Urubamba Weaver’s Trek
For Those Seeking Unique Inca Trail Alternatives in Peru
This route is a fantastic choice among Inca Trail alternatives, as the traditional Inca Trail is regulated by a strict permit system and often sells out months in advance. Without permit constraints on this route, we are able to upgrade our gear, services and staff to bring you an impressive “glamping” experience – complete with cots, plush air mattresses, spacious tents, and gourmet meals.
Trekking the trails of the snow-capped Urubamba Range is a walk back in time. The region is populated with scattered Quechua communities. Meet extended families who live together in modest one-room adobe homes. You’ll see them practice their rural Andean livelihoods of farming potato crops and raising guinea pigs, llamas and sheep.
Men and women also weave, producing the family’s colorful ponchos, chullos, skirts, shawls and other items, on their backstrap looms, renowned throughout the Cusco area. By graciously welcoming us into their communities, they invite us to partake in this traditional craft and glimpse a simpler life, a world apart from our own!
Trip Highlights:
- Barter and bargain your way through the traditional Sunday market in Chinchero
- Visit the red tile shingle workshop in the village of Piñipampa and meet the craftsman
- Be welcomed into the homes of traditional Andean backstrap weavers
- Spend two nights “glamping” in comfort with top quality equipment, meals and support
- Stop by the classroom of a school house in the village of Cochayoq and meet the students
- Trek to the top of Coltambillo pass (14,764’) to admire the peaks of the Urubamba Range
- Catch the early morning light as the sun rises to shine on Machu Picchu
- Depending on the season, go on a river rafting adventure on the Urubamba River
Urubamba Weaver’s Trek
Trip Itinerary
DAY 1: USA / LIMA OR CUSCO
Arrive to Lima this evening and spend the night at a nearby hotel.
Days 2: LIMA / CUSCO
Fly to Cusco. Tour the historical city and its surrounding Incan ruins.
Day 3: URUBAMBA RIVER / CUSCO
Raft the Urubamba River or explore Tipon ruins according to the season; then, visit Andahuaylillas and the pre-Inca site of Pikillacta.
Day 4: CHINCHERO / SACRED VALLEY
Traditional market day in Chinchero, hike to the Pichincoto Salt Mines. Afternoon visit the town and archaeological site of Pisac.
Days 5: OLLANTAYTAMBO / PALCA / JUNUNA PAMPA CAMP
Morning tour of Ollantaytambo en route to the trailhead. Trek begins. Reach the first pass at 13,800′ and descend to the village of Quelcanca, continue to our campsite.
Day 6: COCHAYOQ CAMP
Hike uphill towards the Coltambillo pass at 14,764′ and descend into the valley and the second camp near the weavers’ community of Cochayoc.
Day 7: LARES / SACRED VALLEY
Continue hiking as we lose elevation and pass through a warmer and lusher area en route to Lares. Follow a scenic road back to the Sacred Valley.
Day 8: MACHU PICCHU
Take the Vistadome train to Machu Picchu (optional Inca Trail day hike through the Sun’s Gate). Personalized tour of the citadel.
Day 9: MACHU PICCHU / CUSCO
Sunrise at Machu Picchu. Spend a second day exploring the Lost City of the Incas and return to Cusco by Vistadome train.
Day 10: CUSCO/LIMA OR USA
Fly to Lima and join an expert guide for a private tour of the colonial center and Larco Museum, then board overnight flight.
Day 11: LIMA/USA
Make your onward connection home.
All Southwind itineraries are fully customizable to your personal interests and travel dates. Please contact us for firsthand knowledge and help with your travel plans.
Detailed day-by-day itinerary (PDF)
With full trip profile, difficulty rating, weather, and other planning details.
Urubamba Weaver’s Trek
Dates & Rates
Departures
This trip is customizable according to travel preferences and season.
2024 Land Cost
4-6 participants: from $7,250 p.p.d.
7-12 participants: from $6,750 p.p.d.
Single Supplement: from $1,550
Detailed day-by-day itinerary (PDF)
With full trip profile, inclusions/exclusions, estimated airfare, and other info.
Urubamba Weaver’s Trek
Accommodations
MIRAFLORES PARK HOTEL
Located on the Malecon de la Reserva, the 5-star Miraflores Park Hotel has 81 suites offering guests the ideal space for work and rest. Enjoy ample private bathrooms in marble and granite, comfortable king-size beds, and a splendid ocean view.
JW MARRIOTT HOTEL
Enjoy a view of the Pacific Ocean against the shoreline at one of Condé Nast Traveler’s Top-20 Latin American hotels, the JW Marriott Hotel Lima. This 5-Star facility has prime location near the Larcomar shopping and entertainment center, and luxurious amenities.
SANCTUARY LODGE
Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, by Belmond, enjoys a unique position at the entrance of the Inca Citadel ruins. The unequaled location of this upscale 4-star hotel allows guests easy access to Machu Picchu, as well as breathtaking scenery and bird watching.
MONASTERIO HOTEL
Built in 1592, the original monastery was given the seal of royal approval in 1692. The San Antonio Abad Seminary and was converted into Cusco’s best and most delightful 5-star hotel in 1995. Only two blocks from Cusco’s main square, the Monasterio Hotel features 109 guest rooms.
Urubamba Weaver’s Trek
Extensions
Length: 4 Days/3 Nights from Cusco or Lima
Season: April to December
Families and travelers with limited time, who want a taste of the Amazon rainforest, will enjoy the Reserva Amazonica or Sandoval Lake lodge, 45 min by boat from Puerto Maldonado. Both allow access to small oxbow lakes as well as forest trails with a variety of habitats.
Length: 4 Days/3 Nights from Cusco
Season: April to November
Introduction: For those who want to experience authentic Quechua culture first-hand and feel like you’ve traveled back in time, nothing beats a visit with a family on Taquile Island, one of Lake Titicaca’s natural islands.
Length: 5 days/4 nights from Lima
Season: Mid-April to mid-November
Introduction: Twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, Colca in southern Peru is one of the deepest canyons in the world. Since its walls are not as vertical, the valley is filled with small towns that preserve their ancestral traditions.
Length: 4 Days/3 Nights from Lima
Season: Year-round
A visit to Paracas is a journey to one of South America’s most important protected coastal-marine systems. Whales, orcas, dolphins, sea lions and sea otters are just a few the 36 species of marine and land mammals found in the reserve.
Length: 5 Days/4 Nights from Cusco
Season: April to October
For travelers wanting to maximize their wildlife viewing opportunities in a short extension, few places in the Amazon Basin can compete with Manu National Park in southeastern Peru. It is considered to be one of the most pristine and important rainforest reserves on the planet!
Length: 4 days/3 nights from Lima
Season:Year-round
Long before the Incas controlled the country, sophisticated cultures existed along the Peruvian coast; and northern Peru is one of the best destinations for visiting the remains of their cities. Moche sites including the renowned Lord of Sipan and the pyramids.
Length: 3 days/2 nights from Lima
Season:Year-round
The mysterious lines etched into the coastal plains near the town of Nazca have fascinated scientists, archaeologists and visitors for decades. Best viewed from the air, Nazca figures such as the monkey, fish, hands and whale are highlights.