Our team will wake you up early with a hot cup of coca tea. Today will be the longest and most challenging day, so we’ll start with a nutritious breakfast to prepare for the journey. We will continue our hike through lush jungle vegetation and encounter several incredible Inca archaeological sites.
The first archaeological site we visit is the Runcuracay (3,760m / 12,300ft). Unlike other Inca structures, Runcuracay features circular enclosures, a rare design element in Inca architecture. After a short break, we will hike for 1.5 hours to the archaeological site of Sayacmarca. Located on a rocky cliff at 3,600m, Sayacmarca appears as a labyrinth of houses, plazas with fountains, and narrow streets.
We will then reach our lunch spot at Chaquicocha, where we will have some time to relax. After a 2.5-hour hike, we will arrive at the next archaeological site, Puyupatamarca (3,600m / 11,810ft), also known as the “City Above the Clouds.” Here, you will find Inca ruins with five small stone baths that maintain a constant flow of fresh water during the rainy season.
From there, we’ll start our 3-hour descent to our campsite at Wiñayhuayna, where we will have tea and dinner. This meal will be special as it will be our final dinner with the team, and we will bid farewell to our porters.
This campsite will be available according to the ministry and may be Puyupatamarca or Wiñaywayna.
Hiking Distance: 15 km / 10 miles