Day 1: Cusco – Socma – Rayan
We start out with an easy first day. Leaving from Cusco early we drive to the Pampa de Anta and Huarocondo Canyon heading for the village of Socma which is a short distance from the Sacred Valley of the inkas.

Today’s hike takes us up the valley behind Socma as we make our way to a small Inca temple and beautiful waterfall that lie at the top of the valley. Walking Through fields cultivated with potatoes, quiwicha and quinua we will have the opportunity to see a variety of birds and native plants and to learn about the Andean people. we will teach you a little Qhechua (the language of the Incas) so that you can communicate with the local peop
le in the mountains.

After a relaxing morning’s hike we’ll finally arrive to our destination, the Inca temple of Perolniyoc. After a guided tour of the site we’ll carry on a short distance to our campsite at Rayan (3650m / 11975 ft.) where we’ll stop for camping. In the afternoon maybe some of the local families or children’s will visit us so you can practice the Qhechua you learnt in the morning and have fun together.
Day 2: Rayan – Cachicata
Today is the longest day of the hike. Setting out from our campsite we’ll carry on up the mountain making our way to the first pass on the trail. This area is still cultivated by the local people despite the high altitudes and seeing the people caring for their fields. One of the few plants that seems to thrive at this altitude is a type of mint,(muna) and the scent infuses the air throughout the morning.

it’s about a 4 hour walk to the pass (4440m / 14567ft.) where we’ll stop to take in the panorama and catch our breath before carrying on for about another 20 minutes to stop for lunch. After lunch the walking gets easier; having reached the top of the mountain the terrain levels out and we hike across the high plateau through a strange landscape of what appear to be burial mounds but are actually glacial morraine (piles of rock deposited by glaciers during the Ice Age).

Our goal for today is the Inca quarry of Cachicata. Working our way down from the high plateau we’ll arrive to Cachicata (3820m / 12532ft.) by late afternoon, passing by the inca water canal and an Inca ruin which people refer to as the Sun Gate along the way

Day 3: Cachicata – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes
Today is dedicated to exploring Cachicata. Despite it’s proximity to Ollantaytambo and the wide variety of interesting features, hardly anyone actually comes up here. Cachicata is an extensive site, it was the quarry used by the Inca for the construction of Ollantaytambo tonw there are various points of interest including several large buildings, quarried stones left half finished and abandoned throughout the site, chullpas (burial houses) and a cave with Inca mummies still in place and of course the incredible view of the Andes mountain range and the Sacred Valley of the Inkas.

After a guided tour of cachicata we’ll continue our way down the mountain following the original platform used for transporting the stones to Ollantaytambo and arrive to the town by early afternoon. From Ollantaytambo we’ll take the train to Aguas Calientes.
Day 4: Machu Picchu!
Waking up early we’ll take the first bus back up to Machu Picchu to enter the site as it opens. We’ll have a 3 hour guided tour of the site during which you’ll learn about the Incas and visit all the most important areas of the citadel. After your tour you’ll have free time to explore the site by yourself and if you have permits to climb either Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain. In the afternoon you will take the train back to Ollantaytambo from where you will carry on by bus back to Cusco.