Complete Classic Cusco to Machupicchu 5D/4N

Upon your arrival to Cusco, you will be welcomed by our representative and transferred to your hotel. There you will receive a short briefing having the rest of the morning at your leisure to rest and acclimatize to the altitude.

In the afternoon at 1pm, we will pick you up at your hotel and we will start our visit of the Imperial City of Cusco, a living example of the mix of Andean and Spanish cultures. Then, we continue our journey visiting the Santo Domingo Convent built over the Koricancha, as well as the ancient Inca Palace and the main worship center of the Sun God. You will have time to enjoy these beautiful sights; after we proceed to visit the archaeological site of Sacsayhuaman with its military Inca architecture, which dominates the city.

Finally, we go to the archaeological sites of Qenqo, Puca Pucará and Tambomachay, located in the north east of the city.  We take you back to your hotel in the early evening.

• 3* Accommodation: Maytaq Wasin or Waman Qorikancha
• 4* Accommodation: Costa del Sol Ramada, Casa Andina Private Collection or Novotel  Hotels

We start this beautiful day at 7:30am, when your guide picks you up at your Cusco hotel in our private van. Our route to the Sacred Valley of the Incas leads us towards Pisac. We stop first at the Mirador of Taray to enjoy an expansive view of the Urubamba valley and its traditional farming villages. You will see how the agriculture in the Sacred Valley has changed little in the past five hundred years. Onward, we drive to the archeological site of Pisac, where you can see an impressive Inca cemetery with more than 2,000 tombs. There, we can admire the carefully engineered farming terraces carved into the mountain, explore the Inca tunnel and the religious area of this important citadel. Here, we will spend about 2 hours, exploring the Inca city. Then, we head down to the colorful market of Pisac, spend about 20 minutes visiting it and then drive to Urubamba for lunch.

Our next stop is the fascinating archeological site of Moray also known as “The Greenhouse of the Incas” a deep basin of architectural wonder. Levels of terraces are carved into a huge bowl, which was carefully engineered by the Incas. The terraces have varied microclimates depending on how deep into the bowl they are placed.  Archeologists believe that they were used by the Incas to discover the optimal growing conditions for their crops and experiment in hybridization.

Continuing on our journey to the colonial town of Maras, we look down onto the pre-Inca salt “mines,” called salineras in Spanish. Thousands of salt pans have been passed down through countless generations and used for salt extraction since before Inca times. A hot spring at the top of the valley discharges a small stream of heavily salt laden water, which is diverted into salt pans and evaporated to produce salt. This is one of the few places in the world where you can find naturally pink salt!

Finally, we drive to Ollantaytambo, where we spend the night.

• 3* Accommodation: Andenes del Inca Hotel Ollantaytambo
• There are no 4* hotels in Ollantaytambo
• Meals:  Breakfast

After a delicious breakfast, we will have a guided tour of the archaeological site of Ollantaytambo, and have time to explore attractive village of Ollantaytambo of Inca origin with remarkable channels and stone streets. In its high side, one rises to an impressive ceremonial center for worshiping water and a fortress that guarded the access to the inferior part of the valley. On the other mountainside, we can admire impressive ancient storehouses. After time to explore and enjoy this great sight, we take our train to Aguas Calientes in the afternoon with Vistadome train 1:27pm, with its great views of the Sacred Valley. This afternoon you will have time to go to the hot springs (10 soles entrance fee). We spend the night in our hotel in Aguas Calientes.

• 3* Accommodation: Ferre´ Hotel Machu Picchu
• 4* Accommodation: El Mapi or Tierra Viva Machupicchu (superior room)
• Meals: Breakfast

This is the day you’ve been waiting for! After an early breakfast at your hotel, you’ll take one of the first busses up to Machu Picchu, so that you can be there to witness the sunrise. It is a truly extraordinary site and not something you’ll want to miss! Your guide will give you a tour, which takes about two hours. You will see most of the important parts of Machu Picchu Citadel. You will also learn about how Machu Picchu is divided into three sectors: agricultural, residential and religious.

After your tour, those who have booked in advance for the extra hikes up Huayna Picchu Mountain will have time to enjoy those views on their own. When you have had your fill of the exceptional views of Machu Picchu, you will take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes for lunch (not included). Depending on your train departure time, you may also have time for some shopping, sightseeing or a visit to the museum or hot springs.

The Vistadome train will take you back to Ollantaytambo at 4:22pm or 4:43pm or 6:20pm, following the spectacular Urubamba River. Close to Aguas Calientes, the canyon is narrow and the river has many beautiful sections of whitewater. You can also see Wiñay Wayna from the train, if you look up high on the steep canyon wall! Back at Ollantaytambo, your driver will meet you at the exit from the train station to take you back to your hotel in Cusco in our private vehicle. You can expect to arrive at your hotel between 8pm and 10:30pm.

Please note: In the rainy season, January through April, the Vistadome Train only runs to the Ollantaytambo station. We will drive you from Ollantaytambo to your hotel in Cusco.

• 3* Accommodation: Maytaq Wasin or Waman Qorikancha
• 4* Accommodation: Costa del Sol Ramada, Casa Andina Private Collection or Novotel  Hotels
• Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy your remaining time in Cusco city then in the afternoon, we will drop off at the airport to take your plane back to Lima.

• Meals: Breakfast