DAY 1: CUSCO -PEROLNIYOC-RAYAN. (8 KM / 5 MILES)
We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco the morning of our first day and head to Ollantaytambo, where we will take a shuttle to the starting point of our trek. Our journey begins in Soqma, a small farming town situated in a valley between two red and black rocky peaks decorated with dry grasses and high altitude shrubs. As we walk through this valley, the mountains conjoin at the waterfall of Perolniyoq, approximately 3,300 meters above sea level (masl), where the water allows the nearby plants to grow a green much more brilliant than those on the distant hillsides. The route zigzags up to ruins above the waterfall, which we will pass on the way to our first campsite, Qorimarca, at 3,590 meters about sea level.
- Meals included: Lunch/tea time/dinner + snacks
- Lowest elevation: 2,999 meters
- Highest elevation : 3,590 meters
- Distance to walk: 9 km
- Approximate walking time: 6 hours
- Difficulty: modera
- Camping: Qorimarca rayan
DAY 2: RAYAN – CAÑON DE BUENA NEGRA – CACHICCATA
From our first campsite, we wind through green rolling hills spotted here and there with trees, streams, and homes of locals, to our lunch area at 4,200 meters about sea level, Charcahualla. From this small plateau, with a spectacular view of the surrounding peaks and grassy slopes, we will ascend to the highest pass along the trek, Cañon de Buena Negra, at 4,330 meters about sea level. Here, we will be able to see snow-capped mountains on the horizon, Arequipa, Veronica, and Onura Punta, regarded by locals as deities. We will walk through high grassland to the Temple for the Mountain Veronica at 3,900 meters about sea level, known as Wakaywillka in Quechua, or Sacred Tears. A gentle descent will take us to our second campsite, Choquetacarpa Pampa, at 3,750 meters about sea level, looking out over the green Sacred Valley at the foot of the black rocks and bright white icy peaks of the Andes. Here, we will have hot showers available to us in the evening.
- Meals included: Breakfast/lunch/ tea time/dinner + snacks
- Lowest Elevation: 3,590 meters
- Highest elevation: 4,400 meters
- Distance to walk: 12 km
- Approximate walking time: 8 hours
- Difficulty: moderate
- Camping: choquetacarpo pampa
DAY 3: CACHICATA – OLLANTYTAMBO – AGUAS CALIENTES MACHU PICCHU
Our trek takes us from Choquetacarpo Pampa back to Ollantaytambo, where we will have time to explore markets and Inka buildings, which are still used today. In the afternoon, we will take a train to Aguas Calientes Town at 2,040 meters About sea level, where you can explore the area. We will stay in a hotel for one night before visiting Machu Picchu Sanctuary.
- Meals included: Breakfast t/ lunch / tea time / dinner
- Lowest elevation: 3,600 meters
- Lowest elevation: 2,900 meters
- Distance to walk: 7 km
- Approximate walking time: 5 hours
- Area: Ollantaytambo town
DAY 4: AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO
We will take a 2.5-hour guided tour of the Machu Picchu Sanctuary, seventh wonder of the world, after which you can freely explore the area. You have the option at this time to go up to Wayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain, overlooks of the Machu Picchu Sanctuary that at one time were used as defensive watchtowers. After returning to Aguas Calientes Town by bus, we will board the train for Ollantaytambo or Poroy, and transfer to a van heading back to Cusco
- Meals included: breakfast in your hotel/ not lunch
- Walking time: 3 hours
- Difficult easy
