Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu & Cusco Package

ITINERARY

Day 1: ARRIVE TO CUSCO

Upon arrival to Cusco, you will be greeted by our representative and transferred to your hotel.  Receive a short briefing and then have the rest of the morning for resting and acclimatizing. In the afternoon, there will be time to explore Cusco, enjoying the sights of the capital city of the Incas, the indigenous and colonial heritages at your leisure. At night, experience Cusco’s nightlife and sample some of its cuisine at the many traditional Peruvian restaurants.

• 3* Accommodation: Maytaq Wasin or Waman Qorikancha
• 4* Accommodation: Costa del Sol Ramada, Casa Andina Private Collection or Novotel  Hotels
• Recommendations: We highly recommend walking around the main plaza and visit the San Pedro Market.

Day 2: CUSCO – PISAC – OLLANTAYTAMBO – CUSCO

Today we start at 7:30am, when the guide picks you up at your Cusco hotel in our private van. Our route to the Sacred Valley of the Incas leads us to Pisac. We stop first at the Mirador of Taray to enjoy an expansive view of the Urubamba valley and its traditional farming villages. See how the agriculture in the Sacred Valley has changed little in the past five hundred years. Onward, we drive to the archeological site of Pisac, see an impressive Inca cemetery with more than 2,000 tombs. There, we can admire the carefully engineered farming terraces carved into the mountain, explore the Inca tunnel and the religious area of this important citadel. Here, we will spend about 2 hours, exploring the Inca city.

Then, we head down to the colorful market of Pisac. Here you will appreciate the fascinating and vibrant market. You will have plenty of opportunities to test your bartering skills, interact with the local artisans and purchase their hand-made souvenirs.

Followed by Pisac, is Urubamba, where we have a delicious lunch. We continue on towards Ollantaytambo, the oldest continuously occupied town on the American continent. The narrow streets of Ollantaytambo along with their canals have not changed much from the time of the Inca Empire. They evoke their ancestral inheritance and give you a feeling of what times would have been like back then. We explore the archeological site for 1 hour and admire the water fountains, the Sun Temple, the Incahuatana and the carefully engineered storehouses.

We return you to the Plaza de Armas in Cusco at approximately 6:30pm.

• 3* Accommodation: Maytaq Wasin or Waman Qorikancha
• 4* Accommodation: Costa del Sol Ramada, Casa Andina Private Collection or Novotel Hotels
• Meal included: Breakfast

Day 3: CUSCO- CHINCHERO, MARAS , MORAY & SALT MINES – AGUAS CALIENTES 

We pick you up in our private van from your hotel in Cusco at 8am and drive you to the Chinchero market place. Chinchero is believed to be the mythical birthplace of the rainbow. Its most important weekly event is the colorful Sunday market, which is much less touristy than the market at Pisac.

Our next stop is the fascinating archeological site of Moray also known as “The Greenhouse of the Incas” a deep basin of architectural wonder. Levels of terraces are carved into a huge bowl, which was carefully engineered by the Incas. The terraces have varied microclimates depending on how deep into the bowl they are placed.  Archeologists believe that they were used by the Incas to discover the optimal growing conditions for their crops and experiment in hybridization.

Continuing on our journey to the colonial town of Maras, we look down onto the pre-Inca salt “mines,” called salineras in Spanish. Thousands of salt pans have been passed down through countless generations and used for salt extraction since before Inca times. A hot spring at the top of the valley discharges a small stream of heavily salt laden water, which is diverted into salt pans and evaporated to produce salt. This is one of the few places in the world where you can find naturally pink salt!

Then, we will take the afternoon Vistadome train to Aguas Calientes from Ollantaytambo at 1:27pm, where you will have time for shopping in this picturesque town, visit the hot springs or the museum. Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, a representative of the hotel will meet you and transfer you to your hotel.

• 3* Accommodation: Ferre´ Hotel Machu Picchu
• 4* Accommodation: El Mapi or Tierra Viva Machu Picchu (superior room)
• Meal included: Breakfast

Recommendations Aguas Calientes:

• Visit the Machu Picchu ‘Manuel Chávez Ballón’ museum and orchid exhibition.
• Thermal baths  10 soles per person.

Day 4: AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO

This is the day you’ve been waiting for! After an early breakfast at your hotel,  take one of the first buses up to Machu Picchu, to witness the sunrise. It is a truly extraordinary site and not something you’ll want to miss! The guide will give you a tour, which takes about two hours. You will see most of the important parts of Machu Picchu Citadel. Learn about how Machu Picchu is divided into three sectors: agricultural, residential and religious.

When you have had your fill of the exceptional views of Machu Picchu, you will take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes for lunch (not included). Depending on your train departure time, you may also have time for some shopping, sightseeing or a visit to the museum or hot springs.

The Vistadome train will take you back to Ollantaytambo at 4:22pm or 4:43pm or 6:20pm, following the spectacular Urubamba River. Close to Aguas Calientes, the canyon is narrow and the river has many beautiful sections of whitewater. You can also see Wiñay Wayna from the train, if you look up high on the steep canyon wall! Back at Ollantaytambo, the driver will meet you at the exit from the train station to take you back to your hotel in Cusco in our private vehicle. You can expect to arrive at your hotel between 8pm and 10:30pm.

Please note: In the rainy season, January through April, the Vistadome Train only runs to the Ollantaytambo station. We will drive you from Ollantaytambo to your hotel in Cusco.

• 3* Accommodation: Maytaq Wasin or Waman Qorikancha
• 4* Accommodation: Costa del Sol Ramada, Casa Andina Private Collection or Novotel Hotels
• Meal included: Breakfast

After your tour, those who have booked in advance for the extra hikes up Huayna Picchu Mountain, this tour is done without a guide.

Day 5: LEISURE TIME/CITY TOUR

After breakfast, enjoy the beauty of Cusco or just relax.

In the afternoon, we will pick you up from your hotel to visit the Imperial City. It is a living example of the mix of Andean and Spanish culture. We start the tour at the Convent of Santo Domingo built over the Koricancha, which was the Ancient Inca Palace and the main worship center of the Sun Inti. You are given plenty of time to enjoy these beautiful sights. From there we visit the archaeological site of Sacsayhuaman, with its impressive Inca architecture, which dominates the city. Finally, we explore the archeological sites of Q’enqo, Puca Pucará and Tambomachay, which are located in the northeast section of the city.  You will return to your hotel in Cusco in the early evening.

• 3* Accommodation: Maytaq Wasin or Waman Qorikancha
• 4* Accommodation: Costa del Sol Ramada, Casa Andina Private Collection or Novotel Hotels
• Meal included: Breakfast

Day 6: DEPARTURE FROM CUSCO

After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy your remaining time in Cusco then in the afternoon we will drop off at the airport to take your plane back to Lima.

• Meal included: Breakfast