Exploring Cusco
6 days / 5 nights
DAY 1: CUSCO | INC:
Arrival in Cusco, meet and greet at the airport, transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon our exclusive city tour starts with a visit to the San Cristobal Plaza to enjoy its panoramic view of the city. Then, we will visit the San Pedro Market to soak in its local flavors and to learn about more of the products grown in the area which supply the whole city. After this, the Korikancha temple will welcome us in all his magnificence; this temple, whose Quechua name means “Gold Enclosure” still bedazzles us with the thought of its gold covered walls. Then it is the turn to visit the Santo Domingo Church. We will walk from San Blas, the artisans’ neighborhood, to the Hatun Rumiyoc street, stopping at the Inca Roca Palace, nowadays home to the Archbishop’s Palace and also at the famous Twelve Angle Stone. We will continue our walk to the Main Square to visit the Cathedral and its valuable and beautiful colonial masterpieces.
DAY 2: CUSCO | INC: B
In the morning we will distance from the crowds and visit Sacsayhuaman, a huge and impressive fortress of colossal constructions and surrounded by beautiful views blending together perfectly. Our adventure continues at the Inca Shrine Qenqo, to see the sacrificial altar embedded inside a rock cave. Finally we will arrive to the Puca Pucara viewpoint and Tambomachay, monument of impressive architectonic knowledge considered as one of the pillars of Andean Cosmo vision. Overnight stay in Cusco.
DAY 3: SACRED VALLEY | INC: B/L
The Sacred Inca Valley welcomes us this day. We will stop at Awanacancha, a complex where we will be able to feed Andean camelid: the llamas and alpacas, and also a great opportunity to chat with the local people who will show us their weaving and dyeing of their traditional textiles. We will then go to the Colonial and Inca Pisac. Discover one of the most beautiful Inca archaeological sites of the Sacred Valley, strategically located on top of the mountain that dominates the Colonial town of Pisac. Free time to buy handicrafts and explore the town. Buffet lunch. Visit to the store of artist and sculptor Pablo Seminario. Overnight stay in the Sacred Valley.
DAY 4: SACRED VALLEY/MACHU PICCHU | INC: B/L
Our adventure journey takes us now to less explored treasures of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. First stop: Moray, a place with breathtaking views thanks to its colossal concentric terraces resembling a coliseum. What did they use it for? The terraces recreated 20 different types of microclimates, and they were studied to ensure the agricultural production of the empire. We will continue our journey to Maras, the millenary colonial salt mines. The contrast of the white pools against the green valley is so impressive that it resembles a postcard. Buffet lunch. In the afternoon, we will head towards the archaeological complex of Ollantaytambo, where you can see the technique with which the Incas work the stone. It is now time to catch the train at the Ollantaytambo station. We will arrive in Aguas Calientes where our trained staff will welcome and assist us on getting settled in one of the hotels in Aguas Calientes (now, Machu Picchu town).
DAY 5: MACHU PICCHU/CUSCO | INC: B/L.
We will board the bus to go up the winding road to Machu Picchu, amid a spectacular view of the Urubamba River and its canyon. The Lost City of the Incas, Machu Picchu, will astonish us with its terraces, ceremonial shrines, steps and urban areas. Energy is all around us. After a guided visit, we will have lunch at one of the restaurants in the area. At the arranged time, we will return to Cusco by train and will be transferred to the hotel. Overnight in Cusco.
DAY 6: CUSCO/LIMA | INC: B
Departure transfer.