cusco sacred runs

The group will arrive to the ancient Inca city of Cusco in the morning, and we will meet at the delightful Pachapapa Restaurant at 12:00 pm, where we’ll introduce ourselves and share a welcome lunch. After lunch, we’ll enjoy a gentle post-prandial walk around Cusco, visiting its main attractions. You’ll be struck by the unlikely yet intriguing combination of ancientness and modernity in this urban wonderland, as you traverse its streets and feast your senses on its eclectic sights and sounds. A city replete with history on every corner, the ancient Inca capital is among the most visited urban areas in South America. Fashionably dressed modern Cusqueñans stride down the streets, intermingling with campesinos, or country folk, often dressed in traditional garb and leading alpacas or donkeys, while carrying enormous bundles on their backs. During this half-day tour, we’ll visit the most important sites of this folkloric Andean city. You’ll traverse cobblestone streets lined with original Inca walls on the way to the ancient Inca Temple of the Sun (Qoricancha) found inside the Church of Santo Domingo. Once completely covered in gold, and housing hundreds of golden artifacts, the sight of Qoricancha so excited the lust of the conquistadors that they had thousands of irreplaceable artworks and sculptures melted down so that they could send the gold to the king and queen of Spain. Visit the Plaza de Armas, once the Inca’s main city center, and learn about its dramatic and sometimes violent history. Two churches stand on the Plaza, the Cusco Cathedral, the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cusco, dating from 1654; and the even more ancient Church of the Triumph, which was built on top of the Suntur Wasi, an Inca religious temple. Note the significant works of art depicting Mary and the infant Jesus along with paintings of saints and apostles from the Cusco School of Painting, which flourished from the 16th to 18th centuries. A 'Last Supper' painting depicts the main course in the center of the table as a guinea pig or cuy; it was painted by Quechua artist Marcos Zapata in the 18th century. The Plaza de Armas is a gathering place for locals, especially on weekends, and boasts lovely flower gardens, benches for the repose of locals and tourists, and a central fountain surrounded by statuary. In the afternoon, we’ll transfer to the picturesque Sacred Valley, where we’ll spend the night at a local boutique hotel.

We'll depart early from your hotel, heading past the Sacred Valley town of Ollantaytambo, to Pallata, where we begin the day’s run. The trail climbs upward as we pass members of the local community, getting a brief glimpse into their daily lives, to reach Pumamarca, overlooking the verdant Patacancha Valley. The Inca chose this place well, as a high vista point overlooking the surrounding valleys and the convergence of two rivers far below. The archaeological complex of Pumamarca comprises ancient stairs and walls, ceremonial buildings, and enclosed storage areas, all replete with Inca stonework. After time to explore the site, we’ll continue our run through the terracing complex of Musqa Pukyo, accompanied by sweeping, panoramic views of the surrounding Andean landscape the whole way down. Our descent through the terrain of these beautiful and functional farmed terraces will bring us to the village of Ollantaytambo. This picturesque town still displays much of the original Inca infrastructure from centuries back and is a monument to the soundness of Inca urban planning. We'll take some time to explore the town's well-preserved canchas (blocks) of communal living quarters, each with only one entrance leading into a central courtyard. We'll also admire the original Inca drainage canals that line the walkways, still in use today. After lunch, we'll have a chance to explore the local market and traverse the spectacular mountainside ruins. We'll climb the ancient stone steps of the Inca fortress, which is arranged as a series of terraces and platforms with stupendous views of the surrounding mountains.

We´ll pick you up at your hotel in the morning and begin our first day of trail running. Our first stop on the run will be Moray, where you’ll have the privilege of exploring one of the earliest agricultural experimental 'labs' in existence on the planet. It is believed that the beautiful and elegantly constructed spiraling circular terraces were used to support a variety of microclimates, encouraging the growth of specific crops attuned to each climate. The temperature difference between the uppermost and lowest levels can vary by as much as 15 °C (59 ℉). Plants that thrive at the deepest level of over 30 meters (98 ft) are different species from those that thrive at the uppermost levels. Moray demonstrates that indigenous Andean people used experimental techniques to nurture diverse food crops centuries before modern greenhouse techniques were invented in the Western world. After our visit, we´ll continue our trail run towards the town of Maras to access the famous salt ponds. In Maras, residents 'mine' 3000 bright white and multicolored salt ponds, which are divided among local families. You will be able to observe the salt ponds from a viewpoint and taste the famous Maras salt, known for its beneficial health properties. You’ll get a glimpse into a lifestyle very different from your own, as you learn about the techniques used to extract this mineral-rich condiment. Purchasing a bag of the precious salt will help support this community in maintaining their centuries-old traditional way of life.  From Maras, we continue our run, descending downward to Pichingoto, a little-visited Inca 'ghost town' Here, we will observe ancient stone cave-like houses built into cliff walls; rock homes with several connecting rooms; and a Spanish colonial church dating from the 17th century. After getting a feel for this mysterious place, we will meet up with our vehicle and return to our Sacred Valley accommodations.  After lunch, we’ll head back to the hotel for a quick shower and to get ready for our visit to the Inkariy Museum. Located in Calca and opened in 2002, the Inkariy Museum showcases artifacts from Peru's most important pre-Columbian cultures, including the Caral, Chavin, Moche, Nazca, Wari, and more. The museum's founders aimed to highlight the diversity of Peruvian cultures and illustrate what made each civilization distinct, filling in gaps in our understanding of Peru’s rich history.

We'll begin the day departing from Ollantaytambo by train. Once we arrive at Km.104, we'll begin our ascent up a steep slope towards the Wiñay Wayna ruins. We’ll explore the ruins before cutting across the ridge above Machu Picchu, finally reaching Intipunku, the Gate of the Sun. It's a dramatic moment as we look down on the magnificent Machu Picchu ruins spread out far below, gaining a glimpse into a mystical, forgotten world. After exploring the citadel, we'll return to Ollantaytambo by train, where we'll relax and prepare for the next day.

This action-packed day of high country running takes you from the town of Urquillos to the traditional Inca town of Chinchero, uphill all the way. We'll depart early from your hotel, ready for an adventure that offers both stunning views and challenging terrain. As we make our way up with a power hike, we'll reach the Inca Trail vista point and stop to catch our breath, taking in the magnificent Andean views. From here, the trail zigzags upward into the hills. We'll observe flitting birdlife and abundant, blooming flora, immersing ourselves in the region's natural beauty. Once we reach the top of the hill, a vehicle will be waiting for us. Those who are tired can travel by car to our next destination, while those who still have energy can opt to continue with a 3.8 km run. Our exciting run will culminate in Piuray with a 'Pachamanca', a traditional Andean feast of local meats and veggies, cooked underground with hot stones.

On our final day, our transportation will pick you up and take you back to the airport. You can relax on your flight and revel in the feeling of having actively immersed yourself in some of the most stunning terrain to be found in the Andes!