Trip name: Great Machu Picchu Experience
Trip Length: 5 Days
Type service: Group Tour
Type itinerary: Fixed
Destinations: Cusco, Machu Picchu
Activities: Culture and History/Trekking and Walking/Family
Difficulty / Physical Activity: **Moderately – Easy – 1-3 hours physical activity daily
Comfort: **Moderate to superior-class accommodations, combined with basic accommodations or camping

Highlights: Cusco, Pisaq Ruins and Indian Market, Ollantaytambo Fortress, Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu, Mandor Valley bird watching, Putucusi Mountain Hike

Comfortable in-depth exploration of the highlights Cusco & Machu Picchu

Cusco has many attractions, most notably the Inca culture, visit the beautiful colonial temples built on Inca foundations. This tour takes the famous train ride from Ollantaytambo to the frontier town of Aguas Calientes for an exploration of Machu Picchu, the lost city of the Incas the Sacred Valley of the Incas and learns about local culture visiting a Sacred Valley community.

Trip Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrival to Cusco – City Sightseeing Tour

Upon arrival, reception and transfer to your Cusco Hotel; where you’ll be welcomed with coca infusion tea (“mate de coca”) that will help you to get used to the altitude – free morning to take a leisurely walk around the ancient capital of the Incas or to acclimatize to the high altitude setting.

After lunch at 1:30pm; Cusco tour including the Cathedral, Koricancha, Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Pucapucara and Tambomachay. Our tour will beginning on to the Main Square of Cusco. You’ll enter the Cathedral of Cusco and see the beautiful woodwork and colonial paintings containing extensive Incan iconography. Visit the Korikancha (Temple of the Sun) on which the Santo Domingo Convent was built. Legend says this temple was completely gold coated, which impressed the conquerors upon their arrival.

Ascend to the Archaeological Park of Sacsayhuaman and visit the Cuidadela. This is the royal house where they admired the Sun God but also worshiped younger gods. Admire this large structure and enjoy the magnificent landscape which brings peace and tranquility. Next, visit Qenqo, the old temple of the Puma. Inside you can see a sacrificial altar made of a huge stone. At Tambomachay, you’ll see the sacred fountains of life and health.

Pucapucara safeguarded the city gates and the Fortress of Sacsayhuaman. The tour ends with a detailed visit of the city of Cusco – Overnight at Cusco Hotel

Meals Included: None

Note: We highly recommend you arriving to Cusco between 9 to 11:30am

Day 2 – Sacred Valley of the  Incas

Breakfast at the hotel; pick up from the hotel at 8:30am for your full day tour to the impressive Sacred Valley of the Incas, explore the beautiful Peruvian countryside with a full-day tour of the magical Sacred Valley. First place, you will visit the town of Pisaq, famous for its bustling market. This native town was once where “exchange transactions” took place. In this type of transaction, customers would exchange one good for another instead of using currency. Visit the market of Pisaq where you can purchase beautifully crafted products hand-made by the locals.

On Sunday, the main attraction is a mass celebrated in Quechua and conducted in Spanish. It is attended by the mayors and their attendants who play traditional musical instruments called “pututos.”

Afterwards, you’ll enjoy a typical Peruvian lunch (included in price) before visiting the fortress of Ollantaytambo.

Next, you will visit the impressive ruins of Ollantaytambo fortress. These magnificent ancient ruins serve as great vantage points to look out over the valley. Originally the royal estate of Emperor Pachakuteq during the Inca Empire, this site later served as a stronghold for Manco Inca Yupanqui in the Inca´s final rebellion against the Spanish. In the afternoon back to Cusco – Overnight at Cusco Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3 – Train to Aguas Calientes & Mandor Valley Birdwatching

Breakfast at the hotel; pick from the Hotel for your Excursion to Machu Picchu 2 Day, early transfer to the nearby train station to Poroy for the train journey to the mysterious lost city of Machu Picchu, the train ride to Machu Picchu is one of the most beautiful journeys that visitors can experience in our country. The trip offers a great natural, so many staggering views of the Andes and a jungle atmosphere after descending to the (2000m/6560ft). After around 3 ½ hours, we will have arrived in Aguas Calientes, transfer to the Hotel after check in.

Mandor Valley Bird watching; after lunch you’ll visit Mandor Valley; we walk along the Vilcanota River following the railroad tracks into the Mandor Valley to visit its waterfall. The valley is inhabited by varied and fascinating birdlife, including Speckle-faced Parrots and Green Jays, and we have opportunity to find Cock-of-the-Rock. We will relax and perhaps bathe under the waterfall before walking back to the hotel in the shadow of Machu Picchu

Overnight at Aguas Calientes Hotel

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 4 – Full Day Machu Picchu & Back to Cusco

Breakfast at the hotel; full day Excursion to Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes, early transfer at 5:30am to the Bus Stop for the short ride (25 minutes) up to the citadel of Machu Picchu. Upon arrival, you will participate in a guided tour of the Citadel, visiting the Main Plaza, the Circular Tower, the Sacred Sun Dial (the most important preserved Intihuatana), the Royal Quarters, the Temple of the Three Windows, houses, warehouses, a large central square; and all connected by narrow roads and steps that are surrounded by terraces cut into the mountain side. After the tour you’ll have time to stroll around the Archaeological Site at your leisure.

Then, you will have time to perform some of the following activities by yourself (not included in the price):

1. Climb to Wayna Picchu; for the most adventurous people, we suggest to go up the Wayna Picchu from where you can appreciate the immensity of Machu Picchu, even more amazing being high and
2. Walk to Sun Gate; opportunity to walk (approx. 1 hour) up to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku)

Lunch at the Sanctuary Lodge Restaurant in Machu Picchu (included in the price)

Train back to Cusco: In the afternoon you’ll return to the train station in Aguas Calientes for the trip back to Cusco – train departure to Cusco; upon arrival to Cusco reception and transfer to the Hotel

Overnight at Cusco Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5 – Depart Cusco

Our representative will assist you and transfer to the airport and say goodbye.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Services Included

All mentioned land transport (bus, etc.), Hotel accommodation with breakfast, entrance to parks and cultural sights, guided visits and mentioned excursions, English/Spanish speaking guide to accompany visits and excursions, all transfers, meals as indicated in the itinerary, Train tickets Expedition Class.

Services not included

International airfares, domestic flights, airport departure (US$ 30 per person for international flights and US$ 6.5 for national flights) taxes or visa fees, excess baggage charges, additional nights during the trip due to flight cancellations, alcoholic beverages or bottled water, snacks, insurance of any kind, laundry, phone calls, radio calls or messages, reconfirmation of flights and items of personal nature, personal equipment, obligatory personal insurance and meals which are not mentioned, Entrance fee to Wayna Picchu Mountain.

Flights

Domestic flights are not included in the price; you’ll need to book the following

 Day 1 – Arrival to Cusco – City Sightseeing Tour

Lima to Cusco in the morning; you can buy with Peruvian Airlines –www.peruvian.pe

 Day 5 – Cusco Depart

Cusco to Lima; you can buy with Peruvian Airlines – www.peruvian.pe

 Other companies that you can buy domestic flight tickets will be LAN www.lan.com OR

AVIANCA www.avianca.com.pe