Inca Trail Marathon Adventure

DATES
June 21 – 30, 2022: 10-Day Inca Trail Marathon Adventure

PRICING:

$3,800 per person (Inca Hiker): Inca Trail Marathon Adventure – (Sharing a Room)

The Inca Hiker rate includes the 4-day Trek. The Guest rate includes a 4-day non-hike itinerary.) Single rooms in Cusco, Aguas Calientes, tent and guest Non-Hiker room options are available upon request and for the additional charge mentioned below. Due to the limited number of rooms in the Amazon, rooms must be shared.

Single Supplement:

$650 additional for a single room and tent for the Inca Trail Marathon Adventure

Booking Deposit:

$650 deposit is due at the time of online booking registration. The balance of the payment is due October 1, 2021.

Cancellation Schedule:

• Prior to July 1, 2021: $250 per person
• July 1 – October 1, 2021: $650 per person
• After October 1, 2021: 100% of the Tour Package

Have questions? Email us here.

INCA TRAIL MARATHON ADVENTURE – ITINERARY:

Day 1 – Tuesday, June 21st – Arrive in Cusco, Peru

• Included domestic flight from Lima to Cusco. Check into your room, lunch on your own.
• After getting settled at the hotel and having lunch on your own, you will proceed on a two to three-hour sightseeing tour that includes the Plaza de Armas in the historical center of Cusco and some of the key Inca sites located above the city of Cusco. This tour is specially programmed as an easy day, allowing you the opportunity to acclimate to the elevation of Cusco (approx. 11,200 feet above sea level). You will continue the festivities with a special group dinner (the exact time will be announced during your arrival) where you may try some traditional Peruvian cuisine. This is also where you will have the opportunity to get to know some of your fellow travelers as well as your local hosts and guides.
• Lunch on your own. Welcome Dinner included.
• Overnight in Cusco at a 4-star Cusco hotel.

Day 2- Wednesday, June 22 – Cusco – Pisac Tour

• After breakfast at the hotel, we will depart in the morning for Pisac. This excursion will take you through the Urubamba Valley to the colorful Indian Market of Pisac, where natives from the region of Cusco come to trade their products.
• We will then proceed to the magnificent archaeological site above this town from where you will witness amazing views of this valley.
• Along the way, we will visit a llama farm and local weaving co-op, where you will learn about these unique animals as well as the traditional weaving techniques of Peru.
• Upon arrival in Pisac, we will have a guided tour of the ruins and then you may either walk for about 60-90 minutes down about 1200 vertical feet to the town of Pisac along an old Inca footpath or take the private transport from the ruins down to the town.
• In Pisac, you will have a couple of hours on your own to explore the famous Pisac Market and to have lunch at one of the many local restaurants. Later in the afternoon, we will return to the hotel in Cusco, arriving around 5:30 p.m
• That evening, we will meet in the lobby at around 7:30 p.m (exact time TBA) and take a short walk to a famous restaurant in Cusco for a special group dinner and cultural show (included). This will be a great chance to sample more Peruvian cuisine, experience music and culture from the Andes, and mingle with fellow travelers.
• Breakfast and dinner included.
• Overnight in Cusco at a 4-star Cusco hotel.

Day 3- Thursday, June 23 – Cusco – Optional Adventure Excursion or Day On Your Own

• After breakfast at the hotel, you will be able to choose from two different adventure activities or simply have a free day in Cusco to explore on your own.
• Choose between a full-day Whitewater rafting trip, 1⁄2 day Horseback riding tour, or a mountain biking tour. Or if you prefer, you may have the day at leisure to pursue a different activity or tour on your own.
• Lunch and Dinner on your own.
• In the evening, there will be an optional get-together at the hotel with your hosts to help you with final packing and organizing of your things for the trek.
• Overnight in Cusco at a 4-star Cusco hotel. Excursions are not included in the package price.

Day 4- Friday, June 24th – Cusco – Inti Raymi (Festival of the Sun)

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Inti Raymi Festival: This special festival of the sun is held only once a year and is perhaps the most famous festival in Cusco. After breakfast, we will proceed to the area outside Coricancha (Sun Temple) and also to the Plaza de Armas in Cusco to view the first portion of this famous ceremony and the processions that start around 9:00 am and can last until about noon.
• Afternoon- Optional visit to the second part of the ceremony inside the Saqsawayman ruins (closed to the general public today). This visit must be arranged in advance with a special entry ticket. Exact cost and more information TBA when 2020 rates are released.
• The rest of the day is free and at your leisure to relax, shop, explore more of Cusco.
• Lunch and Dinner on your own.
• Overnight in Cusco at a 4-star hotel.

Day 5- Saturday, June 25th – Sacred Valley of the Incas Tour – Stage 1 of the Inca Trail Marathon Adventure

• After breakfast at the hotel, we will transfer to Ollantaytambo, located at one end of the famous Sacred Valley of the Incas. We will then proceed on a short guided group tour of the ruins and the town, which is commonly referred to as a modern-day living Inca city due to the fact that some citizens inhabit original Inca houses over 500 years old. It is a very historic place with plenty of services for tourists.
• After the tour, you will have time to eat an early lunch in town (on your own).
• After lunch/free time: Transfer to the Inca Trail for the first of four stages of the Inca Trail Marathon. We will proceed from the town of Ollantaytambo with our private tourist bus to Km 82 (2,650 meters) where, after meeting the porters and collecting the gear, we will commence walking via the Urubamba Valley.
• Stage 1 of the Inca Trail Marathon – (8-10 miles, approximately 5-6 hours) Generally flat with a few rolling ups and downs along the river valley and a climb up to our camp. Comfortably done at a medium pace with stops, explanations, and pictures in 5-6 hours.
• When we pass through the Inca trail control checkpoint- you must have passports handy. From Km 82, proceed walking in the shadow of snow-capped Mount Veronica (5,680 meters). We will continue the hike near the Cusichaca River, admiring the Inca ruins at Llactapata. This is where we will have our campsite set up and a healthy dinner served to us.
• Breakfast and dinner included. Lunch on your own.

Day 6- Sunday, June 26th – Stage 2 of the Inca Trail Marathon Adventure

• Trek Llactapata to Pacamayo (6-8 miles, approximately 6-10 hours).
• This second day is the most challenging of our journey. After a hearty breakfast, it starts with about 3-3.5 miles of gradual incline and then we ascend to Warmihuausca (Dead Women’s) pass (4,200 meters). This change in altitude means that we will pass through three separate ecological zones during the day: Quechua, Yunga, and Puna (from valleys with trees, through the high pasture, to arid grassless areas short of the snow line).
• The ascent of over 1,200 meters to the first pass earns magnificent views. Descending from this superb vantage point we pass waterfalls before making camp at Pacaymayo (3,550 meters).
• 6-10 hours of walking time at a medium pace. Please adjust times for short lunch break, rest, explanations, pictures, etc. We leave very early this morning (at first light).

Day 7- Monday, June 27th – Stage 3 of the Inca Trail Marathon Adventure

• Trek Pacamayo to Winay Wayna (6.7 miles, approximately 6-9 hours).
• The day starts with the pass of Runkuracay (3,900 meters) where we see an Inca watchtower. Then we continue to the Inca ruins at Sayacmarca (a small maze-like ruin built above a cliff) and, passing through a rock tunnel, we reach Phuyupatamarca (City above the clouds) (3,600 meters), a beautiful set of linked stone baths still supplied by mountain streams.
• From this area, we should achieve views of Mt. Salkantay (6271 meters), one of two of the most sacred peaks of the Incas. The descent down from the third pass (3,700 meters) is by a continuous set of steps (over 2,300 of them), into the cloud forest, to our last campsite.
• From here a short walk takes us to the impressive ruins of Wiñaywayna (2,600 meters), curving around a steep valley with walled terraces hanging the contours.
• The extra relaxation time provided here allows us to recoup our strength to make an early start the next day and maximize the experience of Machu Picchu.
• Easier than Stage 2, but includes a lot of stairs particularly going up the 2nd pass and down to WW camps. Comfortably done in 6-9 hours of walking time at a medium pace. Please adjust times for short lunch break, rest, explanations, and pictures, etc. We leave early this morning.

Day 8- Tuesday, June 28th – Stage 4 of the Inca Trail Marathon Adventure

• Trek Winay Wayna to Machu Picchu (3.3 miles, approximately 2.5 – 3.5 hours).
• We leave in the morning to reach our finish line – Machu Picchu at Intipunku (the sun-gate). A pre-dawn breakfast allows us to ascend to Intipunku (the Sun-Gate) 2,750 meters where we may observe the sunrise over Machu Picchu (2,450 meters) and the world’s most epic finish line.
• After taking in this memorable view we descend to the ruins and will proceed on a guided tour starting well before the crowds arrive by train from Cusco. There will be plenty of time available to spend in this unique archaeological site, allowing ample opportunities to explore on your own.
• Lunch on your own.
• Bus back to Aguas Calientes (the town at the base of Machu Picchu). You will come down from Machu Picchu when you have finished exploring on your own and check into the hotel In Aguas Calientes. Your duffel bag from the trek will be in the luggage storage at the hotel.
• In the evening, meet up with everyone in Aguas Calientes for the special included Celebration Dinner at a famous restaurant in Aguas Calientes!
• Overnight in Aguas Calientes hotel.
• Comfortably done in 2-3.5 hours of walking time at a medium pace. Please adjust times for short break at sun gate, rest, explanations, and pictures, etc.
• Breakfast and dinner included. Lunch on your own.

Day 9- Wednesday, June 29th – Aguas Calientes – Cusco

• After breakfast at the hotel, we will all depart via a morning train a round 9:00 a.m. to Ollantaytambo.
• We will then take private transport to Cusco (please note- almost all tourist class trains only run between Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes, not all the way to Cusco). Afterward, we will continue to Cusco and check back into the hotel.
• Lunch on your own.
• Rest of the day/evening at leisure for shopping, sightseeing, and relaxing. Meet in the lobby to return rented gear and duffle bags. Meet up and celebrate at the World’s Highest Irish Bar in the evening after dinner on your own. We will toast our journey and say our goodbyes.
• Overnight in Cusco at a 4-star Cusco hotel.

Day 10- Thursday, June 30th – Travel Home

• Breakfast at the hotel. Morning transfer to Cusco airport. Fly back to Lima from Cusco.

Note: The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu trek is a beautiful 3 night/4 day trek covering Andean valleys, vistas of snowy peaks, Inca ruins, and the area near Machu Picchu. This amazing trek is considered a moderate to difficult hike for which you need to be prepared. The elevation is as high as 4200 meters (13,800 ft) and as low as 2400 meters(7,800 ft). The trek is a one-way trail and our route on it covers a total distance of about 40km. These are good reasons to be in good physical shape and spend a few days in a high altitude city such as Cusco before starting the trek (which we do).

Have questions? Email us here.