Peak Andes

Cusco, the historic capital of the Inca Empire, is one of the most beautiful cities on Earth! The trip starts at 1pm when your guide will pick you up and take you for a traditional Peruvian meal at one of our favourite local restaurants. Then spend the afternoon on a relaxed walking tour around Cusco’s stunning historic centre – it’s important to take it easy if you’ve arrived from sea level today, as you need to adjust to Cusco’s 3,400m (11,200ft) altitude.

We’ll pick you up at 8am and take a short drive to where our hike begins at Tambo Machay. From here we climb gently through alpine pasture to the first of four mountain passes we’ll cross today, affording incredible views of the Cordillera Urubamba. We’ll pass serene Lake Quellacocha before descending, partly on Inca roads, through the rapidly changing ecological layers that characterise the Andean sierra to the isolated traditional community of Huchuy Qosqo, where we’ll stay the night in a memorable homestay. Walking time: 6-8 hours Walking distance: 14km (8.7 miles) Min. Altitude: 3,300m (10,000ft) Max. Altitude: 4,250m (13,940ft) Altitude of accommodation: 3,460m (11,350ft)

This morning we’ll explore Huchuy Qosqo. Thought to have been one of the palaces of the eighth Inca, Viracocha, it’s an impressive Inca site with a variety of architecture featuring both stone and mud-brick buildings. Because there’s no road access to Huchuy Qosqo, there are few visitors and we’ll probably have the site to ourselves. After this, it’s a steep descent to the road and the village of Lamay, where we’ll have lunch before heading to Ollantaytambo in our vehicle. From here we’ll take the train to Aguas Calientes, where we’ll spend the night. Walking time: 2 hours, all steep downhill Walking distance: 2km (less than 1 mile) Min. Altitude: 2,700m (8,860ft) Max. Altitude: 3,460m (11,350ft)

A spectacular stone city surrounded by incredibly steep, incredibly green mountains, Machu Picchu needs no introduction and is deservedly one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. We’ll be up at sunrise so there’s time for your guide to show you around Machu Picchu’s main citadel, as well as our favourite hidden nooks and crannies, before the crowds arrive. Then there’s time for your own exploration of the massive, still-mysterious site, before we catch the train back to Cusco.

The Valle Sur just outside Cusco is one of our favourite places to take our guests, because it offers a one-day snapshot of the incredible variety of this whole region. We’ll see lakes, wetlands and mountains, and visit the eye-wateringly ornate church of Andahuaylillas and a crazy museum of shrunken skulls! Along the way we’ll sample local specialty foods like toqto (pigskin), cuy (guinea pig), or for the less adventurous palate, chicharrónes (pork chunks), and the area’s famous chuta bread – within Peru, the South Valley is a noted gastronomic destination. We’ll spend the night in the village of Raqchi, home to a group of gracious, funny people we’re proud to call our friends. They’ll open their homes and lives to you, giving you a unique insight into traditional Andean life.

Today we'll hike Rainbow Mountain. Known locally as Vinicunca, this mountain offers a challenging day hike to view an amazing mountainside where a combination of sedimentary layers and erosion has created a colourful spectacle. It's a challenging 15km hike, to an altitude of 5,200m (17,060ft), over a rough trail... but the incredible views make it all worthwhile! This evening we’ll enjoy our final dinner together in Cusco.

You can book your flight out of Cusco for any time today. If you’re staying on in Peru, we’d be delighted to help out with suggestions and assistance for the rest of your time here.