Walking Peru with Paxtours

Fly from Sydney to Lima, Peru via Los Angeles. They will arrive in Lima the same day as the flight will cross the International Dateline gaining a day. On arrival, transfer to a local hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

Transfer to the airport to board your 55-minute flight to Cusco, the centre of the Inca world. Once in the city of Cusco, the rest of the morning is free to acclimatise to the altitude (3,400m/11,400ft). In the afternoon, take a guided tour of the city. In the evening, a detailed briefing about the challenge to be faced in the week ahead.

Today provides a full day tour of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, where the nearby ruins of Sacsayhuaman, Kenko and Tambomachay will introduce you to the history of this astonishing region. Dinner will be taken at a local restaurant with a stay overnight in a basic hotel.

Leaving the city behind, head north over the plateau to Chinchero. The journey provides stunning views of the snow-capped peaks of Pitusiray, Sawasiray and Chicon. Descend into the Urubamba Valley and follow the river to the Inca fortress of Ollantaytambo. Continuing about another hour to the trailhead from where the hike begins. The trek follows the course of the river with the snow-capped peak of Mt Veronica (Waka Wilkay) towering above. At 82Km pass the ruins of Sallapunku and Torontoy to reach Q'oriwaynachina and the camping spot below the ruins of Qente. The ruins offer a marvellous chance to explore an Incan ruin without other tourists to disturb the peace and quiet. (Trekking time: 4-6 hours, trekking distance: 11kms).

Continue on the trail as it winds slowly uphill following the beautiful Cusichaca River, passing more ruins and the homes of local farmers to reach the community of Huayllabamba. From here the trail ascends steeply along a narrow hanging valley through a twisted cloud forest of endemic Que-ua trees before emerging at Llulluchupampa, your overnight camp. The view from here back down the trail and across to Mt Huayanay is breathtaking. (Trekking time: 6 hours. Trekking distance: 9Kms.)

A spectacular day begins with an early start. The trail first ascends at an angle of 30 degrees towards Warmiwanusca (4,050m/13,280ft). After a hard climb descend to the Pacaymayo River before climbing again past the ruins of Runkuraqay and continuing up to the second pass of the day at 3,900m. The trail then drops again down to the stunningly situated ruins of Sayacmarca, the waiting village. The afternoon walk is more relaxed; skirting the mountainside through a dank and dripping cloud forest until finally reaching Phuyupatamarca (translated from Quechua = the town at the edge of the clouds) where the camp will be situated. (Trekking time: 8hrs. Trekking distance 9 Kms)

From the ruins of Phuyupatamarca, a flagstone trail winds sharply down into the cloud forest to the ruins of Winay Wayna. The trail is lined with flowers and the ruins themselves are often covered with the orchids after which they are named. The final stretch of the trail is sub-tropical with hummingbirds flitting around and views down to the tumbling Urubamba River. After a two-hour walk arrive at Machu Picchu as the Incas once did, through the sun gate or Inti Punku. After a short visit to the site take a bus to the small town of Aguas Calientes and overnight in a hostel.

The whole day is dedicated to exploring these extraordinary Inca remains. If you are still feeling energetic you can also climb Wayna Picchu, the mountain overlooking the site. The mid-afternoon train takes you back to your hotel in Cusco. This evening is celebration time, for achieving your Charity Challenge goal, and discovering the majesty of Machu Picchu. After a meal in a local restaurant you will return to a hotel for the night.

Leaving Cusco behind, you will transfer to the airport for your return flight to Lima and visit a typical Peruvian restaurant for lunch. With the afternoon to do some more sightseeing, you will transfer back to the airport for your flight back to Sydney.

(This Itinerary can be extended, combined with a Round The World or USA Holiday)

N.B. The itinerary is there as a guide and may change due to unusual weather patterns, wildlife movements, the strength of the group and so on. We will do our very best to keep to the set itinerary however we cannot be held responsible for any last minute changes that might occur. In all such circumstances, your expedition leader will have the final say.