Cusco and Machu Picchu 5 days

Itinerary

Day 1: TRANSFER AIRPORT - HOTEL IN CUSCO CITY.

Stop At: Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport, Avenida Velasco Astete, Cusco 08006, Peru
Upon your arrival at Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport, our team of collaborators will be waiting for you to take you from the airport to your hotel in the city of Cusco.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Centro Historico De Cusco, Cusco 08002 Peru
We will begin with the pick-up of passengers from their respective hotels from 1:20 pm until 1:50 pm, (about the pick-up of passengers from their hotels in the city of Cusco, consider please that there are some hotels located where our buses cannot enter due to the narrowness of the streets, therefore, our collaborator will go to the hotel to pick you up and take you by walking towards the door of the cathedral located in the main square of the city of Cusco).

We will start the tour visiting the Cathedral of Cusco, impressive stone construction that preserves beautiful paintings of the Cusco school, altarpieces, sculptures and images of the Catholic religion and the religious customs of ancient and modern Cusco, this tour will last approximately 45 minutes. After the tour of the cathedral, we will go to the Inca temple of Qoricancha, considered in the time of the Incas as the center of the Andean world and the main religious site dedicated to the Sun God and other minor deities. After visiting the Inca Qoricancha temple, we will return to the bus that will take us to the impressive archaeological center of Sacsayhuaman that was built entirely with huge stones finely carved and that fit together with great precision. Within the archaeological park of Sacsayhuaman, we will also visit the archaeological sites of Qenqo, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay, each of these constructions was very important for the Incas for being administrative and religious centers distributed around the great Inca capital. Finally, we will return to the city of Cusco to end this beautiful visit in the city center or in your respective hotels (hotels located in the city center or those that are confirmed during the reservation).
Duration: 4 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 2: MARAS MORAY TOUR

Stop At: Salinas de Maras, Carreta a Maras Urubamba, Maras 00051 Peru
We will start with the pick-up of passengers from their respective hotels from 7:40 am until 8:10 am, (about the pick-up of passengers from their hotels in the city of Cusco, consider that there are some hotels located where our buses cannot enter due to the narrowness of the streets, therefore, our collaborator will go to the hotel to pick you up and guide you on foot to an accessible place for the agency buses).

We will start the tour heading to the Sacred Valley of the Incas taking the Cusco - Chinchero route.

After approximately 70 minutes by car, we will arrive at the main square of the city of Maras, where we will stop to take a short break. We will continue with our tour visiting the archaeological site of Moray, which is about 25 minutes by bus from the town of Maras. Moray was possibly an Inca agricultural research center where crop experiments were carried out at different heights, the layout of its platforms produces a gradient of microclimates with the center of concentric circular platforms having a higher temperature and gradually decreasing towards the outside lower temperatures, thus being able to simulate up to 20 different types of microclimates. The guided tour of the archaeological center of Moray will last approximately 45 minutes.

After the tour in the experimental center of Moray, we will go to the salt mines of Maras to appreciate the artisanal extraction of this mineral (ancient Inca custom that was made for commercial purposes). Finally, we will return to the city of Cusco visiting the town of Chinchero and its craft market.

The tour ends in Plaza San Francisco and Plaza Regocijo, one block from the main square of the city of Cusco.
Duration: 6 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 3: SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS

Stop At: Sacred Valley of the Incas, 0051 Peru
We will start with the pick-up of passengers from their respective hotels from 7:20 am until 7:50 am, (about the pick-up of passengers from their hotels in the city of Cusco, consider that there are some hotels located where our buses cannot enter due to the narrowness of the streets, therefore, our collaborator will go to the hotel to pick you up and guide you on foot to an accessible place for the agency buses).

We will start the tour to the Sacred Valley of the Incas taking the route Cusco - Pisac - Urubamba.

The first place we will visit is the archaeological site of Pisac, which is located at the top of the chain of mountains that form the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

Písac is divided into two zones, the old one, located in the upper part, is an Inca archaeological site, and the current one, located in the valley, dates from the colonial era. Its main square is an entertaining place full of color and with various craft items for sale. This town is known for its astronomical observatory. After a guided tour of approximately 45 to 60 minutes we will go to the city of Urubamba where we will have a delicious lunch at a local tourist restaurant.

Finally, we will go to the town of Ollantaytambo where we will visit the archaeological site of the same name for approximately 45 minutes to 60 minutes. Ollantaytambo is one of the most monumental architectural complexes of the ancient Inca Empire, commonly called «Fortress», due to its massive walls, it was a Tambo or city-accommodation, strategically located to dominate the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

The architectural type used, as well as the quality of each stone, individually worked, make Ollantaytambo one of the most peculiar and surprising works of art that the ancient Peruvians made, especially the Temple of the Sun and its gigantic monoliths.
Duration: 7 hours

Stop At: Hot Springs (Aguas Calientes), Signposted from main square, Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu Peru
After visiting the archaeological center of Ollantaytambo, we will go to the train station of Ollantaytambo where we will board the train that will take us to the town of Machu Picchu where we will spend the night.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Lunch: Buffet lunch in a local restaurant of Urubamba city
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 4: MACHU PICCHU - CUSCO

Stop At: Santuario Historico de Machu Picchu, Machu Picchu Peru
Your guide will be at your hotel in Machu Picchu Town to pick you up and go to the town's bus station to go you to the archaeological site of Machu Picchu. After registering at the entrance gate to the archaeological site (presenting your original passport) you will start a guided tour of approximately 2 hours through the majestic Machu Picchu, which is clearly divided into two large areas: the agricultural area, formed by sets of terraces of culture, that is to the south; and the urban area, which is, of course, the one where the occupants lived and where the main civil and religious activities were developed. Both areas are separated by a wall, a moat and a stairway, elements that run parallel to the east slope of the mountain. At the end of the guided tour of the archaeological site, due to the new laws and regulations to visit the archaeological site, you must go to the Machu Picchu bus station to take the bus that will take you back to the town of Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo) where you will wait for your return train to the town of Ollantaytambo.
Duration: 4 hours

Stop At: Centro Historico De Cusco, Cusco 08002 Peru
We have different options for the return train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo train station, at 2:30 pm, 2:55 pm, 4:22 pm, 6:20 pm

Keep in mind that during the high season it is very difficult to find train tickets back from Machu Picchu Pueblo to the Ollantaytambo train station, we recommend booking this tour 2 or 3 weeks in advance to avoid any inconvenience. Once at the Ollantaytambo train station, your transportation will be waiting for you to bring you back to the city of Cusco and leave it at your hotel in the city of Cusco.

Approximate time of arrival to the city of Cusco: 9 pm. (referential time)
Duration: 4 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 5: TRANSFER HOTEL IN CUSCO - AIRPORT.

Stop At: Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport, Avenida Velasco Astete, Cusco 08006, Peru
We will pick you up from your hotel (hotels located in the city of Cusco) to take you to the airport in the city of Cusco, where you will board the plane that will take you to your next destination.
Duration: 30 minutes

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.