Peru 2024: Machu Picchu and Sacred Valley in partnership with Becoming an Outdoors-Woman
Cusco, Peru
8 Days
May 19, 2024
May 26, 2024
Women’s Adventure
Tour: Easy, Optional Inca Trail Hike Moderate – Strenuous
Scroll Down For The Itinerary
Explore ancient paths, rituals, and ways. Walk with Pachamama, bask in the glow of Inti, and feel the spirit of Apu Ausangate on this unforgettable journey to Inca’s Sacred Valley and the “Lost City of the Incas” – Machu Picchu.
Be immersed in Cusco’s colorful culture and kaleidoscopic natural wonders on our Women’s Adventure Machu Picchu And Sacred Valley Tour in partnership with Becoming an Outdoors-Woman. More than traditional tours, participants will have authentic encounters with local people, hiking one-day Inca trail, and Rainbow Mountain.
In Cusco, your taste buds will dance to the delightful ingredients of Peruvian foods. Get hands on in a Peruvian kitchen! After a shopping tour for for local ingredients, we learn from a chef how to make ceviche, beef lomo saltado, and pisco sours! Meet a Shaman from the Quechua people will who will cleanse of of bad energy, and then guide us in a Pachamama Ceremony, one of Peru’s most ancient rituals. For those who are interested, the Shaman will offer coca leaf readings to give each person insight on your personal goals, challenges, and strengths.
Beyond Cusco, participants will experience high altitude 2-mile hike (over 16,000ft) at the Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain and photograph the fascinating striated geology.
In the Sacred Valley, participants will learn about ancient agriculture that is being used in modern day. You will tour archeological sites and explore textile markets.
Finally, the main event, to see Machu Picchu in all its glory! First, a hike over 8 miles of the original Inca steps on the last leg of the Inca Trail. Along the way, participants will learn about plants, history, and see other archeological sites. Just before sunset, we will pass through the Sun Gate and down in the valley below will be the Lost City of the Incas. Further down the trail, we enter the complex to capture the iconic photos of stunning Machu Picchu that you’ve seen in magazines like National Geographic.
Ladies who love to hike, and want to partake in a challenging wilderness trek that is much quieter than the Inca Trail, we are offering an add on to this already action-packed adventure. The Lares Trek is an expedition-style journey into the alpine trails of the Andes. You will see old stone houses, herds of alpacas, snow-capped mountains, and blue alpine lakes. More details about this trek can be found below the 8-day itinerary at the bottom of this page.
The Women’s Adventure Machu Picchu and Sacred Valley Tour in Partnership with Becoming an Outdoors-Woman is open to all women of all ages and backgrounds. Participants should be able to walk unassisted for 1-2 hours walking through cities and archeological sites, and hike up to 9 hours over 10 miles if they choose to do the optional Short Inca Trail Hike. No previous experience required for the 8-day tour. See the full itinerary descriptions below. Join us as a solo traveler, with a partner, or with a friend. There are no forced single supplements. On our fun and active women’s adventure, you will have instant travel buddies, lots of belly laughs and future-lifelong friends. This women’s adventure will be a positive and unique experience in the company of like-minded travelers. Learn more about BOW here International Becoming an Outdoors Woman.
Trip Highlights:
- Participate in shaman-led ancient ceremony to learn about Pachama and other important deities of the Incas.
- Let the spirits guide you. Have your questions answered during a private coca leaf reading ceremony.
- Learn to make Peruvian foods in a hands-on cooking class.
- Explore the Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain on a day trip from Cusco.
- Visit archeological sites, ancient agriculture sites in the Sacred Valley.
- See the Moray, Maras, and Saleines sites, a farming lab for the Incas.
- Ride the Machu Picchu Railroad through winding tropical forest.
- Hike 8 miles of the original steps of the Inca Trail.
- See Machu Picchu at sunset, with fewer crowds, and better photo opportunities.
- Tour the Machu Picchu site with a guide to learn about the temples and other features.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Included:
- All activities (see itinerary)
- 7 nights, double occupancy lodging 4 & 3-star hotels.
- Most meals from dinner day 1 to breakfast day 8.
- 24/7 Onsite support from a Green Edventures Trip Leader
- Local, professional guides.
- Airport transfers
- Tickets, entree fees, permits.
Excluded:
- Personal spending money.
- Beverages.
- Gratuity ($250 per person)
- Airfare to Cusco
- 2 dinner, 1 lunch
- Travel insurance
Supplemental Information:
- Packing List (coming soon)
Tour Map
Machu Picchu
sacred valley
Payments
Package Price: $3895
Deposit: $750 by February 15, 2024
Installments: See payment terms at booking for installments.
Group Size Min / Max: 8/12
Travel Documents: A passport is required.
Travel insurance is available and recommended. Medical evacuation insurance is required and can be purchased as part of a comprehensive travel insurance policy.
Cancellation Policy
Terms & Conditions
Tour Itinerary
The adventure begins and ends in Cusco. We spend 7 nights in 3-star hotels. Each room double occupancy. A single supplement upgrade might be available. Those who want to extend their stay can add on the Lares Trek for a more authentic and challenging hiking experience.
►Where Do We Stay?
- Night 1: Cusco
- Night 2: Cusco
- Night 3: Cusco
- Night 4: Ollantayambo
- Night 5: Ollantayambo
- Night 6: Aguas Calientes
- Night 7: Cusco
►Day 1:Welcome to Cusco, Peru!
Schedule your flight to arrive before 5pm and anytime before that is convenient and economical for you. This is a travel and rest day. A taxi driver will be at the airport waiting when you arrive in Cusco. Your Green Edventures Trip Leader will be at the hotel and there to greet you at check in. In the evening we will have a group meeting before heading out to dinner. The next few days will be easy days to allow your bodies to acclimate to 11,000ft elevation (D).
Note: Detailed travel parameters will be provided. Most flights from the USA will transfer through Lima. Green Edventures and our travel agent will assist you with your flights.
►Day 2: Shaman-Led Pachamama Ceremony & Coca Leaf Readings
Morning:
Breakfast at the hotel, then transfer to Inca ruins just outside the city to get away from the urban life and closer to Pachamama, Mother Earth. This morning you will participate in one of the most sacred and ancient rituals of the indigenous Peruvian people. A Shaman will guide us through a ceremony to help us give thanks to Pachamama, and with it a chance to share with her your dreams and aspirations. You will learn about coca leaves and the spiritual role it plays in rituals. Participants who want to ask the shaman questions about their lives (health, career, advice) will have a one-on-one private opportunity to talk with him (through a translator). He will use the coca leaves to provide answer to your questions.
Evening:
Spend the evening inside a Peruvian kitchen and learn to prepare authentic Peruvian dishes that you’ll make yourself with the guidance of our professional chef. Participants will enjoy the dinner they made, together. (BLD)
►Day 3: Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain Day Trip
►Day 4: Maras, Moray, & Salineras
►Day 5: Sacred Valley Tour
After breakfast at the hotel, we drive to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, which was of great significance in Inca Culture. Thanks to the rivers that make it fertile, it was the most important area for maize production in the heartland of the Inca Empire, and an important import route of tropical foods such as coca leaves and chili peppers into Cusco. We will spend the day strolling through picturesque villages, agricultural terraces, and archaeological sites. This tour is the classic/traditional Sacred Valley tour and will visit the towns of Pisac, Urubamba, Chincheros, Ollantaytambo. Lunch will be in a restaurant in one of the villages. Overnight and dinner in Ollantaytambo. (B.L.D)
►Day 6: Choose Your Adventure: Hike The Inca Trail or Tour of Aquas Calientes
The adventure begins for all with a ride on the Machu Picchu Railroad! From the Ollantaytambo Train Station, we take the train for about 1 hour 45 minutes to the beginning of this Inca Trail Trek, at Km 104 or Chachabamba. The scenery is green and lush, now we are in tropical rainforest!
Hikers: At kilometer 104 we step off the train and begin the trek on the Inca Trail. Our guide walks us over a hanging bridge that crosses over the Urubamba river to the Control Checkpoint. Here we will show our permits, tickets, and original passports. Once the tickets are stamped, we will stop to use the bathrooms, get our backpacks sorted and begin 8-mile, 7-hour hike on the short Inca Trail. The first part of the journey is a 4-hour (2,000 ft ascent) with many stairs to the Wiñaywayna (forever young) archaeological site ( located at 8858 ft) where we will have a box lunch.
After lunch we continue for 1 1/2 hours on mostly flat terrain, with a final scramble up the “monkey steps” to reach the Sun Gate, the entrance to Machu Picchu from the Inca Trail, and then another 1/2 hour to reach the southern agricultural zone of Machu Picchu city (where the most famous photos of the site are taken). After our arrival in Machu Picchu city, we leave the park and take the 25-minute bus ride down to Aguas Calientes Town (6,692 ft).
Non-hikers: The Inca trail is not for everyone, and you can rest assured that you do not have to hike the many steps of the Inca Trail to see Machu Picchu. Everyone will visit Machu Picchu tomorrow. For those who are not hikers or who knees don’t agree with hours of steep steps, they can choose to spend the day with a guide in Aquas Calientes. Take the train all the way to into Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Town). Check in at the hotel, and then have a guided tour of some of the town’s highlights. Visit a waterfall and soak in the hot springs (small entrance fee not included).
Evening in town, celebratory dinner. (B.L.D)
►Day 7: Guided Tour of Machu Picchu
Morning:
Wakeup call and breakfast is early for us to take one of the first buses directly to Machu Picchu (7,875 ft). After the short 25-minute drive, you will enjoy a fascinating tour of Machu Picchu with your guide who will unfold the mysteries of this magical site, explaining the history and flora/fauna. Your guide will spend about 2 1/2 hours relating interesting and amazing stories, explaining temples and special sectors.
Afternoon: Lunch in Aguas Calientes & shopping. Transfer to Cusco.
Evening:
Overnight in Cusco. Lunch in Aquas Calientes. (B.L)* Dinner on your own.
*Tentative plan: those who are staying on for the Lares Trek will spend the night in Ollantaymbo. See the itinerary for the optional hiking extension below.
►Day 8: Departures & Flights to USA
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Schedule your flight to depart whenever is most convenient and economical for you. Participants will arrange a taxi from the hotel to the airport with the hotel front desk. This is not included and is approximate $25 per car. If you have late flights, you can store your luggage at the hotel and explore until it is time to leave. (B).
** Please note: The activities, lodging, guides, and schedule may change without notice as practical considerations arise during program development or onsite. **
Your Trip Leader
Tracey Seward
Trip Leader
E-Mail: info@3.17.200.177
Tracey’s Green Edventures’ journey started in 2016 as she accompanied her high school daughter on an adventure trip to Trinidad/Tobago. Tracey has had the privilege to trek and visit 25 countries, including India, Cuba, Spain, Iceland, Peru, Tanzania, with her latest adventure. . .a humbling summit to Mt. Kilimanjaro with Green Edventures and 10 other adventure buddies on June 29th, 2023!
Tracey continues to ignite the spark of adventure in fellow adventurers, help them embark on their own transformative journeys, and realize their dreams. With an unwavering commitment to safety, health and wellness, and a deep respect for the environment and local cultures, Tracey will be your trusted companion every step of our adventure.
You can read more about Tracey here: Trip Leader Bio – Meet Tracey Seward
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