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A city that lives, where the past blends with the present. Where colonial palaces, monasteries and convents coexist in amazing harmony with modern buildings and the most impressive pre-Inca ancient huacas. Whether in the corridor of an ancient mansion or in the depths of a dark catacomb. Lima, the city of kings, awaits you to dazzle you with its magic and intoxicate you with its flavor. Upon arrival at the Lima airport, a host will greet you and help you arrange your transfer and check-in at the hotel.
Lima (sea level)
At the indicated time, transfer to the airport, where you have the flight to Cusco. Upon arrival, we will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to your hotel.
In the afternoon we will visit the ancient capital of the Inca Empire and current archaeological capital of America. The visit begins with the Cathedral of Cusco, decorated inside with numerous altarpieces in gold leaf and paintings of the Cusco school, followed by the Temple of the Sun, better known as Q'oricancha. Next, we will visit the Inca archaeological sites, such as: Tambomachay, Puca Pucara, Q'enqo and the impressive archaeological site of Sacsayhuaman; strategically built on a hill overlooking the city of Cusco. Its enormous stone walls have been cut and assembled with amazing precision. Some of the stones are more than 9 meters high and weigh more than 128 tons.
Lima (sea level) - Cusco (3350 m)
On this day we will begin to explore the Sacred Valley of the Incas, on the banks of the Vilcanota River. The tour begins in the Inca citadel of Pisac, composed of terraces, fountains, observatories and a cemetery, the largest in the region, was a point of control and domination of the Incas in the sacred valley. After the guided tour, we will go down to the town and visit the traditional market of Pisac, there we will have the opportunity to discover the customs of the people and also to bargain with the vendors for their handicrafts; then we will continue to the heart of the Sacred Valley of Urubamba, where we will have lunch and then we will go to the fortress of Ollantaytambo, located on the hill that dominates the town, buildings like the Temple of the Sun and its gigantic monoliths stand out: The Temple of the Sun and the Princess Baths. At the top stands a fortress, with a series of carved stone terraces, built to guard the entrance to this part of the valley and protect it from possible invasions of the inhabitants of the jungle. Afterwards, you will go to the train station to leave for Aguas Calientes, upon arrival, transfer to your hotel.
Cusco (3,350 m) - Pisac (3,450 m) - Ollantaytambo (2,800 m)
Today, after breakfast, we head to the bus station and depart for Machu Picchu. We will marvel at the spectacular sight of Machu Picchu, the "old mountain," considered a gem of Inca architecture with its adjacent squares, houses, agricultural areas, paths, observatories, worship sites, etc., all built along a narrow ridge flanked by cliffs: a breathtaking view that shifts with the sun's progression. It was discovered on July 24, 1911, by the American explorer Hiram Bingham. We will have a guided tour lasting 2 hours, during which we will visit the most iconic sites of the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. We'll explore the alleys of the citadel, its neighborhoods, its squares, royal houses, agricultural areas, paths, and observatories. After the tour, we return to Aguas Calientes and then head to the train station to leave for Poroy, followed by a transfer to your hotel.
Aguas Calientes (2,040 m) - Machu Picchu (2,450 m)
OPTION HUAYNA PICCHU - 55 USD Huayna Picchu is the mountain seen in almost all the photos. From its altitude of 2,700m, it offers a breathtaking view of the citadel. The climb is quite demanding, following a steep path, requiring good physical condition and especially not being prone to vertigo. Entrance times are at 7 am, 8 am, 9 am, and 10 am. Booking is required and it must be purchased at the same time as the Machu Picchu ticket. MACHU PICCHU MOUNTAIN - 55 USD Less known and frequented than Huayna Picchu, its highest part reaches 3,082 m and offers a spectacular panorama of the Inca city and surrounding mountains. The ascent takes about 2 hours, mostly up steps, with the final stretch quite steep, though not as much as Huayna Picchu. Entrance times are at 7 am and 8 am. Booking is required and it must be purchased at the same time as the Machu Picchu ticket.
Huchuypicchu Mountain – 42 USD This is the smaller mountain, easily accessible with just a 10 to 15-minute hike. At the top, there is a fine view over Machu Picchu. Entrance times are at 7 am, 8 am, 9 am, 10 am, 11 am, 12 pm, 1 pm, and 2 pm. Booking is required and it must be purchased at the same time as the Machu Picchu ticket. Inca Bridge – 42 USD A beautiful hike along an Inca trail that was incredibly constructed, with sections that make one wonder how the Incas managed to affix stones to the mountain's rock face, amidst abundant vegetation. Entrance times are at 7 am, 8 am, 9 am, 10 am, 11 am, 12 pm, 1 pm, and 2 pm. Booking is required and it must be purchased at the same time as the Machu Picchu ticket.
In the morning, we will begin our tour of the southern valley, starting at Tipon, an incredible example of hydraulic engineering crafted by the Incas. The archaeological site features terraces and maintains the largest system of water channels used for agricultural irrigation. Next, we will visit Pikillacta, which translates to "the town of fleas." It includes more than 800 structures with various functions, housing an estimated ten thousand people, showcasing the traits of a major urban center from the Wari empire era. Then, we will head to Andahuaylillas, where we will explore the colonial-era Catholic church adorned with beautiful decorations and murals from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, known as the Sistine Chapel of America. We will then return to Cusco.
Cusco (3350 m) - Tipon (3470 m) - Andahuaylillas (3130 m)
Early in the morning, around 4:30 am, we will pick you up from your hotel and set off to visit the legendary Cerro Colorado, also known as "Rainbow Mountain" (real name Vinicunca) (approx. 3h by vehicle).
Two hours later, we will stop in the village of Cusipata to have our breakfast. After breakfast, our route becomes more rustic; it is a road that climbs the mountain, passing several small villages where llamas and alpacas are predominant, tended by shepherds dressed in beautiful colourful traditional outfits. Birds such as the Andean goose and gulls can be seen. We will arrive at the control point and subsequently the parking area (4,600m), from where we must start our approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes trek to the Vinicunca viewpoint (5,036m). Here, we will enjoy stunning 360-degree views, seeing the colourful mountain, the Red Valley, and snow-capped mountains in the background.
We will then continue to the Red Valley, so named due to the special pigmentation of the soil which has a reddish colour due to the abundant minerals. This route will be more special as we will be one of the only groups on this path. We will return to our vehicle and proceed to a restaurant offering a varied buffet. (3h journey) We will arrive back in Cusco at the end of the day around 5 pm.
Cusco (3,350 m) – Vinicunca (5,036 m)
In the morning, we visit the other part of the Sacred Valley; first, we stop to admire the Urubamba mountain range and the snow-capped peaks of "La Verónica" (18,110 ft) and "Chikón" (18,143 ft).
We continue to Chinchero, "the city of the rainbow," a town frozen in time, where you can observe the living culture that still remains from the Inca period. We will visit its main square, a beautiful blend of Inca and colonial architecture, where the temple is built over what was the palace of the Inca Túpac Yupanqui. Inside, it contains beautiful artwork by notable indigenous painters of the Cusco school; it has the peculiarity that its bell tower is separate from the main structure of the church. In the square, there are three large portals, two of which flank a beautiful Inca wall with trapezoidal niches. On the sides of the square, you can also see remains of Inca walls and terraces. We will also visit a weaving workshop, where they will explain how they use materials and perform weaving as the Incas did. After the visit,
We then head to Moray; a unique archaeological complex of gigantic natural depressions that were used to build agricultural terraces with their respective irrigation channels, an Inca prototype of an experimental station for the acclimatization of plants that was very advanced. We continue to the Maras salt mines; consisting of about 4,800 small pools with an average surface area of about 54 square feet each, during the dry season they are filled or "watered" every 3 days with saltwater that emanates from a natural spring located above the pools so that as the water evaporates, the salt contained in it gradually solidifies, later the salt is harvested and granulated. Return to Cusco.
Cusco (11,000 ft) - Chinchero (12,400 ft) - Moray (11,500 ft) - Maras (10,830 ft)
Our day will start very early at your hotel as we head towards the village of Mollepata where we will enjoy a typical breakfast of the area. After breakfast, we'll return to our vehicle to continue our journey to Soraypampa, but the trip will allow us to enjoy the beautiful landscapes and ravines that surround us until we reach Soraypampa. Here we will start our hike towards the Humantay Lagoon, known for its turquoise waters and being surrounded by Mount Humantay. Here, our expert guide will give us enough time to prepare our equipment like poles, water, personal backpacks, etc. We will begin our hike towards the Humantay Lagoon at an altitude of 13,780 feet, and our ascent will take approximately an hour and a half to reach the Humantay Lagoon. When we arrive at this beautiful lagoon, you will have plenty of time to enjoy the natural beauty that surrounds us, as well as the snow-capped mountains of Salkantay and Humantay. Here, our guide will make an offering to our Apus (Mountains) that made our arrival possible with the collaboration of the sacred coca leaves, in which we will participate. After this great adventure, we will begin to descend back to our vehicle in Soraypampa. Continuing the journey, we will return to the village of Mollepata where we will enjoy our lunch and then return to Cusco.
Cusco (11,000 ft) – Humantay (12,800 ft)
Como agencia local, esto nos permite trabajar directamente con la población local, evitando los costes adicionales asociados a los intermediarios. Elegimos a nuestros proveedores y alojamientos para que los beneficios se distribuyan equitativamente en la economía local.
Discover Cusco on one of our scheduled departures. Unique and cultural experiences are waiting for you in this incredible destination.
| Cusco Tour in 9 days / per person |
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| from: $ 1275.00 |
Includes:
It does not include:
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In general, this trip is not suitable for people with reduced mobility. We invite you to contact us for detailed information about the possibility of participating in this trip, taking into account your specific needs.
European Union citizens entering Peru do not require a visa for tourist stays of less than 90 days, but must have a passport valid for at least 6 months* from the date of entry into the country and a return airline ticket.
It is the traveler's responsibility to check with the relevant authorities (embassies, consulates) that he/she is in possession of the appropriate documents for travel to the country visited. Tierras de los Andes is not responsible for problems related to inadequate travel documents.
Important: if you are not a citizen of the European Union, please let us know at the time of your request or reservation so that we can inform you of the conditions of entry.
Thank you!
Many thanks!
The means of transportation vary according to the itinerary and the size of the group. The means of transportation are varied: motorized canoes, vans, boats and, most of the time, your own bus. The brand of vehicle used by our operator is Mercedes.
Meals not included: allow around 10 EUR/pers and per meal.
Tipping: are obviously not mandatory but are customary in South America.
Our tips:
Currency: It is not necessary to exchange currency before the trip. You will have the opportunity to exchange euros into local currency from the first day, and then several times during the tour. Your tour guide will tell you where to do this and for how long you should carry money.
Cash withdrawal: If your card allows it, you will also be able to withdraw money from ATMs in major cities. Ask your bank about the amount of the fee for withdrawing money abroad. Some banks have special agreements that allow you to withdraw money commission-free at partner banks.
Warning: Don't rely exclusively on cash withdrawals, as ATMs are only regularly replenished in major cities and there is a limit to the amount you can withdraw.
Paying by bank card: is not as common in South America as in Europe. Prefer cash in local currency.
