Hiking
9.5 Km - 5.9 Mi
Moderate
3,680 m - 12,073 ft
Minimum 2
A beautiful place quite close to Cusco, nestled in a valley formed by the folds of magnificent mountains, this is Inkilltambo, a little-visited historical legacy, but one that's so rich to be impressed by. Far from being a crowded attraction like Machu Picchu or the more touristy routes in Peru, this is a hike immersed in nature and its immense tranquility.
Our tour to Inkilltambo begins early in the morning. We'll pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at 7:00 in the morning and drive to the Cusco neighborhood of Villa San Blas. The journey by transport will be for an approximately 15 minutes.
We arrive at the beginning of the hike and it's time to grab our backpacks, some sunscreen to put on yourself, take a sip of water and ready to depart.
The Inca Trail to Inkilltambo immediately begins to unfold; the route is quite scenic. Accompanied by walls built more than 500 years ago lines to the sacred path to Antisuyo (a region toward the Andes during the Inca era), the first sacred sites begin to come into view. K'usilluchayoq is the first Inca archaeological site to visit, quite small but very important at the time. The next archaeological site is Amaru Markawasi, also known as the Temple of the Moon. We have a moment of exploration and explanation before we continue the hike.
From here, the hike becomes panoramic, crossing fields of potatoes and quinoa, as well as some eucalyptus forests and local shrubs. The Inca Trail is impressive here, connecting sacred sites and being meticulously constructed.
The route is generally quite gentle in fact on the terrain's difficulty level. There are some short but gentle climbs, as well as flat and descents.
After hiking for at least 1 hour and 30 minutes from the beginning, we arrive at the majestic and paradisiac Inkilltambo Archaeological site. We will have some explanation time as well as to visit all the essential points of this place. Inkilltambo is made up of a group of agricultural terraces, a ceremonial spot, a hydraulic area and the urban section.
Once we have finished our visit to Inkilltambo, our return route will be somewhat different from the one we took initially. This time, the return to the city of Cusco will be entirely on foot, spending the very similar time, but having different views. After hiking along and leaving the rural area, we will get in the city again, passing through the picturesque and artisan San Blas neighborhood, then we inmediatelly arrive at Cusco's Plaza de Armas, where our tour officially ends.
We estimate returning to Cusco by 1:00 in the afternoon, where our guide can recommend the best restaurant to have lunch and a break.
The hiking poles are perhaps more than just a simple option. If you've had knee problems in the past, we highly recommend to bring a pair of hiking poles. Keep in mind that the entire hike is downhill, you will be completely satisfied by the end of the day.
Getting cash from ATMs or banks will be difficult once we leave Cusco. It's advisable to have some cash “Soles” with you, perhaps to buy some snacks or other local things.

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