Hiker's Journey to Machu Picchu

Looking for exhilarating day hikes to incredible places in Peru’s Sacred Valley, complemented by the amenities of overnights in fine hotels? This is your trip! The Incas placed their sacred sites high above the dramatic Sacred Valley, and the crown jewel, Machu Picchu, is perched on a promontory at its easternmost reaches. By day, we hike to traditional Quechua hamlets and hidden Inca ruins, surrounded by a dazzling landscape of granite crags and the snow peaks of the Cordillera Vilcabamba. In the evenings, we relax in a great hotel and enjoy a glass of wine over a fine dinner. Our overnight at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, up at the ruins, gives us an extraordinary chance to view Machu Picchu silhouetted beneath a star-filled sky.

Itinerary at a Glance

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Days 1-2
Cusco

Our introduction to the Inca world begins with a great hike from the stunning fortress of Saqsayhuaman to the imperial baths of Tambo Machay and along a paved Inca road down to Cusco. Overnights are at the wonderful 5-star Hotel Monasterio, a 16th century monastery transformed into a luxurious retreat.

Days 3-4
Sacred Valley / Pisac

In the mountain-ringed Urubamba Valley, we hike a spectacular trail through a broad cirque of jagged peaks to the dramatic site of Huchuy Cusco, a fascinating Inca ruin perched on a plateau and accessible only on foot. Our next hike brings us to Pisac, an elaborate temple-ruin clinging to a mountain spur and filled with astonishing examples of Inca stonework and engineering. Overnights are at a beautiful hotel in the Sacred Valley.

Days 5-6
Sacred Valley / Ollantaytambo

Hiking from colonial Maras down to the Urubamba River, we pass hundreds of terraced saline pools at the edge of the Sacred Valley. The next day’s hike includes a festive pachamanca (barbecue) at a traditional Andean village and an exploration of the majestic fortress at Ollantaytambo, where the rebel Manco Inca and his men held out against Pizarro’s forces. Our charming hotel has a welcoming countryside feel.

Days 7-9
Machu Picchu / Cusco

Our journey culminates at enchanting Machu Picchu, set in one of the most mystical locales in the world. We visit the ruins with a specialist guide and enjoy optional hikes on trails around the citadel. Overnight at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, the only hotel right at the ruins. Return to Cusco on Day 8 and depart on Day 9.

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What the Trip is Like

This trip is rated Level 3+. Most hiking is between 9,000 and 13,000 feet. For the most part, you can hike at your own speed; the group will spread out along the trail during the day to cover normally a maximum of 6 to 8 miles per day (3-6 hours of hiking). Trail conditions can be primitive, and there is a good bit of up-and-down (often 2,000- to 3,000-foot gain or loss in elevation per day). We recommend that you make a special effort to get in top physical condition for the trip. The most important factor in deriving the maximum enjoyment from your trip is a spirit of adventure.

Explanation of Trip Levels