Classic Machu Picchu Adventure

  • 6 Days
  • Avg Group Size: 12
  • Activity Level 2
    • Activity Level 2

      Hikes on our Level 2 adventures are considered easy to moderate in difficulty.

    Read more about the Active Range

  • Trip Start: Cusco
  • Trip End: Cusco
A woman enjoys her Peru Adventure Tour with our local guides

Discover the highlights and hidden gems of Peru on our Classic Machu Picchu Adventure

There's no doubt you'll be mind blown by the contrasting landscapes, from Sacred Valley to the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu on our Classic Machu Picchu Adventure. Starting in Cusco, you'll cycle into the Sacred Valley of the Incas, hike the Huchuy Qosqo Trail, experience Machu Picchu and explore Pisac market. 

Download Our Handy Trip Itinerary

Our Trip Itinerary contains all the exciting details you can expect to do on our trips. Get a clear picture of the adventures on this trip.

DOWNLOAD ITINERARY PDF

Classic Machu Picchu Adventure ~ Itinerary

Trip Start: Cusco Trip End: Cusco

Download our Handy Trip itinerary

Our Trip Itinerary contains all the exciting details you can expect to do on our trips. Get a clear picture of the adventures on this trip

  • Day 1Arrive in Cusco, hike Sacsayhuaman Fortress

  • Day 2Cycle Sacred Valley, visit Pisac market, hike Pisac ruins

  • Day 3Explore Chinchero, hike to Huchuy Qosqo

  • Day 4Visit Machu Picchu

  • Day 5Ollantaytambo archaeology tour, hike to Las Salineras

  • Day 6Free morning in Cusco, depart

  • Day 1

    Arrive in Cusco, hike Sacsayhuaman Fortress

    #59570

    Our trip starts in Cusco, the heart of the Inca empire. After lunch, we’ll set off for a walk around this amazing ancient city and up to Sacsayhuamán fortress overlooking the main Plaza and Cusco Valley. The fortress is a magnificent archaeological site representing a set of jaguar’s teeth with massive, perfectly fitted stones weighing up to 130 tonnes each and was the place where the Incas made their final stand against the Spanish conquistadores. No one really knows what the Incas used Sacsayhuamán for – some say it was a sanctuary and temple of the sun, others say it was a granary, and yet another theory is that it was the place where the old Inca king would play football using the heads of his enemies! No matter who is right, you’ll have a lot of fun hearing all the stories this amazing area inspires.

    Later, we’ll take a walk through the colorful Cusco street markets. If you prefer, you can take some time to soak in the vibrant atmosphere of Cusco’s lively town square and meet up again later for an evening meal.
    Accommodation: Ramada Wyndham Costa del Sol, Cusco
    Meals: Lunch, Dinner

    Hiking: 1.2 miles (2 kilometers), 1-2 hours
    Elevation Gain/Loss: 656 feet (200 meters) ascent, 656 feet (200 meters) descent

     

  • Day 2

    Cycle Sacred Valley, visit Pisac market, hike Pisac ruins

    #59571

    We’ll head into the fertile Sacred Valley of the Incas this morning, stopping just above Cusco, where we’ll jump on our bikes and ride down through breathtaking scenery, dotted with local villages and surrounded by the massive green slopes of the Andes. We’ll finish our ride in the small town of Pisac, where we’ll have a chance to check out the colorful mercado artesanal.

    From here, we’ll begin a spectacular hike up to the Pisac ruins. It’s a heart-pumping walk up through ancient agricultural terraces – you’ll never forget the views of Pisac and the Urubamba Valley! After exploring the ancient complex, we’ll descend the original Inca stairways and head further into the Sacred Valley.

    Our home for the night is the small village of Yucay, in the heart of the Peruvian Andes.
    Accommodation: Sonesta Posada del Inka, Yucay
    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Biking: 12 miles (20 kilometers), 2-4 hours (flexible)

    Hiking: 4.3 miles (7 kilometers), 2-4 hours
    Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,476 feet (450 meters) ascent, 1,476 feet (450 meters) descent

     

  • Day 3

    Explore Chinchero, hike to Huchuy Qosqo

    #59572

    We’ll set off early this morning and head to the remote market village of Chinchero. Said to be the birthplace of the rainbow, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time 500 years while we explore the cobbled alleyways and beautiful town square – still the main trading centre of the Incas from over half a century ago. From Chinchero, we’ll drive past the Piuray Lagoon and on to the Andean village of Tauca, where we’ll begin our hike to Huchuy Qosqo. The dramatic mountain views of the Urubamba range and deep valleys below are off the charts! As we make our way over the Pucajasa Mountain Pass, we’ll pass through high mountain meadows, lagoons and indigenous communities that have little contact with the outside world.

    Shortly before lunch we’ll arrive at the spectacular ruins of Huchuy Qosqo (Little Cusco), thought to be the remnants of an Inca hideaway village.

    After lunch, we’ll hike down to Lamay village and drive a short distance to Ollantaytambo, where we’ll take an unforgettable train ride down to the sub-tropical village of Aguas Calientes.

    You’ll have a chance to wander around this colorful little town before dinner and relax after a full day of hiking!
    Accommodation: Hatun Inti Boutique, Aguas Calientes
    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Hiking: 8.4 miles (13.5 kilometers), 5-7 hours
    Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,900 feet (579 meters) ascent, 5,000 feet (1,524 meters) descent

  • Day 4

    Visit Machu Picchu

    #59573

    After an early breakfast, we’ll head up to the ancient city of Machu Picchu, where we’ll meet our local guide who will show us around this fascinating ancient city. Afterward, you’ll have all morning to explore the many passageways and stone structures of this mysterious place on your own. We’ll also have the chance to hike to the Sun Gate for a unique perspective on these remote Inca ruins, set high on top of a mountain surrounded by lush peaks.

    After plenty of time to explore Machu Picchu, we’ll take a scenic train ride back to Ollantaytambo, known to the locals simply as ‘Ollanta’.
    Accommodation: El Arbergue Hotel or similar, Ollantaytambo
    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Hiking: 1-3 hours,
    Elevation Gain/Loss: 656 feet (200 meters) ascent, 656 feet (200 meters) descent

     

  • Day 5

    Ollantaytambo archaeology tour, hike to Las Salineras

    #59574

    Ollanta is dominated by two large ruins and is the best surviving example of Inca city planning, with narrow cobblestone streets that have been inhabited since the 13th Century! The Ollantaytambo ruins offer a fascinating insight into Inca archaeology, so we’ll spend the morning with a local guide discovering the site, placing our travels into context. Later, we’ll take an incredible hike into the majestic Valle Sagrado de Los Incas.

    After a visit to the town of Maras, we’ll hike down to the salt pans of Las Salineras with the Rio Urubamba and the Sacred Valley below us. These unique salt terraces have been used since Inca times and provide a great opportunity to hone your camera skills.

    A hot spring at the top of the valley discharges a small stream of heavily salt-laden water that the Incas diverted into shallow pools to produce salt, and this is still done today.
    Accommodation: Ramada Wyndham Costa del Sol, Cusco
    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Hiking: 2.5 miles (4 kilometers), 1-3 hours
    Elevation Gain/Loss: 656 feet (200 meters) ascent, 656 feet (200 meters) descent

     

  • Day 6

    Free morning in Cusco, depart

    #59575

    Cusco is the archaeological capital of the Americas and it’s a fabulous place to wander around and get a taste for an ancient city arriving in the 21st century! Walk along Cusco’s central streets, lined with massive Inca-built stone walls that form the foundation of the city and blend into the colonial and modern architecture that has been added over the years. You can take some time this morning to explore Cusco’s most popular temples, museums, churches and fortresses. There’s no shortage of great food and entertainment in Cusco, with restaurants to suit any taste, cafés for coffee in the Plaza de Armas and great bars with local music.

    Your trip finishes here and you're free to depart any time today.
    Accommodation: Not applicable
    Meals: Breakfast

Classic Machu Picchu Adventure Departure Dates

View pricing below. Big savings on selected departures valid until October 15, 2024. (Note the savings on selected dates have already been applied in pricing below.)

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Included

  • Our own highly experienced trip leader, with you from start to finish
  • Industry-leading Guest-to-Guide ratio (averaging 6:1)
  • Your own ‘Account’, an online space with everything required for your adventure
  • Our knowledgeable Customer Service Team to answer your queries - just a phone call, email or chat away
  • Customer Service pre-trip phone calls to ensure you’re 'trip ready'
  • All accommodations for the duration of your trip
  • All meals except where indicated in the itinerary
  • Unlimited snacks to keep you fueled
  • Flights as outlined in the itinerary
  • All activities outlined in the itinerary
  • All necessary equipment (well-maintained and safe) for activities
  • All gratuities for hotels, restaurants, and activities
  • Transportation in our air-conditioned vans - safe, clean, modern, and comfortable!

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Take 10% off the trip price when you book a trip and pay in full

By paying in full we are able to pass on savings to our guests, but please note that by opting for this payment plan, your booking becomes non-refundable, non-cancellable, and non-changeable. This offer is only valid for reservations where the trip is no sooner than 180 days from the departure date at time of booking.

We highly recommend that you purchase Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) insurance. We recommend Redpoint Insurance - you can find details here.

*Terms & conditions apply – read more here

 

Useful Info

Where does the trip start?

On the first morning of the trip, our two pick-up locations are Cusco airport (CUZ) (if your flight arrives by 11am) or Ramada Wyndham Costa del Sol at 12pm. You are welcome to book your pre-trip stay at this hotel directly or any other hotel in Cusco, though you must make your own way to one of the two pick-up points at the pre-designated times.

Where does the trip end?

Your trip ends in Cusco after breakfast. Please check out from the hotel by 10am, and the hotel will be able to store your luggage for the day if you decide to continue to explore.

What flights would you recommend?

Arrival: We recommend arriving in Cusco a couple of days before your trip begins to get accustomed to the 3,300 metres (10,000 feet) elevation. If this isn't possible that's okay - your trip is designed to begin very gently and ease you into being active at altitude! If you're flying in on the first day of the trip, we recommend arriving in Cusco by 10.30am.

Departure: Flying out on the last day of the trip, you can fly out at any time that suits.

How fit do I need to be for this trip?

You’ll need a solid level of fitness. Typically, hikes on this trip range between three and six hours to complete. So get out there with a daypack on and train so you’ll be ready to join us! While you don’t have to be extremely fit, you should be in the habit of doing regular aerobic exercise, ideally involving some up hills and down hills and carrying a pack! With a little preparation before your trip begins, you’ll enjoy the active and outdoor nature of your trip all the more.

Please head to our Fitness Guide for great tips on how to prepare along with a workout plan!

What accommodations do we stay at on this trip?

We’ve chosen the places we stay for their location, cleanliness and charm – not the number of channels available on the television! Many of the places we stay are off-the-beaten track and set in amazing locations.

On the nights where we stay in Cusco we have chosen good lodgings, ideally situated close to the main attractions without being too central, in order to avoid the most touristy and noisy areas. It’s worth keeping in mind that Peru is a noisy place – people here have a festive way of looking at life and often enjoy beeping their horns and playing loud music! We have chosen the quietest areas practical in order for people to get the best sleep possible, and earplugs are recommended in this energetic and lively part of the world.

We recommend bringing enough clothing to only have to do laundry once during your trip and the best time will be in Cusco.

How much luggage can I bring on this trip?

You are allowed one piece of luggage on your trip, plus a daypack. Your main piece of luggage should not exceed 50 pounds (23 kilograms) and can be anything from a duffle bag to a sports bag with wheels or a suitcase. You'll also want a good quality backpack sized 25-30 liters (2000 cubic inches) to use throughout the days.

How do rooming arrangements work?

Trip prices are based on shared arrangements (typically two guests per room), unless otherwise stated. For solo travelers, we’ll pair you with another person of the same gender to share rooms and if there’s no one suitable to share with, there’s no forced single supplement. However, if you specifically request your own rooms, you can opt to pay the single supplement. Solo travelers who book within 120 days of departure, where there are no other solo travelers willing to share, will be required to pay the single supplement.

For Family Vacation bookings, families consisting of four guests traveling with children aged 17 and under will be automatically assigned one shared room. However, the following alternative rooming allocations are available:

  • Families consisting of four guests with all children aged 13 and above are welcome to opt for additional rooms as per advertised double occupancy adult rates.
  • Families consisting of four guests with at least one child aged 12 and under are automatically assigned a shared room. However, families can opt to pay the adult rates for all guests in their family to have an additional room.
  • The same principles apply for families consisting of more than four guests.

Rooming preferences are subject to availability and must be communicated in writing at time of booking. Automatic assignments as per this policy will be applied in the absence of any specification provided by guests. Any request for additional rooms during trips will be at guests’ own expense and subject to rates made available by the accommodation provider at the time. All minors (guests aged 17 and under) must be accompanied by at least one adult.

Is tipping expected in Peru?

Most people do choose to tip their Active Adventures guides and we recommend USD$20 per day, per guest, per trip leader. You are welcome to tip an equivalent amount in the local currency. There are plenty of ATM’s and banks in the larger towns of Peru. During your Active Adventures trip, your trip leader will take care of all included restaurants and service tips for you. For other restaurants or services during your time in Peru, 5-10% is a typical gratuity amount.

On the Machu Picchu & Amazon Adventure you’ll be accompanied by a trekking crew and porters on the Lares trail, and we recommend S/100 (US$30) to be shared amongst them.

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