DAY 2: LIMA CITY TOUR

In the morning a trip to the essential Lima, “The City of Kings” including the most important architectural icons of the city, such as the Main Square, where you can find the Government Palace, the City Hall, the Cathedral and the Archbishop’s Palace.)

Then, we continue with a visit to the San Francisco Convent, an architectonic jewel dating back to the 16th century. On our way to the modern area of the city, we will cross the exclusive district of San Isidro, the new financial heart of the city, we conclude our circuit in Miraflores, where we will visit the “Parque del Amor” (Love Park) an excellent spot to enjoy a great view of the Pacific Ocean.

In the afternoon visit the Larco Herrera Museum (or other you prefer). Explore more than 5000 years of ancient Peruvian history and the intimate bond that existed between pre-Columbian societies and the natural world. (B)

Overnight Lima: Hotel B, Marriot or Similar

DAY 3: LIMA - CUSCO - SACRED VALLEY: AWANACANCHA - PISAC RUINS & MARKET

Our representative will pick you up from the hotel to take you to the airport, where he will assist you with check-in procedures for your domestic flight to Cusco. Upon arrival in Cusco, your personal guide and private driver will greet you at the airport to head straight to the Sacred Valley. On the way Visit a farm where you will see and take nice pictures of alpacas, llamas, vicunas & guanacos. Continue to PISAC located right at the entrance to the Sacred Valley, the amazing Inca city that constitutes one of the most important Archaeological Parks in the region. Visit the fine temples, palaces and the well preserved and vast farming terraces; built even as far as the edge of precipices that still keep their straight sometimes vertical aqueducts; an imposing and unforgettable sight that also offers very beautiful landscapes. (B, L)

Overnight Sacred Valley: Aranwa, Taypikala or similar

DAY 4: OLLANTAYTAMBO - MORAY - MARAS & THE SALT MINES

Tour to the oldest continuously inhabited dwellings in South America, where people are still living in the same houses and palaces as 500 years ago; the ancient Incan town of OLLANTAYTAMBO, with its very impressive constructions built with huge boulders and its ancient heritage that will leave us astonished. Later visit MORAY a very unique archaeological site in the region; enormous natural depressions where the Incas built huge circular agricultural terraces used as a prototype of a greenhouse or experimental biological station, very advanced for its age.

Special Pachamanca Lunch: Traditional Inca cooking technique where meats, potatoes and vegetables are cooked with wood-fired stones under ground. Watch the Pachamanca being unearthed before sitting down for a delicious lunch.

After lunch enjoy beautiful views of the farming fields and the Urubamba snow capped range going towards MARAS town and the famous “Inca Salt mines” that are constituted by more than 4000 small pools constructed in a slope, where people extract the salt still using the same traditional methods as 500 years ago. (B, L)

Overnight Sacred Valley: Aranwa, Taypikala or similar

DAY 5: SACRED VALLEY - ROYAL INCA TRAIL TO MACHUPICCHU

Transfer to the Ollantaytambo Train Station to catch the VISTADOME train until the Km 104 (1:20 minutes train ride, altitude 8250 feet), where we start to hike - with wonderful landscapes of the Cloud Forest, its flora and fauna - on the Royal Inca Trail to Machupicchu visiting first the Inca remain of Chachabamba.

Later we continue hiking up-hill for about 3 - 4 hours until getting, visiting the famous and fascinating Inca Citadel of Winayhuayna (8860ft.). The hike continues after lunch for 1 - 1 1/2 hours until Inti Punku (Sun Gate, altitude 9050). From where we will have the first fantastic view of the "Holy City of the Incas": Machupicchu; the highlight of any trip to South America. Finally you hike downhill until Machupicchu (altitude 8000 feet) for 45 minutes. From Machupicchu you take a bus for 30 minutes to Aguas Calientes town (altitude 6600 feet) to overnight. (B,BxL,D)

Overnight Aguas Calientes Town: Hotel Inkaterra or Sumaq. Paying the extra (on request) you can stay at the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge in Machupicchu

PLEASE YOU HAVE TO BE IN GOOD SHAPE FOR THIS HIKE, THE 3 - 4 HOURS UPHILL IT IS NOT EASY

DAY 6: MACHUPICCHU - SACRED VALLEY

Early visit of Machupicchu; to spot the amazing sun rise and guided visit (2 1/2 hours) of the wonderful temples and palaces, later you can take the optional hike to Huaynapicchu Peak (2 hours) & the temple of the Moon.

You can also hike to Montana Machupicchu ( 3 - 4 hours) or the Inca Bridge (1.5 hours). 

Afternoon return to Ollantaytambo by train (1 1/2 hours) and transfer to the hotel. (B,L)



Overnight Sacred Valley: Aranwa, Taypikala or similar.

NOTE: If you are interested in climbing to Huaynapicchu or Montana Machupicchu you have to let us know in advance, we must buy tickets ASAP, there is a short limit per day.

DAY 7: CHINCHERO - SACSAYHUAMAN - KORICANCHA - CUSCO

On the way back to Cusco visit Chinchero ruins and a textiles workshop where you will see and learn (step by step) how Andean people still make very beautiful textiles using very old traditional techniques.

Special typical Lunch at a restaurant for locals: Roasted guinea pig, stuffed chili ppepers, Alpaca, etc

After lunch visit the wonder of the world of Sacsayhuaman and Koricancha: The temple of the sun. (B, L)

Overnight Cusco: Hotel Palacio Manco Capac, Aranwa, or Hilton.

DAY 8: WALKING CITY TOUR & COOKING CLASSES
In the morning visit the main square, inca streets, San Blas neighborhood and the Food market (Mercado Central); where we will see and buy all the fresh ingredients for cooking lunch. We will provide a unique culinary experience in a very well equipped and nice kitchen where you will prepare your own creations with the freshest and organic regional ingredients; you will experience a new way of learning, sharing and enjoying Peruvian cuisine.

Free afternoon. (B, L)

Overnight Cusco: Hotel Palacio Manco Capac, Aranwa, or Hilton.

DAY 9: CUSCO – LIMA: Transfer to the airport for departure flight. (B)

Notes:

- Your flight to Lima can be at any time you want

- Check out at the hotel is at 10 - 11 am

ADDITIONAL TOURS IN CUSCO & THE SACRED VALLEY
Customize this Trip by adding extra days to any location. Please explore below or contact one of our  local  expert travel advisors

• BEST COOKING CLASSES: HALF DAY TOUR
• 1/2 DAY MORAY, MARAS & THE SALT MINES TOUR: PRIVATE or with a GROUP
• 2 COLORS CANYON HIKES
• WAQRAPUCARA: FULL DAY HIKE
• RAINBOW MOUNTAIN FULL DAY HIKE: PRIVATE or with a GROUP
• PALCOYO 3 NEW RAINBOW MOUNTAINS: FULL DAY PRIVATE HIKE
• HUMANTAY TURQUOISE LAKE FULL DAY HIKE: PRIVATE or with a GROUP
• CHONTA CONDORS FULL DAY HIKE
• HUCHUY QOSQO & MACHU PICCHU: 2 DAYS PRIVATE HIKE
• PRIVATE APURIMAC CANYON & WATERFALLS
• WHITE WATER RIVER RAFTING
• MOUNTAIN BIKING IN MARAS & MORAY: PRIVATE FULL DAY TOUR
• HORSE RIDING IN MARAS & MORAY: FULL DAY TOUR
• ATV TOURS IN CUSCO

• CUSCO TO PUNO & TITICACA LAKE
  

• NAZCA LINES & PARACAS
  

• AMAZON: TAMBOPATA RESERVE | MANU NATIONAL PARK