Ultimate Peru Trekking: Cordillera Blanca, Huayhuash & Inca Trail.

Getting to Huaraz

By Air

Huaraz is served by Comandante FAP Germán Arias Graziani Airport (ATA), also known as Anta Airport. The airport currently operates domestic flights only. International travelers flying to Peru will need to arrive in Lima first and complete immigration and customs procedures before taking a domestic flight to Huaraz.

At present, LATAM is the only airline operating flights to Huaraz.

Flight time: Approximately 1 hour 10 minutes.

By Land

Traveling by bus from Lima is the most common way to reach Huaraz. The journey covers approximately 404 km on paved roads and takes around 8 hours.

For a more comfortable journey, we recommend booking a bus cama (reclining-seat service), which allows you to relax and rest during the trip.

Recommended bus companies: CIVA, Movil Bus, Cruz del Sur, Julio César, and Línea.

Travel time by bus: Approximately 8 hours.

Arrival in Huaraz

Regardless of how you travel to Huaraz, please make your own way to the hotel designated for your tour.

Your Tour Director (TD) will meet you at the hotel at 5:00 PM for an important pre-tour briefing. Please make sure to attend this meeting, as your Tour Director will provide important information and recommendations for your upcoming adventure.

We will pick you up from your hotel at 6:30 AM in private transportation and head north from Huaraz for approximately three hours. Along the way, enjoy stunning views of the Cordillera Blanca and the charming villages of the Callejón de Huaylas as we make our way to Laguna Parón.

Once we arrive at Laguna Parón, we will take a short hike to the viewpoint, where you can enjoy breathtaking views of the turquoise lagoon and the surrounding peaks, including the iconic pyramidal peak of Artesonraju, often associated with the mountain featured in the Paramount Pictures logo.

Finally, we will return to Huaraz in private transportation and drop you off at your hotel.

This day, we will start hiking early in the morning after breakfast at our campsite. We will pass through the Three Lakes Viewpoint / Mirador Tres Lagunas, where you can enjoy spectacular views of the Huayhuash mountains and the three stunning lagoons: Quesillococha, Siula, and Gangrajanca.

We will then continue toward Siula Pass, reaching an altitude of 4,800 meters (15,748 feet). From the pass, enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys before continuing our hike to our campsite in Huayhuash 4,350 meters, where we will spend the night.

Today, our Huayhuash Trek continues toward the southern section of the spectacular Huayhuash Mountain Range. We gradually ascend through dramatic Andean landscapes toward Trapecio Pass, reaching an impressive altitude of 5,080 meters (16,667 feet).

From the pass, enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the snow-capped peaks, deep valleys, and rugged landscapes that make the Huayhuash one of Peru’s most spectacular trekking destinations. We then descend toward Cuyocpampa Camp, located at 4,560 meters (14,961 feet), where we will spend the night surrounded by the magnificent mountains of the Cordillera Huayhuash

Our 4-Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu begins with an early morning pickup from your hotel in Cusco or the Sacred Valley. If you are staying in Cusco, pickup is scheduled for approximately 4:30 a.m., with the exact time confirmed during your pre-departure briefing. We will travel through the scenic Sacred Valley of the Incas, stopping in Ollantaytambo for breakfast (not included) before continuing to Km 82, the starting point of the Classic Inca Trail.

After registering at the checkpoint, we begin our hike toward Machu Picchu. Please remember to carry your original passport, which is required to enter the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu. The first section of the trail is relatively gentle, leading us to Patallacta, an impressive Inca archaeological site overlooking the Urubamba River.

After lunch, we continue hiking through beautiful Andean landscapes and small communities before reaching Ayapata Camp, at approximately 3,300 meters (10,827 feet). We expect to arrive around 5:00 p.m., giving you time to relax, enjoy a hot drink, and meet our guides, porters, and chefs. Dinner will be served around 7:30 p.m., followed by a well-deserved night’s rest.

Forget your alarm clock today—your wake-up call will be a warm cup of coca tea in bed! This is the longest and most challenging day of the 4-Day Inca Trail, but also one of the most rewarding.

We will start early and hike for approximately four hours toward Dead Woman’s Pass (Warmiwañusca), the highest point of the Classic Inca Trail at 4,215 meters (13,829 feet). After a short break to take in the spectacular mountain views, we descend into the Pacaymayu Valley, where we will stop for lunch and have an opportunity to refill our water bottles.

In the afternoon, we continue uphill toward the second pass, visiting the small Inca archaeological site of Runkurakay and enjoying views of waterfalls cascading down the surrounding mountains. After crossing the pass, we descend to Sayacmarca, an impressive Inca site perched dramatically on the mountainside, where we will have time to explore and admire the views toward the Vilcabamba mountain range.

From Sayacmarca, it is a short hike to Chaquicocha Camp, located at approximately 3,600 meters (11,811 feet), where we will spend the night. After dinner, weather permitting, you can join our team for some stargazing and discover fascinating Inca constellations beneath the clear Andean night sky.

After completing the most challenging day of the Classic Inca Trail, Day 3 rewards us with some of the most spectacular scenery and archaeological sites along the route to Machu Picchu.

We will start early and hike through the Cloud Forest, following a beautiful section of the Inca Trail known for its gradual climbs and panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. Along the way, we will enjoy views of Mount Salkantay and the Vilcabamba mountain range before reaching Phuyupatamarka, known as the “Town in the Clouds,” at approximately 3,600 meters (11,811 feet).

From here, the trail descends through a series of impressive Inca terraces and archaeological sites, including Intipata and Wiñay Wayna, one of the most remarkable sites on the Inca Trail. We will stop for lunch near Wiñay Wayna before continuing toward the Sun Gate (Inti Punku).

After approximately one hour of hiking, we will reach the Sun Gate, where we will enjoy our first spectacular panoramic view of Machu Picchu. We will then continue toward the Machu Picchu citadel and have time to take in the unforgettable scenery and capture photographs from the viewpoint.

Afterward, we will take the National Park bus down to Aguas Calientes, where you will check in to your hotel. Dinner is not included, giving you the evening free to relax and prepare for your Machu Picchu visit the following day.

We will wake up early and take the bus to Machu Picchu for a two-hour guided tour with your private English-speaking guide. Your guide will introduce you to the history, architecture, and fascinating mysteries of this extraordinary Inca citadel.

After the guided tour, you will have free time to continue exploring Machu Picchu at your own pace. If you have tickets for Huayna Picchu, you will have time to complete the hike, which takes approximately 1.5 – 2 hours round trip, depending on your pace.

Once you have finished exploring Machu Picchu, you can take the bus or walk down to Aguas Calientes, where you will have free time for lunch (not included).

In the afternoon, you will board the train back to Ollantaytambo, followed by private transportation to Cusco. We will drop you off at your hotel, marking the end of your unforgettable 4-Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu adventure.

We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at approximately 4:00 a.m. and travel in a private vehicle for around 3.5 hours to the trailhead. Along the way, enjoy beautiful views of the Andes, traditional villages, farming communities, and local llamas and alpacas.

We will begin our hike at approximately 4,600 meters (15,091 feet) above sea level. The hike to Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) takes around two hours uphill. If you prefer, an optional horseback riding service is available for part of the route.

As we ascend, you will enjoy spectacular views of colorful mountains, glacial peaks, and high-altitude valleys. At the summit of Rainbow Mountain, take time to admire its distinctive red, orange, and golden-colored slopes and enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding Andes.

You will also have impressive views of Ausangate, the highest mountain in the Cusco region at approximately 6,384 meters (20,945 feet). Your guide will explain the geological formations that create Rainbow Mountain’s remarkable colors and share insights into the Andean landscape and local traditions.

With some luck, you may also spot vicuñas, wild Andean camelids known for their exceptionally fine wool. You may even see condors soaring above the surrounding valleys.

After enjoying the scenery and taking photographs, we will begin our approximately two-hour descent to the trailhead. We will then continue through the highlands, where you can observe traditional Andean communities and their way of life. The local people continue to speak Quechua, practice traditional agriculture, and maintain cultural traditions connected to the mountains and the Sun.

We will stop for a delicious box lunch before beginning our journey back to Cusco. We expect to arrive at your hotel at approximately 4:00 p.m., marking the end of your Rainbow Mountain Peru day tour.