5 Day Sacred Valley, Cusco and Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

Itinerary

Day 1: CUSCO NAVEL OF THE WORLD

Pass By: Cusco 08007, Peru
Upon your arrival to the airport in Cusco, a member of our team will be there to greet you and take you to our partner lodge, located in the charming historic district of San Blas. The lodge is centrally located and only a few minutes walk from the Plaza de Armas, the beautiful and bustling town center. This day will be reserved for resting and acclimatising to the altitude, approximately 3400 meters (11,000 feet).

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Cusco Jungle hotel *** or similar

Day 2: MARAS, MORAY AND CHINCHERO

Stop At: Sacred Valley of the Incas, 0051 Peru
To start the Maras Moray & Chinchero Tour we will pick you up from your hotel around 8 AM and head to Moray. The drive is about 1 hour and 20 minutes and is absolutely beautiful. You will drive through the snow-capped peaks of the Andes, through lush yellow fields of wheat, past some villages.

Finally you will arrive to the fascinating display of terraces in Moray. Moray boasts three amphitheater-like terraces made by the Incas. These terraces, which are carved deep into the earth in a bowl shape, were thought to be used to determine the optimal conditions for growing crops.

When you are done exploring Moray you will head to the salt mines of Maras, which is about 2 miles away. This village is known as a former salt-producing center that is thought to date back all the way to pre-Inca times. There are over 3000 salt pools all carved into the mountain side, being filled daily by a little stream of water.

The last place to visit will be Chinchero. Here we can admire the well-preserved Inka walls of the main square as well as the many altars. We will also visit the beautiful colonial church, unique for its interior artwork and imagery. Moving on we will participate in a wonderful introduction and learning experience of the art of Andean textiles; throughout the afternoon we will become acquainted with the wisdom of Andean weavings as maintained since long before Inka times.
Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Cusco Jungle hotel *** or similar

Day 3: FIRST DAY SHORT INCA TRAIL: CUSCO – KM 104 – AGUAS CALIENTES

Stop At: short inca trail, Cusco 08002, Peru
Our trek today takes us along the most impressive stretch of the Inca Trail. We’ll visit beautiful Inca sites, see a variety of flora and fauna and get to take in the fantastic panoramas of the Andes mountains. Covering 10km of the trail our journey begins in the Sacred Valley and works it’s way up along an original Inca Trail to the Inca site of Winay Wayna before continuing on to Machu Picchu via the Sun Gate (Inti Punku).

As we make our way to Machu Picchu we’ll pass through the lush and verdant cloud forest that covers the mountain and get to see a variety of plants, flowers and birds along the way. We may also see some larger mammals such as Viscachas (rabbit-like Chinchillas) and Spectacled Bears (if we are very lucky).

After a full days trekking we’ll arrive to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) in the late afternoon and get our first views of Machu Picchu spread out on the mountain below. The light at this time of day is great for photos and with fewer tourists in the site it’s a perfect time to take some pictures of the site. After we’ve passed through the Sun Gate we’ll carry on along the trail a little way before taking a side trail that leads us to Aguas Calientes in the valley below where we’ll check in to our hotel
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Golden Sunrise Machu Picchu Hotel *** or similar.

Day 4: SECOND DAY SHORT INCA TRAIL: MACHU PICCHU

Stop At: Machu Picchu, 08680, Peru
Waking up early we’ll take the first bus back up to Machu Picchu to enter the site as it opens. We’ll have a 2 – 3 hour guided tour of the site during which you’ll learn about the Incas and visit all the most important areas of the citadel. After the guided tour if you have permits to climb either Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain, you’ll have the time to do it. In the afternoon you will take the train back to Ollantaytambo from where you will carry on by bus back to Cusco.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Cusco Jungle hotel *** or similar

Day 5: FLY TO LIMA

Pass By: Cusco 08007, Peru
Free morning to relax, This afternoon transfer to the airport for your departure to Lima

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.