Sample Trip Itinerary
Day 1
Welcome to Peru!
The group will be arriving to the ancient Inca city of Cusco this morning, giving us the chance to meet at the delightful Pachapapa Restaurant at 12:00 hrs, where we’ll introduce ourselves and enjoy a welcome lunch together. After lunch, we’ll enjoy a gentle post-prandial walk around Cusco, visiting its main attractions. You’ll be struck by the unlikely yet intriguing combination of ancientness and modernity in this urban wonderland, as you traverse its streets and feast your senses on its eclectic sights and sounds. A city replete with history on every corner, the ancient Inca capital is among the most visited urban areas in South America. Fashionably dressed modern Cusqueñans stride down the streets, intermingling with campesinos, or country folk, often dressed in traditional garb and leading alpacas or donkeys, while carrying great bundles on their backs. During this half-day tour, we’ll visit the most important sites of this folkloric Andean city. You’ll traverse cobblestone streets lined with original Inca walls on the way to the ancient Inca Temple of the Sun (Qoricancha) found inside the Church of Santo Domingo. Once completely covered in gold, and housing hundreds of golden artifacts, the sight of Qoricancha so excited the lust of the conquistadors that they had thousands of irreplaceable artworks and sculptures melted down so that they could send the gold to the king and queen of Spain. Visit the Plaza de Armas, once the Inca’s main city center, and learn about its dramatic and sometimes violent history. Two churches stand on the Plaza, the Cusco Cathedral, the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cusco, dating from 1654; and the even more ancient Church of the Triumph, which was built on top of the Suntur Wasi, an Inca religious temple. Note the significant works of art depicting Mary and the infant Jesus, saints, and apostles from the Cusco School of Painting, There is a “Last Supper” painting that depicts the main course in the center of the table as a guinea pig or cuy; it was painted by Quechua artist Marcos Zapata in the 18th century. The Plaza de Armas is a gathering place for locals, especially on weekends, and boasts lovely flower gardens, benches for the repose of locals and tourists, and central statuary. The tour will proceed at a gentle pace to give you time to acclimatize to the high- altitude and to present questions to your guide. In the afternoon, we’ll transfer to the picturesque town of Lamay, where we’ll spend the night at a local boutique hotel. Dinner on your own.
(L)
Duration of the City Tour: 4 hours
Driving distance: 45 km (28 mi) – Time: 1 hour
DAY 2
Sacred Valley - Maras + Moray
We´ll pick you up at your hotel in the morning and head towards the Sacred Valley for our second day of trail running . Our first stop on the run will be Moray, where you’ll have the privilege of exploring one of the earliest agricultural experimental “labs” in existence on the planet. It is believed that the beautiful and elegantly constructed spiraling circular terraces were used to support a variety of microclimates, encouraging the growth of specific crops that are attuned to each climate. The temperature difference between the uppermost and lowest levels can vary by as much as 15 °C (59 ℉). Plants that thrive at the deepest level of over 30 meters (98 ft) are different species from those that thrive at the uppermost levels. To think that indigenous Peruvians used experimental techniques to nurture diverse food crops, centuries before modern greenhouse techniques were invented, is truly impressive!
After our visit, we´ll continue our trail run towards the town of Maras to access the famous salt pans. In Maras, residents “mine” 3000 bright white and multicolored salt ponds, which are divided among local families. You will be able to observe the saltpans from a viewpoint and taste the famous Maras salt, known for its beneficial health properties. You’ll get a glimpse into a lifestyle very different from your own, as you learn about the techniques used to extract this mineral-rich condiment. Purchasing a bag of the precious salt will help support this community in maintaining their centuries-old traditional way of life.
From Maras, we continue our run with a downward descent to Pichingoto, a little-visited Inca “ghost town.” Here, we will observe ancient stone cave-like houses built into cliff walls; rock homes with several connecting rooms; and a Spanish colonial church dating from the 17th century. After getting a feel for this mysterious place, we will meet up with our vehicle and return to our accommodations.
We’ll glimpse the Apurimac Canyon and the exciting road that awaits us to continue our run the next day.
(B / L / D)
Running distance: 12.1 km (7.5 mi)
Min Alt.: 2842 masl (9324 fasl)
Max Alt.: 3535 masl (11,600 fasl)
Ascent: 342 m (1122 ft)
Descent: 1009 m (3310 ft)
DAY 3
Sacred Valley – Pumamarca - Ollantaytambo - Sacred Valley
We'll depart early from your hotel, heading past the Sacred Valley town of Ollantaytambo, to Pallata, where we begin our trail running. The trail climbs upward as we pass members of the local community, getting a brief glimpse into their daily lives, to reach Pumamarca, overlooking the verdant Patacancha Valley. The Inca chose this place well, as a high vista point overlooking the surrounding valleys and the convergence of two rivers far below. The archaeological complex of Pumamarca comprises ancient stairs and walls, ceremonial buildings, and enclosed storage areas, all replete with Inca stonework.
After time to explore the site, we’ll continue our run through the terracing complex of Musqa Pukyo, accompanied by sweeping, panoramic views of the surrounding Andean landscape the whole way down. Our descent through the terrain of these functional yet beautiful farmed terraces will bring us to the village of Ollantaytambo. This picturesque town still displays much of the original Inca infrastructure from centuries back and is a monument to the soundness of Inca urban planning. We'll take some time to explore the town's well-preserved canchas (blocks) of communal living quarters, each with only one entrance leading into a central courtyard. We'll also admire the original Inca drainage canals that line the walkways, still in use today.
After lunch, we'll have a chance to explore the local market and traverse the spectacular mountainside ruins. We'll climb the ancient stone steps of the Inca fortress, which is arranged as a series of terraces and platforms with amazing views of the surrounding mountains.
(B / L / D)
Running distance: 14 km (8.6 mi)
Min Alt.: 2917 masl (9570 fasl)
Max Alt.: 3417 masl (11,211 fasl)
Ascent: 575 m (1886 ft)
DAY 4
Sacred Valley – Inca Trail Express – Machu Picchu
We'll begin the day by taking the train departing from Ollantaytambo. Once we arrive at Km.104, we'll begin our ascent towards Wiñay Wayna, passing by members of the local community and getting a brief glimpse into their daily lives. These ruins are built into a steep slope on the way up to the Sun Gate, and we'll continue our run to cut across the ridge above Machu Picchu to reach Inti Punku, Gate of the Sun. It's a dramatic moment as we look down on the magnificent Machu Picchu ruins spread out far below, gaining a glimpse into a mystical, forgotten world. We'll spend the night in a hotel in the village of Machu Picchu. Dinner will be on your own.
(B / L /)
Running distance: 11.7 km (7.3 mi)
Min Alt.: 2100 masl (6889 fasl)
Max Alt.: 2727 masl (8,946 fasl)
Ascent: 829 m (2719 ft)
Descent: 467 m (1532 ft)
DAY 5
Urquillos to Chinchero & Piuray Lake - Cusco
This action-packed day of running takes you from the town of Urquillos to the traditional Inca town of Chinchero, uphill all the way. We'll depart early from your hotel, ready for an adventure that offers stunning views and challenging terrain. We'll start with a visit to Chinchero's archaeological complex before setting out on the single-track cobble-stoned Inca trail, passing by locals and their daily lives. As we make our way up, we'll reach the Inca Trail vista point and catch our breath, taking in the magnificent Andean views. The trail then zigzags upward, and the temperature cools as we ascend into the hills. We'll see flitting birdlife and abundant, blooming flora, truly immersing ourselves in the region's natural beauty. Our exciting run will culminate with a Pachamanca in Piuray, where we'll enjoy a delicious, traditional meal made from locally sourced ingredients.
(B / L / D)
Distance Running: 9.2 km (5.7 mi)
Min Alt.: 2885 masl (9465 fasl)
Max Alt.: 3759 masl (12,333 fasl)
Ascent: 990 m (325 ft)
Descent: 163 m (535 ft)
DAY 6
Cusco Departure
On our final day, our transportation will pick you up and take you back to the airport. You can relax on your flight and reminisce about the fascinating and stunning views from your incredible run!
(B / L / D)
Running distance: 17 km (10.5 mi)
Descent: 1277 masl / 4189 ft. - Ascent: 1080 masl / 3543 Ft.
