passing through the sun gate you will continue hiking on the trail before taking a side trail leading to Aguas Calientes in the valley below. Once in town you will be taken to your hotel for the night and you will have free time to enjoy the village. If you'd like you can visit the local hot springs before or after our dinner in a local restaurant.

Walking distance approximately 14 km/8.7 miles (7 hour hike)


Overnight in Aguas Calientes

DAY 4: MACHU PICCHU

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

DAY 5: CITY TOUR

We begin with the guide meeting you at your hotel for pick up and then heading to Cusco’s Plaza de Armas, where you will visit the famous cathedral (entry of 25 soles not included). Following, you will continue on foot through an ancient Inca-built street from the Plaza de Armas to the Q’oricancha (entry of 15 soles not included), the Temple of the Sun. At the Q’oricancha you will be able to compare and contrast the building methods of the Incan culture and Catholicism. This was the key spiritual center of the Incas, which leads to all four quarters of the Inca Empire. There is also a bronze, high altar to be seen.


From Q’oricancha, your group will walk down Avenida El Sol, where you will take your bus 25 minutes outside of the city. You will be taken to the majestic Inca site, Sacsayhuaman, with its enigmatic, 200 ton monoliths, you will be able to hear from your guide and then, explore on your own.


From Sacsayhuaman, you will take a five minute bus ride to the Q’enqo Inca site to see its fascinating Incan altars. Following, you will take another five minute drive to Puca Pucara, a small, circular Inca site. The final stop on our tour is Tambomachay, a water temple with impressive water fountains, thought to be used by the Inca for bathing. We’ll then drive back down to Cusco where the tour ends in the main square. 4-5 hours (B)

Overnight in Cusco


DAY 6: RAINBOW MOUNTAIN 1 DAY TREK

Duration: Full Day- 2:15am - 4pm

Distance: 8 km / 5 miles (round trip)

Elevation: 4460m (14,600ft) - 5035m (16,520ft)

Difficulty: Moderate


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. (B,L)

*Ask about options to extend to the 2 day Rainbow mountain trek!


Overnight in Cusco


DAY 7: DEPART CUSCO

Cusco → Lima (mid morning/ afternoon flight)

Transfer to the Cusco airport and bid farewell to your FlashpackerConnect guides.


Itinerary ends at the Lima airport.


Additional Trip Info

  • Domestic flights - (Lima to Cusco, round trip)
  • Airport transfers in Cusco
  • All accommodation - (3 star hotel, upgrades available on request)
  • Entrance fees
  • Transfers to/ from your hotel to the tours
  • Camping gear
  • Fluent English / Spanish speaking local guides
  • Some meals
  • First aid kit/ oxygen
  • Travel Insurance - We recommend  World Nomads, or Global Rescue
  • Gratuity
  • Extras
  • Services not indicated
  • International flights
  • If traveling solo there is a single supplement fee: $300usd

Weather

Weather in the Andes can be unpredictable ranging from hot and sunny to rain, wind and cold. Hikers should be prepared with proper gear and be ready for variable weather conditions throughout the day. Small changes in the itinerary are a possibility as well as trip cancellations due to bad weather. We reserve the right to cancel a trip prior to departing Cusco if we feel conditions are unsafe. If this happens you will be refunded your deposit in full, or have the opportunity to reschedule, however trips still depart when there is rain, snow or fog and refunds are not granted due to poor weather conditions. Temperatures can range from 0 degrees Celsius in the morning to 15 degrees Celsius in the afternoon. The sun can get intense in the afternoon and we highly recommend bringing sun protection.

Altitude

Our treks take place anywhere from 10,000 feet up to 17,000 feet. It is essential to spend 2-3 days minimum in the Cusco region or similar elevation prior to taking any trek with us. We recommend staying well hydrated while you are in elevation and to get plenty of rest prior to your trek. FlashpackerConnect is not responsible if you get altitude sickness. Please consult your doctor is you are concerned with the altitude.

Tipping

Our guides and staff are paid on a per trip basis based on the number of days they spend on the trail. While tipping is not required, it is a common practice in Latin America. If you feel your guide, and crew went above and beyond to make your trip special gratuity is greatly appreciated. A common tip is 10-15% of your total trip cost

Reservations

We recommend booking 3-4 months prior to ensure availability. If your dates are flexible we can take reservations on short notice, however our treks tend to book out as we keep our group sizes very small. In order to book we send out an invoice for deposit via PayPal, and your final payment is due at least 30 days prior to your trip departure date.

Departures

Our treks depart everyday upon request with a minimum of 2 guests (Solo travelers can be matched up with existing groups)

Food

We take pride in preparing a wonderful variety of food throughout your trek. You will always be served local Peruvian style dishes in a family style manner and you will never go hungry. We can cater to any dietary needs, but ask that you notify us of your request at the time of booking. If we are not informed during your booking we cannot guarantee that we will be able to accommodate.

First Aid

Trekking in the Andes and in high altitude can be dangerous and because of this our staff always carries a proper first aid kit along with emergency oxygen for our guests to use if they are feeling ill.

Accommodation

All accommodation on multi-day treks is tent camping. We bring quality 4 person tents but sleep a maximum of 2 persons to each tent. For tours that require hotels, accommodation is based on double or triple occupancy. Solo travelers will be matched with another guest of the same gender unless a single supplement is paid.

Group Sizes

Our treks depart everyday with a minimum of 2 guests and a maximum of 8 guests. We can also accommodate private trips and large group trips. Group pricing is available if your group is 4 or more people.

Insurance

Travel protection is essential for your peace of mind and safety throughout the trip. Unexpected medical emergencies or illnesses prior to or during your trip could make you lose pre-paid, non-refundable payments. Emergency medical transport and air ambulances in remote locations can be extremely expensive and will probably not be covered by your medical health plan so it is compulsory that you purchase personal adequate travel insurance which is appropriate for your trip. This insurance must cover personal accident, medical expenses, air ambulance, loss of effects, repatriation costs and all other expenses which may arise as a result of loss, damage, injury, delay or inconvenience during your trip. We also suggest you purchase cancellation and curtailment insurance. When obtaining travel insurance, you must inform the insurer of the type of travel to be undertaken, especially when "adventure activities" are included in your trip. There are several insurance companies offering travel protection plans available for purchase online.

Visiting Machu Picchu

We suggest booking activities such as Machu Picchu & the Sacred Valley prior to trekking the Rainbow Mountain. This will allow for proper acclamation, and prevent altitude sickness. Check out our tour packages linking the Rainbow Mountain hike with Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail. If you are wanting a longer trek check out our Ausangate trek+ Rainbow mountain we offer 2,4 and 6 days options.

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