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What awaits you
This magnificent targeted tour brings together two passions for which many travelers visit us: a perfect combination between the history of the Inca civilization and the enthusiasm of mountain hiking. In 18 days and in 2 distinct stages, you will first discover the great Inca Empire, its culture, and its incredible archaeological remains, then you will end the trip by winding through the Andean trails in the spectacular Andes Mountain Range. To crown your stay, you will have the opportunity to experience a high-mountain ascent to the summit of the Pisco glacier, which rises to 5680 meters, a 360° viewpoint where you will appreciate all the splendor of the mountains of the Cordillera Blanca.
Highlights of the trip:- Lima, the capital
- Cusco and the Sacred Valley
- Machu Picchu
- Hiking in the Cordillera Blanca
- Hiking on the Pisco glacier 5680 m
Day-by-day program
DAY 1 LIMA
Arrival in Lima and welcome at the airport, then transfer to the hotel.
Included: Airport transfer – hotel
DAY 2 LIMA 🡲 CUSCO (1h 30 flight)
We will dedicate the morning to visiting the historic colonial-style center (Plaza San Martin, Casa Aliaga, the churches La Merced, San Pedro and San Francisco, the Central Reserve Bank Museum, then finishing at the Plaza de Armas, the Presidential Palace, and City Hall). Early afternoon, we take our bus to reach Miraflores for lunch and of course taste some of the famous fish specialties. We will end the day with a transfer to the airport. Arrival in Cusco in the early evening.
Included: private vehicle – half board – flight – hotel
DAY 3 CUSCO IMPERIAL CITY OF THE INCAS (3300m)
In the morning we will visit the archaeological sites near Cusco. We will first see the Q’enko complex, meaning labyrinth. This temple dedicated to Inca rituals is notable for its semicircular amphitheater and underground galleries carved into the rock. We then continue with the visit of Sacsayhuaman, a temple of extreme complexity due to its enormous stone walls… an architecture unexplained in the positioning of its construction.
In the afternoon, a walking tour of the city of Cusco and the Temple of the Sun (Koricancha), the famous “temple of temples,” whose polished stone walls are considered masterpieces of Inca art. We end this pleasant day at the city center, its Plaza de Armas, the Cathedral, and the streets where Inca and Spanish architecture blend.
Included: private vehicle – half board – entrance – hotel
DAY 4 CUSCO 🡲 AGUAS CALIENTES 2400m (96km, 2h + 1h30 train)
Today, we arrive at the village of Pisac 2970m, where we visit its Inca archaeological site located on a hill at the entrance of the Sacred Valley. The function of this military fortress was to defend the southern entrance of the Sacred Valley. In the afternoon, we continue to the village of Ollantaytambo 2792m to explore the center and its fortress, which defended the northern entrance of the Sacred Valley. Then train to Aguas Calientes at the foot of Machu Picchu.
(Elevation change: – 500m; Distance: 4 km, 3h trekking)
Included: private vehicle – train – half board – entrances – hotel
DAY 5 MACHU PICCHU
Your guide will pick you up in the morning at the hotel to take you by minibus to the Inca city discovered in 1911 by American explorer Hiram Bingham. The history and function of this citadel perched on a mountain at 2430m remains a mystery. This absolutely majestic site nestled between two mountains, young “Huayna Picchu” and old “Machu Picchu,” will enchant you with its beauty and mystical character. Guided tour of 3 hours. Return by minibus to Aguas Calientes and free time.
Included: round-trip minibus – entrance – hotel
DAY 6 AGUAS CALIENTES 🡲 CUSCO (1h30 train + 76km, 1h30)
This morning we go by train to Ollantaytambo, then continue with a visit to the Maras salt mines, basins of saltwater clinging to the mountainside where salt and fleur de sel are collected after evaporation. This white gold was exploited long before the Incas and allowed civilizations to preserve perishable food. We continue to the circular terraces of Moray, an ancient Inca center for agricultural studies and research. In the afternoon, we finish with the village of Chinchero, renowned for its handicrafts, and visit a traditional wool-dyeing workshop. Arrival in Cusco at the end of the day.
Included: private vehicle – train – half board – entrance – hotel
DAY 7 CUZCO
Free day.
Included: hotel
DAY 8 CUZCO 🡲 LIMA 🡲 HUARAZ 3100m (1h flight, 400km 8h)
Early morning flight to Lima, then by bus we take the Panamerican highway north to reach Huaraz, located northeast of Lima in the heart of the Andes. Lunch in Barranca where we enjoy various fish dishes, then we climb the first foothills of the Andes. Arrival in Huaraz around 19:00 for dinner and hotel accommodation.
Included: domestic flight – private vehicle – half board – hotel
DAY 9 HUARAZ (20km 0h30)
We begin with a city visit to experience daily Quechua life: the popular colorful market, Plaza de Armas, the museum and its 120 monoliths. In the afternoon, by bus we reach the starting point of our hike in the Black Range. After 2h of a gentle climb, we reach Lake Wilcacocha 3700m, offering a splendid panorama of the entire Cordillera Blanca. Return to Huaraz.
(Elevation: +510m –510m; Distance: 7 km, 4h hiking)
Included: private vehicle – entrance – half board – hotel
DAY 10 HUARAZ (30km 2h)
Bus at 8am to reach Pitec, the starting point of our hike in the Cordillera Blanca. After a more demanding 3h ascent we arrive at glacier lake Churup at 4500m. Return to Huaraz in the afternoon.
(Elevation: +600m –600m; Distance: 10 km, 5h hiking)
Included: private vehicle – picnic – entrance – dinner – hotel
DAY 11 HUARAZ 🡲 CHAVIN DE HUANTAR 3150m (230km 5h)
We go back 3000 years in time to explore the pre-Inca past reflected in the archaeological remains of the Chavín culture, a UNESCO World Heritage site where the Gods represented are divine animals carved in granite stone.
Included: private vehicle – entrance – half board – hotel
DAY 12 HUARAZ (130km 3h)
We will take the bus around 8 a.m. to reach the starting point of our hike in the Cordillera Blanca. After 4 hours of steady ascent through a typical quenual forest, we will arrive at the glacial lake Auquiscocha at 4400m. In the afternoon, we will return to the vehicle to go back to Carhuaz.
(Elevation gain: +700m –700m; Distance: 12 Km, 7h of hiking)
Included: private vehicle – picnic – entrance – dinner – hotel
DAY 13 HUARAZ 🡲 PISCO REFUGE
Departure around 8 a.m. by bus towards the town of Yungay, along the magnificent glaciers that form the Cordillera Blanca. During the trip we will visit the Yungay sanctuary, a village destroyed during the 1970 earthquake, and then the Llanganucco lakes where we will enjoy some free time for a picnic. Early in the afternoon, we will arrive at the Cebollapampa camp, the starting point of our hike up to the Pisco refuge at 4700m. Free time to rest. Dinner and overnight at the refuge.
(Elevation gain: +800m; Distance: 7 Km, 4h of hiking)
Included: private vehicle – UIAGM guide – picnic – entrance – dinner – refuge
DAY 14 PISCO REFUGE
Very early wake-up for our breakfast before starting our big day of ascent on the Pisco glacier. Under a wonderful starry night, we will first cross a long and large moraine to reach the foot of the glacier. From there, we put on our crampons and start 3 hours of climbing on ice up to the summit at 5750m. This stage is not technical in itself, just glacier walking, but it is nevertheless tiring and demanding due to the altitude. Pisco is one of the most beautiful peaks of the Cordillera Blanca, offering a unique 360° panorama of the surrounding mountains, a true wonder of nature. After regaining some strength, we start the descent back to the refuge to rest.
(Elevation gain: +1050m, –1050m; Distance: 12 Km, 9h of strenuous hiking)
Included: entrance – UIAGM guide – full board – refuge
DAY 15 PISCO REFUGE 🡲 HUARAZ
Easy departure from the refuge around 9 a.m. to reach Lake 69 at 4650m by a mountainside trail, then after the picnic we will descend to Cebollapampa where our bus will be waiting to take us back to the village of Huaraz.
(Elevation gain: +150m –800m; Distance: 15 Km, 7h of hiking)
Included: private vehicle – UIAGM guide – picnic – entrance – dinner – hotel
DAY 16 HUARAZ
We go to the village of Quinranca in the Cordillera Blanca to spend a day with the children of a rural school. We regularly contribute to the well-being of disadvantaged children in school environments by providing them with school supplies, food, clothing and medical care if needed. It is important to know that many of them walk several kilometers every morning to get to school, often on an empty stomach. Return to Huaraz at the end of the afternoon.
Included: private vehicle – full board – hotel
DAY 17 HUARAZ 🡲 LIMA (1h flight)
Around 7 a.m. transfer to the airport to fly to Lima, transfer to the hotel and free day.
Included: transfers – flight – hotel
DAY 18 LIMA
Today is farewell day for some, and depending on your flight time we go to the Lima airport. Check-in of your luggage and international return flight. For others, the adventure continues depending on the additional services contracted.
Included: transfer to the airport
Price details
The travel package includes:
- The international flight.
- Assistance upon your arrival at the airport and until the end of the program.
- A French-speaking tour leader for the entire stay.
- Occasional French-speaking guides on certain days.
- A UIAGM high-mountain guide.
- First aid equipment and oxygen.
- Entrance fees to all archaeological sites and attractions.
- Hotels and refuges based on a double room rate.
- 1 flight Lima/Cusco
- 1 flight Cusco/Lima
- 1 flight Huaraz/Lima
- A private transport vehicle
- Half-board meals
The travel package excludes:
- Accident, cancellation and trip interruption insurance
- The supplement for a single room
- Drinks, tips and personal expenses
- Crampons, helmet, ice axe and sleeping bag (can be rented on site)
