9-Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Multisport Adventure

Today the fun really begins as you challenge the Grade III-IV rapids of the Upper Urubamba river. Our expert guides will give you a thorough safety briefing and the best equipment in the country. Fully prepared you launch from the bank and off down the finest one day section of whitewater in Peru. Whether you are a beginner or expert you are sure to finish with a grin from ear to ear.

Once you have changed into dry clothes you can enjoy a delicious picnic lunch on the banks of the river before the short drive to Pisac. Here you can explore this famous handicraft market with the help of your guide. Perhaps you can try one of the tasty empanadas fresh from the old town oven.

Included: breakfast, lunch, snacks, water, all white-water & safety equipment, hotel

Saddle up for this lovely ride through the Sacred Valley.

Cycling is a fabulous way to explore an area. You travel slowly and take a quiet track through the villages and lives of the local people, away from the main tourist area.

You start with a visit to Pisac market, where you can haggle for handicrafts with the local artisans or bite into an empanada fresh from the town oven. When it is time to start riding you grab a helmet and gloves and hop onto your full suspension cross country bike, carefully set up for you by your guide.

Then simply push off and pedal you way along this beautiful trail. The route is mainly downhill or flat, on good wide trail. Along the way you will enjoy another tasty picnic lunch.

Included:  bike and safety equipment, breakfast, lunch, snack and water, skilled bike guide, transport, hotel Sacred Valley

Your five day Inca Trail is carefully tailored to avoid the crowds. By leaving later than everyone else, and allowing an extra day, you spend the whole trail out of sync with other tourists. Thus you will literally have the trail to yourselves.

This morning you visit the old Inca town of Ollantaytambo. After a look around and some lunch you drive twenty minutes to the trailhead at Piscacucho (km 82). Here you meet the porters and cooks that will support your journey to Machu Picchu.

With the crowds now long gone, you hike an undulating trail above the Urubamba River to camp beside the spectacular ruins of Llactapata (2,788m/9,146ft). Your luggage is carried by the porters, your tents are put up for you and your food is prepared for you. All you have to do is shoulder your daypack and enjoy the walking.

Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner, camping equipment (except sleeping bag), Inca trail permit

After a hearty breakfast you climb gently up the Cusichaca valley to the small hamlet of Huayllabamba. This is the last inhabited place on the trail.

A little steeper now, you head up the beautiful Inca path, past hummingbirds and stunted cloud forest to your camp at Llulluchapampa (3,680m/12,073ft). This beautiful grassy area has outstanding views and you may even see the Andean deer that come to feed here.

Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner, camping equipment (except sleeping bag)

Today is the most challenging day but also the most exhilarating. You climb to Dead Woman’s Pass (4,212m/13,819ft) the high point of the trail before dropping into the Pacasmayo valley. Climbing once more you pass the Inca control post of Runkuracay to the second pass of the day (3,998m/13,117ft). On a clear day there are spectacular views towards Pumahuanca Mountain in the Vilcabamba range.

You continue on well preserved Inca trail to Sayacmarca. Located at the junction of two old Inca roads, historians still argue over its exact purpose. A few more gentle ups and downs and you arrive to your stunning campsite for the night, Phuyupatamarca, or ‘the place above the clouds’ (3,650m/11,975ft).

Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner, camping equipment (except sleeping bag)

This is the day you finally reach Machu Picchu.

As you step out of your tent the views are stunning. Perhaps you will see the sun rising over the snow-capped mountains of Salkantay (6,200m/20,341ft) and Veronica (5,800m/19,029ft). Or perhaps you will have an inversion, with clouds filling the valleys beneath you.

After saying a fond farewell to your porters it is time to put on your boots and head to Machu Picchu.

You descend beautiful Inca stairway through cloud forest to Wiñay Wayna, a vast set of Inca terraces full of swallows and orchids. A final contouring walk and you arrive at Inti Punku, the gateway of the Sun. As you step through the old stone gate-way, Machu Picchu appears, laid out before your eyes.

Stop here and enjoy the view before heading to take the twenty minute bus ride to Machu Picchu Pueblo and a well-deserved hotel and shower.

Included: breakfast, lunch, bus ticket, hotel

Relaxed after a comfortable night, you head back up to Machu Picchu for your full guided tour before the crowds arrive. There is time afterwards to hike to the Inca Bridge, Watchman’s hut or else just wander through the ruins soaking up the atmosphere.

In the afternoon you descend to the waiting train to enjoy one of the great train journeys of the world back towards Cusco

Included: breakfast, bus ticket, Machu Picchu entrance, train ticket, transfer

Back once more in the old Inca capital you have time to enjoy all that this city has to offer. Museums, chocolate making classes, souvenir hunting or even just sitting in one of the many cafes and watching the world go by. The new late flights out of Cusco allow you to really maximise your time and get the most out of this holiday of a lifetime.

For those with more time we can offer you extensions to the Amazon rainforest, Lake Titicaca, Colca Canyon and Arequipa or even to the little visited northern Peru.

Included: breakfast, transfer

In order to fully enjoy your trip it is very important that you choose the right trip for you and fully understand what it involves.

There are risks inherent in travelling in Peru, as indeed there are in most of the activities that we provide. Many of the activities we offer also involve a significant level of effort on your part.  After all, it is called Adventure Travel for a reason.

It is really important that you read both the trip notes above and the Risk and Safety Section on our website, to enable you to choose the best trip for you. Once you have read them both, please make sure you ask if there is anything you do not understand. We classify this trip as:

• Mountain Bike ‘Intro’- These trips are as much about experiencing Mountain Biking as they are about the time spent not on the bike – the scenery, the culture, the environment! The only pre-requirement is that you can ride a bike! Clearly it would be good if you’ve ridden in the last 20 years! Our experienced guides will help you with gaining experience and confidence on your bike – there may be times where you (but maybe not others!) are asked to walk a section of trail… Please follow the advice of the guide, they really do know what they are doing!

• Paddlesport ‘Intro’– Anyone who doesn’t mind getting wet can do any of our paddlesports. Rafting and Duckying can get quite adventurous, but our experienced and qualified guides will be on hand to keep you (mostly) the right way up. We are more interested in your ‘water confidence’ than your ability to swim. The only parameter is that you are mobile enough to help us get you back in the boat – even then if you do suffer with your mobility, let us know what support you might need and maybe the water is calling you!

• Trek ‘Advanced’… This trek is mostly aimed at experienced trekkers – But if you are ‘fit’ (What does that mean? In this case – that you do regular exercise – walk/cycle/jog/squash/ etc) and have an ‘adventurous’ disposition, then you might consider this too! As an experienced trekker you will know that this type of trip will involve some sweating and breathing hard! It will involve steep up and down. There may be sections of rough trail that falling off is not an option! The days are likely to be long, remote and even arduous at times. Make sure you are comfortable with this description (and the remainder of the trip notes), if at all unsure, then drop us an email asking for more clarification. We want you to book the perfect trip for you!