Glamping on the Inca Trail

Hike the Inca Trail, enjoying exquisite food, soothing massages and a comfortable bed each night. We take the classic route, from the Urubamba River, across mountain passes, through cloud forests and past crumbling fortresses, to the ruins of Machu Picchu. We have designed the trip to spend more time on the route, arriving at Machu Picchu in the afternoon for classic photos before we stay overnight in nearby Aguas Calientes. We return the next morning, fresh and well rested, for our in-depth tour of this New Wonder of the World.

2027 Departures From $6,650 CAD 

Day 1 

Begin your adventure in Cuzco, the Inca capital and among the most attractive cities in South America, with much of the centre comprising Colonial-era buildings with Inca foundations.

Around 6pm, say hola to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead. On some departures, the welcome briefing will take place tomorrow − your tour leader will make you aware of the plans via the WhatsApp group.

Your tour leader then ensures a big Peruvian welcome by arranging a group dinner.

Accommodation:Costa del Sol Wyndham (or similar)

Meals included:Dinner

Day 2 

Embark on a tour of Cuzco this morning, a chance to see the city highlights and adjust to the altitude. You’ll also receive your Boleto Turístico del Cusco (BTC) – a ticket allowing you to avoid the lines at various sites in Cuzco, which is useful for today and tomorrow.

Starting at 8am, we first visit the Qorikancha (Sun Temple), which was the most sacred temple in the Inca empire. We then tour Cuzco Cathedral, a gothic-baroque-renaissance masterpiece, before heading to the hills above the city to visit the imposing Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman and then the Qenqo Archaeological Complex. Finally, we visit mysterious Tambomachay, whose exact purpose is unknown, though it may have functioned, at least in part, as an Inca spa.

Accommodation:Costa del Sol Wyndham (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast

Day 3

Today we visit the magnificent Sacred Valley of the Incas, which runs along the Urubamba River near Cuzco. It’s the true heartland of Inca culture and tradition, with the high Andean scenery dotted with old towns and pre-Columbian villages.

Here, we visit the Pisac ruins, a former citadel that guarded a road from the lowlands and gives way to terraces carved into solid rock. We then visit the Inca ruins at Ollantaytambo, the one-time royal estate of Inca emperor Pachacuti, before a transfer to our hotel in Urubamba.

Accommodation:Sonesta Posada (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast

Day 4 

Early this morning, we transfer to the start of the Inca Trail at Piscacucho, known among adventurers as Km82, stopping in Ollantaytambo for a hearty breakfast and any last-minute shopping needs. From there, we proceed to the trailhead to gear up for the Inca Trail.

The trek kicks off with a hike to the checkpoint, where you must present your original passport. After, we have a captivating four-hour hike alongside the Urubamba River, exploring villages and fascinating archaeological sites, including Llactapata, an Inca marvel with administrative, political and economic significance at the base of a mountain.

Enjoy lunch in Tarayoc village, a buffet prepared by our skilled chef using fresh local produce.

The second leg is a two-hour trek along the left bank of the Cusichaca River, culminating at Wayllabamba, where tents are set up for your arrival. The camp team also provides warm water for washing, assists in bed preparation and hosts a delightful tea time and dinner.

Accommodation:Huayllabamba Camp (full-service glamping)

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 

The morning begins, as all do on our Inca Trail trek, with a hot drink delivered to your tent. Today’s journey is both challenging and rewarding, marking the most demanding and best-known stretch of the trail. A slow and steady climb takes us through a cloud forest to the meadows of Llulluchapampa, then we summit Dead Woman’s (Warmihuañusca) Pass, the highest point on the trek at 13,829ft (4,215m).

After a well-deserved round of high fives and photos at the summit, we begin our steep descent on original Inca steps to reach our campsite in the scenic valley of the Pacaymayu River (11,811ft/3,600m). Warm up in the dining tent with a hot, fresh meal followed by a well-deserved sleep under the Andean night sky.

Accommodation:Pacaymayu Camp (full-service glamping)

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 

After a hearty breakfast, we start the day with a climb, which takes us past the ruins of Runquracay and over the Runquracay Pass (12,894ft/3,930m), our second and final pass. From here, the Inca Trail becomes a clearly defined rolling path of flat boulders, providing access to sites only available to those on foot. One of the standout archaeological sites we visit is Sayacmarca (11,893/3,625m), perched high above the green cloud forest. From here, we enjoy views of Salkantay mountain as we hike to our spectacular campsite on the ridge above the Inca site of Phuyupatamarca (12,073ft/3,680m), where we can enjoy the sunset and sunrise.

Accommodation:Phuyupatamarca Camp (full-service glamping)

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7 

From Phuyupatamarca, we take the famous Inca steps: a 1.2mi (2km) stone staircase that rapidly descends into an immense panorama, with the peaks of the Vilcabamba range above and the Urubamba River far below.

Reaching Wiñay Wayna, we have plenty of time to explore these beautiful ruins and eat lunch before continuing along a relatively flat section of the trail (by Inca standards), through cloud forest and wild orchids to reach Inti Punku (the Sun Gate).

From here, we get our first full sight of Machu Picchu, with the Huayna Picchu mountain rising behind… congratulations, you made it!

Inti Punku is traditionally busy with photo-taking trekkers in the morning, so our late afternoon arrival affords us unobstructed views of the magnificent ruins. We also get a chance to snap some classic photos of Machu Picchu before we take the 30-minute bus down to the town of Aguas Calientes for a shower and comfortable bed for the night.

Accommodation:Hatun Inti Boutique (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Day 8 

Well-rested and refreshed, we return to Machu Picchu this morning for our guided tour. Machu Picchu is an architectural and engineering marvel, the staggering mountain backdrop making it even more dramatic. The Spaniards never found it, the Incas left no records of it, and so Machu Picchu remained an enigma, a city lost for centuries in the jungle until it was rediscovered in 1911 by the American historian Hiram Bingham. Your guided tour highlights the history, culture, architecture and mysteries that Machu Picchu still holds today.

This afternoon, we catch the train back to Ollantaytambo (1hr 30min) and continue by private bus to Cuzco (1hr 30min).

Accommodation:Costa del Sol Wyndham (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast

Day 9 

We begin our return journeys home after breakfast. But if you’re not ready for the adventure to end, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay in Cuzco.

Meals included:Breakfast

If the Inca Trail trek is on your bucket list, but you don't want to sacrifice the comforts of a comfy bed and warm meal - this is the adventure for you!  Reach out to us to start planning.