Tours while in Machu Picchu

ECOTOURISM ACTIVITIES (*)
1. Nature Walk:

Walk through the mega diverse cloud forest flora and fauna of the Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel. Highlights include world record of 372 native orchids species, plus medicinal plants, ferns, bromeliads, butterflies, and even petroglyphs.

Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes. Activity Level: Easy.
Equipment: Magnifying glass and orchid list.
Optional equipment: Rain poncho and binoculars.

2. Orchid Walk:

Walk down the orchid path amid the lush vegetation within the hotel gardens. According to the American Orchid Society (AOS), Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel has the world’s largest number of native orchid species in their natural habitat in a private facility open to the public. Orchid Conservation Award (AOS, 1998).

Attractions: 372 native orchid species that bloom year-round.
Duration: 1 Hour. Activity level: Easy (walking).
Equipment: Magnifying glass and orchid list.
Optional equipment: Rain poncho.

3. Bird - Watching Walk:

Walk down the hotel paths to watch some of the 157 bird species registered on the hotel grounds. Local residents include the world’s largest concentration of hummingbird species (16), the cock-of-the rocks, golden-headed quetzal, white-capped dipper, plus endemic birds such as the Inca Wren (Thryothorus eisenmanni), Highland Motmot (Momotus aequatorialis), and the Green and White hummingbird (Leuccipus viridicauda).

Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes.
Activity level: Easy (walking).
Equipment: Binoculars and bird list.
Optional equipment: Rain poncho.

4. Twilight Walk:

Walking or meditating in solicitude gives guests the opportunity to spiritually integrate with the soul of Machu Picchu. Along the trail you will find a pre-Inca sacred primitive painting on rock, or petroglyph, where our ancestors offered rituals to the Pachamama (Mother Earth). You will also reach the Rocotal and Alccamayo observatories, which offer spectacular views of the Apus (sacred mountains). The exuberant landscape gives a sense of place.

Duration: 2 hours. Activity level: Moderate.
Equipment: Rain poncho.

5. Alccamayo Water Falls Trek:

Trek up the path meandering and crisscrossing the creek flowing along the Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel. Waterfalls, springs and hot springs, dense cloudforest and contemplation places to rest in solitude, accompanied by the tumbling water of the Alccamayo river. A leisure hike along the beaten path to enjoy the flora of the third waterfall. There the path ends and the very few adventurous and hardy may continue the upward climb for several hours to be rewarded by a magnificent view of the Machu Picchu citadel.

Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes.
Activity level: Moderate to High.
Equipment: Rain poncho and binoculars

6. Spectacled Bear (An endangered species) Rescue and Conservation Project:

At the request of hotel guests, we offer a guided visit to the spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus) rescue and conservation project. The project is monitored by Inkaterra Association (ITA-NGO) and INRENA (National Institute of Natural Resources of Peru), and sponsored by INKATERRA and the Bear Rescue Foundation (UK) and is located on the Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel grounds. The bears are in captivity under optimum conditions of recovery and adaptation for possible reinsertion in their natural habitat.

(*) The proceeds from these activities will support our conservation projects as part of a larger effort to create a self-sustaining base to assure the future of the beautiful and fascinating mega diversity of species you are experiencing.

EXPEDITIONS (*)
1. One day Inka Trail

This expedition will take visitors to the areas surrounding the Machu Picchu citadel to the last stretch of the Inka trail and to various archaeological sites. This expedition starts early, at 6.00 am, taking the train to Km. 104 followed by a slow walk up the imposing Andes Mountains towards the Inka ruins of Wiñay Wayna. After few hours trek along the Inka Trail you will arrive at Inti Punku or the Gate of the Sun with a fantastic view of Machu Picchu and start descending towards the Machu Picchu ruins and finish the trail by bus, arriving at the Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel.

Duration: 7 hours, 30 minutes, roundtrip. Activity Level: Moderate.
Optional equipment: Binoculars and rain poncho.

2. Visit to the Wiñay Wayna Archaeological Site

You will start this interesting walk from the Machu Picchu historic citadel through the last part of the Inca Trail to the ruins of Wiñay Wayna. This fantastic site, located on a steep ledge overlooking the Urubamba river, offers a perfect example of Inca terrace farming. The name Wiñay Wayna translates as "forever young". It is believed to be a site reserved for ceremonies and religious rites involving water.

From Wiñay Wayna one returns to the citadel of Machu Picchu and then to the hotel. These beautiful ruins can be observed from the meditation area of the hotel.
Duration: 7 hours, 30 minutes. Activity level: Moderate.
Optional equipment: Binoculars and rain poncho.

3. Visit to the Inka Citadel

A private escorted visit to the ruins, where the enigmatic city will be explored for 3 hours. Short walk with our official guide from the hotel to the bus station in Aguas Calientes, and 30-minute bus trip to the citadel of Machu Picchu.

Attractions: Guided visits to the citadel, explanation of its history and mystery.
Duration: About 4 hours. Activity level: Moderate (a lot of exhilarating climbing up and down on stone steps).
Optional equipment: Rain poncho.

4. Climbing Putukusi Mountain

Climb one of the most beautiful mountains of the Sanctuary, from its summit climbers will have a magnificent side view of the Inka citadel. It is a new way to see Machu Picchu.

Attractions: Climb up wooden stairs encrusted in the rock; view of the Vilcanota river (Urubamba river); Machu Picchu village (Aguas Calientes); Mandor valley; an unusual view of the Machu Picchu citadel and Wayna Picchu mountain.
Duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes. Activity level: High.
Optional equipment: Rain poncho and binoculars.