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Transport yourself from Peru’s bustling colonial capital, through the charm and history of Cuzco, into the stunning Sacred Valley, and along the epic Inca Trail before arriving at the infamous Machu Picchu. There may be trekking involved, but we certainly won’t rough it. This all-gay hike features 3- and 4-star properties en route, with a few nights of ‘glamping’ thrown in (it’s sort of like camping, only with guides, porters and cooks pampering our tender souls). PLEASE NOTE: Inca Trail Permits typically sell out 3-6 months in advance – and beyond our control – so book ASAP.
Hola! Welcome to Lima. And thank you for joining our gay hike en route to Machu Picchu! Our adventure kicks off at 2PM with an important Group Meeting. You’ll meet your Group Leader, and fellow Out Adventures travellers, to talk about our upcoming adventure. We’ll then head for the historic centre of Lima for a walking tour that celebrates the city’s Spanish colonial architecture. Tonight’s Welcome Dinner is included, and will be in a local gay-welcoming restaurant. If you’re not too jet-lagged, we’ll then head out for some kick-off cocktails.
Today we rise bright and early for a flight to South America’s oldest continually-inhabited city, Cusco (also spelled Cuzco). After checking in to our centrally located boutique hotel, we’ll discover the Moon Temple and enjoy a picnic lunch. Then we’ll transfer back to the city-centre for an orientation walk, including a visit to the hyper-local San Pedro market. Later today, we’ll have a mandatory briefing regarding our upcoming gay hike. The evening is free, with an option to head for dinner as a group.
This morning we’ll travel to the Sacred Valley. This lush, fertile land is the primary food source for those living in the high Andes Mountains. We’ll stop by a farming community, then head to our quaint hotel in Urubamba just on the outskirts of Ollantaytambo, a geometrically-perfect town famous for the huge terraces that guard the ancient temple overlooking the valley. For dinner we’ll enjoy an incredible included meal. Rest well tonight, because our big gay hike begins tomorrow.
Today we travel by minivan to a starting altitude of 2,850m/9,350ft, where we’ll be met by our esteemed crew of porters, cooks and guides. For the first day of our gay hike we’ll tackle an uphill trek to our campsite, which sits at an altitude of over 3,300m/10,800ft. There will be other groups at camp, but we’ve arranged our own dining and washroom tents. En route we’ll see the ruins of Llactapata, burnt to the ground by the last Inca emperor, to discourage Spanish pursuit down the trail.
This is the most challenging day of our gay hike. We’ll ascend a long, steep path to our apex – Dead Woman’s Pass – at a height of 4,200m/13,779ft. We’ll then descend to the Pacaymayo Valley at 3,650m/12,000ft, before another climb to Runkuracay Pass at 3,980m/13,000ft. From here, we can enjoy views of the snow-capped Cordillera Vilcabamba, before our final descent of the day to the ruins of Sayacmarca. At last, ready for rest, we’ll arrive at our campsite at 3,620m/11,900ft.
For our gay hike’s last full day, we’ll continue over the third pass, then eventually encounter the enigmatic ruins of Phuyupatamarca, the ‘Town above the Clouds’, at 3,850m/12,630ft. From here, we’ll descend along the famed Inca steps to our final camp by the Wiñay Wayna (‘Forever Young’) archaeological site at 2,750m/9,022ft. We may even pop some bubbly to celebrate our trek thus far.
Today we’ll rise early and hike towards the Sun Gate and Inka Bridge. You’ll have roughly an hour to explore this fascinating part of Machu Picchu on your own. After taking sufficient selfies, we’ll reconvene for a unique two-hour private guided tour of the UNESCO World Heritage site itself. Please note: as of July 2018, no one is allowed to explore Machu Picchu on their own. Then it’s off to the town of Aguas Calientes for an optional lunch. Finally, we’ll hop aboard the charming 360° Machu Picchu Train to Ollantaytambo, where a private transfer will return us to Cusco. The evening is free for some well-earned rest and relaxation.
This morning you’ll have the option to visit the archaeological sites of Saqsayhuaman, Qenqo and Tambomachay via private transport (price will depend on number of participants). While these sites may not be as mesmerizing as Machu Picchu, they remain historically significant, and are worth a visit. This evening we’ll gather one last time, at a gay-welcoming restaurant, to share some fond memories over our Farewell Dinner.
There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart at your leisure. Thank you for joining our gay hike along the Inca Trail.
While these trips typically attract gay men, all genders are welcome, and we encourage friends and family to join the fun as well.
Learn MoreAll accommodations on Out Adventures tours include breakfast and are located in areas central to our activities. All amenities are examples only, and may differ from hotel to hotel.
4-Star+ Hotels: Very comfortable, some very luxurious, always well-decorated rooms along with quality amenities such as a stylish restaurant and/or bar, a fitness centre, and a pool and/or sauna. Customer service is very good, and there is usually a concierge.
Inca Trail Camping: This trip has three nights of camping. All tents are set up by guides/porters, sleeping pads are provided, and there is a private dining tent with a fully supported cooking staff that provides three meals per day. For more details about camping, refer to the more information section on this page.
Scroll down to ‘Examples Of Accommodations’ for specific information and photos about the accommodations used on this tour.
Learn MoreThis trip is fully booked but cancellations occur. If you’d like to be contacted if space opens up, please click “Book Now”, select the appropriate departure and you will be prompted to provide limited information.
If you are a solo traveller willing to share a room with another solo traveller, please select Shared/Twin Room when booking this tour.
If you are a solo traveller interested in booking a private room, please select single supplement when booking this tour (based on availability). If you are willing to share a room with another solo traveller, please select Solo Shared.
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