Explore the Short Inca Trail with Amazon rainforest 8 days

Today, we will visit some of the most interesting sites in Cusco and the surrounding area. We will begin with a visit to the Cusco cathedral found on the Plaza De Armas and is the principal church in this imperial city. It was built on the foundations of the temple of The Inca Wiracocha. The cathedral displays over 300 paintings belong to the Cusco school of art. We will then head on to the Qoricancha which is the Quechua Word for “Temple of Gold”. This was the first temple to be constructed by The Incas, and was originally covered with large amounts of silver and gold. We will next head out of Cusco City to the close by ruins of Sacsayhuaman, famous for its enormous megaliths and giant stones, that weigh over 150 tonnes. During Inca times, it was considered the “Temple of lightening”, in honour to the deity Illapa. We will then head to the nearby ruins of Q’enqo, a religious site dedicated to the Mother Earth where you can still see carved stones and constructions. There is also a sacrificial altar where the Incas were thought to make offerings and sacrifices to The Mother Earth. After this, we will visit the to the impressive Inca fortress of Puka Pukara, which means “Red Castle” in the ancient Inca language of Quechua. Our final visit will be to Tambomachay, where we can appreciate a sacred temple dedicated to an ancient water cult which probably also functioned as a purification bath for the Inca governors. We will then return to Cusco City, where we Will drop you off at your hotel or in the central “Plaza de Armas”.

• Overnight: Hotel in Cusco
• Meals: Breakfast

On this day, you will explore the marvelous Sacred Valley of the Incas, also known as the Valley of Vilcanota. We’ll start the day by visiting the archaeological complex of Pisac, situated high up on a mountain. This wonderful place is comprised of groups of terraces and architectural structures scattered across its slopes and at the top of the mountain, offering a marvelous blend of landscape and constructions. Next, we’ll head to the craft market where you can admire a wide variety of artworks dating back to ancient times. We’ll pass through Urubamba, where we’ll pause for lunch. Here, we’ll sample typical Peruvian cuisine with a variety of dishes including salads, soups, hot dishes, the famous ceviche, and delicious desserts. After lunch, we’ll visit the architectural complex of Ollantaytambo, a living village built to guard the entrance of this part of the valley and protect it against potential invaders. We’ll have the opportunity to walk through its streets and gain a clearer idea of what this military, religious, and cultural center was like during the Inca Empire. Following the visit, you will stay the night in Ollantaytambo.

• Overnight: Hotel in Ollantaytambo
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Your pick-up time from your hotel will be at approximately 7:30am, when we will take you to the train station in Ollantaytambo. We will board the train that will take us to kilometre 104 where we will begin our hike along the Inca Trail, where we can appreciate spectacular countryside and hike through sub topical forests. We will visit the archaeological site of Chachabamba and after approximately 3 hours of hiking, we will arrive at the Wiñayhuayna archaeological site. The impressive Wiñayhuayna was an agricultural complex with a number of terraces, a religious sector and an urban sector.  We will then continue hiking to the sun gate or “Inti Punku”. During the hike, you will be able to witness incredible orquids, bromelias and ferns along the trail.; We will have an hour walk as we descend into the ruins of the Inca Citadel, Machu Picchu where we will take the bus that will take us down to the town of Aguas Calientes.

IMPORTANT ADVICE 

After a hearty breakfast and the recommended coca tea, we suggest that you just take a light backpack (25L) to trek the first day. (Include money, light clothing, travel documents, camera, repellent, sunhat, sunscreen and personal hygiene products). Your trip will be more comfortable for doing so. The rest of your baggage can remain at your Cusco hotel as you will be returning there tomorrow.

• Overnight: Hotel in Aguas Calientes
• Meals: Breakfast

In the morning, according to the scheduled time, our guide will pick you up at your hotel to go to the bus station where you will climb 400m along a winding path for 20min to reach the incredible wonder of the world “The Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu”, also known as “The Lost City of the Incas”. Upon arriving at the Machu Picchu citadel with our guide, we will pass through the entrance and begin the tour of the entire citadel. For around 2h30m we will visit the main places in Machu Picchu.

We return to the town of Aguas Calientes in the afternoon, where you will have free time to enjoy lunch in one of the many restaurants (lunch not included). After lunch, we will take the train to Ollantaytambo (depending on train departure time availability). The return will follow the same route as the departure. Upon arrival in Ollantaytambo, the train representative will be waiting to take you to the bus heading to your hotel in Cusco.

• Overnight : Hotel in Cusco
• Meals: breakfast

Depending on the time of your flight, we will collect you from your hotel and take you to the Cusco airport.

AT THE MOMENT YOU BUY YOUR AIRLINE TICKETS, YOUR FLIGHT SHOULD ARRIVE IN PUERTO MALDONADO NO LATER THAN 1 PM

Arrive into Puerto Maldonado, coined the Capital of Biodiversity. Begin your Amazon adventure with a 25-minute boat ride navigating the clay-coloured Madre de Dios River to reach Inkaterra Hacienda Conception lodge. Settle into your stylish stilted wooden cabaña or room on our private eco-reserve and then head to the palm-thatched Casa Grande dining room for a buffet lunch before exploring the rainforest on foot, starting from the Eco Center.

Take a walk along the Concepcion Trails, winding  through  the  property’s nature trails for an immersive introduction to the intricate ecosystems of the Amazon basin. Backed by the  protected Tambopata  National  Reserve and built on the grounds of a former cacao and rubber plantation,  Inkaterra Hacienda Concepcion  harbours primary and secondary  rainforest inhabited with exotic wildlife and tropical plants.

At dusk witness the enchanting transformation of the rainforest from a diurnal to a nocturnal environment on a guided Twilight River boat ride, as animals and birds of the daytime give way to species specially adapted to the shadows of the night. See if you can spot caimans lurking on the riverbanks and stars of the southern hemisphere.

In the evening enjoy à-la-carte dining, drawing on local Amazon ingrédients for inspiration. Retreat to your cabaña or room to listen to the curious calls and croaks of the rainforest at night.

• Overnight: lnkaterra Hacienda Conception
•  Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Optionally join us in the early hours, with buffet breakfast served from 05:30. Visit Lake Sandoval, a plassy, ox-bow lake located inside the protected Tambopata National Reserve, reached via a sun-dappled rainforest trail. Board a dug-out wooden canoe to quietly paddle through a stream and glide onto Lake Sandoval, flanked by picture—perfect palms. This lake is home to many species of birds, the endangered giant river otter, red howler monkeys, red-bullied macaws, anacondas, side-neck turtles, black caimans amongst others. Return to lnkaterra Hacienda Conception in time for lunch.

In the afternoon, we recommend climbing the exhilarating Inkaterra Canopy Walkway. The Canopy Walkway is a sophisticated and safe network distributed over seven ecologically constructed hanging suspension bridges, strung between eight treetop observation platforms above the forest floor. This is an unforgettable opportunity to observe the rainforest from the rooftop and gain a sense of its size. Ascend the first vertipinous tower 38 meters (124 feet) above pround, keeping an eye out for bright toucans, woodpeckers, trogons, monkeys and the three-toed sloth. It’s possible to extend your elevated stay with sunset drinks from atop a tower, – or spend a once-in-a-lifetime night in a specially designed treehouse cabin with surprising comforts  (additional cost applies).

Back at the lodge, you can venture out onto the Hidden Forest excursion. Armed with flashlights, as your senses heighten to the movements and sounds in the undergrowth of the forest, keep an eye for species that only emerge during night time.

On the other hand if you wish to rest, book yourself an indulgent therapy at our Nua spa, built in the middle of the rainforest .

A-la-carte dinner is served from 19:00.

• Overnight: lnkaterra Hacienda Conception
• Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Enjoy your last morning waking to the sounds of the rainforest as parakeets chatter away in the trees and monkeys swing through the treetops.

Breakfast is served in Casa Grande with check-out at 10:00. Depending on the time of your departure flight, lunch can also be arranged (additional cost applies). Embark your ready-waiting motorized wooden boat for the 25-minute return trip along the Madre de Dios River until arriving at the airport.

Please note that activities and excursions are subject to change depending on weather conditions at the time of your visit.

This marks the end of our services.

• Check in: 12:00 check out : 9:00 am

NOTE: If your arrival time is after the hotel check-out time, you can use the hotel’s common areas while you wait.