Cusco and Machu Picchu Experience 4 Days

Begin your connection to the Andean world in Cusco and cultural show at the great citadel of Machu Picchu (2,400m/7907ft), catch yourself as you travel back in time to this magical place, sacred and mysterious, with the name of Machu-Picchu, “The Old Sacred Mountain.”  Take your time exploring the majestic Machu Picchu, the Incan ruins rich in history of its past and the thriving culture of the people who once resided there.

• CUSCO ALTITUDE: 3350m/11022 ft
• CLIMATE: Hot and sunny by day and cold by night
• DRY SEASON: April to October
• RAINY SEASON: November to March

Day 1: Cusco City – Inca Ruins

It starts at 1 p.m., we will meet you at your hotel. From here, you will head to Cusco’s Plaza de Armas, where you will visit the Main Cathedral. Following, you will continue on foot through an ancient Inca-built street from the Main Square to the Q’oricancha, the (Temple of the Sun). There you will be able to compare and contrast the building methods of the Incan culture and Spanish culture. This was the key spiritual center of the Incas, which leads to all four quarters of the Inca Empire.

From Qoricancha, we will walk down to Avenida El Sol, where you will take your 25minute bus outside of the city. You will arrive at the majestic Inca site, Sacsayhuaman, where your tour guide will take you around.

From Sacsayhuaman, you will take a short bus to the Qenqo Inca site to observe some Inkan altars. Following, we will drive to Puca Pucara, a small circular Inca site, finished by a visit to Tambomachay, the temple of water. You will be driven back to Cusco and dropped off at your hotel.

• Accommodations: Hotel
• Meals Included: None
• Entrance Tickets: Included

Day 2:  Alpaca Farm – Pisaq – Ollantaytambo

We will pick you up from your hotel at 8 a.m. and head towards the Sacred Valley. Along the way, we will visit Awanacancha, a weaving center and alpaca farm.  You will observe the differences among llamas, alpacas, vicuñas and guanacos, as well as the different varieties of potatoes and corn, that we grow in the Sacred Valley. Following, we will drive to the Pisaq Inca Ruins. We will see hundreds of terraces for agriculture, where the Incas grew corn, potatoes, and quinoa. We see there all the Inkan buildings.

Afterwards, we will descend into Pisaq market, the traditional handicraft market. You will have the opportunity to try some of the local delicacies during our lunch break. After lunch, we will drive through the Sacred Valley to Ollantaytambo, an Incan fortress. This is the best example of an intact Inca village, with its waterways running through the quaint streets of the town. Your tour guide will set you up in your hotel before you have a chance to explore, relax and enjoy dinner.

• Accommodations: Hotel
•  Meals: Breakfast Only
• Entrance Tickets: Included

Day 3: Maras – Moray – Chinchero – Train to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu)

After breakfast, we will drive to Salineras(Maras Salt Mines). There are more than 3,000 salt pools, which work as evaporation chambers. They spill out of the mountain and down the mountainside at 12,000 feet above sea level. Owned by local farmers, these pools have become the main economic activity for all the locals.

After the mines, we will drive to Moray Inca Archeological site. The Inca used Moray as an experimental center. They built terraces and experimented with different vegetables. You will see each terrace of Moray and the differences in growth they provided.

We will then drive to Chincheros, where we will see some Inca terracing, used as the perfect location to farm potatoes. We will also see one unique, colonial church, that was built by the Spaniards, on the top of the Inca palace. Finally, we will visit one final textile center called as Chinchero Textile center.

We will head back to Ollantaytambo, where you can enjoy dinner at one of local restaurants, the take amazing 2hour train ride to Aguas Calientes. where you will be brought to your hotel, to stay overnight, and the we visit Machu Picchu.

• Accommodations: Hotel
•  Meals: Breakfast only
• Entrance Tickets: Included

Day 4: Machu Picchu (the Sacred City of the Incas)

This is the day that we encourage you to wake up early in the morning to get to the bus station for one of the first shuttle-style buses, it departures at 5.30 a.m. This bus will take about 25 minutes to get to Machu Picchu. As soon as you arrive at the Inka site, we will take you to the look out where you take the classical picture. There will be a rendezvous to observe the sunrise and see a spectacular view of the Lost City of the Incas. You will then have a two hour, guided tour around Machu Picchu.

If you have tickets to climb one of the mountains of Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu, your guide will then direct you those trails. Due to popularity, be sure this is arranged at least two months in advance. Once you are finished exploring Machu Picchu, you will take a bus down to Aguas Calientes for lunch, followed by an afternoon train back to Ollantaytambo. We will have our own van transportation back to Cusco, where we will drop you off at your hotel.

END OF TOUR

WHAT IS INCLUDED

• All private transportation
• Four Days private tours with professional guide.
• Admission tickets to all the Incas’ sites.
• Entrance fee to Machu Picchu
• Professional guide for four days that speaks fluent English and Spanish.
• Vistadome train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo.
• 4 nights hotel accommodation with private room, bathroom and breakfast included.
• Meals as indicated in itinerary.
• Bus tickets from Aguas Calientes – Machu picchu -Aguas Calientes.
• Personal assistance 24 hours per day.

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED

• Upgraded HOTELS upon request
• Huayna Picchu Mountain
• Machu Picchu Mountain
• Tips for your guide.

DISCOUNTS

• Students with ISIC CARD: US$25. Please send us a copy of your ISIC at the time of booking.
• Under 18 years old: US$30 Please send us a copy of your passport at the time of booking.
• Under 11 years old: US$40 Please send us a copy of your passport at the time of booking.

WHAT TO BRING

• A small backpack or carry bag (larger not allowed on the train or in Machu Picchu)
• A change of clothing
• Comfortable shoes or runners
• Camera
• Water to drink
• Rain jacket or poncho
• A fleece or jacket,
• Basic toiletries,
• Sunscreen,
• Insect repellent for mosquitoes
• Hat for the sun
• Some extra money for lunch, snacks and souvenirs
• Original passport (cannot enter Machu Picchu without it)
• ISIC Card if applicable.
• Bathing clothes for the hot springs (optional)

EXTRAS

• Huayna Picchu Climb: US$35. This will need to be booked in advance, let us know about it at the time of booking.
• Machu Picchu Mountain: US$30.  This will need to be booked in advance, let us know about it at the time of booking.

PRICE – USD $737 per person with hotels
Price – USD $ 579 per person without hotels

***Private service is available for $75 more per person.
***All entrance fees are included and we operate our tours in small groups averaging 5 persons with a maximum of 8!
***This price includes 2 way VISTADOME TRAIN from which you can enjoy the scenic train ride!!!