Stepping Into The Path of The Ancestors

Route: Cusco → Km 82 → Hatunchaca → Wayllabamba → Ayapata

Before the sun rises, your sacred journey begins. At 4:30am, your guide and our private van will gently gather you from your hotel in Cusco to begin this pilgrimage along the legendary Inca Trail. As the stillness of dawn surrounds us, we drive through the Sacred Valley toward Piskacucho – known as Kilometer 82 – where the sacred trail truly begins.

We pause in Ollantaytambo for a nourishing breakfast around 6:30am, blessing our bodies for the walk ahead and offering gratitude for the abundance that will sustain us. At KM 82 (8:30am), we take time to center ourselves – breathing deeply, preparing our offerings, applying protection (sunscreen and repellent), and giving thanks for the land and the spirits that guide us. You will entrust your belongings to the porters, carrying only what you need close to your heart.

We cross the sacred Vilcanota River, a gateway to the ancestral path. As we walk this first stretch – along the “Inca flat” – we begin to feel the presence of the ancestors. Towering above, the snow-capped peak of W’akay Willca (Veronica Mountain) watches over us like a wise and ancient protector. We’ll pass the ruins of Llactapata, whispers of stone that still echo with intention and mystery, and take in the expansive beauty of the Andes and the jungle’s embrace.

We pause for a lovingly prepared gourmet lunch at Hatunchaca. Afterward, we continued to Wayllabamba – nestled at 3,000m in the green heart of the Apus. There, your tent awaits like a cocoon, already prepared. Warm tea, nourishing food, and the company of Pachamama cradle you as night falls. Let yourself rest under the stars, held by the earth and the mountain spirits. Tomorrow, the path deepens.

Distance: 12 km / 7.5 miles (~6 hours of walking)
Elevation: Camp at 3,000m / 9,842 ft
Spiritual Focus: Opening to the path, calling in guidance, walking with intention
Difficulty: Gentle to Moderate

Overnight at Campsite (tented)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks, Dinner

Walking The Sacred Heights, Breathing With Apus

Route: Wayllabamba → Dead Woman’s Pass – Pacaymayu – Ch’aquiqocha 

As the first light of dawn touches the peaks, your guide gently wakes you with a warm mug of tea or coffee – an offering of comfort before the great ascent. Still wrapped in the softness of your sleeping bag, take a moment to give thanks for the breath in your lungs, the beating of your heart, and the path that lies before you. Today is a day of challenge and deep reward – a sacred pilgrimage into the heart of the Andes. After a hearty breakfast, you begin the climb to the highest point of the Inca Trail: Warmihuañusca (Dead Woman’s Pass) at 4,200m (13,779ft). With each step, you are ascending not just the mountain, but rising into a deeper relationship with your inner strength and ancestral courage.

As you climb, be present with the landscape – its symphony of birdsong and fluttering hummingbirds, its ancient trees and sacred Q’ueuña groves standing in quiet guardianship. The cloud forest embraces you like a veil between worlds, a mystical space between earth and sky. Reaching the summit is a profound moment. Here, in the thin air, stand still. Offer your gratitude. Breathe with the mountains. The spirit of the Andes – the Apus – receives your prayers and intentions. This is a place of transformation, where effort becomes offering.

After sacred stillness and photos, you begin the descent to Pacaymayu, where a nourishing lunch awaits. Let the food ground you after the high places, reconnecting body and spirit. Your pilgrimage continues with another sacred ascent toward Runkuraqay Pass (4,000m/13,123ft), a two-hour journey that deepens your dialogue with the mountain spirits. By late afternoon, you reach Ch’aqui Qqocha, your campsite nestled in the quiet arms of the Andes. Afternoon tea and warm food await, offered with care. Let the stars rise as your companions. Tonight, wrapped in the silence of the mountains, rest in deep gratitude for your strength, the support of your companions, and the sacred path beneath your feet.

Distance: 16 km / 10 miles (~9 hours of walking)
Elevation: Highest point: 4,200m / 13,779 ft
Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging  

Overnight at Campsite (tented)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks, Dinner

Walking Through The Clouds Towards The Eternal

Route: Ch’aqui Qqocha → Phuyupatamarca → Wiñay Wayna

As the sun gently stretches its golden fingers across the Andean peaks, your guide offers you a warm cup of tea or coffee – another blessing to begin the day. Still wrapped in stillness, you rise with gratitude, preparing body and spirit for a deeply sacred and awe-inspiring journey. Today, you walk among clouds and whispers of ancient wisdom. You begin with a soft and sacred ascent toward the mystical site of Phuyupatamarca, the “Village in the Clouds.” At 3,680m (12,073ft), this is one of the most ethereal points of the pilgrimage. The energy here is subtle, celestial. Let your heart open wide to the vastness of the mountains, the depths of the valleys, and the silence that speaks of ancient memory.

Take time to walk gently through the ruins of Phuyupatamarca, pausing often to breathe, to listen, to feel the echo of footsteps long gone – and yet still present. Let this be a moment of communion: with time, with ancestors, with the spirit of place. From here, begin your descent – three thousand sacred stone steps – through the lush embrace of the cloud forest, a living sanctuary pulsing with life. Feel the shift in the air, the soft breath of the jungle beginning to greet you. You are approaching the edge where the Andes meet the Amazon, where earth begins to hum in a different key.

You’ll arrive at Intipata, “Terraces of the Sun,” where light plays over the ancient stones and the jungle mist dances between terraces. Pause here. Let the sun illuminate your spirit and awaken the joy of nearing your sacred destination. By midday, you arrive at your final camp: Wiñay Wayna, meaning “Forever Young” in the sacred language of Quechua. This name is no accident – it reflects the timeless, vital energy of this place. Walk among the ruins where orchids bloom wild and bright, and feel your own youth renewed – your spirit cleansed, your joy rekindled.

This final night on the trail is one of reflection, reverence, and readiness. You are near the sacred sanctuary of Machu Picchu now. Let your dreams be filled with the blessings of the ancestors, the songs of the cloud forest, and the quiet joy of having walked this ancient way with purpose and devotion.

Distance: 10 km / 6.2 miles (~5 hours of walking)
Elevation: 3,680m to 2,680m / 12,073 ft to 8,792 ft
Spiritual Focus: Vision, renewal, receptivity to transformation
Difficulty: Moderate

Overnight at Campsite (tented)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks, Dinner

The Crystal Condor – Sacred Site

Route: Wiñay Wayna → Inti Punku (Sun Gate) → Machu Picchu → Cusco

Before the first light touches the mountain peaks, you are gently awakened at 3:30am. This final day begins in sacred silence, filled with quiet anticipation. After a nourishing early breakfast at 4:00am, you and your fellow pilgrims gather near the final checkpoint – waiting not only to pass through gates, but to cross a threshold into the heart of a living temple.

As the gates open at 5:30am, your final ascent begins. In the deep stillness of dawn, you walk in meditation, guided by the stars fading and the softening sky. After about an hour, you reach Inti Punku, the Sun Gate, just as the first rays of Tayta Inti – Father Sun – rise and cascade over the peaks.

Suddenly, Machu Picchu is revealed before you, emerging from the mist like a sacred vision. The citadel glows with the golden breath of dawn. Take this moment in reverent silence.

From the Sun Gate, you descend softly to the sanctuary itself, entering through the House of the Guardians, where the iconic view invites you to pause, reflect, and give thanks. At the control point, you’ll register and respectfully leave behind large backpacks and walking sticks – stepping into the sacred space with humility and presence. Widely known as the Crystal Condor sacred site, this truly awe-inspiring wonder stands still as a grand declaration to the incredible ingenuity and great vision of the ancient Incan civilization. Machu Picchu, previously both an observatory and pilgrimage site, still attracts visitors hoping for connection with its old wisdom and holy energies.

Snuggled duly among three powerful peaks that form a natural energy triangle, this mystical site offers the perfect setting for meditating. It also offers the perfect setting to set intentions, as well as to expand awareness. As we thoroughly explore its absolutely ageless pathways, we allow ourselves to be completely and fully present, absorbing all of the energy and greatly deep history that constantly surrounds us.

For those who have reserved the Huayna Picchu hike, this optional climb offers a final connection with the mountain spirits, a last offering of your energy to the Apus.

When your heart is full and your time is complete, take the shuttle down to Aguas Calientes for lunch. If time allows, you may choose to visit the museum, the thermal baths, or simply rest by the riverside, letting it all integrate.

Your train departs in the mid-afternoon (typically 2:55pm or 3:20pm), winding its way through the majestic canyon of the Urubamba River. From the window, look back at the towering cliffs and see Wiñay Wayna one last time – now a part of your story. Upon arrival at Ollantaytambo, our driver welcomes you and brings you back to Cusco, your journey’s sacred circle now complete.

Arrive at your hotel by approximately 7:00pm, forever changed, forever touched by the spirit of the Andes.

Distance: 6 km / 3.7 miles
Difficulty: Easy – A day of deep arrival

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch