6 days / 5 nights
Cusco
All year
Moderate
3,399 m
Day 1: Arrival in Cusco + City Tour
Upon arrival in Cusco, our representative will be waiting for you at the airport with a sign displaying your name to transfer you to your chosen hotel. It is recommended to take a flight that arrives in Cusco between 9 and 10 a.m. at the latest, so you can rest and have lunch peacefully. We will pick you up from your hotel between 12:30 and 12:50 p.m. to start the tour. Accompanied by your guide, you will visit the Cusco Cathedral, also known as the Church of Triumph, built in 1539 on the foundation of Viracocha Inca’s palace. Currently, this church is an auxiliary chapel of the Cathedral. Next, you will visit Qoricancha or the Temple of the Sun, where the visit lasts around one hour. There, you will learn about Andean symbolism, the connection with the stars, and their importance in the Inca calendar. Afterwards, the group will board our tourist transport to head towards the famous ruins on the outskirts of the city. The first stop will be the Sacsayhuamán Archaeological Park, where you can appreciate the impressive stone walls inspired by the Thunder God. Later, you will visit Q’enqo, where you can observe the city’s most important ceremonial huaca. After that, in Tambomachay, you will admire the beautiful ceremonial fountains that still function perfectly since the Inca era. To conclude the tour, we will make a stop at Puka Pukara, a military fortress used as a control point during the Inca era, from where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the surrounding landscapes. We will finish the tour around 6:30 p.m.
Day 2: Super Valley with Connection to Aguas Calientes
Our transfer or guide will pick you up from your hotels between 6:30 and 6:50 a.m. to board the tourist transport and start the tour to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. After a journey of approximately 40 minutes, you will arrive at the archaeological center of Chinchero, a town that still maintains the original Inca culture, where artisans offer locally made fabrics using ancient techniques. After the visit, you will head to Moray, experimental terraces with microclimates for domestication, acclimatization, hybridization, and plant experimentation. Later, you will visit the Maras Salt Mines, exploited since pre-Inca times, with more than 3000 saltwater pools that come from natural springs filtering from the Qoripukiu hill (Source of Gold). You will continue to Urubamba to enjoy a delicious lunch. After lunch, you will visit the Ollantaytambo Archaeological Center, a strategic military, religious, and agricultural center that impresses with its stone terraces and imposing structures over four meters high. It is believed to have been a refuge for the Inca royalty and nobility. After exploring this historical wonder, you will head to the train station to board the train to Aguas Calientes. Upon arrival, the hotel staff will warmly welcome you and accompany you to your accommodation. In the evening, our guide will provide details and preparations for the exciting excursion to Machu Picchu the next day. Overnight in Aguas Calientes.
Day 3: Excursion to Machu Picchu and Return to Cusco
After breakfast at your hotel, our staff will be waiting for you at the main square of Aguas Calientes to accompany you to the bus boarding point that will take you to the entrance of the majestic city of Machu Picchu. The bus ride will allow you to enjoy the nature surrounding this magnificent place. Once in the citadel, you will enjoy approximately 2 hours of exploration, guided by our expert. Through their knowledge, you will gain a deep understanding of the significance and grandeur of the structures that stand in this ancient site. The ancient civilizations managed to build a city that impressively merges security, sustainability, and meticulous planning on the high mountains, all rooted in their deep connection with nature. After this enriching exploration, you will return by bus to the town, where you will have the opportunity to enjoy a hearty lunch in one of the local restaurants. Additionally, you can stroll around the town and shop before picking up your luggage at the hotel. At the designated time, you should arrive at the Aguas Calientes train station (30 minutes before your train departure). After an approximately 2-hour train journey, you will arrive back in Ollantaytambo, where you will board the transport that will take you back to the city of Cusco. Overnight in Cusco.
Day 4: Excursion to Rainbow Mountain
You will need to wake up early, between 4:30 and 5:00 a.m., to fully appreciate this natural wonder. We will pick you up from your hotel and head south of Cusco. The first stretch will take around 1 hour and a half to our first stop, near the district of Cusipata (3,310 m.a.s.l.), where you will enjoy a delicious breakfast at a restaurant. Next, we will continue for approximately 1 hour to Cusipata (4,660 m.a.s.l.), where details about the hike will be provided. At the base of the sacred mountain Ausangate, our hike will begin. During an ascent of approximately 2 hours, you will reach Rainbow Mountain or Vinicunca (5,200 m.a.s.l.); along the way, you will see various species of South American camelids such as llamas, alpacas, and vicuñas. At the “red hill,” you will have time to rest, marvel at the breathtaking landscape, and capture the magnificent hues of Vinicunca: red, pink, turquoise, and yellow. At the designated time, you will return to Cusipata, where our vehicle will be waiting to take you to the restaurant for a revitalizing lunch. Return to Cusco with an estimated arrival time of 4:30 p.m. Overnight in Cusco.
Day 5: Humantay Lake - Cusco
You will need to wake up early, between 4:30 and 5:00 a.m., to fully appreciate this natural wonder. We will pick you up from your hotel. The first stretch will take around 1 hour and a half to our first stop, near the district of Mollepata (3,310 m.a.s.l.), where you will enjoy a delicious breakfast at a restaurant. Next, we will continue for approximately 1 hour to the base of our trek (4,660 m.a.s.l.), where details about the hike will be provided. During an ascent of approximately 2 hours, you will reach Humantay Lake (4,200 m.a.s.l.). At the designated time, you will return to the town, where our vehicle will be waiting to take you to the restaurant for a revitalizing lunch. Return to Cusco with an estimated arrival time of 5:30 p.m. Overnight in Cusco.
Day 6: Departure Transfer
After breakfast at the hotel, and depending on your flight schedule, we will transfer you to the airport 3 hours in advance to catch your flight back to Lima.
Included
- Airport to hotel to airport transfer.
- Tour guide.
- Tourist transport.
- 4 days of tours (City tour, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain, and Humantay Lake).
- Entrance tickets to the mentioned places of visit.
- Round-trip train tickets Ollantaytambo – Machu Picchu – Ollantaytambo.
- Transfer from Ollantaytambo to Cusco.
- Bus tickets to Machu Picchu.
- 3 lunches (Sacred Valley tour, Rainbow Mountain tour, and Humantay Lake tour).
- 5 nights accommodation.
- 5 days of breakfasts.
Not included
- Flight tickets from Lima to Cusco.
- Meals not mentioned and beverages.
- Tips.
- Additional services not mentioned in “Included.”
Recommended equipment
- Entrance fees
- Food and beverages
- Additional services not mentioned in the includes.
Recomendations
- Entrance fees
- Food and beverages
- Additional services not mentioned in the includes.
