CUSCO, SACRED VALLEY & MACHU PICCHU (04 days / 03 nights)

Description: Enjoy a quick tour package of the Cusco’s main tourist attractions. It was in Peru that

the mighty Inca Empire flourished and the

Spanish Conquistadors began their

domination of Andean South America.

Explore Cusco’s archaeological sites, gain an

understanding of ancient and present day

Peruvians through their Andean villages and

arqueological sites in the Sacred Valley of

the Incas and marvel at the unique legacy of

Incan culture in Machu Picchu.

Tour Highlights:

• Arrival to Cusco and transfer in for a stay of three nights • Sightseeing city tour of

Cusco – Cusco Cathedral, Temple of the Sun and Convent of Santo Domingo • Visit the

famous Incan archeological sites surrounding Cusco - Archeological Park of

Sacsayhuaman • Full-day tour to the Sacred Valley, Maras, Moray and Ollantaytambo •

Relax on a scenic train journey through the Urubamba River Valley to Machu Picchu •

Enjoy a 3-hour Machu Picchu tour led by an archeologist • Train service back to Cusco

• Transfer out for departure flight • End of services

Daily Itinerary: Day 01: … / CUSCO

Upon arrival, reception and transfer to selected hotel. You may find the altitude a little

hard to handle at first so

we recommend the rest

of the morning to

repose and acclimatize.

In the afternoon, you

will enjoy a shared

guided tour to the most

magical city. Discover

the magic and beauty of

Cusco, the capital of the

Incan Empire. The flawlessly built Incan roads spread to all regions from the “Plaza”

which was thought of as the center of the world. Visit the Temple of the Sun -“El

Koricancha”- some stories claim that when the conquerors arrived, this temple was

completely laminated in gold. Inside, you can admire the perfectly shaped stones and

the way conquerors built what is currently the Convent of Santo Domingo, on the base

of this Inca temple On the way to the Cathedral, you’ll stop by the Hatun Rumiyoc

Street where the famous twelve angular

stone is. In the Cathedral, you’ll have the

opportunity to see its beautiful woodwork

and colonial paintings before heading up

the mountains for 10 minutes to visit the

nearby archeological sites in the

Archeological Park of Sacsayhuaman. These

spectacular archeological sites that

surround Cusco are a true mark of Incan

heritage and culture. Your first stop will be

Tambomachay, a source of spring water that is believed to be worshiped by the Incans.

Although uncertain of the

function of Tambomachay or

“The Bath of the Inca”, many

believe it could have served as

a spa for the elite Incan leaders.

The site remains spiritual and

the water still flows today.

Next, you’ll visit the remains of

Qenqo, a stone made labyrinth

with a sacrificial altar in its center. Consisting of staircases and channels, the site of

Qenqo is believed to have held many

Incan rituals. Continue on to the

famous Sacsayhuaman where you can

enjoy a wonderful panoramic view of

Cusco. Sacsayhuaman boasts

impressive Incan design and artwork

with massive stones over 9 meters (30

feet) tall and weighing up to 125 tons.

Many of the stones have peculiar

placement and designs, such as the condor, puma and snake which represented the

three Incan worlds. Your last stop will be

at the Tower of Puca Pucara, where

you’ll admire its architectural

magnificence and clear detail of rooms,

water springs, waterways and aqueducts

before returning to your hotel. At night

we recommend visiting any restaurant or

bar near the Main Square and enjoy the

night atmosphere trying the delicious

Peruvian cuisine with and a Pisco Sour,

while listening to traditional Inca music. Overnight in Cusco. Meals Included: None

Day 02: CUSCO / SACRED VALLEY / CUSCO

After breakfast, you will travel to Peru’s historic Sacred Valley of the Incas, located

between Cusco and Machu Picchu and enjoy a

full day shared guided excursion. Go off the

beaten path and visit the authentic and

picturesque villages of this valley, where time

seems to stand still. The Sacred Valley is known

for its lush scenery, picturesque colonial towns

and a magnificent Inca fortress. Your first stop

is in Maras, known as a former salt-producing

center that dates back all the way to colonial

times. Visit the salt terraces to see and learn about an ancient pre-Incan method of

producing salt. Here, one of the finest

salts in the world is extracted and has

found its way into the kitchen of

gourmet chefs around the world. Your

next stop will be the nearby amazing

circular terraces of Moray, an

astonishing example of the

agricultural skills of the Incas. Moray

boasts three amphitheater-like

terraces made by the Incas, which are

carved deep into the earth in a bowl shape. Learn from your knowledgeable guide how

these terraces were used as an

Incan laboratory to acclimatize

crops. After enjoying lunch, you will

head to the beautiful valley of

Ollantaytambo and visit the Inca

town and fortress of

Ollantaytambo, one of the last

Incan refuges during Spanish

colonization. Step back in time as

many of the houses and buildings

continue to stand from the Incan empire and display original architecture. First you will

explore the powerful

fortress, ruins, temples and

terraces. These sites are still

very well-preserved since

the Spanish conquest and

provide an insight into how

towns were designed

during the Incan period.

This historic fortress was

built to guard the valley from possible invasion from the tribes in the lower jungle and

was where Spanish conquistadors lost their major battle against the Inca Empire. Then

you will walk around the cobblestone

streets of Ollantaytambo, an

astounding feat of construction and

ingenuity is considered a “Living Inca

Town” as it is the only Inca settlement

that has been continually inhabited

since its inception. Return to your

hotel. Overnight in Cusco. Meals

included: Breakfast and lunch

Day 03: CUSCO / MACHU PICCHU / CUSCO

After breakfast, transfer to the railway station to enjoy a scenic rail tour to Machu

Picchu Pueblo (former Aguas

Calientes), the little town on the foot

of Machu Picchu. You will experience

an unforgettable view as you cross

over the mountains from Cusco and

drop down into the valley. The road

follows the meandering Urubamba

River and passes through rich

agricultural lands and picturesque

villages. This valley was the agricultural

center of the Incas, ranging from Pisac to the citadel of Machu Picchu, boasting some

of the most breathtaking scenery in all

Peru. This spectacular journey through the

Sacred Valley by narrow gauge railway to

Machu Picchu is one of the world’s great

travel experiences. Enjoy this relaxing ride

through the lush Urubamba River Valley.

The train climbs the mountain along the

swift Urubamba River, providing excellent

opportunities to take photos of pristine

nature, tiny towns and the ancient Inca terraces lining the river. Upon arrival,

disembark and switch

to a bus for the short

ride to the actual site

of Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu is

widely considered the

most spectacular

sight on the South

American continent and the most renowned examples of Incan architecture.

Completed in approximately 1450 at the height of the Incan empire, it was abandoned

less than 100 years later following the Spanish conquest of Peru. Enter Machu Picchu

by the main gate, admiring your first few glimpses of

this incredible archaeological site. Get an insider’s view

of Machu Picchu as you spend time learning about the

city, its history and the people who once lived there

from your archaeologist guide in shared service. You

will walk with your guide through the main streets of

this amazing sacred citadel. Stroll through town squares

and climb delicately carved stone stairways. Esoteric

wisdom holds Machu Picchu as the new spiritual center

of the world. Then you will have time to wander the site

on your own before heading back to Machu Picchu

Pueblo to enjoy lunch and board your return train

service to Cusco. Upon arrival, reception and transfer

back to your hotel. Overnight in Cusco. Meals Included: Breakfast and lunch

Day 04: CUSCO / …

After breakfast, we suggest to stroll through the bustling Plaza de Armas in the heart of

Cusco; visit the San Blas district,

with its narrow and very picturesque

streets, which is known as the

artists’ quarter; or just sit and sip a

coca tea in one of the cafes on the

balconies overlooking the Plaza de

Armas. At the appointed time,

transfer to the airport for your

departure flight to Lima. End of services. Meals Included: Breakfast