We've taken one of our most popular trips and transformed it into something a little more pup-ular. Machu Poochu, our seven-day guided Cusco-to-Cusco tour, is the ultimate dog walk. With your dog on one end of the leash and one of our trusty CEOs at the other, Fido will embark on the stroll of a lifetime, with plenty to sniff along the way. Plus, our small group dog tour guarantees that your dog will make meaningful connections with other pups as the pack walks, runs, rolls and fetches its way along the Inca Trail. Here's what your four-legged friend can look forward to:
Day 1: Cusco
Your dog can arrive at any time. One of our trusty CEOs will be waiting at the airport with a pocket full of fresh ceviche, so make sure your dog knows to seek out that particular scent when he or she arrives. Note: please let us know ahead of time of any seafood or shellfish allergies, and we will do our best to accommodate.
Day 2: Cusco/Ollantaytambo
Enjoy a full-day guided tour of the Sacred Valley. Stop at the G Adventures-supported women's weaving co-op to pick up a keepsake: a handmade dog toy, woven by one of the participants in our Planeterra project. Break for lunch at the G Adventures-supported Parwa community restaurant in Huchuy Qosco, where dogs will be treated to ... well, it's just kibble, basically. After lunch, take a nap, or visit a local Chicheria (corn beer bar) where your pup can try to score some snacks from tipsy patrons. Later, settle in for a cozy sleep in moisture-wicking, plush dog beds, stuffed with sustainably harvested alpaca wool.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, treats for being a very good boy/girl
Day 3: Inca Trail
Depart Ollantaytambo by van — with apologies to pups who get a bit anxious in cars. Your dog will ease into things with a straightforward day of digging their paws into nice, dirty paths, jumping in nearby streams, panting in the crisp Andean air, and straining against their leash as they desperately try to get a better whiff of nearby llamas (our CEOs are well-trained dog handlers; your pooch definitely won't come within paw's reach of any wild animals).
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, a surreptitious nibble of llama poop
Day 4: Inca Trail
This is sort of like a morning walk that goes until the afternoon. Your dog and its pack of new pals will start early to climb the long steep path to Warmiwañusca, better known as Dead Woman’s Pass. They'll reach camp by early afternoon, at which time your dog can stretch out and get some well deserved ear-scratches (be sure to sign up with your dog's CEO in advance for this optional inclusion) before the pack settles in for a long nap.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner, if your pooch stays awake long enough (a midnight snack if they don't)
Day 5: Inca Trail
Your pup will cross two more passes and have the opportunity to see — and sniff — tons of ruins along the way, literally breathing in thousands of years of history! Then, the group will hike through cloud forest on the gentle climb to the second pass of the day — you might want to prepare your dog in advance for this by, say, taking them for walks during foggy days or letting them hang out in the bathroom during a particularly steamy shower.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, second dinner (these are very difficult walkies!)
Day 6: Machu Picchu/Cusco
The final day of the hike starts pre-dawn to reach the Sun Gate before sunrise. Catch the first views of the breathtaking ruins of Machu Picchu on a clear day. And, if it's a not clear day, your dog's very keen sense of smell will alert them to the presence of the ancient ruins — and even give them a hint of the presence of the dogs of the ancient Incas (they were called "xoloitzcuintlis," for the record).
The pack will then board the bus — which features cozy, muck-proof seat covers — to Aguas Calientes, for a tasty dinner, before the whole group transfers back to Cusco for a well-deserved rest.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, hot dinner! HOT DINNER! OH BOY A HOT DINNER!
Day 7: Cusco
Depart at any time. Your dog should be sure to give his or her new canine friends a good butt sniff (or two, or three) before they part ways, and be sure to tip the tour's CEO with plenty of kisses.
Getting there
If you haven't figured this out yet: April Fool's! We don't actually sell trips for dogs — but we sell plenty of amazing tours for humans, to Peru and beyond. Check out our full range of small group tours here.
