Compare Active Machu Picchu by Southern Explorations vs Inca & Amazon Adventure Family Holiday by Exodus Travels

Day 1: Arrive Lima

On your arrival in Lima, you will be met by our representative who will accompany you to your hotel. If you arrive early, we can arrange optional Lima tours and trips to nearby sites to fill your time. Ramada Hotel Upgrade - $40 per person. Since many international flights arrive here late in the evening, we highly recommend a hotel upgrade to the Ramada, a comfortable four-star hotel located within the Lima international airport. This upgrade is well worth the cost because it will save you up to two hours of transfer time between the city and the airport.

Day 2: Lima – Cusco

Meals: Breakfast

In the morning you will be taken from your hotel to the airport for a morning flight to Cusco (10,856 ft.), center of the Inca Empire. After checking in at your hotel, today’s Peru travel begins with a guided walking tour through the colorful markets of Cusco, making stops at the colonial cathedral and the impressive Incan Temple of the Sun (Koricancha) followed by a lunch of regional cuisine. You will spend the afternoon in the Inca heartland in the vicinity of Cusco. Among the important sites you’ll visit are Cusco's temples; Sacsayhuaman, a fortress with megalithic stone terraces; the stone Kenko containing subterranean altars; Puka Pukara, a small fortress that once protected the royal capitol; and the royal baths of Tambo Machay. You'll be returned to your hotel for the first of three free evenings in colonial Cusco.

Day 3: Whitewater Rafting

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After an early breakfast, your guide will get you to the put-in spot for today’s Peru rafting adventure about an hour away. Following a safety briefing, the trip begins with a stretch of small rapids and calmer waters to practice the basics of river-running technique, passing spectacular Inca ruins and terraces. Along the way, the guide will explain the remarkable history of these Inca architectural feats. While enjoying the canyon and scenic views, you pass under an ancient Inca bridge. The rapids continue to increase in difficulty and size, eventually progressing to Class IV. Before taking on the challenge of the final and largest rapid, you will disembark to scout this one with your guides. Once a safe line has been chosen, you will return to your rafts to run this adrenaline-filled finale to your Peru river rafting journey. After lunch, the next stop is Ollantaytambo (9,185 ft.), a small town with a famous Incan archeological site before returning to your Cusco hotel.

Day 4: Hike To Huchuy Cusco

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, you will be transferred by private van to the start of today’s Peru trek that includes an old Inca road and impressive views, as well as an opportunity to learn about local farming techniques and explore some rarely visited Inca ruins. The route travels high above Cusco and the outlying town of Cora, ending at an elevation of 13,780 feet, where Lake Qoricocha is located. The slowly contouring trail climbs to an elevation of 14,107 feet where some ancient Inca platforms in the hillside are believed to mark the boundary and entrance to the Huchuy Cusco Inca Estate. The rest of the day’s terrain is flat or downhill, passing herds of llamas and alpacas. The hike travels through the rustic village of Pucamarca, past an Inca bridge in a narrow canyon and offers spectacular views of the Incas’ Sacred Valley. You will arrive at a particularly scenic spot to enjoy a picnic lunch or snack. Continuing on, the contour on the high ridge brings you to the entrance gates of Huchuy Cusco and the extensive ruins themselves. Little is known about this mysterious site which translates to “little Cusco” in the Quechua language of the Incas and may have been the country retreat of one of the first Incas. Its three-story storage houses, trapezoid-niched walls, large main square, ten-ft terraced walls and hidden location above the Sacred Valley make these ruins a real pleasure to explore. Afterwards you will hike the rest of the way down to where the van will be waiting to return you to Cusco for a relaxing dinner and evening on your own before turning in at your hotel.  HIKE DETAILS: Approx - 8.2 miles | 6+ Hours Altitude: from 11,385 ft to 14,110 ft.

Day 5: Via Ferrata – Zip Linning

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning you will be picked up at your hotel for the start of today’s Peru tours, making stops in the Sacred Valley to capture some magnificent photos. In about two hours, you will rendezvous with your local expert guides for the unique experience ahead, surrounded by beautiful mountain scenery with extraordinary views of the Sacred Valley below, lasting a good part of the day. The Via Ferrata is a system of cables and steel ladders drilled into the mountain that gives visitors without climbing experience the thrill of ascending a 984-ft rock face protected by a waist and chest harness with double-carabineer system for maximum safety. Within the Via Ferrata are several zip lines consisting of six connected cables ranging in length from 300 feet to 1,650 feet, totaling 6,560 feet. After completing this exciting day’s activities, you will be taken to the hotel in the town of Ollantaytambo, where you will spend the night.

Day 6: Mountain Biking In The Sacred Valley

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

An early morning drive gets you to the start of today’s Peru mountain bike tour to the indigenous communities of Chequereq, Cruz Pata, the ruins of Moray, the town of Maras and the salt mines of Pichingoto. Your journey ends back in Ollantaytambo for lunch and another overnight stay in your comfortable hotel.

Day 7: Ollantaytambo – Train To Machu Picchu

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

On today's Inca adventure, you will at last reach the long-anticipated destination of Machu Picchu, symbol of the Inca Empire. To get there, you'll walk from the hotel to the train station for the picturesque train ride along the Urubamba River into a cloud forest before arriving in Aguas Calientes, the nearest town to Machu Picchu. You'll go by bus the rest of the way, reaching an elevation of 7,875 feet and spend the day exploring the ruins. Afterwards you will return to Aguas Calientes in time for a soothing soak in the town's famed hot springs before enjoying a leisurely dinner on your own. Overnight at a nearby hotel in Aguas Calientes. (B) OPTION: INCA TRAIL HIKE KM 104 UPGRADE – $150 Per Person (If permits available) For active travelers who can’t imagine seeing Machu Picchu without hiking the Inca Trail to get there: You depart on the 8 AM train from Ollantaytambo, arriving two hours later at station KM 104. After registering at the checkpoint, you’ll hike first to WnaWayna. During this three-hour Inca Trail hiking segment you will see ruins, waterfalls and many varieties of flora and fauna as well as spend one to two hours exploring the beautiful WnaWayna ruins. From here it is another two hour walk to reach Machu Picchu. You will arrive at the ruins in the late afternoon when there are few visitors. After a brief Machu Picchu tour, you will be transferred to Aguas Calientes by bus and spend the night in a charming hotel. Your evening is unscheduled to allow you time to explore the town and soak in its famed hot springs.

Day 8: Day Hike - Machu Picchu Mountain - Chinchero Market - Return Cusco

Meals: Breakfast

Rising early to escape the crowds, you return to the royal citadel, starting with what is for most travelers the highlight of their Peru tours, sunrise at Machu Picchu. From here, you'll continue along the Inca Trail on a three to four hour round-trip hike, ascending another 2,000 feet to the summit of Machu Picchu Mountain for a breathtaking view of the complex and surrounding area that most travelers never get to experience. You'll go by bus to Aguas Calientes and take the early afternoon train back to Ollantaytambo where a private van will be waiting for the trip to the colorful market in the village of Chinchero. Here you'll visit a community of textile artists who craft original organic pieces according to the techniques of their ancestors, to learn how the wool and alpaca are shorn, spun, dyed and woven into the high-quality creations for which this region is famous. Chinchero is the perfect place to find uniquely Andean souvenirs of one’s Peru tours. You'll be transported back to Cusco for a final relaxing evening and overnight at your hotel.Hike Details: Approx - 5.8 miles | 3-4 Hours Altitude: from 7,875 ft to 10,055 ft.

Day 9: Cusco - Lima - Return Home

Meals: Breakfast

Southern Explorations drivers take you to the airport in the morning for the return flight to Lima and your connecting international flight, marking the end of Southern Explorations services. Trip extensions to other regions or extra days in Lima or Cusco can also be arranged.

Day 1 Start Cuzco

Welcome to Cuzco, set high amid the altiplano! As the imperial city of the Incas, it was the centre of a vast empire which, at its peak, stretched from Colombia to Chile. After Spanish conquistadors invaded, they built on top of Inca structures, resulting in unique architecture, a fusion of the Spanish colonial and Inca styles. Take it easy on arrival in Cuzco and drink plenty of water to help your body adjust to the altitude (11,155ft/3,400m). There is a noticeboard in the hotel reception with details of where and when the group welcome briefing will be held. After, we have a walking orientation tour to preview some of the historic sites in Cuzco. Accommodation: MamaSara Hotel (or similar)

Day 2 - 3 Sightseeing and activities in Cuzco; choice of optional activities

Day 4 Classic Inca Trail: Start Inca Trail trek from Km82; walk along Vilcanota River; climb to Huayllabamba

The classic Inca Trail is a tangential branch part of a 27,960mi (45,000km) road network linking the whole empire to Cuzco. It was built in the 15th century to reach Machu Picchu but was abandoned soon after the Spanish conquest. Early this morning, we transfer (1hr 30min) from Cuzco into the Sacred Valley. Reaching the town of Ollantaytambo, we drive for one hour along the final stretch of road to the start of the Inca Trail at Piscacucho, recognized among adventurers as Km82. After greeting our trekking crew, we show our passports at the checkpoint and begin the fabled Inca Trail trek. Our route today runs alongside the Vilcanota River, beneath the snow-capped peak of Nevado Veronica, passing through cactus gardens and settlements, until we reach the terraced Inca ruins of Llactapata, where we continue up the Cusichaca Valley to camp near the village of Huayllabamba (9,186ft/2,800m). Walk profile: Approximately 7mi (11km), six to seven hours Accommodation: Huayllabamba Camp (full-service camping) Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 Classic Inca Trail: Summit Dead Woman's Pass; descend to Pacaymayu

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. Walk profile: Approximately 6mi (10km), six to seven hours Accommodation: Pacaymayu Camp (full-service camping) Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 Classic Inca Trail: Over Runquracay Pass to the ruins of Sayacmarca and Phuyupatamarca

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 archeological 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. Walk profile: Approximately 7.5mi (12km), five to six hours Accommodation: Phuyupatamarca Camp (full-service camping) Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7 Walk down Inca steps to Wiñay Wayna and Machu Picchu via the Sun Gate

Classic Inca Trail: Walk down Inca steps to Wiñay Wayna and Machu Picchu via the Sun Gate 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 Vilcanota 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 finally 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. We are reunited with those who have been on the Lares Trek or One-Day Inca Trail Option at the hotel this afternoon. Walk profile: Approximately 5.5mi (9km), six to seven hours Accommodation: Terraza de Luna (or similar) Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 8 Guided tour of Machu Picchu; return to Cuzco by train and road

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: MamaSara Hotel (or similar)

Day 9 Free day in Cuzco for shopping or activities

Today has been left free to relax after the trek or explore Cuzco further. Your leader can help to arrange optional excursions and activities – please see the Optional Activities section of the Trip Notes for more details. Accommodation: MamaSara Hotel (or similar)

Day 10 Fly to Puerto Maldonado; boat transfer to Amazon lodge in the Tambopata Reserve

We leave Cuzco early today as we take a short flight to Puerto Maldonado (due to poor flight availability, on some departures, this flight connects through Lima and is considerably longer), a small town in the rainforest. On arrival, we transfer to the dock for a boat trip (approximately 45 minutes) to our lodge in the Tambopata Reserve. On the way, we may see river turtles and a wide variety of birdlife. The order of activities in the rainforest may change depending on the weather and other factors. However, there is a briefing upon arrival at the lodge followed by the chance to learn about the traditional use of bow and arrows – and even have a go! After dinner, we travel by boat in search of river alligators, using torches (flashlights) to look for the red reflections of their eyes on the riverbank, as well as looking for other nocturnal animals. Accommodation: Nape Lodge (or similar)

Day 11 - 12 Discover the rainforest and wildlife on foot, by boat and via a canopy tower

The next two days are spent exploring the forest, rivers and lakes surrounding the lodge, on foot and by boat. Although a lot of the wildlife tends to hide in the dense foliage, we can expect to see a wide variety of birds, including herons and egrets, jacanas, macaws and the prehistoric-looking hoatzin, as well as several species of monkey, reptiles and insects, and (with luck) the giant otters that live in the rivers of the Amazon Basin. We visit Tres Chimbadas Lake, where we hope to see a great variety of wild fauna such as monkeys, macaws, black alligators, flying parrots and, if we are lucky, river otters. We also visit a parrot clay lick where, at dawn, different types of parrots and other bird species meet. We go on a night walk in search of insects, amphibians, tarantulas, bats, nocturnal birds and large nocturnal mammals. Accommodation: Nape Lodge (or similar)

Day 13 Fly to Lima and overnight

A dawn start is required for the boat transfer back to Puerto Maldonado, giving memorable views of sunrise over the river. Look out for the early morning wildlife, which is particularly active at this time. Howler monkeys are frequently heard as they stake out their territories. The adventure ends at Puerto Maldonado airport, where we say goodbye to our leader and take a short flight to Lima. A local representative transfers us to our hotel for the night. Accommodation: Hotel El Tambo 1 (or similar)

Day 14 End Lima

Our adventure ends after breakfast this morning. If you’d like more time to explore, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.