Explore the main attractions of Cusco on a 5-day program that begins with airport pickup and ends with your departure transfer. During the trip, you will discover the city of Cusco and its main archaeological sites, explore the Sacred Valley of the Incas, and continue your journey to Machu Picchu. The program is designed to combine sightseeing, transportation, and time to relax, allowing you to experience Cusco and Machu Picchu without having to organize every detail separately. At the end of the tour, our team will accompany you to Cusco Airport.
Upon your flight´s arrival, in Cusco, our team will be waiting, at the airport, to take you to your hotel, where a coca-leaf tea will help you acclimatize to the Incan Imperial City´s altitude that averages 3,400 m.a.s.l.
At your hotel, our staff will give you all the necessary information on the Imperial City of Cusco, and then, they will let you rest, to get used to altitude. Afterwards, if you wish to, you might want to take a stroll around, in Cusco´s Historical Center.
In the morning, you´ll enjoy some free time, to enjoy the Incas´ ancient Capital City which is the best place to get acclimatized and familiarized with its so peculiar culture. So, enjoy another coca-leaf tea, at breakfast, and wear comfortable sneakers, to take short walks, in your hotel´s vicinity, and delight over Cusco´s Incan, colonial and modern architectural styles.
Around 1:15 p.m., we´ll set-off on an archaeological tour of the Incan architectural complexes located on the city´s outskirts.
First, we´ll visit Cusco´s Cathedral, built on top of the foundations of the Suntur Wasi; Inca Wiracocha´s Palace. Inside, there are numerous colonial paintings, from Cusco´s School of Art, as well as valuable objects, in gold and silver.
In the sequence, we will visit the Qoricancha, or Temple of the Sun, where the Incas worshipped Inti; their Sun God. There, you´ll have the opportunity to appreciate one of the best sample of Imperial Incan architecture, with its finely cut, polished and fit andesite and granulated granite stone blocks, upon which the Santo Domingo Church and Monastery are erected.
Then, we´ll head over to the Incan Architectural Complex of Saqsayhuaman, with its megalithic walls, of minimum 5 meters high and 2.5 meters thick, and their perfect joints that will simply leave you amazed. Nowadays, it is the scene of the Inti Raymi (Celebration to the Sun), every June 24, which attracts visitors from the whole world.
From there, you´ll have the opportunity to sight Mounts Ausangate, Pachatusan and Cinca which are considered as Sacred Mountains, or Apus, by the Andean people, up to this very day. Then, we´ll visit Q´enqo (Maze, in Quechua), which was an important Incan ceremonial center used for sacrifices and human mummification processes. Afterwards, we´ll walk over to Puka Pukara (Red Fort) that used to be a military checkpoint, to control human traffic, in and out of Cusco, during the Incan Imperial Period.
And, last, we´ll go to Tambomachay; a fine Incan architectural compound dedicated to the Cult to Water, where we´ll appreciate amazing underground water canals and beautiful water fountains that still work, up to this day. There, the Inca used to rest and perform special ceremonies, reason for which locals call it ‘The Inca´s Baths’.
Today, we´ll get-up early and, after breakfast, we´ll check-out, and will leave the hotel, to travel to the Incas´ Sacred Valley.
To better enjoy that excursion, we recommend you to carry a daypack, with a change of clothes, for that short trip, and pajama, to spend the night in Machupicchu Pueblo. Also take your passport along, as well as photo and/or video camera, light binoculars (optional), personal hygiene kit and an eventual snack, so as to travel light and comfortable, while you leave the bulk of your luggage in the hotel´s storage room.
On our way, we´ll visit Awanacancha which is a traditional Andean textile confection center. There, you´ll have the chance to observe Andean camelids, such as the lama, alpaca, vicuña and others, from up close.
In addition, the landscape of the Sacred Valley is absolutely breathtaking and unique, with its snowcapped mountains, gorges and rivers, the main one of which is the Urubamba River, and along which Peru´s best corn is being grown, since Incan times, and up to present days.
In Pisaq, we´ll enjoy a guided visit if the Incan architectural complex, with its numerous crop and contention benched terraces, as well as with its temples, squares and finely built enclosures, all of which is perched on a mountain top, with spectacular views over the Sacred Valley and the colonial and modern-day locality of Pisaq, at the bottom of the valley. There, you´ll have time to take pictures, and connect with Mother Nature, before going down to the village of Pisaq, where you´ll have free time, to stroll around and take advantage of the Handicraft Market, to do some souvenir shopping.
Now, our next destination will be the town of Urubamba, where we´ll stop to have lunch, and enjoy a broad variety of local and regional dishes.
The last destination, in the Incas´ Sacred Valley, is Ollantaytambo, also called ‘The Last Living Incan Village’, due to the fact that many houses, streets and neighborhood still conserve their original Incan urban design, and where many inhabitants still keep some of their ancestral customs and traditions. Once inside Ollantaytambo´s Incan Architectural Complex, you´ll have plenty of chances to appreciate the quality of the Incas´ architecture and engineering.
Our Sacred Valley Tour will end at 4:00 p.m., and you´ll have about 2 hours of free time, in Ollantaytambo, although our staff will inform you about some options for activities, in the village, before boarding the train bound to Machupicchu Pueblo.
In any case, you´ll have to be at Ollantaytambo´s Railway Station, at 6:00 p.m., to board the 7:05 train. Then, the ride to Machupicchu Pueblo takes about one hour and 45 minutes, so, you should get there around 8:45 p.m. At the local railroad station´s main exit gate, our staff will be waiting, to take you to your hotel.
Once at the hotel, we´ll give you information on the pedestrian village of Machupicchu Pueblo, and about the following day´s guided visit of the Incan City of Machu Picchu.
Today is the best day of your whole trip, as you´ll get to discover and visit the Incan City of Machu Picchu; Peru´s Wonder of the Modern World. So, take your camera along, as well as sunblock lotion, insect repellent, sunglasses, a wide brim hat, your passport and a bottle of mineral water, to spend an unforgettable day, in Machu Picchu.
In the morning, and at the indicated time, our staff will pick you up at your hotel, to board a bus that will take you up to the Incan City of Machu Picchu, on a scenic winding road, with spectacular views of the surrounding landscapes and Urubamba River, at the bottom of the canyon.
In Machu Picchu, a specialized guide will tell you the whole story of that so special place, and will show you all the most important architectural compounds that compose it, as well as its squares, temples, water fountains, stairways, streets and numerous benched terraces. Then, at the end of the visit, our guide will inform you about the time which you have to return, by bus, to Machupicchu Pueblo at, to be at the railway station on time to catch your train to Cusco, where our staff will be waiting, to transfer you to your hotel.
According to your flight´s departure schedule, our staff will pick you up at your hotel, to transfer you to the airport.
