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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 UNESCO-listed 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. 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 and then our included welcome dinner to sample the finest delicacies of this foodie capital. Finally, if you’re not too jet-lagged, we’ll then head out for some kick-off cocktails at a local gay bar.
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.
Please note: Today’s flight is not included in the cost of the tour. Please see Important Information for a special note on purchasing domestic airfare.
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 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 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 trek. 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 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.
Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu lived up to all of my expectations. The trail was challenging, but the stunning vistas, incredible Inca ruins and diverse flora and fauna made it worthwhile. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the history, culture and must-see places/activities. Not a minute of our time was wasted as we visited local sights in Lima, Cusco, Wilcamayo and Ollantaytambo getting acclimated to the altitude before starting our gay hike on the Inca Trail. We dined at some of the local restaurants, tasting some of the local fare (cuy anyone?). Once we started on the trail, the hospitality of the staff is outstanding as was our trail guide, Tomas. It’s amazing to think that we we had 3 hot meals a day + happy hour.
Don’t be scared off by the enormity of the trip, however, make sure you prepare yourself for the physical exertion and requirements. You will appreciate the trip better if you train your body to some extent. And the support during travel surpasses your expectations.
The Inca Trail Out Adventures trip was outstanding. The guides were excellent, the support staff were on top of things and the food was great. Met lots of great guys from around the world.
The all-gay hike was tough, but doable with some good cardio training before leaving. The views and sights during the hike are amazing! It’s the only way to see many Inca sites before arriving at Machu Picchu.
Out Adventures programmed an OUTstanding trip and made excellent choices on food, hotels, transport, and especially guides. In advance of the trip, staff (in our case, Kevin and Robert) were very attentive and responsive to all of our questions and concerns.
I had been thinking about this trip for over 20 years, and had been saving for about 5, so making the right choice for a tour operator was very important to me. I was very glad we went with Out Adventures. The tour was small enough with enough structure and free time to feel like we were traveling with friends. The guides were just amazing. They were so knowledgeable and took care of us every step of the way. Robert and his team do an amazing job. Being able to direct dial a travel agency and speak directly to the owner is just amazing. I would recommend this tour to anyone.
Let me tell you, I had the time of my life on the Peru trip and it was one of the best experiences of my life. The group was great, the porters and cooks , Darwin, Bruce, and Ali were awesome. I was a bit apprehensive traveling to the developing world, but as I quickly found out, we were in good hands and there was nothing to worry about. The people of Peru are so friendly, and the crew that was assembled to help us with the trip represented OUT and their people in an exemplary manner.
Our Founder Robert Sharp shares how Out Adventures plans on safely restarting tours.
Read MorePeru: The Inca Trail and Machu Picchu is our most popular Active all-gay adventure. If you’re considering joining one of the tour’s two annual departures—or you’re already signed up and want to prepare for the journey—here’s everything you need to know.
Read MoreToday’s episode of The Gay Travel Podcast is a big Incan deal as we count down our top 10 experiences you can only have in Peru.
Read More10 nuggets of wisdom to consider before booking Out Adventures’ gay hike towards Machu Picchu, Peru.
Read MoreMeet Daniel, Out Adventures’ new gay Peru guide.
Read MoreScroll through Jeb and Marks’ amazing photos below to better understand why Out Adventures has been hosting The Inca Trail & Machu Picchu tour for ten years.
Read MoreIn the interest of preserving Machu Picchu, local Peruvian Authorities enacted new regulations that control the number of visitors to the site and how they explore the ruins.
Read MoreA Q&A with an HIV+ traveller who refused to be held back by the virus and completed the Inca Trail in Peru with Out Adventures.
Read MoreIntroducing the Peruvian tour guide who’s been making gay men and women feel welcome in her country for decades.
Read MoreWhile 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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