Peru Multisport
- A local guide shares deep insight into Peru's culture and ancient civilizations
- Machu Picchu: the incredible "Lost City of the Incas"
- Cusco, alive with the energy of the Inca and history of the Spanish conquistadors
- Hike to impressive ruins: Tambo Machay, Temple of the Moon and others
- Experience Quechua culture at an off-the-beaten path weaving community
Cusco, the Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu: A Cultural Odyssey
It's about that picture. You know the one. Every website and coffee-table book has it. History, archaeology, anthropology guides all have it. You'll have it too. Standing above Machu Picchu, wispy white clouds floating by, the jagged Andes in the background, you'll snap the picture. But being there, feet firmly planted above that scene, will forever reset your view of humanity, society and history. How did they do this? When was this again? There are maybe ten places on Earth like this spot. And to think, it's only one moment in a week's worth of incredible moments.
Permits to hike the Inca Trail are extremely limited. We recommend booking a minimum of 4-6 months prior to departure in order to significantly increase your chance of securing a permit. If permits are unavailable during some seasons you will take a train to Aguas Calientes, bus to the entrance and hike into Machu Picchu.
Days 1-2 Local guides share deep insight into Peru's culture and ancient civilizations 
Visit Cusco - once the center of the pre-Columbian Inca Empire Visit Coricancha, a Spanish Colonial church built atop the ruins of an Inca temple 
Hike to the archaeological sites of Tambo Machay, Sacsayhuamán and Temple of the Moon.
Days 3-4 Chinchero, where at 12,400 feet residents still wear traditional clothing and live in ancestral homes In Moray, learn how the Inca ingeniously farmed using high-altitude terraces Engage with Quechua culture in a weaving community well off the beaten path where master weavers work Stop and visit with local school children in Ollantaytambo.
Days 5-6 The ruins of Pisac offer a sweeping vista of the Sacred Valley Explore Pisac's lively market Catch the Peru Rail train to Aguas Calientes - also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo Hike to the Gate of the Sun and take in the miraculous view of Machu Picchu.
Days 7-8 Explore Machu Picchu: the incredible "Lost City of the Incas" Spend a second full day exploring the "Lost City," contemplating its exquisite stonework and mysterious astrological designs Join a local expert who provides insight into the designs, stonework, and other structures at this sacred site Explore the grounds of the Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel with a local naturalist to learn more about the local flora and fauna.
Guests Reviews About This Trip
The trip was fabulous! As one who has done very little in the way of group travel, I must tell you that it surpassed my hopes and made me want more! Our leaders were extremely accommodating to our needs, and helped us achieve our individual and group goals. Having different levels of each activity really allowed each of us to do what we wanted to do. It would only have been better if we could have added more hours to each day, so that we could have had more time to enjoy each of the beautiful places we stayed.- Lutz, FL
My sister and I just returned from the Peru multisport trip and I wanted to tell you what an extraordinary experience it was! It was truly the trip of a lifetime, due, in no small part, to the enormous attention to detail offered by your company. This was our third Backroads experience, topping off two other great trips in the past two years. For one couple in our group, it was their 23rd time with Backroads; for another fellow, it was his 14th trip. Almost everyone else had taken a Backroads vacation at least one other time. This speaks volumes about your company! Keep up the good work!- Redondo Beach, CA
This was a fabulous trip. The memories that will stay with me are: --Walking with the llamas to our lunch tent in a meadow where Peruvian musicians serenaded us while we ate amazing food! - Biking on a dusty road in the altiplano alongside glacier-covered peaks and encountering a boy herding a flock of sheep with his soccer ball. --Going to Machu Picchu before sunrise and watching the clouds swirl and alternately obscure and then reveal the ruins before finally lifting entirely for sunrise at Inti-Rami.- Bristol, VT
Premiere Inns
Hotel Monasterio
Cusco (2 nights) "An outstanding Orient-Express property housed within a converted 16th-century monastery situated just a short stroll from the Plaza de Armas," says Andrew Harper of this Condé Nast Traveler Gold List winner.
Sol y Luna Lodge
Urubamba (3 nights) "An unpretentious but impeccably maintained lodge set in a wonderful garden surrounded by mountains," according to Hideaway Report. (pool, spa, tennis)
Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel
Aguas Calientes (2 nights) Earning a Travel + Leisure World's Best Award, this hotel with "sustainability-focused Andean-style casitas" close by the ruins of Machu Picchu. (pool, spa)
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This Trip Is Rated Level 1-3
Routes For All Abilities
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of
interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one
day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat
from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each
day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
| Activity Level | Average Time | Road Bike Average | Mountain Bike Average* | Walk & Hike Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 2-3 hours | 10-20 miles | 10-15 miles | 2-5 miles |
| Level 2 | 2-4 hours | 21-30 miles | 16-20 miles | 5-7 miles |
| Level 3 | 3-5 hours | 31-40 miles | 21-25 miles | 7-9 miles |
| Level 4 | 4-6 hours | 41-55 miles | 26-30 miles | 9-11 miles |
| Level 5 | 5-7+ hours | 56-75+ miles | 31+ miles | 11-13+ miles |
*Mountain bikes are used in locations where the best riding is on a combination of dirt and paved roads. View trip locations
Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain
Day 1
- Level 1 1 Route Option Available
- Walking 3.5 hours
Day 2
- Levels 1 to 2 3 Route Options Available
- Hiking 3.4, 5, 5.6 miles
- 450 - 550 feet elevation gain
Day 3
- Levels 1 to 2 4 Route Options Available
- Biking 6, 11, 14, 20 miles
- 100 - 650 feet elevation gain
- Optional Hiking 2.2 miles
Day 4
- Level 1 3 Route Options Available
- Hiking 1.9, 2.8, 4 miles
- 500 - 1200 feet elevation gain
Day 5
- Levels 1 to 2 4 Route Options Available
- Biking 15, 19, 27 miles
- 180 - 300 feet elevation gain
- Hiking 1.6 miles
Day 6
- Levels 1 to 2 3 Route Options Available
- Hiking 2.2, 5.5, 6.8 miles
- 770 - 2150 feet elevation gain
Day 7
- Level 1 1 Route Option Available
- Hiking 2 miles
- 820 feet elevation gain and loss
- Guided Walk 3 Hours
Day 8
- Conclusion of Trip
Please note: Altitude makes the routes feel more challenging than the mileage suggests.
1 Route Option Available
3 Route Options Available
4 Route Options Available
3 Route Options Available
4 Route Options Available
3 Route Options Available
1 Route Option Available
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For 33 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the Peru tour experts. See our award-winning Latin America multisport tours, Latin America biking tours and Latin America walking and hiking tours.
