Day 1: Airport - Hotel Cusco
Our staff will be for you at the Cusco Airport, to take you to your hotel, just waiting let us know your exact arrival time and flight number. Here, you will be welcomed with a hot cup of the famous coca tea. You will have a free afternoon to acclimatize, as the city of Cusco is at an altitude of 3,399 m (11,151 feet). IMPORTANT ADVICE ON ARRIVAL TO CUSCO Please be prepared for the fact that the high elevation, will make you feel more tired than normal on your arrival, so we recommend that you take the afternoon easy. If you are feeling fine, then have a cup of coca tea, which will help you acclimatize quicker. It is recommended to take a light walk, maybe to see The Plaza De Armas, to see the incredible colonial buildings, built on top of Inca foundations. It is important to drink a lot of water at high elevation, which will help you with the process of acclimatization. For the first few days at high elevation, it is also important toe at light meals as your digestion will be slower and later on you will have the opportunity to try the famous Guinea pig, a dish which was revered by the Incas and is still a national dish of The Andes and is eaten on special occasions and celebrations. One thing you must not miss on one of your free days is a visit to the “Centro QOSQO” of native art a show which demonstrates traditional dances, costume and music of the region. The show begins at 6pm, but we recommend that you arrive 40 minutes earlier and wait in line, as many people want to go to the see this unique spectacular. If you have the “boleta turistica” included in your package, you will have free access to this incredible show. Drink the coca tea on offer and each morning to help you acclimatize. Remember that it has a similar effect to caffeine so don´t drink it too late in the evening or you sleep will be affected. Bring a decent and comfortable pair of walking shoes. We suggest a visit to the Plaza de Armas with its colonial and Inca temples, The Regional History Museum, The Contemporary Art Museum, the Museum of The Qoricancha, and the Museum of popular art. These places will make your trip an even more unforgettable experience and give you the perfect insight into local culture. Overnight: Hotel in Cusco experience Check in: 12:00 / check out : 9:00 am Meals : none NOTE : If your arrival time is earlier than the check-in time, you can use the hotel’s common areas while you wait.
Day 2: Cusco City Tour (The Cathedral, The Qoricancha, Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay) – 5 hr tour
Today, we will visit some of the most interesting sites in Cusco and the surrounding area. We will begin with a visit to the Cusco cathedral found on the Plaza De Armas and is the principal church in this imperial city. It was built on the foundations of the temple of The Inca Wiracocha. The cathedral displays over 300 paintings belong to the Cusco school of art. We will then head on to the Qoricancha which is the Quechua Word for “Temple of Gold”. This was the first temple to be constructed by The Incas, and was originally covered with large amounts of silver and gold. We will next head out of Cusco City to the close by ruins of Sacsayhuaman , famous for its enormous megaliths and giant stones, that weigh over 150 tonnes. During Inca times, it was considered the “Temple of lightening”, in honour to the deity Illapa. We will then head to the nearby ruins of Q’enqo , a religious site dedicated to the Mother Earth where you can still see carved stones and constructions. There is also a sacrificial altar where the Incas were thought to make offerings and sacrifices to The Mother Earth. After this, we will visit the to the impressive Inca fortress of Puka Pukara , which means “Red Castle” in the ancient Inca language of Quechua. Our final visit will be to Tambomachay , where we can appreciate a sacred temple dedicated to an ancient water cult which probably also functioned as a purification bath for the Inca governors. We will then return to Cusco City, where we Will drop you off at your hotel or in the central “Plaza de Armas”. IMPORTANT ADVICE The City Tour will begin in the afternoon. You will have a free morning to acclimatize and drink a coca tea with your breakfast. Wear comfortable walking shoes/boots. We suggest that you visit the Plaza de Armas with its colonial and Inca temples, The Regional History Museum, The Contemporary Art Museum, the Museum of The Qoricancha, and the Museum of popular art. These places will make your trip an even more unforgettable experience and give you the perfect insight into local culture. Overnight: Hotel in Cusco Meals: Breakfast
Day 3: Maras – Moray – Salineras (7 hrs Tour)
This day we will visit beautiful Inca towns with their colonial houses, on this unique and pleasant tour we will be able to appreciate the treasures that this sacred land hides. We will start the day visiting the experimental agricultural terraces of Moray . Groups of circular terraces that measure up to 150 meters deep. According to historians, these constructions constituted an important Inca agricultural laboratory. Since their platforms are built with their respective irrigation channels and each of them constitutes a microclimate. What draws most attention is the large difference in average annual temperature between the top and bottom of the depressions, a difference of up to 15°C. Next we will go to the colonial town of Maras, a town that still preserves its Andean traditions and customs. We will be able to appreciate its beautiful architecture and its houses with colonial-style stone doorways. Finally we will visit the Salineras De Maras . These mines continue to be exploited today, where farmers have worked every day since Inca times. At the end of the tour we will return to Cusco, where we will drop you off at your hotel. Overnight : Hotel in Cusco Meals : Breakfast
Day 4: South Valley - Tipon, Pikillacta and Andahuaylillas) – 5 hour tour
This day we will have an exclusive adventure, we will visit the picturesque and little explored South Valley of Cusco . Beginning the tour we will go to Quispicanchis, where we will visit the impressive archaeological complex of Tipón , an important center of worship, where the Incas worshiped water, one of the elements of nature considered sacred in the Andean vision, which circulates through canals and passes through terraces and waterfalls. Then we will visit the archaeological complex of Pikillacta , Huari urban center, belonging to the Pre Inca stage, you will be able to see that the constructions are very different from the Inca constructions. Finally we will visit the village of Andahuaylillas , where we will visit its outstanding and fantastic 16th century church known as the Sistine Chapel of America due to the large number of paintings on its walls and ceilings. It has an organ decorated with angels and cherubs and prodigious murals by the famous artist Tadeo Escalante. Before returning, we will have time for a brief visit to the Sacred Stones Museum. At the end of the tour we will return to Cusco, where we will drop you off at your hotel. Overnight : Hotel in Cusco Meals : Breakfast
Day 5: Cusco - Sacred Valley of the Incas, Pisac and Ollantaytambo - connection to Aguas Calientes (8-hour tour)
On this day, you will explore the marvelous Sacred Valley of the Incas, also known as the Valley of Vilcanota . We’ll start the day by visiting the archaeological complex of Pisac , situated high up on a mountain. This wonderful place is comprised of groups of terraces and architectural structures scattered across its slopes and at the top of the mountain, offering a marvelous blend of landscape and constructions. Next, we’ll head to the craft market where you can admire a wide variety of artworks dating back to ancient times. We’ll pass through Urubamba , where we’ll pause for lunch. Here, we’ll sample typical Peruvian cuisine with a variety of dishes including salads, soups, hot dishes, the famous ceviche, and delicious desserts. After lunch, we’ll visit the architectural complex of Ollantaytambo , a living village built to guard the entrance of this part of the valley and protect it against potential invaders. We’ll have the opportunity to walk through its streets and gain a clearer idea of what this military, religious, and cultural center was like during the Inca Empire. Following the visit, we’ll board the train bound for Aguas Calientes. Upon arrival, a hotel representative will be waiting to take you to your hotel. Overnight: Hotel in Aguas Calientes Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Day 6: Machu Picchu – Cusco – 02h30m private
In the morning, according to the scheduled time, our guide will pick you up at your hotel to go to the bus station where you will climb 400m along a winding path for 20min to reach the incredible wonder of the world “The Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu”, also known as “ The Lost City of the Incas ”. Upon arriving at the Machu Picchu citadel with our guide, we will pass through the entrance and begin the tour of the entire citadel. For around 2h30m we will visit the main places in Machu Picchu. We return to the town of Aguas Calientes in the afternoon, where you will have free time to enjoy lunch in one of the many restaurants ( lunch not included ). After lunch, we will take the train to Ollantaytambo (depending on train departure time availability). The return will follow the same route as the departure. Upon arrival in Ollantaytambo, the train representative will be waiting to take you to the bus heading to your hotel in Cusco. Overnight : Hotel in Cusco Meals: breakfast
Day 7: Hotel – Cusco airport
Depending on the time of your flight, we will collect you from your hotel and take you to the Cusco airport. This marks the end of our services. Check in: 12:00 / check out : 9:00 am Meals : Breakfast End of our services. NOTE: If your return time is later than your check-out time, you can use the hotel’s common areas while you wait. <div class="gdlr-core-title-item gdlr-core-item-pdb clearfix gdlr-core-left-align gdlr-core-title-item-caption-bottom gdlr-core-item-pdlr" style="padding-bottom: 35px ;"
