Many of the houses that we see in this small village of Huacawasi are built from stone and have thatched roofs. The people of this village produce beautiful colorful textiles. In the morning, we will learn about the weaving techniques and be able to admire some of their high quality ponchos, chullos (wool hats), and other garments. After lunch, we will climb for approximately 2 hours to the top of the Ipsayccasa Pass which, at 4500 MASL/14763 FASL, is the highest pass on our trek. From here we get stunning views of the surrounding mountains. We will descend gently for about 1 hour until we reach the site of our second night's camp beside the beautiful Ipsaycocha Lake. We may be lucky enough to see Andean Geese, Puna Ibis, and other wetland birds. Walking distance approximately 9 km/5.6 miles (6-7 hours).

Today is a much easier day. After an early breakfast, we will walk gently downhill through a wide-open valley for about 2½ hours until we arrive at the village of Patacancha. The people from this area are known locally as "Huayruros" - the name of a red and black seed reminiscent of the color of their ponchos.

We will have a chance to view some textiles made by the people of this community - the high quality weavings are famous for their intricate designs reflecting aspects of their everyday lives and culture. We will walk slowly down the valley to Willoq, another Quechua village where the locals still wear their traditional dress and are proud to maintain their cultural identity.

Our transport will be waiting for us to take us further down the valley to the Inca town of Ollantaytambo where we will rest and have lunch. In the early afternoon we will catch a train to Aguas Calientes. This is a spectacular journey that starts in the Quechua highlands and slowly descends to lush tropical vegetation as we near Aguas Calientes. Total journey time by train is about 1½ hours. We will spend the night in a hostel in Aguas Calientes where you will no doubt enjoy the opportunity to soak in the hot showers! We will make it an early night to bed to prepare for your Machu Picchu visit the following morning. Walking distance approximately 12 km/7.45 miles (5-6 hours).

Today’s Highlights: Your excitement for our rendezvous at Machu Picchu will rise as we are hiking early in the morning (or taking the bus) through the forest to reach the site before most other tourists – even the Inca Trail trekkers (if you hike)!! You will have plenty of time to explore this truly magnificent World Wonder while you enjoy the beautiful sunrise from this once-in-a-lifetime viewpoint. Your group will learn about this mystical place in a two-hour guided tour of the ruins. Afterwards, you can opt to climb Huayna Picchu or Machupicchu Mountain (if you have pre-booked tickets) or walk to the Sun Gate or Inca Bridge (without extra tickets).

Today we arrive at the long-awaited finale of our trek, one of the New 7 Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site – Machu Picchu! We will wake up early after a refreshing night at our hotel to beat the crowds to the top of Machu Picchu and enjoy its serenity in the soft morning light. The Machu Picchu entrance check point is open from 06:00 AM until 17:00 PM. We will hike up to Machupicchu (a bus ride is optional for $12.00) and enter the hidden Royal Citadel of the Incas. Here we will have a 2-hour guided tour through this incredible ancient city to visit temples, terraces, palaces, priest’s houses, the sundial, the industrial sector, and the farming fields. Be amazed at the engineering ingenuity of the Incas which was so far ahead of their time and still partially a mystery today! Without having modern tools or even steel and iron to work with, the people who built this city were genius in organizing this community in a sustainable and beautiful way on the side of a mountain, even bringing water in canals through its streets for the people to use. When a Peruvian guide showed this site to Hiram Bingham, it was almost unrecognizable, covered in thick vegetation and in a state of disrepair. It has since been cleaned and restored and is now protected and treasured by the world at large!


 After this tour, you are free to climb up to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (Be sure to book in advance to get tickets for these!). Each mountain takes approximately 3 hours to hike up and down. Another lower-impact option for which you do not need an extra ticket is to trek to the Sun Gate, the main entrance from the Inca Trail (this takes about 2 or 2.5 hours round-trip). Another option is walking to see the Incan Bridge. You will be able to stay and enjoy this magical city for more than 7 hours before hiking back down to Aguas Calientes (or taking the bus).

Most people are ready to take the bus back to Aguas Calientes around 1pm where you can have lunch in one of the many restaurants (not included). While waiting for the train, you can visit a museum, more hot springs, cafes, etc. in the town. You need to be at the train station 30 minutes before your train departs at 9:30 PM. There will be transport waiting for you in Ollantaytambo to bring you back to Cusco - estimated arrival time 1:30 AM. If you prefer to be back in Cusco earlier, you can select the 16:22 PM (US $12) or the 18:45 PM (US $7) return train. Rest your feet and your body now, but we can assure you your heart will still be soaring for weeks and years to come!