Machu Pichu and the Sacred Valley

Pack your passport and board your flight to Cusco. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your accommodation. Kick start your day with a walking tour of Cusco accompanied by your local guide. Learn more about the rich history and everything that shaped Cusco into what it is today. You will cover all the highlights of the city such as Plaza de Armas, which is home to the main cathedral and colonial houses, the San Blas neighborhood, the twelve-angled stone, and the local San Pedro market. The rest of the evening is free at your leisure to acclimate to the 11,000-foot altitude and avoid sickness. Stay overnight.

In the morning we recommend taking it slow and staying hydrated in order to get used to the high altitude. The afternoon will be reserved for visiting the Inca ruins in and around the city, such as Sacsayhuaman and Quenqo. Your journey will continue to Pisac, a picturesque village in the Sacred Valley. Discover the archaeological site and enjoy the captivating views of the valley. You will descend to the Pisac market where you can mingle with the locals and buy handcrafted local souvenirs. Return to Cusco, and have the rest of the evening for your own activities and to utilize recommendations from your guide. Stay overnight.

The first stop of the day will be a small, rustic town called Chinchero, which is famous for its weaving techniques. You will visit a textile center for an introduction and learning experience in the art of Andean textiles, where local weavers will guide you through a step-by-step process of the ancient science of weaving. The next stop will be Moray and its spectacular terraces of concentric rings, which have been proven to be an experimental center for understanding the various climates of different crops and agricultural plants. After exploring Moray, you will descend lower in elevation to the salt mines of Maras, an important production center dating back to pre-Inca times. Here there are over 3,000 salt pools carved into the mountainside, filled daily by water seeping from the Earth, often called the tears of Mother Earth! All this exploring will certainly work up your appetite, so you will stop in Urubamba for a traditional lunch. You will then be transferred to Ollantaytambo. Check in to your accommodation and have the rest of the afternoon for your own activities. We recommend that you call it an early night; the next day you will conquer Machu Picchu. Stay overnight.

Get ready to start your Machu Picchu visit! You will be picked up from your accommodation very early in the morning and proceed to the train station. With beautiful scenery around you, the train journey itself is an experience. Following the course of the river down the Sacred Valley you’ll arrive to Aguas Calientes, where you will take a bus straight up to Machu Picchu. The guided tour will last approximately two-and-a-half hours during which you will learn more about the Incas, and visit all the most important areas of the citadel. Subsequently, you will be given free time to explore Machu Picchu at your own pace. There are various areas that you can stroll or hike, including the Inca Bridge. Your guide will give you all the relevant suggestions. In the afternoon, take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes for the train back to Ollantaytambo, where you will stay overnight.

Pack your bags and take a transfer to the airport, where you will say goodbye to Peru. Board your flight. End of program.