Details of the Trip
ITINERARY
DAY 1: CUSCO CITY TOUR
Upon your arrival to Cusco, you will be greeted by our representative and transferred to your hotel. There you will receive a short briefing and have the remainder of the morning to rest and acclimatize. In the afternoon, we will introduce you to the Imperial City of Cusco, a living example of the mix of Andean and Spanish culture. Continuing your journey, you will visit the Santo Domingo Convent built over the Koricancha, as well as the ancient Inca Palace and the main worship center of the Sun God. Our tour continues to the truly impressive archaeological site of Sacsayhuaman and its military Inca architecture, which dominates the city below. Finally, we explore the archaeological sites of Qenqo, Puca Pucará and Tambomachay, located in the north east of the city. We will head back to your hotel in Cusco by early evening.
- 3* Accommodations: Waman Qoricancha or Maytaq Wasin Hotel
- 4* Accommodations: Costa del Sol Ramada or Casa Andina Premium
DAY 2: CUSCO – PISAC – MORAY – MARAS – OLLANTAYTAMBO – AGUAS CALIENTES
We start today at 7:30am, when your guide picks you up at your Cusco hotel in our private van. Our route to the Sacred Valley of the Incas leads us towards Pisac. We stop first at the Mirador of Taray to enjoy an expansive view of the Urubamba valley and its traditional farming villages. You will 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, where you can 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 site. Here, we will spend about 2 hours, exploring the Inca city. Then, we head down to the colorful market of Pisac, spend about 20 minutes visiting it, later drive to Urubamba for lunch.
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!
Finally, we drive to Ollantaytambo, taking the time to explore the Inca village that has remained intact since Inca times and the massive Inca Ruins, with a tour provided by our guide. Visit the massive architecture of the Sun Temple at the top of the formidable terraces and learn about the importance of this site for the Inca during the beginning of the Spanish conquest. After some time for dinner, you will take the train to Aguas Calientes to spend the night in your hotel. The train departs at 7:04pm and arrives at 8:45pm.
- 3* Accommodations: Ferre´ Hotel Machu Picchu
- 4* Accommodations: El Mapi or Tierra Viva Superior
DAY 3: 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. Also 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 Expedition train will take you back to Ollantaytambo at 2:55pm or 3:20pm, 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, your 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 by 7:00pm.
- Meals included: Breakfast at your hotel
- Difficulty: Easy
- 3* Accommodations: Maytaq Wasin or Waman Hotels
- 4* Accommodations: Costa del Sol Ramada, Casa Andina Private Collection or Novotel Hotels
***IMPORTANT:
After your tour, those who have booked in advance for an extra hike up to Huayna Picchu, this tours is without a guide.
- You can upgrade to the Vistadome Train for the same times, 2:55pm or 3:20pm, 4:22pm, or 4:43pm. The cost is $67 USD per person.
- Early trains can be organized by request and it has to be done by booking time.
DAY 4: CUSCO – ANDAHUAYLILLAS – RACCHI – LA RAYA – PUNO
We pick you up at your hotel at 6:30am to take you to the bus station (Inca Express or First Class). Both companies provide royal class service with an English-speaking tour guide, a waiter who is ready to assist you with hot, and cold drinks on board. During the trip, you will stop to visit some Inca constructions, museums and the Andahuaylillas Church, which is considered to be the Sistine Chapel of South America because of its amazing frescos. Then we stop at the Racchi Inca ruins, which used to be a religious and resting place for Inca travelers. The next visit is at La Raya, the border between the regions of Cusco and Puno, where the most traditional animals of Peru can be seen, llamas and alpacas. In Pucara, we will visit a museum where it is possible to see some pre-Inca remains. Finally, by 5.30pm we arrive in the city of Puno, where our representative will pick you up to take you to your hotel.
- Meal included: Breakfast at your hotel, Lunch
- 3* Accommodations: Casa Andina Puno or Tierra Viva Puno
- 4* Accommodations: Casa Andina Private Collection or Sonesta Puno
DAY 5: PUNO – UROS – TACQUILE – PUNO
We pick you up at your hotel in Puno at 7:30am and transfer you to the port of Puno. This is when you adventure begins to “the Uros floating islands” an ancient ethnic group of people living on Lake Titicaca since pre-Incan times. They are still maintaining their original lifestyle fishing, hunting birds, gathering eggs and making optimum use of the reeds even as food. At about 8:30am you will arrive at the islands and get to enjoy the opportunity to interact with the local families. You will visit their homes, and have a demonstration of how they live their lives, and how they construct the floating islands. You will have the option for a boat ride on the magnificent reed boats constructed by the locals (10 soles extra). After enjoying some time on the Uros Islands, you will be on your way to Taquile Island arriving around 11am. There you will have the opportunity to experience some local music and dance, have a scrumptious lunch at a local restaurant and time to hike around the island and enjoy the spectacular landscape and views of Lake Titicaca. You will arrive back to Puno at around 05:00pm and be transferred back to your hotel.
***You can add at 2 day trip on lake Titicaca with an overnight stay with local family for $90 USD per person more.
- Meals included: Breakfast at your hotel, Lunch on the island
- Transportation: Fast Boat Service
NOTE – Our tour ends in PUNO
- You can just go to Juliaca and fly back to Lima – LATAM Airlines late evening flight back to Lima. We can provide transfer for your group from Puno to Juliaca airport for $60 USD per person.
- You can continue your tour to Bolivia through Copacabana and the Sun Island (Isla del sol);
- You can continue from Puno to Arequipa by bus or plane
- If you want to experience the train ride to Cusco, it takes 12 hours with amazing views.
- You can go to the Uyuni Salt Flats in Bolivia or the jungle at Puerto Maldonado
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
Included
- Pick up and drop off at your hotel
- Entrances to the Inca Cities and all archeological sites
- Private transportation
- Round trip Expedition train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and back to Ollantaytambo
- Hotel accommodations in Cusco, Aguas Calientes, and Puno (ONLY if you are chossing the price with hotel included)
- Meals as indicated on itinerary
- Roundtrip bus ticket Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu
- Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu
- Professional English & Spanish speaking guide
- Visit to the ruins along the way to Puno
- Tourist bus to Puno with English-speaking tour guide
- Pick up in Puno bus station and transfer to your hotel
- Pick up from your hotel and transfer to the port of Puno
- Fast boat with English-speaking tour guide
- Visit of the Uros & Taquile Islands on Lake Titicaca
Not Included
- Meals not indicated on the itinerary
- Entrance fee to the hot springs of Aguas Calientes (optional)
- Entrance of Huayna Picchu -$75 USD per person
- Upgrades train – For Vistadome train add $67 USD per person
- Upgrade hotel in Aguas Calientes – from $40 USD per person
- Optional boat ride on the Island of Uros (10 soles)
- 2 day trip on the islands with overnight stay with local family add $90 USD per person
- Tips for your guide
**Huayna Picchu is an optional trek within Machu Picchu Citadel which does not include a guide. The climb is usually done on your own after your tour of Machu Picchu Citadel. If you would like the extra hike to be guided, please request in advance. There is an extra cost for this extra guided tour.
PRICES
- $797 USD per person without hotels
- $947 USD per person with 4 nights 3* hotels
- $1,197 USD per person with 4 nights 4* hotels
This fantastic tour can be done on any date that is best for you, as long as we have a minimum of 2 participants!
*** You can add a 2 day tour of the Islands with an overnight stay with a local family for $90 USD extra per person.
***Private service is available for $300 USD more per person and this will be for day 1, 2, 3 and 4th ONLY.
***All entrance fees are included and we operate our tours in small groups averaging 5 people with a maximum of 8!
***The transfer from Puno to the airport of Juliaca is $25 USD extra per person for a private service.
DISCOUNTS
- 18 to 25 years old: $30 USD. Information required on student card: name of university, student name, photo of student, expiration date etc. A copy of the card is required at booking for government approval for discount.
- Under 18 years old: $30 USD. Please send us a copy of your passport at the time of booking.
- Under 11 years old: $40 USD. Please send us a copy of your passport at the time of booking.
EXTRAS
- Huayna Picchu Climb: $75 USD per person. This will need to be booked in advance, let us know about it at the time of booking.
- Upgrade to Vista Dome Train: $67 USD per person. (Aguas Calientes to Poroy/Cusco at 4:43pm)
- Upgrade to 2 days on Lake Titicaca with an overnight stay with local family for $90 USD per person.
- Transfer from Puno to Juliaca Airport -$25 USD per person.
- Upgrade Hotel Aguas Calientes– 3* $45 USD per person. (Can upgrade to 4 or 5 star also)
- Hotel single supplement: $40 USD 3* and $45 USD 3* for solo travelers (depending on hotel)
**Huayna Picchu is an optional trek within Machu Picchu Citadel which does not include a guide. The climb is usually done on your own after your tour of Machu Picchu Citadel. If you would like the extra hike to be guided, please request in advance. There is an extra cost for this extra guided tour.
WHY CHOOSE SAM TRAVEL?
SAM Travel Peru is a family owned travel agency and a local tour operator based in Cusco with personal experience over many years of trekking. SAM Travel Peru is a 100% Cusqueñian Company without any shareholders.
Our dream as a locally based company is to create small personalized tours & treks strictly and only operated by local professional staff catering in PERSONALIZED and HIGH QUALITY SERVICE.
We take pride in our reputation as a RESPONSIBLE & SUSTAINABLE tour operator. Our staff are our extended family. We ensure they are supported financially by offering them a fair salary. We are so proud of our team! Without them, we wouldn’t be able to offer the best service and lifetime experiences to our clients.
SAM Travel Peru knows how important it is to trust in a reliable honest operator to create your adventure of a lifetime while in Peru. Check out our reviews and certificates of excellence on, TRIPADVISOR for yourself! Also we are highly recommended on Conde Nast Travelers, Lonely Planet and by many blogs like: Trek de Lares 4 hours, “It’s the journey, not the destination…”, Lares Pass – Day 3, Trekking in the Sacred Valley.
SMALL GROUPS
To ensure a more personalized service for our guests, at SAM Travel Peru we have a policy that our groups will not exceed 8 people. This fact alone sets us apart from other companies that operate departures with bigger groups.
OUR TOP TOUR GUIDES
We are so proud of our guides! They are highly professional and speak fluent English. They are very knowledgeable and passionate for Inca heritage and history. Our guides are dedicated to continuous personal and professional development. They do research to ensure that you receive accurate and recognized theories in Inca and Andean culture. Our crew is fun loving, great sports and well-educated. They all hold degrees in one of the following: Archeology, Tourism, Botany, History or Anthropology.
OUR SERVICE PROJECTS
SAM Travel Peru has always believed that we should give back to the communities we pass through on our treks. Therefore, as part of our commitment in responsible tourism, we socially support and employee from these communities.
SAM Travel Peru is proud to be able to support these beautiful people, not only in hiring them for work but to bring things back to grassroots, to share in their home and families. This makes us happy to have a holistic approach with our highland employees and their families!
A beautiful reflection of our attitude in everything we do, is that we wish to make life richer and more meaningful for all involved.
IMPORTANTE INFO
Please read carefully the following information; it will help you answer all of your questions about our services and tours.
WELCOME TO CUSCO
You will be welcomed at Cusco airport and taken to your hotel, please ensure that you inform us of your full flight details at least 14 days prior to arrival. Look out for our representative holding an orange SAM Travel Peru board at the exit from the arrival terminal. It can be done on any date that is best suited to you!
THE BRIEFING
The briefing will take place the night before the trek at 6pm in our office, which is located at Calle Garcilaso 210, office 213 (second floor) in the La CASA DEL ABUELO shopping center.
CAN I STORE MY LUGGAGE AT YOUR OFFICE?
Of course! During the Machu Picchu Tour your main luggage can be store at our office or at your hotel, whichever is more convenient for you.
HOW TO BOOK THE TOUR?
FIRST, to book your Cusco City to Machu Picchu Tour, we need you to fill out our booking form by clicking on BOOK NOW on our homepage or click here the link BOOK NOW.
Please be ready with the following information (FROM EACH PARTICIPANT in your group). We cannot purchase an an entrance to Machu Picchu or the train without the following information:
- Personal information (your full name, exactly as on your passport):
- Gender
- Passport number
- D.OB. (dd / mm / yyyy)
- Nationality
SECOND, we require a deposit of $316.00 USD per person in order to purchase a your entrance to Machu Picchu and train ticket. You can make you deposit by clicking on the VISA or PAYPAL symbols on the top of our home page, or you can click on the VISA or PAYPAL symbols on our booking page or click here on the payment method of your choice, either VISA or PAYPAL.
WHAT ABOUT THE BALANCE?
If you would like to avoid the high credit card fees in Peru, you may pay in cash at our office (US dollars or Peruvian soles) here in Cusco. There are many ATMS within the historical center to withdraw money. You can also pay by VISA or PAYPAL online but you will have to pay a 5.5% service fee, charged by VISA and PAYPAL. To pay your balance through PAYPAL, you need to log into your PAYPAL account and use our email address samtravelperu@gmail.com.
HOW DO I QUALIFY FOR THE STUDENT DISCOUNT?
According to Peruvian Law, you must be under 18 years of age at the time of your trek or tour to Machu Picchu (students 18 & above need student cards). For example: if you book a trek at the age of 17 but you turn 18 before you do your trek, you must have a valid university ID card to qualify for the student discount.
- University students must provide a copy of their ID card showing a photo, University name and card expiration date. Cards must be valid for the current academic year only.
- All students from 11 to 17 years, the discount is $30 USD.
- For children from the age of 2 to 11 the discount is $40 USD.
- Children from the age of 0 to 2 are free.
All students must provide a copy of their passport at the time of their booking to get the student discount. Send us a copy at info@samtravelperu.com
MAY I CHANGE THE DEPARTURE DATE AFTER THE TICKETS HAVE BEEN BOUGHT?
Yes, but with some restrictions. Once the tickets for Machu Picchu have been bought the government does not allow any changes, so we can’t change any departure date after the tickets has been bought. Tickets are also not transferable nor refundable.
*** If you cancel your Cusco City to Machu Picchu Tour, the deposit is not refundable at all!
DO I NEED MY ORIGINAL PASSPORT FOR THE TOUR?
Yes for sure! You have to bring your original passport and it is very important that it is the same passport number you sent to us to book your entrance to Machu Picchu, train ticket, other entrances and reservations. The rangers will check when you enter Machu Picchu. The train company will also check your passport before allowing you to board the train.
In case you are renewing your passport or changing your name, go ahead and send us your old passport information to secure your permit, and we can change it when you get your new passport number or updated your name for a fee of $25 USD per person. We must have a copy of your old and new passport to make the change. Before you change your passport keep a copy of your old one.
If you do not wish to pay this fee you will need to bring both passports to Peru with you. You can enter Peru with your new passport but you will need to show both passports, old and new to be to enter into Machu Picchu or the train. If you do not have both you will not be allowed to enter into Machu Picchu or get on the train. They are very strict about this here!!
WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE ON THE TOUR?
The weather is very unpredictable and it’s difficult to foresee. We recommend that you bring a warm jacket for early morning and rain poncho in case of a rain shower.
ARE WE DROPPED AT OUR HOTEL AFTER THE TOUR?
Absolutely! Included in our packages is dropping you off at your hotel on the return from your trek or tour. If you have booked your hotel in the Sacred Valley like Ollantaytambo or Urubamba, we will drop you there too!
If you spend the night at Ollantaytambo before the trek, we will pick you up there.
ALTITUDE SICKNESS
In general if you have regular exercise and spend a couple of days in Cusco, or in the Sacred Valley for acclimatization to the altitude, you may be fine.
The recommended medicine for altitude sickness is WATER, COCA TEA and OXYGEN IF NEEDED; our guides are trained to treat you for Altitude Sickness. See our detailed information about Altitude Sickness under FAQS.
We offer the Cusco City Tour or Sacred Valley Tour that you can book while you are acclimatizing. Check out our Day Tours on our Home Page.
TIPPING
If you’re happy with the services provided, a tip – though not compulsory – is appreciated. While it may not be customary in your country, it’s of great significance for the people who will take care of you during the tour. It inspires excellent service and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many SAM Travel Peru destinations. Of course you are free to tip as much as you feel appropriate, depending on your perception of the quality and the length of your tour. Remember, a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.
ARE YOU SUSTAINABLE?
Yes, we are a local sustainable & responsible tourism operator for that we incorporate the universal principles of tourism: protect the environment and benefit the local communities respecting their culture and religion. With this in mind, we have trained all our staff to know, understand and respect the local places and its people.
PACKING LIST
WHAT YOU SHOULD BRING
- A small backpack or carry bag (larger not allowed on the train or in Machu Picchu)
- A change of clothing
- Comfortable walking shoes or runners
- Camera
- Water to drink
- Rain jacket or poncho
- A fleece or jacket
- Basic toiletries
- Personal medications
- Personal first aid kit
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent for mosquitoes
- Hat for the sun
- Some extra money for lunch, snacks and souvenirs
- Original passport (cannot enter Machu Picchu without it)
