Inca Trail, Titicaca & Nazca
Inca Trail, Titicaca & Nazca
Inca Trail, Titicaca & Nazca
15 Days Starting and ending in Lima
Visiting: Peru
Tour operator:
Tour code:
TPD
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
5 - 16
Age range:
16-99
Special diets catered:
Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishTour Overview
This tour combines the Inca Trail, one of the world’s great treks, with a taste of Peru’s diverse landscapes and cultures. Along the way, we visit Lake Titicaca, where indigenous groups inhabit floating reed islands, and the barren coastal deserts with their mysterious Nazca Lines. Cuzco is the ideal base for archaeological discovery and for embarking on the spectacular Inca Trail trek to the inspiring citadel of Machu Picchu, one of the New Wonders of the World. Our classic Inca Trail trip is designed to give you more time to enjoy the trail by arriving to Machu Picchu in the afternoon for iconic photos and overnight in Aguas Calientes. We return the next morning, fresh and well rested, for our in-depth tour of Machu Picchu and train back to Cuzco.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Start Lima
Welcome to Lima, the busy capital of Peru. There’s plenty of adventure on your trip, but today’s all about settling into the hotel. You are met at the airport and transferred to our hotel in the Miraflores district of Lima – please read the Joining Instructions in the Trip Notes for information on how to confirm your free transfer.
There will be a noticeboard in the hotel reception with details of where and when the group welcome briefing will be held.
Accommodation: Hotel El Tambo 1 (or similar)
Day 2 : Drive South To Paracas And Tour The Ballestas Islands; To Ica
Meals Included: Breakfast
We set off around 5.30am and drive south (four to five hours) to the port of Paracas. Here, we take a boat to the Ballestas Islands, a national park with one of the highest concentrations of marine birds in the world. There are also sea lions here and the Paracas Candelabra, a curious pre-Inca design on the hillside, only recognisable from the sea. The boat trip lasts around two hours, and once we’re back on dry land we drive for around an hour to Ica, in the heart of Peru’s wine-growing region. At the Huacachina oasis, just outside Ica, there are high dunes where we may have time to try sand surfing (optional).
Accommodation: Hotel Villa Jazmin (or similar)
Day 3 : To Nazca; Nazca Lines Viewing Platforms; Optional Scenic Flight
Meals Included: Breakfast
We arrive at Nazca in the afternoon with time to marvel at the Nazca Lines from viewing platforms. These are one of the world’s great archaeological mysteries, consisting of enormous drawings and patterns etched in the desert sand. Afterwards, for those who wish, there is the chance to take a scenic flight over the Nazca Lines (optional).
Accommodation: Hotel Casa Andina (or similar)
Day 4 : Head Into The Andes To Abancay
Meals Included: Breakfast
We turn inland from the coastal desert, climbing high into the Andes on a long (11 to 12 hours) but spectacular drive. This region has only recently become easily accessible due to an upgrade of the Abancay-Chalhuanca road. We may see vicuñas (a smaller wild relative of the llama), as this area is the largest vicuña reserve in Peru, while flamingos are also usually sighted at high Andean lakes near the road. The altitude here can make physical exertion difficult (the highest point we reach today is Negro Mayu at approximately 15,090ft/4,600m). We stay in Abancay tonight and we recommend resting after the long drive.
Accommodation: Hotel de Turistas Abancay (or similar)
Day 5 : Continue To Cuzco; Afternoon Free To Acclimatise
Meals Included: Breakfast
We set off towards Cuzco this morning, stopping en route to visit the unique Inca Saywite stone and Tarawasi ruins. The glaciated summits of the Vilcabamba mountain range and the descent into the Apurimac River valley demonstrate the dramatic contrasts of the Andes, and we should expect stunning scenery throughout today’s five to six-hour drive.
Accommodation: MamaSara Hotel (or similar)
Day 6 : Free Day In Cuzco To Explore Inca Ruins And Spanish Churches
Meals Included: Breakfast
Cuzco has a multitude of attractions in and around the city, both active and historical, and today is free to explore. An optional visit to the Sacred Valley of the Incas and the Pisac ruins is available, as is the option to try paddleboarding on a high-altitude lake on the plateau just outside the city.
Accommodation: MamaSara Hotel (or similar)
Day 7 : Start Inca Trail Trek From Km82; Walk Along Vilcanota River; Climb To Huayllabamba
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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).
Accommodation: : Huayllabamba Camp (full-service camping)
Day 8 : Summit Dead Woman's Pass; Descend To Pacaymayu
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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 camping)
Day 9 : Over Runquracay Pass To The Ruins Of Sayacmarca And Phuyupatamarca
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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.
Accommodation: Phuyupatamarca Camp (full-service camping)
Day 10 : Walk Down Inca Steps To Wiñay Wayna And Machu Picchu Via The Sun Gate
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
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.
Accommodation: Terraza de Luna (or similar)
Day 11 : Guided Tour Of Machu Picchu; Return To Cuzco By Train And By Road
Meals Included: Breakfast
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 12 : Drive Across The Altiplano To Lake Titicaca, Visiting Inca Sites En Route
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Today we travel for 10 hours by private coach along the Vilcanota River and onto the altiplano, the high plains separating the Andes from the jungle. Although it is quite a long drive, it is interesting and often spectacular. There are scheduled stops at interesting sites to break up the day and all along the route we feel the immensity of the Andean landscapes. A packed lunch is included today. This afternoon, we arrive into Puno (12,470ft/3,800m) on the shores of Lake Titicaca.
Accommodation: Hotel Casona Plaza (or similar)
Day Trip To Floating Reed Islands Of Uros And Taquile
Meals Included: Breakfast
We take a boat to the floating island of Uros, where the Uros people have been living on reed rafts for centuries. Although many have now moved to the mainland, there are still a couple of thousand who remain on the islands anchored close to Puno. A reasonable amount of their income is now provided by strictly regulated tourism, but they also still fish the lake and barter with mainland communities to obtain essential daily items.
After, we continue to Taquile Island, home to a community known for their remarkable weaving and traditional lifestyle. The panoramic views of the lake from the island are incredible, and it is often possible to see the snow-capped peaks of the Cordillera Real in the distance. There is the option to eat lunch on the island before we return to Puno.
Accommodation: Hotel Casona Plaza (or similar)
Day 14 : Transfer To Juliaca; Fly To Lima
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today we transfer approximately one hour to Juliaca Airport and fly back to Lima in the afternoon. In the evening, there is the chance to go for a final meal together at one of the local restaurants (at own expense).
Accommodation: Hotel El Tambo 1 (or similar)
Day 15 : End Lima
Meals Included: Breakfast
Begin your return journey home after breakfast. Alternatively, journey into the wilds on our Amazon Rainforest extension and explore lakes, rivers and jungle trails in search of the abundant wildlife that lives there.
What's Included
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All breakfasts, five lunches, three dinners
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11 nights in hotels and three nights of full-service camping
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All transport and listed activities
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Tour leader throughout
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Arrival and departure transfers
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Full porterage throughout trek
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Exodus kitbag
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Inflatable sleeping mat while camping
What's Not Included
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Travel insurance
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Single accommodation (available on request)
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Visas or vaccinations
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Sleeping bag (hire locally from US$20)
Food
All breakfasts, five lunches and three dinners are included in the price of the tour.
Peruvian cuisine is loved for its flavours and originality; it’s well worth digging into the local delicacies. Among these are ceviche (seafood or fish marinated in lime juice), lomo saltado (a Peruvian take on a beef stir-fry), and various hearty soups including the delicious quinoa soup. Other dishes include roasted cuy (guinea pig) and alpaca steak. To drink, there’s pisco sour, the national beverage.
Drinking water is provided as tap water in Peru is not safe to drink; boiled and filtered drinking water is provided on the trek and elsewhere your leader buys large water containers from which you can refill your bottle.
Hotel breakfasts are normally simple buffets, usually including bread/toast and jam, cereal, sometimes eggs or a cooked dish, sometimes fruit, tea/coffee and fruit juice. We cannot guarantee that wheat-/gluten-free products are available for breakfast in all locations – if you have an intolerance you may wish to bring your own breakfast food.
Where lunch and dinner are not included in Cuzco/Aguas Calientes, we visit a variety of cafes and restaurants.
On the Inca Trail, hearty breakfasts are served and good quality cooked lunches and dinners are provided. These usually consist of soup or a starter, a main course with meat/fish and some form of carbohydrates, followed by a dessert. Snacks are also provided. Tea/coffee is brought to your tent each morning and juice or hot drinks are provided with all meals during the trek.
Accommodation
For this adventure in Peru, we have 11 nights in hotels and spend three nights camping. The Inca Trail is offered on a full-service camping basis with full porterage, meaning our camp staff put up and take down the tents, cook, and do all the camp chores. You need only carry your backpack for the day and enjoy your time on the trek.
While the hotels usually used on this trip are named in the day-to-day itinerary, below are some of the notable places we stay.
Ica: Hotel Villa Jazmin (night 2)
Surrounded by dunes and pisco distilleries, Hotel Villa Jazmin is an oasis of comfort in Ica. After a day of touring in the desert sun, Villa Jazmin invites you to relax by the pool and enjoy a cold drink from the bar (we recommend a pisco sour made with locally produced pisco).
Inca Trail: Full-service camping (nights 7-9)
For three nights, we sleep among Andean peaks and wake to mountain views. It'll be the adventure of a lifetime for some, but not one without comforts. We sleep and dine in good-quality four-season tents. We also have a toilet tent set up both in camp and during lunch stops. Boiled and filtered drinking water is provided in the mornings, at lunch and dinner so we can refill our water bottles. Additionally, a bowl of warm water is provided each morning and evening for washing. We stay in official campsites where additional bathroom facilities are available.
Aguas Calientes: Inti Punku Machu Picchu (night 10)
The Inti Punku Machu Picchu hotel is centrally located in Aguas Calientes, a small town alongside the Urubamba River. It has clean, contemporary rooms with private baths and hot water, making it a perfect place to relax and take in this unique setting far below the ruins of Machu Picchu.
Check out our Q&As
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Who is Exodus Travels?
At Exodus Travels, we've been exploring the world for nearly 50 years. From Walking and Trekking, Cultural and Cycling, Responsible Wildlife, to Polar and our new Premium Adventures, we are proud to offer award-winning small group and self-guided tours to 100+ countries worldwide.
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Are flights included in this tour?
International flights are not included with this tour.
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes, our local guides are English speaking.
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Is there a supplement for solo travellers?
If you would like to be paired with a tour member of the same gender, there is no additional charge. A single supplement can be requested if you would like your own room.
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
The minimum age for this tour is 16 years old.
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Can you assist with pre or post tour accommodation?
We are happy to assist with pre and post tour accommodation. Please enquire for detailed information.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
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Cancellation Policy
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