Description of Spectacular Cusco

Discover the heart of the Inca Empire on a 7-day trip through Peru’s marvelous city of Cusco. Let yourself be seduced by the Inca and Colonial architecture, local markets and cobbled streets. Also enjoy a tour of the agricultural laboratory of Moray and the famous saltworks of Maras; get to know the natural refuge of the Incas in the Sacred Valley and recharge your batteries at the architectural marvel, Machu Picchu; finally, take a hike of your choice to the Humantay Lagoon or the Colorful Mountain or Palcoyo; unforgettable experiences that you can’t pass up.

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Tour Details

  • Starting Point: Cusco
  • Accommodation included
  • Ending Point: Cusco
  • Transfers included
  • Places to be visited: Patallacta, Runkuracay, Phuyupamarca, Wiñay Wayna, Intipunku e Machu Picchu
  • Activities and excursions
  • Best Time to Travel: May – October
  • Departures: Check availability
Itinerary

DAY 1: Arrival in Cusco - Hotel in Cusco - Walking tour 2hrs

Depending on your flight schedule, our representative will meet you at the airport to take you to your hotel in Cusco, where you will be welcomed with coca leaf tea. Part of the day free to acclimatize.

WALKING TOUR

At the agreed time, we’ll take a historical tour of the San Pedro Market, one of the oldest in the city and probably the most famous. Together with your guide, you’ll walk through the rows of bright fruits, colorful clothes, handicrafts and food stalls. Then we’ll walk through the beautiful streets until we reach the Temple of the Sun Qoricancha, which means Temple of the Sun in Quechua, which was one of the most important Inca buildings in the city of Cusco.

Following our tour, we’ll head to the San Blas neighborhood. This is a very traditional part of the city where nobles lived during the Inca Empire. Nowadays, it’s a very artistic neighborhood with exhibitions and people selling their handicrafts.

Return to the hotel and time to rest.

  • Overnight: Hotel in Cusco
  • Check in: 12:00 check out: 9:00 am
  • Meals provided: none

NOTE: If you arrive before check-in time, you can use the hotel’s common areas while you wait.

DAY 2: Maras Moray and Salt Pans Tour - 7 hrs tour

On this day we will visit beautiful Inca villages with their colonial houses. On this unique and enjoyable tour you will be able to appreciate the treasures that this sacred land hides. We’ll start the day by visiting the experimental agricultural terraces of Moray. A group of circular terraces measuring up to 150m in depth. According to historians, these constructions were an important Inca agricultural laboratory. Their platforms were built with their respective irrigation channels, each of which constituted a microclimate. What is most striking is the great difference in average annual temperature between the top and bottom of the depressions, which reaches up to 15ºC. Next, we will go to the colonial town of Maras, which still preserves Andean traditions and customs. We will be able to appreciate its beautiful architecture and its houses with colonial-style stone doors. Finally, we will visit the Maras salt mines. These mines continue to be exploited to this day, where people work in the same mines used in Inca times. At the end of the tour, we’ll return to Cusco where we’ll drop you off at your hotel.

In the evening we will have dinner in a beautiful local restaurant.

  • Overnight: Hotel in Cusco
  • Meals included: Breakfast, dinner

DAY 3: Cusco - Sacred Valley of the Incas - Pisaq, Ollantaytambo and Chinchero - 10 hrs tour

On this day you will visit the wonderful Sacred Valley of the Incas, also known as the “Vilcanota Valley”. We’ll start the day by visiting the archaeological complex of Pisaq, located on top of a mountain. This wonderful site is made up of groups of terraces and architectural structures scattered across the slopes and on top of the mountain. A wonderful mix of landscapes and buildings. Next, we’ll go to the handicraft market where you can see a wide variety of works from ancient times. We’ll pass through Urubamba where we’ll take a break for lunch. We will taste typical Peruvian cuisine with a good variety of dishes including salads, soups, hot dishes, the famous ceviche and delicious desserts. After lunch we will visit the architectural complex of Ollantaytambo, a living settlement built to guard the entrance to this part of the valley and protect it from invaders. We will have the opportunity to walk through its streets and get a clearer idea of what this military, religious and cultural center was like during the Inca Empire. Finally, we’ll head to the picturesque town of Chinchero, where the remains of the royal hacienda of Tupac Inca Yupanqui are located. You can see well-preserved Inca walls in the main square. We will also visit the beautiful colonial temple with interesting frescoes in the portico built on the base of an Inca building. In the late afternoon we’ll return to Cusco, where we’ll drop you off at your hotel.

  • Overnight: Hotel in Cusco
  • Meals included: Breakfast, lunch

DAY 4: Cusco - Aguas Calientes - 4 hrs drive

On this day, at an agreed time, we will pick you up from your hotel and head to the train station where we will board the train to Aguas Calientes. After an almost 2-hour train ride, we’ll arrive at Aguas Calientes station where our representative will be waiting for us with a sign with your name on it to take you to your hotel. You will have the afternoon free to explore the town of Aguas Calientes and enjoy the famous hot springs.

IMPORTANT TIPS

This will be the quietest day to relax. After a 4-hour drive from Cusco, you’ll be able to relax. In the late afternoon, have a bite to eat and rest up to enjoy the big day at Machu Picchu.

  • Overnight: Hotel in Aguas Calientes
  • Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 5: Machu Picchu - Cusco (2h30m tour)

In the morning, at the scheduled time, our guide will pick you up from your hotel to go to the bus station where you will climb 400m along a winding path for 20 minutes 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 citadel of Machu Picchu with our guide, we will pass through the entrance, climb up to the classic photo and begin the tour by circuit 1 or 2, about 2h30m we will visit the main places such as: the Plaza Mayor, the Temple of the Sun, the Sacred Solar Clock known as “Intiwatana”, the Royal Rooms, the Temple of the Three Windows, the Temple of the Condor among other attractions in Machu Picchu.

We will return to the town of Aguas Calientes in the afternoon, where you will have free time to enjoy lunch in a beautiful restaurant in Aguas Calientes.

After lunch, we will take the train back to Ollantaytambo (depending on train departure times). The return will follow the same route as the outward journey. On arrival in Ollantaytambo, our representative will be waiting to take you to the bus and back to your hotel in Cusco.

  • Overnight: Hotel in Cusco
  • Meals included: Breakfast, lunch

DAY 6: To be chosen - Laguna Humantay

At the agreed time, approximately 4:30 a.m., we will stop at your hotel to begin our journey to the northwest of the city of Cusco. We will pass through different villages and houses until we reach the town of Limatambo. From here we’ll climb up to the town of Mollepata, where we’ll have breakfast and lunch. On the way, we will stop at Miraten de Markahuasi to see the archaeological remains of the same name. Here the guide will give us detailed information about the site after breakfast and then we’ll head to Soraypampa. During the journey, the guide will talk about the flora and fauna and customs of the place.

When we arrive at Soraypampa, the starting point of our trek, the guide will explain the correct way to walk at high altitudes, the walking time and distance. He will give you a small snack and walking sticks to help you get going, which will take about 2 hours. Arriving at the beautiful Humantay Lagoon, we will be able to appreciate the wonderful scenery and the imposing view of the Humantay and Salkantay snow-capped peaks. After a short rest and photo break, we’ll return along the same route to Soraypampa where we’ll pick up our vehicle and return to Mollepata, where we’ll have lunch in a buffet restaurant. After lunch we return to Cusco.

  • Overnight: Hotel in Cusco
  • Meals included: Breakfast, lunch

DAY 6: To be chosen - Palcoyo

Early at the agreed time, we’ll stop at your hotel (we suggest acclimatizing to the city of Cusco for at least a day before starting this tour) and, once we’re together with the whole group (16 people maximum), we’ll head south of Cusco for 2.30 hours, until we reach the Pitumarka district.

Here we’ll have a succulent breakfast prepared by our chefs and, after a break, we’ll be able to buy sweets, chocolates, water and cookies to continue towards the Combapata district.

Before reaching the town, we will stop to take pictures of the colonial bridge of Combapata, then walk for 1.5 hours to the left bank of the Salcca River, continuing our journey along a dirt road.

On this route we will see native alpacas in beautiful mountain landscapes, finally arriving at the community of Palccoyo, located at 4100m. From here we will have privileged views of the colorful Palccoyo mountain range and its three visibly colored mountains. We can also enjoy the view of the grandiose valley of rocks.

This is an excellent option for people who don’t like walking. The tour leader will give us the option of taking a 40-minute walk up to the highest points to get the best view of the three colored mountains and the valley of rocks. After 2 or 3 hours of enjoyment, we will return to Cusco in our van along the same route, having lunch in Pitumarca. When we arrive in the city of Cusco at around 6.30pm, we will drop you off at your hotel or as close as possible.

  • Overnight: Hotel in Cusco
  • Meals included: Breakfast, lunch

DAY 6: To be chosen - Rainbow Mountain

Early in the morning, at an agreed time, we will stop at your hotel in Cusco to go to Collasuyo, south of the ancient capital of the Incas (Cusco) which was part of the Tawantinsuyo (4 ancient regions of the Incas). Our first stop will be after 2h (78km), in the community of Paucarpata (CUSIPATA) where we will rest and be able to buy water or energy drinks, snacks, cereals, etc. and also enjoy our buffet-style breakfast. Afterwards, we’ll continue in our transport along the road for about 1 hour, where we’ll arrive at the PHULAWASIPATA base camp and get ready for the hike, an ascent of approximately 2 hours (3.5 km). During this journey we will have the opportunity to see the impressive Hatun Ritti glacier (4825m), the different varieties of South American camelids and the wonderful reflection of the landscape accompanied by the Puka Qocha and Qomer Qocha lagoons.

When we reach the Colorful Mountain we will have enough time to take pictures of this enigmatic and incredible place. Then we’ll return to base camp, descending for approximately 1.5 hours (3.5 km), where we’ll take our transportation to Paucarpata and enjoy our delicious lunch. Finally, at around 6pm we will be in the imperial city of Cusco, where we will take you to your hotel.

  • Overnight: Hotel in Cusco
  • Meals included: Breakfast, lunch

DAY 7: Hotel - Airport

Transfer hotel-airport in Cusco. End of our services.

  • Check In : 12:00 Check Out : 9:00
  • Meals included: Breakfast

NOTE: If your departure time is after check-out time, you can use the hotel’s common areas while you wait.

What's Included

  • Day 1- Transfer Cusco Airport - Hotel (private)
    - Waking tour with guide (2hrs)
    - Assistance
  • Day 2- Maras, Moray and Salt Pans group tour: transportation, guide and entrance fees
    - Dinner at a local restaurant in Cusco
  • Day 3- Tour Sacred Valley full day in group: transportation, guide, entrance fees and lunch
  • Day 4- Transfer do hotel para a estação de comboios de Cusco
    - Train Ollantaytambo - Aguas Calientes (EXPEDITION ou INCARAIL)
  • Day 5- Bus Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu
    - Entrance to Machu Picchu
    - Professional guide in Portuguese (private)
    - Guided tour of Machu Picchu
    - Bus Machu Picchu - Aguas Calientes
    - Lunch at a local restaurant in Aguas Calientes
    - Train Aguas Calientes - Ollantaytambo (EXPEDITION or INCARAIL)
    - Transfer train station - Hotel Cusco
  • Day 6- Tour to choose from (Laguna Humantay OR Colorful Mountain OR Palcoyo)
  • Day 7- Transfer Hotel - Cusco Airport (Private)
  • Hotels- 05 nights in a hotel in Cusco with breakfast
    - 01 nights hotel accommodation in Aguas Calientes with breakfast
    - 24-hour assistance.

What's Not Included

  • Plane tickets
  • Drinks except those mentioned in the itinerary
  • Meals except those mentioned in the itinerary
  • Snacks
  • Phone calls
  • Extra spending money
  • Tips/gratuities
  • Travel insurance

Optional Services

  • Entrance to Huayna Picchu mountain or Machu Picchu mountain: USD 80.00 per person (must be booked in advance)
  • Return Train VISTADOME/360° with panoramic views, typical dance show (Aguas Calientes - Ollantaytambo) - Upgrade service: USD 65,00 per person
  • Buffet lunch at Sanctuary Lodge Machu Picchu Restaurant – USD 45.00 per person

What to Take

  • Passport with at least 6 months validity
  • Light daypack
  • Refillable water bottle
  • Toilet paper
  • Sunscreen
  • Repellent
  • Sunglasses
  • Clothing for hot and cold weather conditions
  • Sunhat
  • Rain gear or poncho
  • Long-sleeved shirts, (due to there being mosquitos in Machu Picchu)
  • Walking shoes/boots
  • Camera
  • Extra memory stick and additional batteries
  • Personal medications (for headaches, anti-inflammatory´s etc).
  • Extra Cash in soles and small denominations if possible

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