Apu Lodge - Intro

Tours and Activities
We can arrange guides for the many treks and ruins in the area and provide advice on an itinerary to suit you.

At this altitude we recommend starting your stay in Cusco (3300m) and the Sacred Valley with as many days in Ollantaytambo (2800m) as you can manage, to acclimatise, relax, experience this amazing town and view nearby attractions such as fortress of Ollantaytambo (visible from Apu Lodge), Machu Picchu, Salineras, Maras, Moray, Pisaq, the Inca quarries at Cachiccata, Pumamarka and communities of Huilloc and Patakancha, where you can see the subsistence lifestyle of the Quechua people who live in the mountains and have a chance to buy their textiles should you wish. The lower altitude and peaceful atmosphere in Ollantaytambo makes it an ideal place to base your stay in the Cusco area and with the train station in the town it is an easy day trip to Machu Picchu (less than 2 hours by train).

Maras-Moray Taxi Tour
Moray consists of three sets of concentric circular terraces, an Inca agricultural centre possibly used for developing new crops. The temperature varies between terraces at difference levels, which would have facilitated the selection of crop strains for cultivation in different areas of the Inca empire with its many ecosystems. Salineras is a cascade of thousands of salt-ponds used to produce salt from thermal springs since pre-Inca times. The four-hour tour provides panoramic views of the mountains around the Sacred Valley and an hour to appreciate Moray and 45 minutes for Salineras. It is en route to Cusco so makes a good option the day you leave Ollantaytambo, or the day you arrive.

If you would like to incorporate a longer walk into this tour, it is a two-hour walk downhill via Salineras from Maras to the road that joins Urubamba, where the taxi can pick you up or you can get local bus very cheaply in just 20 minutes to Ollantaytambo.

Walking and Day-Treks - Guides available for these and other treks
There are shorter walks, for example to the storage houses on Pinkuylluna, the mountain behind Apu Lodge, just half an hour, with great views of town, or longer walks, up the Patakancha valley as far as you feel like.

If you have longer, a beautiful trek is to Pumamarka, 6 hours round trip including time at the ruined fortress up there (sometimes there is a small entry fee), with amazing views all the way. This treks starts with a climb up the river valley and valley side and then slow ascent to the ruins and returns down the mountainside and along the river valley. That walk can be done just downhill in shorter time if you get a taxi up there, which is just $15 or so, or if you prefer you can take a taxi both ways.

Tayta temple, south-east of Ollantaytambo, near Pachar. Old Inka temple with Andean crosses carved in the rocks, a short steep climb.

Inca quarries of Cachiccata, south of Ollantaytambo. Minimum six hours return. Steep climb, amazing views.

Quechua weaving community of Patakancha, high in the mountains north of Ollantaytambo, long day hike.

Longer treks with camping or hostel-stays overnight

The lake of Yanacocha, an ecotour to the mountains, two days.
Lares, Quechua weaving communities and thermal springs, three days, two nights camping.
Machu Picchu via Santa Teresa High jungle trek and thermal springs. Four days with overnights in hostels.
Choquekirau Large Inca site, trek, five days, camping.
Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu via Santa Teresa, six days, camping and hostels.
Pongo de Mainique Boat ride, through jungle canyon past waterfalls and weird rock formations, minimum five days.

Horse-riding and mountain-biking

The horses are very steady here and we only use well-treated horses. Cost is $40 per person for two and a half hour trek in the valley. $50 per person for 4-hour trek to Pumamarka. Horse treks can also be arranged to Maras-Moray-Salineras, Tayta temple at Pachar, Patakancha, Lares and other sites.
Downhill mountain biking can be arranged from Patakancha (suitable for beginners), Pumamarka, Abra Malaga and level biking to Tayta temple at Pachar

Markets

Pisaq market and ruins is also a good day-trip from here, or good to visit to or from Cusco. The ruins there are spectacular and the market has a good selection of artesania and is especially interesting on local market days (Tuesday, Thursday, and especially Sunday). We can organise a taxi if required.
Urubamba has a really good local market, not at all touristy, lots of animals, crops, local colour, and is just 20 minutes away.

San Pedro y temescal

We offer spiritual experiences with San Pedro medicine, which can be combined with a Temescal (sweat lodge) in the grounds of Apu Lodge.

Suggested itinerary for one week, seven nights at Apu Lodge

Day 1- Fly in to Cusco, taxi straight Ollantaytambo, rest and acclimatise at Apu Lodge and walking slowly round the old town.
Day 2- Visit ruins of Ollantaytambo and then museum and local gallery in the afternoon.
Day 3- Day-trip to Machu Picchu by train
Day 4- Downhill bike ride, hike or horse trek to Pumamarka
Day 5- Visit ruins of Moray and the salt ponds of Salineras by taxi, walk down from Salineras if desired.
Day 6- Trip to Quechua weaving community of Patakancha by taxi, mountain bike down if desired.
Day 7- Visit ruins of Pisaq by taxi, walk down from the top to the market, taxi pick.up from the top.
Day 8- Return to Cusco via ruins of Puka Pukara, Qenqo and Sacsayhuamana.

Suggested itinerary for four days, three nights at Apu Lodge

Day 1- Taxi from Cusco to Ollantaytambo, visiting ruins in Pisaq and market en route.
Day 2- Visit ruined fortress of Ollantaytambo in the morning and climb Pinkuylluna in the afternoon.
Day 3- Day-trip to Machu Picchu by train
Day 4- Return to Cusco via ruins of Moray and the salt ponds of Salineras by taxi, walk down from Salineras