Machu Picchu Hiking, Biking, and Rafting Adventure

You will be greeted at the Cusco Airport for your private transfer to to our boutique style hotel. In the afternoon, you will meet your local guides and Explorer Chick Leader who will be guiding you throughout your adventure. Then you’ll enjoy a walking tour of the Plaza de Armas leading to your guided tour of the Inca Museum. This will be a perfect introduction to the Inca and Pre-Inca cultures. Afterwards, you’ll walk to the San Blas district for a Welcome Reception including dinner, drinks, and a stunning view overlooking the the city of Cusco.

Altitude: Cusco 11,152’

Accommodation: Boutique Style Hotel, Cusco (Shared)
Meals: Welcome Dinner with Peruvian Drinks

We’ll continue acclimatizing with light walking tours today. First up after breakfast, a gorgeous tour of Sacsayhuaman! This ancient Inca fortress outside of Cusco translates to “Royal Eagle.” It was the largest structure built by the Incas so PLEASE take a million photos.

We’ll then head to Awanacancha, a living museum and collaborative weaving project that brings 400 families together from all over Sacred Valley. You’ll meet a few of the weavers as well as the CFOs (Chief Fiber Officers)––THE ALPACAS! You’ll learn more about the artisans that use their fiber to make beautiful, functional clothing and decorative items.

Then, it’s off to the Pisac Ruins. Pisac contains some of the most impressive and mysterious ruins in the Sacred Valley. We’ll carry on to a walking tour of the picturesque town of Pisac known throughout the region for its colorful market. For lunch, we’ll fill our roaring bellies at a local restaurant in Pisac that specializes in regionally sourced ingredients.

To cap off another perfect day, we’ll take a scenic drive to our 5-star boutique hotel where we’ll stay for the next two nights.

Altitude: Max 11,152’.  Minimum 9,160.

Accommodation: Boutique Style Hotel, Cusco (shared)
Meals: B-L-D

Eat all the carbs, Explorer Chick, because we’re rafting through 6+ miles of wild scenery. Today we’ll take on the Chuquicahuana section of the Urubamba River, which is the largest section of rapids. While challenging with Class II-IV rapids, you don’t need any rafting experience to kick this river’s butt. Sail over long rapids with names like The Knife and Hawaiian Bombay while ogling eucalyptus trees, beautiful flowers, a profusion of cactus, and charming Andean villages.

After rafting, we’ll devour a delicious, hot lunch before returning to our comfy hotel in the late afternoon.

Rafting: 6 miles. Class II-IV rapids. 2.5 hours

Altitude: Max 9,350’

Accommodation: Boutique Style Hotel, Sacred Valley (Shared)
Meals: B-L-D

Now that our lungs are basically Peruvian, we’ll set off on a biking adventure after breakfast. Our private transfer takes us from our hotel to the village of Chinchero where we’ll be fitted for bikes and helmets.

Don’t panic if it’s been a while since you last saddled up! We’re heading out on a beginner’s ride to the archeological site of Moray––one of the first agricultural experimental “labs” on the planet. This beauty is constructed of descending circular terraces that were used to support a variety of microclimates and crops. Where better to enjoy our picnic lunch than surrounded by the ingenuity of indigenous Peruvians with spectacular mountains all around?

After lunch, we’ll set off on the next part of our bicycle journey over the rolling hills to the iconic salt ponds of Maras. Here, residents “mine” 3,000 bright white and multicolored salt ponds, which are divided amongst the local families. You’ll be able to taste the salt to experience its life-giving properties. After our tour, we’ll continue our ride to Pichingoto where our transfer will be ready to take us back to our bougie hotel for a delicious dinner.

Cycling: 5 hours. 20 miles. Ascent 1706’. Descent 4,506’

Altitude: Max 12,267’. Minimum 9,330’

Accommodation: Boutique Style Hotel, Sacred Valley (Shared)
Meals: B-L-D

Egg pref? Scrambled. Trail pref? Full o’ ruins plz. Today we’re headed to Pallata, where we’ll hike a trail to the archaeological complex of Pumamarca. We’ll wind through villages and enjoy jaw-dropping views over the Patacancha Valley. Pumamarca consists of ancient Incan stairs, walls, and ceremonial buildings.

We’ll hike down to Ollantaytambo past Musqa Pukyo and its beautiful farmed terraces. In Ollantaytambo, we’ll get to sink our pearlies into Pachamancha for lunch. Pachamanca is a Quechan cooking tradition that uses an earthen oven heated with hot stones.

After filling our tummies, we’ll have some time to tour the on-site brewery along with the village of Ollantaytambo, the best surviving example of Incan city planning with narrow cobblestone streets that have been inhabited since the 13th century.

After we say OMG for the five thousandth time, we’ll head back to our hotel for dinner and to rest up for our journey to Machu Picchu!

Hiking: 4.5 miles. 348’ gain. 1,700’ loss. Easy.

Altitude: Max 11,211’. Minimum 9,570’

Accommodation: Boutique Style Hotel, Sacred Valley (Shared)
Meals: B-L-D

HOLY GUACAMOLE IT’S HERE! Today’s the bucket list day. We’re off to Machu Picchu! We’ll hop on a Vistadome train that will take us from Ollanta to Aguas Calientes. Then, we’ll take a bus to the citadel entrance. Feel free to text your bestie and say you’re off to the citadel as if it’s the most casual thing ever.

Our girl gang has a private 2-hour tour on the books, filled with the history and mystery of this 15-century Incan masterpiece along with other important heritage sites across the world.

After our tour, we’ll have lunch at a renowned 5-star lodge, right next to the entrance to the citadel with picture perfect views and delicious Peruvian food. Then we’ll catch our bus back to Aguas Calientes and our hotel with amazing gardens, courtyards, and an on-site organic, locally-sourced restaurant. Tomorrow is legs day.

Hiking: 2 hours around Machu Picchu.

Altitude:  Max 9,160’.  Minimum Altitude 7,972’ (Machu Picchu)

Accommodation: Hotel, Aguas Calientes (Shared)
Meals: B-L-D

Title today Machu Picchu THE SEQUEL because we’ve organized a spicy Part Dos. After breakfast, we’ll hike to the summit of Huayna Picchu, which means Young Peak in Quechua. Huayna Picchu looms behind the Machu Picchu citadel, so there will be stairs. But you will be endlessly rewarded with the absolute best and most heart-thumping views of Machu Picchu along with bonus Incan structures only the brave (with permits) dare climb.

Along the way to Huayna Picchu, we’ll meander through the citadel for a second tour. The 2.5 mile journey scores you 1000 feet of elevation gain thanks to some seriously steep Incan-stairs. It’s a gloriously challenging hike with unparalleled views of the cloud forest and the Machu Picchu citadel. Descending from Huayna Picchu, we will take a trail to the rarely visited Temple of the Moon, one of the three temples in the area nestled inside a cave with a large throne-like surface that may or may not have been (but totally probably was) used for human sacrifices. Eeeeep!

After our tour and hike, we’ll catch the bus back to Aguas Calientes for a celebratory lunch in town. Then, it’s back to Cusco via the Vistadome Train to Ollantaytambo where we’ll catch our private transfer back to Cusco.

Machu Picchu Tour: 2 miles, moderate
Huayna Picchu: 1.2 miles. 1-2 hours. 985′ gain. Difficult.

Altitude: Max 8,835’.  Minimum 6,693’

Transfer back to Cusco: 5 hours (11,152’)

Accommodation: Boutique Style Hotel, Cusco (Shared)
Meals: B-L

Crying emojis all around. We’ll hug it out, say our farewells, and enjoy our last few lungfuls of that sweet, sweet high-altitude air. Grab breakfast at the hotel before boarding your private transfer to Cusco airport. You can book your flight from Cusco at any time.

Meals: B

*Explorer Chick reserves the option to modify trip itineraries at the discretion of your tour director as necessary due to weather, conditions, illness, injury, group dynamics, availability, or other unforeseen incidents.

It’s an early start to an epic and challenging day of hiking to Rainbow Mountain. You’ll go deep into the spectacular painted hills, also known as Vinicunca. Rainbow Mountain is an unexplored land filled with snow-covered glaciated peaks, wildly desert landscapes, herds of alpaca, and immaculate beauty.

The day starts with a 6am departure and 3 hours of driving through traditional villages with a panorama of the Andes before arriving at the trail head at 15,000 ft. You’ll slowly make your way through the valley and gradually up to the summit.

As soon as you arrive at the peak of the mountain, you will see a variety of wildlife including llamas and alpacas. This is the only place in Peru where wild Vicuñas and Andean camel can be seen. You will have plenty of time to take in the panorama of the valley, the tallest peak in the region – Ausangate Glacier (21,000′), and snap infinite pictures of the vibrant minerals that form the painted hills.

During your descent you’ll have the chance to meet the local Quecha people, who still follow the old customs of the Incas and weave the typical garments that are available in various shops throughout Peru. Afterwards, we will return to our hotel for an evening to enjoy on your own.

Hiking Hours: 7 hours
Distance: 6.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,700 feet
Level of Difficulty: Challenging
High Altitude: 16,666 feet

Accommodation: Boutique Style Hotel, Cusco (Shared)
Meals: B-L

Day 9 – Farewell Peru

Crying emojis all around. We’ll hug it out, say our farewells, and enjoy our last few lungfuls of that sweet, sweet high-altitude air. Grab breakfast at the hotel before boarding your private transfer to Cusco airport. You can book your flight from Cusco at any time.

Meals: B