The Active Cusco Trip: Hike, bike & raft

Day 1: Lima

Your adventure tour start when you arrive in Lima. We can organize a transfer from the airport to the hotel; this is not included in the price. At the hotel, you will receive information about your flight itinerary for Cusco. Normally after a long flight, visitors prefer staying at the hotel, however your guide will give you information about restaurants, markets and other practical info for Lima.

Overnight in Lima.
Meals included: none.

Day 2: Cusco

Depending on your flight itinerary, we will pick you up from your hotel and drive you to the airport. The flight takes about 50 minutes from Lima to Cusco. During the flight, you will be able to see the impressive Andean Mountains and part of the Amazonian jungle. In Cusco, we will be waiting to transfer you to the hotel.

After a little rest, we can have a walk around the main plaza and visit some of the main sites in the city. At 7 pm, you will have a briefing at your hotel about the upcoming Huchuy Qosqo trek.

Overnight in Cusco:
Meals included: 1 breakfast.

Day 3: Huchuy Qosqo trek.

The perfect way to start the Cusco adventure is with a hike to Huchuy Qosqo. This is fact a remarkable short hike that will take you to a complex that is not visited by many tourist. The trek passes by amazing views of the Vilcabamba mountain range and numerous lagoons, Andean farms as well as typical small Andean villages.

Ascending to the first pass at 3,800m, we will see archaeological remains, groups of colorfully dressed women and llamas and alpacas – classic views while trekking here.

In the afternoon after we pass the highest point of Pumamarka at 4,000 m, we will enter a rocky and narrow road that will lead us down into an incredible gorge called Leon Punku Ravine, with solid and great Inca remains on the vertical cliff wall.

As we keep walking downhill from the wild Andean mountain to a calmer landscape 3,600 m (11,811 ft), where we  arrive to Huchuy Qosqo and set up camp.

Click to read more about Huchuy Qosqo trek.

Day 4: Huchuy Qosqo – Ollantaytambo- Santa Maria

Early in the morning after a healthy breakfast is the perfect time to see Huchuy Qosqo at your own pace or with your trekking guide. After Huchuy Qosqo, we will begin to descent to La May, located on the Sacred Valley road, where our private car will be waiting to take us to Ollantaytambo for a rest. (1 breakfast – 1 lunch – 1 dinner). Hotel at Ollantaytambo.

Day 5: Biking and rafting tour

This is one of the easiest downhill biking tours in Cusco. We will pick you up from your hotels at 6 am. We start driving up to Malaga path (14,500 ft or 4,350 meters above sea level), the highest part of the drive. Here the scenery is amazing: snow-capped mountains, waterfalls and Andean communities. Carrizales is the next and last stop in the road and is the starting point of the mountain biking adventure.

Before biking, we will try out the bikes, following by a briefing about the route and some other safety precautions. The weather will change significantly while biking, from Andean cold winds to warm rain forest air. The first hours are downhill on paved roads and the rest of the trip changes to a dirt road, crossing small rivers and up and down small hills – not difficult. On the way, we will see banana, papaya and other jungle vegetation. We eventually arrive in Santa Maria, a small town in the rain-forest where we will rest and get ready for our Rafting adventure.

This trip is the best one day whitewater tour in Peru during dry season. Before we start, your guide will explain different techniques including rafting commands, positions and other safety instructions. To feel comfortable with the comands, there will be a practice on the river before entering the rapids. This section offers great splashy level III to level IV rapids with nice crashing waves and holes, the scenery is nice and the perfect weather (28 C- 82 F) aloud us to jump swim and enjoy the perfect adventure day.

Overnight at Quillabamba.

Meals included: (1-breakfast-1 lunch-1 dinner).

Day 6: Trekking to Santa Teresa

The green Urubamba River, the rain forest and the high Andean mountain peaks makes this a stunning introduction to your Cusco Adventure tour.

The third day of this Cusco adventure tour start at 8 am, where we will take a private car that will take us to Santa Rosa beginning of the hiking tour. The group, will spend 3 hours hiking in breathtakingly beautiful rain forest mountain landscapes. Guests will have a lunch is small restaurant located between Santa Rosa and Santa Teresa. In the afternoon you will experience a variety of settings, from rain forest vegetation to ridges and small waterfalls. At the end of the day we will arrive to Santa Teresa another small village in the rain forest, where we will book in a lovely lodge. Just minutes away from the lodge, you can enjoy at the Colcalmayo hot-springs, perfect place to relax before continuing with the next Cusco Adventure tour program the next day.

Overnight in Santa Teresa: Eco Quechua Lodge
Meals included: 1 breakfast – 1 lunch – 1 dinner

Day 7: Hike to Aguas Calientes

Early in the morning, we will take a public vehicle towards the small village of Lucamabamba, the beginning of the hike. You will hike in a well preserved and authentic Inca trail along Inca ruins and breath-taking views to Patallaqta, a hidden complex located a top a mountain in the jungle, plus its the only place to enjoy views of Machu Picchu from a different angle. It takes 1 hour to Hydroelectric train station, where we can catch the train ( 20 to 30 minutes 24 U$ not included in the price) or continue walking for two-and-a-half more hours to Aguas Calientes.

Overnight at Aguas Calientes

Day 8: Machu Picchu – Ollantaytambo

The best way to enjoy Machu Picchu is early in the morning before it gets crowded by hundreds of tourists. After an energetic breakfast we board the bus that will take us to Machu Picchu. A comprehensive guided tour is provided by your guide who will explain the big mysteries that hides behind the history of Machu Picchu . Machu Picchu is an astonishing ancient complex that was built with minimum available tools. The quality of its constructions, the site’s very well preservation, and the breathtaking mountain views has made Machu Picchu one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world today and the most impressive destination in South America.

There will be enough time to walk around, take pictures and enjoy this place at your own discretion. Later we gather at the bus or train station to board the train towards   Ollantaytambo.

Overnight: Hotel at Ollantaytambo.
Meals included: 1 breakfast.

Day 9: Sacred Valley

The Sacred Valley offers stunning mountains views, charming towns and unique Inca architecture. This Valley runs parallel to the Urubamba River or “Wilkamayu River” (Sacred River). The Incas loved the valley for many of the same reasons today’s tourists and local residents do, for its special natural beauty and geographical and climatic qualities.

The perfect trip to end the Cusco Adventure tour. Hotel pick up at 8 am and walk to Ollantaytambo complex a unique fortress that contains spectacular archaeological remains served as an agricultural, religious, administrative and urban complex. Once again, enjoy a complete guided tour around this place. After, we board the bus and drive to Ollantaytambo through picturesque towns of La May, Qoya and Calca. Before visiting Pisaq, we will have lunch in a local restaurant and savor different typical dishes.

After, we visit Pisaq, a complex lying at the summit of a mountain. The perfect harmony between the settlement with the nature will captivate you with the impressive vistas while your guide will walk you through narrow trails and tunnels that connects the different sectors of Pisaq.  You will also see the Pisaq market – a wonderful open-air market where you can buy Peruvian handicrafts, clothing and souvenirs. Drive for 30 minutes more until we arrive at Cusco.

Overnight in Cusco.
Meals included: 1 breakfast – 1 lunch.

Day 10: Lima – Home

Transfer to airport and flight to Lima and then flight home.

What’s included?

Transport: Public buses, local flights is included in all our packages tours in Cusco Peru, train, boat and trekking.

Meals Included: All breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners. Food in Peru is incredibly diverse, each city and even some small towns have their own traditional dish. In this tour, we will make sure that you’ll try the best of our food.

Accommodations: 5 nights at 3-star hotels, 2 nights simple accommodations with private bathrooms, 1 day camping.

Rafting trip: All rafting gear (life vest, wet suits, paddle jacket, helmet, paddle, safety kayak).

Biking trip: Guide, bikes with suspension, disc brakes and 26-gear change, helmets, body, wrist, elbow and knee protection, camping gear.

Machu Picchu and Huchuy Qosqo trek: Local guide, all camping gear, entrance fees to the complex, train tickets to go back to Cusco. More info at Huchuy Qosqo.

Sacred Valley Tour: Entrance fees to Pisaq, Ollantaytambo, local English-speaking guide.

Transfers: Transfers inside Peru are included in all our tours in Cusco Peru. Transfer from Lima Airport to the hotel on the 1st day and from the hotel to Lima Airport on the final day are not included. This can be arranged for an additional cost of $20 USD per person

What’s not included?

Sleeping bag is not included in any our tours in Cusco Peru, meals on the 1st and on the 15th day, hotel during days that passengers want to stay in Cusco, or any of the cities.

For Huchuy Qosqo Trek, you need a sleeping bag (rated for -15 degrees), mosquito repellent, regular mountaineering clothes (hiking shoes and trainers, hat, socks, warm clothes, gloves, woolen hat to cover the ears, raincoat.), sunblock, flashlight, personal medical kit, and any items that you consider very important during this Peru trip.

Transfer from Lima Airport to the hotel on the first day and from the hotel to Lima Airport on the final day. We can arranged this for an additional cost of $20 USD per person

For more information about Peru, click at Peru Travel Info.

Departures 2017

Flexible departures. Minimum number of people to open a group in any date are 2.