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At about 06:30 pick up of the hotel. We leave Cusco to go to Ollantaytambo and from there to Km 82. At Km. 82 you can buy things that you may have forgotten such as walking cane, water and rain ponchos as well as use the last real washroom for a while. We start walking from Km. 82 at about 10:00 hrs to Huallabamba (the walking time take as a 6 hours aproximatly)a quite flat and beautiful walk along the Urubamba River with a view of Mt. Veronica’s snowcapped peak in 5750 masl. Here we pass a few local villages, where people still build their houses with the traditional ichugrassroofs. Here we can see the famous tuna-cactus, some with the cuchinilla louse, famous for its amazingly powerful clothes-dye. At about 13:00 we have our lunch in Miskay, then we spend a little while resting at the hill with a view over Llactapata – an important agricultural place for the Incas. After Llactapata, we turn away from the river going up the valley along the Kusichaca River. Here we have a good chance to see hummingbirds around in the flowerbushes. We arrive to the village of Huayllabamba in the afternoon and continue upwards to our camp a little further in direction of Warmi Wañusca – known in English as Dead Woman´s Pass. From the camp we have a beautiful view of the valley and the surrounding mountains.
We get up early in order to start the steep tour uphill to the first pass, Warmi Wañusca, in 4200 m.a.s.l. We pass though the amazing forest covered with green and grey mosses. All through here we walk on high steps. After this, we come to the open area of the puna. Here we might see some llamas grassing just below the pass. Arriving to the pass, we all take a well deserved break and enjoy the view on both sides before we start the downhill climbing of the stairs on the other side. After some 1-2 hours walking we touch the valley floor at Pacaymayu, where there are washrooms available. Then we continue towards Runkurakay - another Inca ruin - and from here we walk on 100% genuine Inca trails. We head out towards the second pass in 3900 masl. At this place, on sunny days, we have a breathtaking view of the Vilcabamba Mountains, to where the Incas retreated after fighting the Spaniards. From here we walk the beautiful way down to the big ruin of Sayaqmarka. After a good explanation of the site, we continue through a small cloud forest towards our camp.
In good weather we wake up to a breathtaking view of the Vilcabamba Mountains. After breakfast we continue towards the third pass. At about 07:00 walk for approximately 5 to 6 hours . On the trail we will visit the archeological sites Runcuracay, Sayamarca, Phuyupatamarca, Wiñayhuayna. This part of the way is very beautiful with cloud forest, orchids, ferns and a colorful birdlife. At this point the Inca Trail is quite extraordinary with semi-carved tunnels and perfectly placed stones. We lunch at the third pass near Phuyupatamarca before we start the long descent to Wiñay Wayna, the place of our last campnight. Those who have more energy can take a longer descent to see the site of Intipata and we all go in the late afternoon to visit the extraordinarily well made site just behind the camp.
After our early breakfast, we leave camp at about 04:30 to reach Inti Punku in time for sunrise. From here we get the first glance of Machu Picchu between the mountains on its saddle high over the Urubamba River. At about 08:30 guided visit in Machu Picchu for 2 hours with official guide, we will learn about the importance – religiously and historically – of the place, and we will be able to appreciate the fine architecture of the Incas. After the guided tour you can go to the top of Wayna Picchu, from where one has a good overview of the whole area and the full site of Machu Picchu. Another possibility is to visit the beautiful temple of the moon. In the afternoon we meet in Aguas Calientes to take the train back to Cusco.
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