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THE BEST OF CUSCO

7 days / 6 nights
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This once in a lifetime trip takes you on a journey through varied and colorful Peru, where you will encounter an epic fantasyland, with forgotten temples and imperial Tombs entangled in jungle vines with ancient bejeweled treasures beyond reckoning. For 7 days you will explore this heroic land, concentrating on the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Our official local guides will enchant you with stories of our legends as you become fully immersed in this long-lost great culture.

 

Program

 

SUMMARY

DAY 1 ARRIVE LIMA. OVERNIGHT IN LIMA
DAY 2 FLIGHT LIMA/CUSCO. CUSCO CITY TOUR
DAY 3 SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS (AWANACANCHA, PISAC RUINAS&MARKET, OLLANTAYTAMBO Y CHINCHERO)
DAY 4 EXPEDITION TRAIN TO MACHU PICCHU AND VISIT THE CITADEL
DAY 5 MACHU PICCHU DAY AT LEISURE BY YOUR OWN. EXPEDITION TRAIN BACK TO CUSCO DAY 6 FREE DAY IN CUSCO BY YOUR OWN
DAY 7 FLIGHT CUSCO / LIMA / HOME

 

DAY 1 ARRIVE LIMA. OVERNIGHT IN LIMA

After arriving Lima and clearing customs, meet our representatives and transfer to your hotel in Lima city

 

DAY 2 FLIGHT LIMA/CUSCO. CUSCO CITY TOUR

Breakfast included (Pooled service)

At the indicated time, pick up from your Lima hotel to transfer you to the Lima international airport for your flight to Cusco.

Arrive Cusco (3400 masl) meeting with our representative at the Cusco airport and transfer to your hotel. Some free time to acclimatize to the altitude taking things very slowly.

Guided tour of the city of Cusco, also considered as the Navel of the World, to see and experience Cusco first hand. Wander through this city of terra-cotta roofs, cobblestone streets, and colorful markets and visit the stunning bohemian area of San Blas, meeting the locals and taking in some of the key sites in Cusco as well as some off the beaten track.

The tour includes the Plaza de Armas, the famous Baroque style Cathedral considered one of the most splendid Spanish colonial churches in the Americas. You will continue with the visit of the Santo Domingo monastery, which was built over the Koricancha temple, one of the most important temples dedicated to the worship of the sun. According to the chronicles, it was covered in gold leaf and filled with golden representations of nature. Stop at San Cristobal for a magnificent view of the city of Cusco, before proceeding to the nearby remarkable Inca ruins in the area: the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, the temple and amphitheater of Kenko, and the archaeological site of Tambomachay, where the god “water” was worshipped. Return to the hotel.

 

DAY 3 SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS (AWANACANCHA, PISAC RUINAS&MARKET, OLLANTAYTAMBO Y CHINCHERO)

Breakfast included (Pooled service)

A great excursion in shared service to the “Sacred Valley of the Incas”, by the Vilcanota River. As you begin the journey toward Valle Sagrado (Sacred Valley), you will enjoy the beauty of the Andean landscape along the way.

Your first stop will be in Awanacancha, which means “The Palace of the Weavings”, a project with private initiative, associated to 14 communities (420 families) of native people, who has made of the weaving ancestral process, their principal activity and way of life.

Here you can see four members of the camelid species; llama, alpacas, vicunas and guanacos. Alpacas have thick wool and is the most commonly used while the vicunas are small and delicate with fur considered the fines.

You can meet these four important cameloids in the Andean culture, learn about the harvesting of the different wools and the natural dying techniques and have the chance to see native weavers from different communities showing their different weaving styles and dress.

A few more miles will bring you to Pisac, a beautiful place where Incan and Colonial influences have reached a perfect balance and created a unique way of life among the local inhabitants. You will get a chance to explore this quaint town, famous for its artisan markets where you can find extraordinarily fine jewelry, ceramic and textile craftwork. You will continue your day with the visit of the great archeological site of Pisac, located near from Pisac town, Inca constructions in finely assembled refined stone, citadel, turrets, military fortresses, astronomical observatories, etc. Outstands the Inca cemetery, the biggest of America.

After lunch (not included), passing through the Towns of Calca and Urubamba, you will visit the Inca Fortress and Citadel of Ollantaytambo, built to guard the entrance to this part of the Valley, and protect it from possible invasion from the tribes in the Lower jungle. The Fortress consists of a series of stepped carved stone terraces accessed by long staircases. Later on you can walk through the quaint streets of the nearby Town, and get a good idea of what this Strategic Military, Religious, and Agricultural Centre was like during the era of the Inca Empire. Overnight in Ollantaytambo

Finally you will visit the living Inca town of Chinchero with its unique colonial church that was built on the top of an Incan palace by the Spaniards. Chinchero is famous for its Sunday market or fair, where local people dress in traditional colorful outfits and travel down from their villages to trade their goods. People sale there a great quality of crafts with extraordinary beauty of textiles, that are very well known internationally for its excellence.

 

DAY 4 EXPEDITION TRAIN TO MACHU PICCHU AND VISIT THE CITADEL

Breakfast included (Pooled service)

Early in the morning you will board the Expedition train to Machu Picchu town destination with your group and guide. Once you have arrived there you will take a bus to the amazing citadel of Machu Picchu, which is one of the most renowned examples of Inca architecture, known as “the lost city of the Incas” and considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Its architectural beauty, spectacular natural landscapes and the energy held in its enigmatic structures will take your breath away. You will follow in the footsteps of the ancient Incas as you explore this magical citadel along with your guide, visiting the main plaza, the circular tower, the sacred sun dial (the most important Intihuatana), the royal quarters, the temple of the three windows and various burial grounds. Free time to stroll by the archaeological site. In the afternoon you will take the bus back to the town to overnight there. The guide return to Cusco.

*Additional price for Vistadome train to Machu Picchu: USD$ 87 per person

 

DAY 5 MACHU PICCHU DAY AT LEISURE BY YOUR OWN. EXPEDITION TRAIN BACK TO CUSCO DAY 6 FREE DAY IN CUSCO BY YOUR OWN

Breakfast included

Free day in Machu Picchu town by your own. The idea of this day is that you can take one of the first buses to the archaeological site (entrances and buses are not included) and enjoy the place before the arrival of the trains so you will enjoy much more of the beauty and peace of the whole place. For active people there is a short climbing to the Huayna Picchu mountain (entrance is not included, price mentioned below) and the reservation has to be done with lots of time before your arrival, as the local authorities just allow 400 persons per day in two shifts of 200 persons each one.
In the afternoon you will take the Expedition train back to Ollantaytambo town and then transfer to the city of Cusco. Transfer to your lodging.

EXTRAS FOR THE 2ND DAY IN MACHU PICCHU:

MACHU PICCHU WITH HUAYNA PICCHU – USD$ 80 MACHU PICCHU ENTRANCE – USD$ 62
BUSES UP AND DOWN TO THE RUINS – USD$ 28

 

DAY 6 FREE DAY IN CUSCO BY YOUR OWN

Breakfast included

Free day in Cusco by your own to grab your bag and go exploring what is a fascinating place to wander around. This experience will give you a great understanding about the area and its culture.
Follow the beautiful colonial streets to markets (we deeply recommend San Pedro Market) filled with the noise of bartering, to street vendors selling all manner of things, to fine squares and plazas and eventually back to your hotel. It is a way to experience the city as it is nowadays and to immerse yourself in the cultural life of this great place.

In a city so full of traditions as Cusco, a wonderful way to discover something more about its culture, is trying its food. Great restaurants with Novoandina cuisine will be also waiting for you to have a wonderful night.

 

DAY 7 FLIGHT CUSCO / LIMA / HOME

Breakfast included

Transfer to the Cusco airport for your flight to Lima. Return home.

END OF ITINERARY

This once in a lifetime trip takes you on a journey through varied and colorful Peru, where you will encounter an epic fantasyland, with forgotten temples and imperial Tombs entangled in jungle vines with ancient bejeweled treasures beyond reckoning. For 7 days you will explore this heroic land, concentrating on the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Our official local guides will enchant you with stories of our legends as you become fully immersed in this long-lost great culture.

 

Program

DAY 1

We will start the tour by visiting the Train Cemetery, continuing towards the indigenous community of Colchani, observing the elaboration of iodized salt in its rustic form. We then enter to the white deserts in their fullness, visiting the typical landscapes of extraction, the Piles of Salt; and the unique “eyes of salt”. We will finally enter the famous Incahuasi Island, a volcanic rock prehistoric island scattered by giant cacti, before arriving at the Quechua community of Agencha, where we will spend the night in a salt hotel.
DAY 2
After breakfast, we will start our visit to the Andean Lagoons, exploring the Valley of Rocks and the incredible galaxy caves. This second day we will spend the night along the banks of the lagoon, where we can appreciate the three varieties of flamingos just a few meters away.
DAY 3
This last day starts at 6:30am, in order to visit the wonderful Chiarcota, Honda and Ramaditas lagoons and enter the incredible National Park Eduardo Abaroa –home to the Colored and Green lagoons, geysers and hot springs, and the unique Salvador Dali Desert. We will return at Uyuni at approximately 6pm.

Price: $

This activity includes the following:
  • Transportation 4×4
  • Skilled Driver
  • English-speaking Tour guide
  • Accommodation
  • Meals throughout the tour
This activity does NOT include the following:
  • Transport from and to La Paz (can be arranged)
  • Entrance fees
  • Transfer to San Pedro de Atacama in Chile (can be arranged)
  • Extras not mentioned in the Programme
We advise you to bring the following:
  • Warm clothing
  • Sunglasses
  • Sunscreen
  • Water
  • Camera

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