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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, and a few nights of ‘supported camping’ 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. This trip is subject to special booking conditions. Please click here for more details.
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 trendy historic neighbourhood of Barranco for a walking tour that explores the streets lined with traditional casonas (colonial-style houses). This charming area is also home to many artists, musicians, and writers. We’ll also make some stops in trendy Miraflores, taking in the seaside views along the “Malecon”, a six-mile strip of parks, gardens and green space along the cliffs overlooking the sea. Later in the evening we’ll reconvene for our included welcome dinner to sample the finest delicacies of this foodie capital.
Today, we rise bright and early for a flight to South America’s oldest continually inhabited city, Cusco (also spelled Cuzco). Upon landing, we’ll head to the Moon Temple and enjoy a picnic lunch. Afterward, we’ll head to the Sacred Valley via private transfer and check into our hotel. Once we’ve gotten settled, we’ll have a mandatory briefing regarding our upcoming gay hike. We’ll gather for an included dinner and then have the rest of the evening at our leisure.
This morning we start off exploring the vibrant agricultural traditions of a farming community in the Sacred Valley. Afterward, we’ll head to Ollantaytambo, the largest town in the valley, located at 2,792 meters. Here, we’ll see homes built on ancient Inca structures and the impressive remains of a historical fortress. After exploring this remarkable town, we’ll head back to our hotel, where we’ll have some time to relax before we enjoy an included dinner together. 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. 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.
I had such a great time with the Group and Ale. Group was super friendly and Ale was amazing, funny and such a fantastic guide and person. The Inca trail was an incredible experience. Overall the trip was great and highly recommended.
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.
The Inca Trail was an experience of a life time!
Peru is fantastic & the Inca Trail is amazing; hiking with a group is perfect & the hike is very well planned.
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.
This tour was part of my bucket list, and it did not disappoint. Everything was well organized, and we had an excellent tour leader – Ale. She, along with the Inca trail guides Vladimir and Orlando, were instrumental to why this tour was a success. They really felt like “familia”. The food was excellent, and the hotels in Cuzco and the Sacred Valley were some of the best I have seen. I highly recommend this trip to everyone.
My trip to Peru with Out Adventures exceeded all of my expectations. Our guide was amazing, very friendly, and very knowledgeable. I can’t get over how wonderful the food was while we were hiking the Inca Trail. I’ve never had “camping” food like that before. Out Adventures’ focus on the finer details of travel is extraordinary.
Honestly, the best organized trip of my life! All the accommodations and meals were fantastic. Our tour guide became family at the end of the trip. I liked how we had one tour guide throughout the entire journey. Could not be happier with how everything turned out. A dream come true!
Peru: 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 More10 nuggets of wisdom to consider before booking Out Adventures’ gay hike towards Machu Picchu, Peru.
Read MoreWith the gay travel scene constantly evolving, an unexpected and unique experience has emerged – gay train trips!
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 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 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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This departure is almost sold out. Book now to guarantee your spot!
This departure is open for booking!
This trip is available but we are close to departure and will need to confirm services such as hotels and activities before confirming you on the trip. The process can take up to 5 business days. If you are seriously interested in this trip, please complete the On Request Booking form and one of our team members will get back to you with next steps.