Peru Expedition: Trek the Great Inca Road
Peru Expedition: Trek the Great Inca Road
Peru Expedition: Trek the Great Inca Road
12 Days Starting and ending in Lima
Visiting: Lima, Lima to Huaraz, LLanganuco lakes & Laguna 69 hike, Laguna Churup hike, Pastoruri glacier hike, Great Inca Road: Castillo to Soledad de Tambo, Great Inca Road: Soledad de Tambo to Quenhuajirca, Great Inca Road: Quenhuajirca to Tambo Grande, Great Inca Road: Tambo Grande to Isco, Great Inca Road: Huanco Pampa, Huaraz to Lima
Tour operator:
Tour code:
GGXG
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 12
Physical rating:
High
Age range:
15-99 years
Trip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
From:
$4155
$3324 (USD)
Operator discount: -$831
-20%
Tour Overview
You’ve heard of the Inca Trail, but what about the Great Inca Road? Made up of ancient Inca trade routes cutting through the Andes, the Great Inca Road is every bit as significant and special as its more famous counterpart – it just doesn’t have the crowds. On this 12-day trekking expedition you’ll join a local leader and traditional llama caravan to hike storied paths that few travellers have ever seen, visiting archaeological sites along the way. To get acclimatised to the altitude, you’ll spend time in the adventure hub of Huaraz, hiking the spectacular surrounding landscapes. You’ll soon find out it’s not called the Great Inca Road for nothing.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Lima
Location: Lima
Accommodation: Hotel
Bienvenidos! Welcome to Lima, Peru. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm where you’ll meet your local leader and fellow travellers and find out important information about your trip, including what to expect on the storied Great Inca Road. As this trip doesn’t spend much time in Lima, you may like to arrive a few days early – just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time. If you do arrive with time to spare, there’s plenty to see and do in Peru’s capital. There’s the famous suburb of Miraflores, Kennedy Park and Lovers’ Park, and the 16th-century monastery of San Francisco with its catacombs of some 10,000 remains. There are also plenty of museums including the Museum of the Inquisition, the National Museum and the Gold Museum.
Optional Activities:
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Day 2: Lima To Huaraz
Location: Lima to Huaraz
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Get ready to reach new heights (literally) as you say goodbye to Lima and drive to the city of Huaraz, sitting at an altitude of 3000 m. Your drive will be broken up with plenty of stops and the everchanging scenery is sure to keep you occupied. Surrounded by mountains, lakes and a national park, Huaraz is considered the adventure capital of Peru, despite remaining relatively undiscovered by tourists. When you arrive, stretch your legs with a walk through the town, taking in view of the Cordillera Blanca, home to 17 mountain peaks that exceed 6000 m, more than 500 lagoons and 722 individual glaciers. Just be sure to take it slow today – it can take a while to adjust to the altitude.
Day 3: Llanganuco Lakes & Laguna 69 Hike
Location: LLanganuco lakes & Laguna 69 hike
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
After breakfast, board a transfer to the Llanganuco Lakes in Huascaran National Park for your hike to the unbelievably blue Laguna 69 (Lake 69), sitting at 4600 m above sea level. Your first hike will be fairly short, steep and slow – you’ll be taking it easy so you can adjust to the altitude. Start your hike on a flat path through an open meadow, taking in amazing views of the snow-capped peak behind you. Then the climb begins, zig zagging up a well-trodden path towards the lake. This is the most challenging part of the hike and your leader will set a safe pace. When you arrive to Laguna 69, you’ll see that the climb was so worth it – it’s one of the brightest, clearest and bluest lakes you’ll ever see. Take some time to soak it all in, then make your descent, returning back to Huaraz for the evening.
Included Activities:
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Day 4: Laguna Churup Hike
Location: Laguna Churup hike
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Another day, another awe-inspiring hike. Today’s destination is Laguna Churup, a seriously spectacular turquoise lake at 4450 m above sea level, surrounded by snow-dusted mountains. While not as well visited as Laguna 69, it’s every bit as beautiful. Still taking it easy to adjust to the altitude, begin your hike with a steep set of steps. Then it’s onto a path, from where you can take in views of the surrounding mountains, valley and waterfalls. The path can be steep and slippery at times, so sturdy footwear is an absolute must. The lake itself is often surrounded by mist, creating an eerily beautiful site on arrival. If the whole group is up for it, you can continue for another hour or so to a smaller and higher lake called Laguna Churupita. Make your descent then return to Huaraz for a chance to put your feet up.
Included Activities:
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Day 5: Pastoruri Glacier Hike
Location: Pastoruri glacier hike
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Travel south of Huaraz today to begin another super scenic hike. First, drive through Andean villages, seeing local shepherds and farmers working in the fields using traditional methods before entering the Huascaran National Park. While it doesn’t cover a huge distance, today’s hike is all about altitude, as you’ll be trekking towards the Pastoruri Glacier, sitting at an elevation of 5000 m. But don’t worry, you won’t be climbing the whole way! Driving the winding road through the park takes you pretty high, then it’s a roughly 1 hour walk to the face of the glacier. Pastoruri is one of the few glaciers left in South America's tropical areas and is expected to have retreated entirely in the next ten years. Follow a well-maintained path up to the glacier, stopping at a viewpoint to shoot some pictures of this disappearing beauty. You can visit a bright blue glacial lake nearby before heading back down and returning to Huaraz for an evening at leisure.
Included Activities:
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Day 6: Great Inca Road: Castillo To Soledad De Tambo
Location: Great Inca Road: Castillo to Soledad de Tambo
Accommodation: Camping
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
Now that you’ve had a chance to acclimatise to the altitude of the Andes, it’s time to say goodbye to Huaraz and drive to the little town of Castillo, where your Great Inca Road trek will begin. Far from the crowds of the classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, which hosts 25,000 hikers a year, the Great Inca Road is light on tourist traffic – in fact, you may not see any other travellers on your journey. But that doesn’t make this route less important. These trails are a remarkable example of the Inca’s preindustrial engineering and are strewn with the remains of ancient cities and outposts. As you hike, you’ll be accompanied by porters, as well as a team of llamas, just as the Inca were. Llamas are still extensively used in this part of Peru as they leave a light impact on the historic trails.
This moring head to the Chavin de Huantar Archaeological site for a guided tour and to explore the underground tunnels. Stop for lunch at the Village of Chavin de Huantar and visit the museum which hosts the remains of the Chavin Culture (pre Inca). This afternoon you will hike up a section of the trail towards Soledad de Tambo, the site of ancient Inca ruins and your base for the night. You’ll arrive in time for lunch, so take the time to refuel and get to know your stunning surroundings. Check out the Inca ruins and chat to the local archaeologists to learn about its history. This evening, sit back and take in the starry sky of the Andes.
Included Activities:
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Day 7: Great Inca Road: Soledad De Tambo To Quenhuajirca
Location: Great Inca Road: Soledad de Tambo to Quenhuajirca
Accommodation: Camping
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
Lace up your boots and depart your camp in Soledad de Tambo, this time hitting a section of the Qhapaq Nan, an ancient Inca network of roads covering 30,000 km from the Andes to the coast. The trails have been classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO thanks to their social, political, architectural and engineering achievements. Spend the morning climbing Inca-made stone steps to the 4572 m pass at Wagapunta, where you’ll be rewarded with jaw-dropping views of the Andes. Here you will find apachetas; spiritual stone towers made by the Inca to communicate with a higher power. Arrive to your camp at Quenuajirca this afternoon. Here you will meet a master weaver to learn about his work and his life on the Great Inca Road, where his family have lived for generations.
Included Activities:
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Day 8: Great Inca Road: Quenhuajirca To Tambo Grande
Location: Great Inca Road: Quenhuajirca to Tambo Grande
Accommodation: Camping
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
After breakfast at camp, descend into the village of Ayash, coming across a wide stone staircase that proves just how advanced the Inca’s engineering was. After entering a pleasant valley, climb up another section of the Qhapaq Nan to the village of Huamanin. You’ll then follow the trail along the Taparaco river basin to Tambo Grande, your base for tonight. Tambos were stone structures built by the Inca for administrative or military purpose, so you’ll be sleeping in a piece of history tonight. After the sun goes down, be sure to look to the stars – you’ll soon understand why they played such a huge role in the society and religion of the Incas.
Included Activities:
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Day 9: Great Inca Road: Tambo Grande To Isco
Location: Great Inca Road: Tambo Grande to Isco
Accommodation: Camping
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
Your journey along the Great Inca Road continues today as you follow the path beside the Taparaco river. This is one of the most impressive stretches of the trail thanks to the Inca’s brilliant engineering – you’ll see walls here that are in amazing condition despite their great age. By walking these roads, you’ll receive unparalleled insight into the life of the Incas in a way that few people ever experience. Arrive to your camp in San Lorenzo de Isco this afternoon.
Included Activities:
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Day 10: Great Inca Road: Huanco Pampa
Location: Great Inca Road: Huanco Pampa
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch
Continue your hike towards Colpa, the point where the Taparaco and Vizcarra rivers meet. From here, you’ll climb to Huanuco Pampa, an incredibly significant archaeological site. Join a local guide for an in-depth tour. These vast ruins contain the remains of more than 1000 buildings and storehouses, making it easy to imagine what life here once looked like. At the centre of the site you’ll find an ushnu, a pyramid-shaped structure that was used by the Inca as a platform for their most important ceremonies. The ushnu at Huanuco Pampa is the largest remaining in Peru. Spend two hours exploring the site, then travel back to Huaraz where you’ll have the chance to relax and refresh after your big adventure.
Included Activities:
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Day 11: Huaraz To Lima
Location: Huaraz to Lima
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Buckle up for the journey back to Lima. It’s another long driving day, but it’s the perfect chance to kick back, watch the scenery and reflect on all you’ve seen and done over the course of your adventure. There’s still time for one more fascinating stop along the way – the Caral-Supe archaeological site. Before the rule of the Incas, the Caral civilisation flourished on Peru’s coast from 3000-1800 BCE – in fact, they’re the oldest civilisation in the Americas. The Caral left behind the enormous complex you’ll explore today, which was built at the same time as the first pyramids in Egypt. Discover circular plazas, a 28 m high temple and residential dwellings, all incredibly well preserved. Tonight in Lima, perhaps gather your group for a final dinner together – your leader will have recommendations on places you can make the most of Lima’s vibrant food scene.
Included Activities:
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Day 12: Lima
Location: Lima
Meals Included: breaksfast
With no activities planned for today, your adventure comes to an end after breakfast. If you’d like to spend some more time in Lima, just get in touch ahead of time and we’d be happy to arrange additional accommodation (subject to availability).
Looking to also visit Machu Picchu and hike The Inca Trail? Check out the combination trip- Trek the Great Inca Road and Inca Trail, Tripcode: GGXGC.
What's Included
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Accommodation
Hotels (7 nights), Camping (4 nights) -
Meals
11 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners -
Huaraz: LLanganuco lakes and Laguna 69 guided hike
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Huaraz: Laguna Churup guided hike
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Huaraz: Pastoruri glacier & Huascaran National Park guided hike
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Great Inca Trail: Castillo to Soledad de Tambo guided hike
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Great Inca Trail: Soledad de Tambo Archaeological guided site visit
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Great Inca Trail: 4 days fully supported (Porters, Llamas, all meals and equipment)
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Great Inca Trail: Soledad de Tambo to Quenhuajirca guided hike
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Great Inca Trail: Meeting with traditional master weaver
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Great Inca Trail: Tambo Grande to San Lorenzo de Isco guided hike
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Great Inca Trail: Quenhuajirca to Tambo Grande guided hike
Transport
- Private vehicle , Bus , Taxi
Accommodation
- PERU
- Due to local energy supply and infrastructure issues, please be prepared for some cold showers while travelling in Peru.
- CAMPING
- On camping nights, we stay 2-man tents, set up by our crew. If you have booked a single supplement, it will not apply for the camping section of the trip, and you will be sharing a tent with another traveller of the same sex.
- Comfortable sleeping mats and sleeping bags are provided, but you are welcome to bring your own if you prefer so.
Important Information
- 1. Please note this trip starts at 6pm on day 1. If you are unable to find a suitable flight it is possible to book additional nights at the joining accommodation. We recommend that travellers intending to depart Lima on the final day of the trip book flights out of Lima no earlier than 12 at noon.
- 2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement exclude Day 6-10 (Great Inca Road), where you will be camping in comfortable 2-man tents. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
- 3. Parts of your trip go above 2800 m/ 9200 ft where it is common for travellers to experience some adverse health effects due to the altitude - regardless of your age, gender and fitness. Please consult your doctor for professional advice about travelling at high altitude if you have a health condition.
- 4. Due to remoteness of Great Inca Road, please make sure you bring all necessary gear, such as walking boots, rain gear, thermals, walking poles, etc with you. While you will be able to visit an outdoor store in Huaraz, it’s safer to rely on your own trekking gear. Please check out Packing List for further recommendations.
- 5. At the pre-trek briefing you will be given a small duffle bag to pack your clothes for the trek, sleeping bag and personal items. The maximum weight you can take with you is 7kg per traveller.
Check out our Q&As
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Is this trip right for you
On Expedition trips, there can be some hiccups or welcome surprises along the way. All that’s needed for this is a go-with-the-flow attitude! Sorting out the details is what your local leader is for, so you can just sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.
This trip visits places that are at high altitude, and as a result, some people can suffer from altitude sickness, regardless of age or physical health. Please see the ‘Medical and Health Information’ section of the Essential Trip Information for more details.
This is a hiking trip, and it is strenuous – you need to be physically fit to enjoy all hikes fully.
For 4 nights (days 6-10) you will be camping. All gear is provided, including sleeping bags, sleeping mats and pillows and two-person tents. -
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room
Reviews of this Operator
Dates & Availability
Sunday - Thursday
Jul 21, 2024 - Aug 01, 2024Thursday - Monday
Jun 12, 2025 - Jun 23, 2025Sunday - Thursday
Aug 10, 2025 - Aug 21, 2025Book with Confidence
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Free Date Changes
Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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COVID Protection
Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards
From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19.
However, we continue to strongly recommend that all travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and other Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.
This policy excludes all Polar trips and select adventure cruises, where testing and vaccination remains a requirement. Please refer to the Essential Trip Information of your chosen tour for more details. -
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