Package Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 8 Days / 7 Nights

The Cathedral Basilica of Cusco

The initial stop for this adventure is the Cathedral Basilica of the Virgin of the Assumption, a construction of more than 550 years old and which is located in the Main Square of Cusco. It was built specifically in 1560 on the Inca palace Huiracocha.

Its structure is impressive and its facade is old. But its greatest treasures are located inside it, to the entrance you will be able to enjoy more than 300 paintings of the Cusqueña School, and works in embossed silver and carved wood.

The Qoricancha Temple

The tempo Qoricancha, also known as the Convent of Santo Domingo is the second religious site to visit. It is considered the most important of the Inca empire, but when detailing it we will realize that its facade and interior corresponds to the fusion between the Spanish Inca culture. Here also we will see very beautiful and artistic paintings.

Sacsayhuaman Archaeological Park

In the surroundings of Cusco is the third stop, an enigmatic place called Sacsayhuaman. It is a structure made of enormous carved stones, approximately 9 meters high and weighing at least 100 tons. These are arranged in an organized way and in perfect position for forms three platforms of 390 meters long.

If you make the City Tour Cusco in June, specifically on June 24, you can enjoy in this place the Fiesta al sol or Inti Raymi, an annual celebration and emblematic of the city, full of much culture.

Qenqo Archaeological Park

The fourth stop is the center of cults and ceremonies dedicated to Mother Earth, which is a bit destroyed by time, but not so much as to call it ruins. The history says that this was an amphitheater of cults where the Inca dead were placed for the ceremonies, the dead were stretched on the trapezoid structures that are there.

Archaeological Park of Puca Pucara

Puca Pucara is also known as the red fortress since the stones with which it was built have become this color due to their high levels of iron. In addition to the fortress you can see other archaeological structures such as aqueducts, enclosures and fountains. Due to its proximity to Tambomachay and its characteristics, it is believed that it was a military fort for the defense of this place.

Archaeological Park of Tambomachay

Last but not least, we have the Tambomachay or the well-known resting place, just 100 meters from Puca Pucara. It is made of carved rocks, which form a beautiful set of canals and waterfalls from springs. It is for this reason that this place was an enclosure of cult to the water.

The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu part of the 23,000 kilometers (approx.14,000 miles) of roads built by the Incas in South America, are on the most famous trekking route in Peru, and possibly one of the most spectacular in America.

Every year, approximately 25,000 hikers from all over the world travel its extraordinary 43 kilometers along a stone paved road built by the Incas, which leads to the impregnable citadel of Machu Picchu located deep in Cusco’s high jungle. The trip begins in the town of Qorihuayrachina, at kilometer 88 of the Quillabamba – Cusco railroad and takes 3 to 4 days of strenuous walking, it is the road that takes tourists to Machu Picchu. The route consists of an impressive variety of altitudes, climates and ecosystems ranging from the Andean plain to the cloud forest. Travelers cross two high altitude areas (the highest being Warmiwañuska at 4,200 m.a.s.l.) to culminate the trek with a magical entrance to Machu Picchu through the Inti Punko or Puerta del Sol.

Climate and Environment

The climate is relatively temperate all year round, with heavy rains from November to March, and dry and hot weather from April to October, being these months the most recommendable to visit. The minimum annual temperature ranges from 8° to 11.2°C. In the months of June, July and August the temperature can fall below 0°.

The maximum annual temperature ranges from 20.4° to 26.6°C. The terrain is quite irregular, with ravines and holes fed by glaciers that finally pour their waters into the Urubamba River, which crosses the area forming a deep valley that extends through the granite base of Vilcabamba for more than 40 km crossing a variety of ecosystems.

Landscapes in the Inca Trail 8 Days

The natural environment is impressive and the balance achieved between nature and Inca architecture is remarkable.

The Vilcabamba mountain range has peaks of more than 6,000 meters, such as Salcantay and Huamantay among others. The mixture of mountains, jungles and valleys create a fantasy world where sunrise and sunset are a spectacular mystery.

Inca Trail Fauna

This one is abundant and varied. The fact that there are endangered species such as the spectacled bear (Tremarctos omatus), the Cock of the Rock (Rupicola peruviana), the dwarf deer (Pudu mephistopheles), etc. was one of the reasons why the government decided to declare it a conservation unit.

The park has species such as puma, Andean fox, otter, taruka (Huemul deer), wild cat, ferret, etc.. There are also birds such as the mountain Caracara, hummingbirds, torrent duck, parrot, wild duck, and many other colorful and small birds. They also have reptiles such as the Jergon and the coral snake Micrurus (lethal for its poison), lizards, frogs, and a number of Andean and jungle animals that inhabit the Sanctuary. This type of wildlife makes the Sanctuary ideal for tourists and researchers who want to observe or study the animals.

Flora

The extensive natural areas are filled with a variety of forest species which vary by habitat. The vegetation of the forest is represented by trees such as cedar, romerillo or intimpa, laurel, etc.. There are also species such as Ocotea, Pedocarpus, Guarea, Weinmania, Clusia, Cedropia, Cinchena, Eritrina or Pisonay, and Ilex among others. Decorative plants have made the famous Sanctuary. Experts have identified more than 90 species of orchids, and several species of begonias and puya cacti. The varied conditions have created an ideal environment for the growth of diverse plant life ranging from dense jungle, such as cloud forest to the top of sparsely covered mountains.

Physical Preparation for the Inca Trail

There is a lot of talk among travelers about the physical preparation necessary to make this route, although in reality it does not require more preparation than others similar in extension and technical difficulty. Of course, you should be in good shape, and prepare the weeks before the trip with other excursions and long walks. Of course, the boots must already be used and proven not to blister. At a reasonable pace and with a small backpack, many problems are avoided.

Always make reservations in advance

As in many other hiking routes with high demand around the globe, you must make the reservation of the Camino with great foresight: six months in advance if we want to travel in dates outside of high season, and six months to a year if we want to do from May to early September. The two-day route is also usually the same or fuller and booking months in advance is more than obligatory.

Regulation to make the Inca Trail

This tour cannot be done on its own: it must be booked through an authorised operator as only 500 people (including guides and porters) are allowed daily access to the route and it is the authorised operators who receive the permits on a first-come, first-served basis. It is necessary to give the passport number and show it at checks along the way.

Permissions cannot be transferred: no name changes are allowed.