Classic Cusco: 8 Days, 7 Nights

DAY 1

ARRIVAL IN CUZCO

You will be met at the airport or bus station upon your arrival in Cusco and transferred to your hotel. You’ll have the day free to acclimate and enjoy activities on your own, such as visiting churches and museums.

• Overnight stay in Cusco at the Hotel Monasterio de San Pedro or similar.

DAY 2

CUSCO CITY TOUR AND NEARBY RUINS (KENKO-PUCA-PUCARA, TAMBOMACHAY, SACSAYHUAMAN

In the afternoon, we’ll tour the city of Cusco, visiting the Plaza de Armas, the Cathedral, and the Temple of the Sun (Korikancha). Then, we’ll leave the city to visit the Inca sites of Kenko, Tambomachay, Puca Pucara, and the impressive fortress of Sacsayhuaman. Strategically built on a hill overlooking Cusco, it is famous for its enormous carved stones joined with astonishing precision to form the outer walls. Some of these stones are over 9 m / 30 feet tall and weigh more than 350 metric tons. Return to downtown Cusco.

• Overnight stay in Cusco at the Hotel Monasterio de San Pedro or similar.

DAY 3

SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS

We will begin our tour of the “Sacred Valley of the Incas” at 7:30 a.m., a series of picturesque villages, agricultural terraces, and archaeological sites. The traditional Indian market in Pisac.

In the afternoon, we'll pass through the towns of Calca and Urubamba on our way to the Inca Fortress and the Citadel of Ollantaytambo.

Along the way, we’ll visit the picturesque Andean village of Chinchero, home to the ruins of what was once the royal estate of Túpac Inca Yupanqui. We’ll admire its well-preserved Inca Wall in the Plaza de Armas.

We will visit the beautiful colonial temple built on Inca foundations, with interesting frescoes in the portico. We will continue on to Aguas Calientes to spend the night.

• Lunch included in Urumbamba.
• Overnight stay in Aguas Calientes at Hotel Pucara or similar.

DAY 4

MACHU PICCHU: THE LOST CITY OF THE INCAS

The day begins with an early morning hike to the famous Inca Citadel of Machu Picchu, also known as “The Lost City of the Incas.”

A 30-minute bus ride up a 6-km winding road to the incredible Machu Picchu. Upon arrival, we’ll take a guided tour of the citadel.

After the tour, which lasts approximately 2 hours, you'll have time to explore the archaeological site on your own.

Afterward, you can take a bus down to the town of Machu Picchu, where you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy other activities, such as exploring the town’s streets, visiting the hot springs to relax, or visiting the Manuel Chávez Ballón Museum. You may visit any of these attractions on your own and cover the associated admission fees. Lunch is included.

One very important thing to keep in mind is that you must be at the train station half an hour before departure. Your return train departs from the Machu Picchu Pueblo station. Once on the train, you will arrive at the Ollantaytambo station, where our transfer will be waiting to take you to your hotel in Cusco.

• Lunch in the town of Aguas Calientes.
• Overnight stay in Cusco at the Hotel Monasterio de San Pedro or similar.

DAY 5

MOUNTAIN OF 7 COLORS

We'll pick you up at your lodging early in the morning at approximately 5:00 a.m. to begin the adventure.

Enjoy a fantastic experience that stands out for the incredible landscapes of this high-Andean region. You’ll see llamas, alpacas, and vicuñas along the way. The hiking trail or horseback ride is also a memorable experience. Take on the challenge of covering the final 6 kilometers on foot or on horseback—a route with ups and downs through hills and mountains at 5,036 meters above sea level. Enjoy one of the most comprehensive and safe tours of the Mountain of Seven Colors. Lunch included.

We will return to Cusco at approximately 5:00 p.m.

• Lunch is included.
• Overnight stay in Cusco at the Hotel Monasterio de San Pedro or similar.

DAY 6

HUMANTAY LAKE

We will pick you up at your hotel between 4:30 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. and then travel by bus to the town of Mollepata in the lush Apurímac River Valley. After a well-deserved breakfast to recharge our energy, we will continue our journey to Soraypampa (3,900 meters above sea level). Following a brief rest, we’ll begin our hike to Humantay Lake, located at 4,200 meters. After an ascent of approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, we’ll be able to appreciate this wonderful place and return to the town of Mollepata in time for lunch. On the way back, we’ll enjoy beautiful panoramic views of the snow-capped peaks, and you’ll then be transferred to Cusco at approximately 5:00 p.m. Transfer to your lodging.

• Lunch is included.
• Overnight stay in Cusco at the Hotel Monasterio de San Pedro or similar.

DAY 7

MARAS AND MORAY

At 8 a.m., we'll pick you up at your lodging to visit the following sites:

The town of Maras will be our first stop; it was of great importance during the Viceroyalty, having been designated the town of San Francisco de Asís (it was the main supplier of salt to the southern highlands), as evidenced by the church and the mansions that still bear the coats of arms of the indigenous nobility on their facades.

The Maras Salt Mines, our second stop, are located in the town of Maras, which played a vital role during the Viceroyalty period as the main supplier of salt to the southern highlands, as evidenced by the church and the mansions that still bear the coats of arms of the indigenous nobility on their facades.

The Maras Salt Mines amaze visitors with their more than 3,000 pits, which are still worked today by more than 360 families who have inherited this tradition and artisanal mining practice; the Maras Sal Association is responsible for marketing the salt and has been safeguarding the community’s interests since the late 1980s.

Our tour concludes with a visit to the circular terraces of Moray, which demonstrate how the Andean people defied nature and took advantage of their geographical environment to their benefit. These circular terraces served as an agricultural laboratory that allowed them to cultivate a wide variety of species of potatoes, corn, and other crops.

At the end of the tour, we'll return to the city of Cusco.

• Overnight stay in Cusco at the Hotel Monasterio de San Pedro or similar.

DAY 8

CUSCO – LIMA OR INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT

In the morning, you'll have breakfast at the hotel and then be transferred to the Cusco airport at the agreed-upon time to catch your flight to Lima or back to your home country.

End of our services.