Tour description

In this tour, we will visit:

City Tour in Cusco.
Visit to the Sacred Valley of the Incas via Pisac.
Tour in the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu.
Maras, Moray, and Chinchero.

Cusco is a cosmopolitan city where Inca and European influences merge, filled with streets steeped in history and people proud of their heritage. During this tour, you will explore the most important sites from the Inca and colonial periods while enjoying the stunning Andean landscape.

In Cusco, you’ll visit the Cathedral Basilica of Cusco, housing valuable 17th-century paintings; Qorikancha, the Temple of the Sun; and Sacsayhuaman with its impressive zigzagging walls that awe every visitor.

Tour to the Sacred Valley of the Incas:

In the Sacred Valley tour, you’ll witness lush maize fields lining the route and have the opportunity to interact with locals in the villages of Pisac and Ollantaytambo. You’ll explore archaeological remains and during the visit to the Maras salt mines, you’ll be amazed by the artisanal salt extraction methods, a unique and fascinating attraction in South America.

Finally, you’ll encounter the enigmatic Machu Picchu, hidden amidst the mountains, still guarding the profound mysteries, knowledge, and spirituality of the Inca Empire.

Itinerary

Day 1: Cusco City Tour

Tour to Machu Picchu Classic Itinerary

Upon arrival at the airport in the city of Cusco, a staff from our company will be waiting to welcome you and transport you to your hotel where you will receive an aromatic coca tea to help you acclimatize to the altitude. You will have the morning free to rest and we suggest having a light lunch.

In the afternoon, we will begin the visit within the city starting with the Plaza de Armas, the Cathedral Basilica, the Temple of Santo Domingo – Qorikancha and after that we will take the transportation to go up to the upper part of the city (3700 meters above sea level) to visit the archaeological centers of Sacsayhuamán, Q’enqo, Pukapukara and Tambomachay.

The tour ends at approximately 6:30 pm. leaving them at their hotels or near the Plaza de Armas so they can dine in one of the restaurants that surround the Plaza and also enjoy the night view of the city.

(There are no meals included on this day, but we are always happy to offer suggestions.)

Day 2: Tour to the Sacred Valley of the Incas

This day begins with an energizing breakfast included at the hotel. According to the agreed-upon time from the previous day, we will pick you up from your hotel to start this exciting day excursion.

Our first stop will be at Manos de la Comunidad, a place where we can learn about the various camelids native to the Peruvian Andes, such as:

Guanaco
Alpaca
Vicuña
Llama

Here, you can also enjoy an exhibition of textiles made from rustic and purely Andean materials.

Following this visit, we will head towards the town of Pisac, traveling eastward and descending to an altitude of 2970 meters (9700 feet). Pisac is renowned for its preserved Inca culture in its rural communities and the archaeological remnants left by the Incas.

Visit to the Pisac Archaeological Site:

In Pisac, we will visit the artisan market where you can purchase different handicrafts and handmade textiles, as well as beautiful jewelry crafted from silver with Andean designs and inlaid with energetic stones and spondylus shells brought from Ecuador, highly valued during the Inca period.

We will also explore the Pisac archaeological site, located at an altitude of 3400 meters (11,154.86 feet). This site is divided into neighborhoods displaying fine finishes in their worship places, showcasing mastery over the mountainous terrain and stone construction, including perfectly designed agricultural terraces harmoniously integrated with nature, featuring a drainage and irrigation system that will leave you impressed.

After visiting Pisac, we will proceed to the town of Urubamba, passing through picturesque villages rich in culture and folklore. On the left side, we will have views of the Urubamba River, also known as Vilcanota or Wilkamayu in the Inca era. After approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes of travel, we will enjoy a delicious buffet lunch at one of the best restaurants in the area, offering traditional Peruvian dishes.

Ollantaytambo Fortress:

To conclude this memorable day, we will visit Ollantaytambo, known as the living Inca city because its streets still maintain the Inca architectural design. Here, we will explore the archaeological complex, which includes an impressive Temple dedicated to the Sun, ceremonial fountains, and agricultural terraces.

After the tour, we will proceed to the train station in Ollantaytambo, where we will board the train bound for Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo), where we will spend the night.

Day 3: Tour in Machu Picchu

Este día comenzará muy temprano (el horario será confirmado) con un desayuno incluido en el hotel. Luego pasaremos a recogerlo para dirigirnos a la estación de buses, desde donde subiremos al centro arqueológico de Machu Picchu. El viaje en bus dura aproximadamente 25 minutos hasta llegar a la puerta de ingreso de esta maravilla del mundo.

Dentro de la Ciudadela de Machu Picchu, usted disfrutará de una visita guiada de aproximadamente 3 horas, explorando cada lugar importante de esta enigmática y hermosa ciudad en lo alto de las montañas. Machu Picchu se encuentra en una zona de transición desde los Andes hacia la región tropical del Cusco, por lo que podrá admirar una exuberante vegetación.

La ciudadela de Machu Picchu forma parte del Santuario Histórico de Machu Picchu, protegido por el Estado, que se encarga de preservar no solo la parte arqueológica, sino también la flora y fauna del lugar.

Al finalizar el recorrido, en la puerta de salida tendrá la oportunidad de estampar su pasaporte con el sello de Machu Picchu. Luego, abordaremos el bus de bajada que nos llevará de regreso al pueblo de Aguas Calientes, donde podrá explorar el pueblo y disfrutar de un almuerzo en uno de los restaurantes locales. Posteriormente, nos dirigiremos a la estación de trenes para tomar el tren de regreso a la ciudad del Cusco.

Day 4: Tour Chinchero - Maras - Moray

After breakfast at the Hotel, we will pick you up to start the tour. This day we will go northeast towards the town of Chinchero, 45 minutes from the city. Chinchero is known for its beautiful fabrics with fine finishes, the women in this place still preserve ancestral techniques for dyeing and spinning. Chinchero is also popular for the large expanses of potato crops and the beautiful sunsets, being known as the town of the Rainbow.

After that we will go to the Salineras de Maras, a place where salt has been exploited in an artisanal way since pre-Inca times; salt compared to Himalayan salt for purity, flavor, quality and minerals. And to finish this day’s tour we will go to Moray, a place with circular terraces that was used as an agricultural laboratory and seed experimentation.

Return to Cusco and free afternoon to explore the city.