salkantay trek to machu picchu salkantay trek salkantay machu picchu
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Destination A-Z:from northern to southern Peru
Our Treks:the best treks in peru
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Complete Cusco Discovery 8 Days / 7 Nights

Explore the land of the Incas in a private tour; travel through the Sacred Valley of the Incas to find yourself meeting Andean locals and learning about their lives, exploring the mystical Incan ruins of Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo and Moray, visiting the colorful Andean markets of Pisaq, and uncovering the secrets of the Capital of the Incan Empire, Cusco City.

Day 1 Cusco / Sacred Valley
Day 2 Maras - Moray
Day 3 Patacancha & Ollantaytambo
Day 4 Sacred Valley / Machu Picchu
Day 5 Machu Picchu / Cusco
Day 6 Cusco: Day at Leisure
Day 7 Pikillacta & Andahuaylillas
Day 8 Cusco / Lima

Day 1 Cusco / Sacred Valley
Pick up and transfer to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, visiting Awanacancha traditional weaving center and Pisac archaeological site on route, depending on flight arrival.  Lunch included and the rest of the afternoon free. Overnight at a local hotel, dinner on your own. Depending on hotel availability additional activities can be organized from some of the lodgings. (B)

  • Overnight in Sacred Valley (Altitude: 2900m, 9500ft)

Day 2 Maras - Moray
Early departure by vehicle, to the Sacred Valley Tour to the Town of Chinchero, located at 30 km from the city of Cusco by asphalted road.  We continue our route to Maras. About 7 kms. (4.3 miles) southwest from Maras is Moray, a very unique archaeological site in the region, where enormous natural depressions or hollows in the ground surface were used for constructing irrigated farming terraces around them. What is surprising is that the difference of average annual temperature between the top and the bottom reaches even about 15°C (59°F) in the main depression that is about 30 mts (100 feet) deep. In these natural formations, nature has created environmental conditions or micro climates, that in modern times people create in greenhouses or hothouses.
Towards the northwest of the Maras village are the famous "salt mines", where considerable volume of solid salt is obtained; about 10 cms. (4 inches) high from the floor. That solid salt granulated, then packed in sacks and sent to the region's markets; today that salt began being treated with iodine, thus, its consumption is not benign. In the neighborhood of these sites, depending on time of day, we will have lunch, with beautiful views of the surrounding landscapes.  In the early afternoon we will return to our hotel. (B, BL)

  • Overnight in Sacred Valley (Altitude: 2900m, 9500ft)

Day 3 Patacancha & Ollantaytambo
Patacancha is located a half hour from Ollantaytambo, province of Urubamba, at an altitude of 3.915 meters (12.844 feet). We leave from Cusco or the Sacred Valley and travel by road to visit the community, farmers and weavers, women that mostly only speak only Quechua and weave wonders: Llicllas, shawls, ponchos, bags, blankets, made of natural fibers. Visitors are guided by community members themselves, getting to know their ancient history, traditional systems of organization. From here we travel back towards Ollantaytambo, set up a picnic lunch on the way, and in the afternoon we will have time to visit the Ollantaytambo ruins, a fortress on top of a hill overlooking the village with Cyclopean stonework and a chance to roam this Inca village with its unique layout and Inca canchas, before returning to our overnight lodgings. (B)

  • Overnight in Sacred Valley (Altitude: 2900m, 9500ft)

Day 4 Sacred Valley / Machu Picchu
Early pick up and transfer from your hotel to the train station at Ollantaytambo for your two hour ride down the Urubamba gorge as it changes from mountain vegetation to cloud forest, arrival at the station of Machu Picchu Pueblo.  A half hour bus ride will bring you to the citadel for a  guided visit which on average takes three hours as your official guide walks you through the different sectors of the hill-top citadel, with astonishing views, telling you aspects of life here that will take you back in time. Lunch is included in Machu Picchu Village. (B)

  • Overnight in Aguas Calientes (Altitude: 2000m, 6500ft)

Day 5 Machu Picchu / Cusco
Early rise for those who want an optional visit to the ruins. You can also do some optional hikes to Huayna Picchu or the Sun Gate. The other option is to stay around the village and undertake shopping, relax in your hotel room or take a walk in the surrounding cloud-forest. In the afternoon you will board the return train to the Ollantaytambo train station, where you will be picked up by our vehicle and drive back to Cusco.  Drop off at your hotel. (B)

  • Overnight in Cusco. (Altitude: 3400m, 11150ft)

Day 6 Cusco: Day at Leisure
Free morning. Afternoon City Tour including nearby ruins. Leaving early by vehicle we wind our way on the road to Sacsayhuaman, a vast fortress built on three platforms, overlooking the city of Cusco. From here we continue to Kenko, a site of worship with a high rock carved into the shape of a Puma which dominates a series of canals, passageways painted with animals. Return to Cusco, and visit the main sites around the Plaza de Armas - The Cathedral, The Inca walls with its 12 angled stone and the Sun Temple. of Koricancha inside the Santo Domingo Temple. At the end of the walk through the city you will end at your lodging facility.  (B)

  • Overnight in Cusco.

Day 7 Tipon, Pikillacta & Andahuaylillas
Early morning drive for about an hour to Urcos, a colorful Andean market, where traditional trading of goods takes place if it is a market day.  On the return drive, we will visit the colonial church south of Cusco in Andahuaylillas with its renowned frescoes also known as the Peruvian Sistine Chapel. From there we travel to the   pre-Inca Wari site at Pikillacta, the rest of the morning we will  explore these ruins. After lunch we visit the Inca ruins at Tipon below Mt. Pachatusan with its water - fountains on the terraced hillside, which characterize this important site. Later in the the afternoon we return to your lodgings. (B, BL)

  • Overnight in Cusco.

Day 8 Cusco / Lima
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Lima - or any other connecting destination. (B)

End our services
You can Add on this Trip: Amazon Rainforest, Titicaca Lake, Colca Canyon, and other extension tours or treks. Let us know.

What’s Included           

  • Airport arrival and departure transfers
  • All accommodations as per itinerary
  • All land transport along the route
  • Guide service throughout as per itinerary
  • Tours and Excursions as per itinerary
  • Entrance fees for included excursions
  • All breakfasts
  • Meals as indicated in the itinerary (B: Breakfast /BL: Boxed Lunch / L: Lunch / D: Dinner)

What’s Not Included

  • International Flights
  • International departure taxes and excess baggage fees
  • Visa and passport fees
  • Insurance
  • Meals (see above)
  • Alcohol, Drinks
  • Tips
  • Optional activities/day-tours/excursions
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