Location: Cusco
Day 1 - 13 Nov 2021
Okidoki Cusco Hostal
Content: The cheapest hostel in Cusco. You’ll want to acclimate here because the city is at 11,000 feet. Lots of Coca tea helps.
Indian Restaurant Garhwal
Content: Great Indian food and makes for a perfect lunch.
Plaza De Armas
Content: Take it easy as you explore the city the first few days getting used to altitude before trekking. The main square is a good place to start.
Plazoleta de San Blas
Content: This is the prettiest neighborhood in Cusco if you’re feeling up for a wander.
Morena Peruvian Kitchen
Content: Treat yourself to a gourmet authentic Peruvian meal tonight. Get the chicha Morada sour!
Location: Cusco
Day 2 - 14 Nov 2021
Plaza De Armas
Content: The hostel provides breakfast and again…because of altitude and all the exploring the next few days you’ll probably want to sleep in. Then spend one more day exploring Cuscos pretty streets.
Jack's Café
Content: Grab a hot cocoa and alpaca sandwich for lunch/dinner and turn in early to be ready to go tomorrow.
Location: Cusco
Day 3 - 15 Nov 2021
Tambomachay
Content: Today is your first full day. Buy the tourist boleto for the city ruins at Tambomachay and take a taxi to the ruin itself. From there you’ll walk back to town through all the next sites.
Saqsaywaman
Content: You’ll see more of the alpaca women on the walk. Be sure to leave a tip.
Saqsaywaman
Content: This Incan ruin has the best views of the city. Use maps.me or this app to walk to it.
Saqsaywaman
Content: You’ll also come across the temple of the monkey and moon along the way.
ViewHouse Resto bar
Content: Freshen up at this bar with happy hour cocktails and maybe some salchipapa for lunch. It’s known for its city views.
San Blas San Marcos
Content: As you re-enter the city you’ll pass through the pretty neighborhood again. Savor it.
Green Point Restaurants
Content: Dinner tonight is important because you’ll start the Inca Trail tomorrow. Eat something safe like this vegan cafe. We got sandwiches khao Soi soup and this Passionfruit pie.
Location: Cusco
Day 4 - 16 Nov 2021
Alpaca Expeditions
Content: The Inca Trail begins today. You’ll join your group early- I recommend booking with alpaca expeditions. They have female porters And are an ethical locally owned company.
Alpaca Expeditions
Content: For the next 3 days you’ll be walking with alpaca Expeditions taking care of everything else. You’ll pass through various Peruvian ecosystems and lovely little towns. This was our favorite experience in Peru.
Alpaca Expeditions
Content: This is an example of the meals with alpaca expeditions for the 3 days.
Alpaca Expeditions
Content: Each night you’ll also camp in a new location. Today was here. Alpaca Expeditions sets up the camp for you. You just have to walk 10 miles to reach it.
Location: Cusco
Day 5 - 17 Nov 2021
Alpaca Expeditions
Content: Another day of Incan sites and hiking! This is the difficult day as you reach 14,000 feet of elevation.
Inca Trail Machu Picchu
Content: More scenes from the trek.
Winay Wayna
Content: This was my favorite Incan site and where you will camp for the evening.
Location: Urubamba Province
Day 6 - 18 Nov 2021
Machu Picchu
Content: This is the morning of arrival at Machu Picchu. & the end of the Incan trail.
Location: Ollantaytambo
Day 6 - 18 Nov 2021
INKA KHAWARINA TAMBO LODGE
Content: You’ll then take the scenic train with your group to Ollantaytambo. Here you can stay at this lovely guesthouse for the next 2 days.
Apu Veronica Restaurant
Content: You’ll likely spend all day sleeping and recovering and wake famished. This is the most satisfying meal in town. Get the fajitas. & celebratory pisco sours.
Location: Ollantaytambo
Day 7 - 19 Nov 2021
Ollantaytambo
Content: Now you’ll actually get to explore town. This is one of the prettiest villages in the world.
Ollantaytambo
Content: The main square has a handful of unnamed restaurants. If you want to switch it up- eat here for lunch/dinner once or twice.
Sitio arqueológico Pinkuylluna
Content: You can see these ruins from the town or hike up for free in 1 hour.
Ruinas ollantaytambo
Content: These however are the most popular ruins and included in your tourist boleto you’ll purchase today. About $17 per person but you’ll need it for the next 2 days as well.
Location: Cusco
Day 8 - 20 Nov 2021
Skylodge Adventure Suites
Content: Today is the big splurge at $500 for a night but it’s a truly unique experience to be had in the Sacred Valley.
Skylodge Adventure Suites
Content: You’ll rock climb to the summit.
Skylodge Adventure Suites
Content: And sleep in a hanging pod 1000 feet above the Valley floor. In the morning you’ll zip line down. Well worth the money and they feed you a 3-course dinner and breakfast at the top.
Location: Maras
Day 9 - 21 Nov 2021
Moray
Content: Today you’ll go back to Inka Khawarina Lodge and visit the archeological sites of Moray above.
Location: Urubamba
Day 9 - 21 Nov 2021
Salineras de Maras
Content: And Maras. You can hire a taxi to take you to both for about $15. It’s a full day and he will stop for snacks along the way if you’re hungry after breakfast.
Location: Písac
Day 10 - 22 Nov 2021
Intihuatana Hostel
Content: After grabbing a Collectivo to Pisac for $1 you’ll stay here. The cheapest hostel in Pisac. $7 for two dorm beds. Don’t expect luxury and it is a walk from town but not bad at all.
Location: Pisac
Day 10 - 22 Nov 2021
Pisac
Content: Pisac has great street food options for breakfast. Like this thick oat milk and quinoa porridge and cheese sandwiches.
Parque Arqueológico Pisac
Content: This is the archeological site where you’ll use your tourist boleto again. I recommend getting at a taxi from town to the summit and walking back.
Parque Arqueológico Pisac
Content: The walk back reveals some really lovely ruins you would have missed. Get some more street food in the small town for dinner. Like the Caldo (soup) places.
Location: Calca
Day 11 - 23 Nov 2021
Ulrike's Cafe
Content: As a last meal hit Ulriks which is a little pricy by has western style breakfast if you’re craving it and want to skip the street food today.
Location: Cusco
Day 11 - 23 Nov 2021
la BoM
Content: Grab an early morning Collectivo back to Cusco and stay at La Bom my favorite hostel in town. You get crepes for breakfast and they have amazing pisco sours for dinner.
Location: Cusco
Day 12 - 24 Nov 2021
Plaza De Armas
Content: Back in Cusco grab some flan for a mid-morning snack after your crepe breakfast.
San Pedro Market
Content: Explore the local market for fruit and to marvel at the chaos of it.
San Pedro Market
Content: Then when you get hungry grab a cheap meal at one of the indoor vendors.
Plaza De Armas
Content: And enjoy a coffee overlooking the plaza. It’s a lovely environment.
San Pedro Market
Content: And maybe go back to the market for some cake. Just be warned they put it in a bag to-go
la BoM
Content: Exhausted from all our walking we ate dinner at our own hostel (savory crepes & pisco)
Location: Cusco
Day 13 - 25 Nov 2021
Jack's Café
Content: Jacks has some of the best pancakes and breakfast in Cusco. Since you’re hiking you’ll need to eat early.
Location: Calca Province
Day 13 - 25 Nov 2021
Juchuy Coscco
Content: This Incan site is reachable on your own. These are the views from the summit. Hike down and ride the Collectivo back to Cusco for $2.
Juchuy Coscco
Content: Grab a taxi to the trailhead about 30-min away for this 10 mile hike. It’s easy to navigate on your own and stunning when it’s not cloudy.
Location: Cusco
Day 13 - 25 Nov 2021
Green Point Restaurants
Content: After our days hike we got some vegan burgers to replenish our energy.
Location: Quispicanchi Province
Day 14 - 26 Nov 2021
Vinicunca
Content: On your last day do the rainbow mountain tour. + red valley. It costs $30 per person and starts at 5AM. Again they will feed you so you don’t have to worry about food. The hike is only about an hour but you’re at 5000 meters or 17,000 feet which is why you should do it last.
Location: Canchis
Day 14 - 26 Nov 2021
Red Valley
Content: This is some shots of Red Valley. Far fewer people on this path.
Location: Cusco
Day 14 - 26 Nov 2021
Chakruna Native Burgers
Content: You’ll get back at 5pm or so. Go get some dinner around the corner from your hostel at this phenomenal burger spot. You can even get alpaca burger.