Exploring Cusco

Cusco: “navel of the world” and center of power. Exciting and legendary. Everything Cusco has to offer is right here. An intense trip to the past and present of a culture that still has much to offer and won’t cease to impress you.

Visited Areas

Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu

Minimum

1 passenger

Operation

All year (except in February)

- DAY 1: CUSCO

INC: –

Arrival in Cusco, meet and greet at the airport, transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon our exclusive city tour starts with a visit to the San Cristobal Plaza to enjoy its panoramic view of the city. Then, we will visit the San Pedro Market to soak in its local flavors and to learn about more of the products grown in the area which supply the whole city. After this, the Korikancha temple will welcome us in all his magnificence; this temple, whose Quechua name means “Gold Enclosure” still bedazzles us with the thought of its gold covered walls. Then it is the turn to visit the Santo Domingo Church. We will walk from San Blas, the artisans’ neighborhood, to the Hatun Rumiyoc street, stopping at the Inca Roca Palace, nowadays home to the Archbishop’s Palace and also at the famous Twelve Angle Stone. We will continue our walk to the Main Square to visit the Cathedral and its valuable and beautiful colonial masterpieces.

- DAY 2: CUSCO

INC: B.

In the morning we will distance from the crowds and visit Sacsayhuaman, a huge and impressive fortress of colossal constructions and surrounded by beautiful views blending together perfectly. Our adventure continues at the Inca Shrine Qenqo, to see the sacrificial altar embedded inside a rock cave. Finally we will arrive to the Puca Pucara viewpoint and Tambomachay, monument of impressive architectonic knowledge considered as one of the pillars of Andean Cosmo vision. Overnight stay in Cusco.
VIPAC suggests: Visit to Cusco’s South Valley. Where we will discover the impressive archaeological complex of Tipon. Then we will visit the picturesque town of Huaro, where we will find the fantastic 16th Century church and the breathtaking murals, painted by the great artist, Tadeo Escalante.

- DAY 3: SACRED VALLEY

INC: B/L.

The Sacred Valley of the Incas will welcome us today. We will visit Awanacancha, a tourist complex where we will see and feed the Andean camelids such as the llamas and alpacas, and where the locals will show us the weaving and dyeing techniques of their traditional textiles. We will then continue to Inca and Colonial Pisac. Discover one of the most beautiful archeological sites in the Sacred Valley at the top of the mountain where you can have a view of the colonial town of Pisac. Walking tour to the Colonial town. Time to do some shopping at the handicraft market. Then, we will head to the impressive Inkariy Museum. Here we will enjoy a delicious lunch. We will take a guided tour of the museum to learn more about the numerous rooms where cultural representations of pre-Hispanic civilizations of ancient Peru are exhibited. Overnight in the Sacred Valley.

- DAY 4: SACRED VALLEY/MACHU PICCHU

INC: B/L.

Our adventure journey takes us now to less explored treasures of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. First stop: Moray, a place with breathtaking views thanks to its colossal concentric terraces resembling a coliseum. What did they use it for? The terraces recreated 20 different types of microclimates, and they were studied to ensure the agricultural production of the empire. We will continue our journey to Maras, the millenary colonial salt mines. The contrast of the white pools against the green valley is so impressive that it resembles a postcard. Buffet lunch. In the afternoon, we will head towards the archaeological complex of Ollantaytambo, where you can see the technique with which the Incas work the stone. It is now time to catch the train at the Ollantaytambo station. We will arrive in Aguas Calientes where our trained staff will welcome and assist us on getting settled in one of the hotels in Aguas Calientes (now, Machu Picchu town).

- DAY 5: MACHU PICCHU/CUSCO

INC: B/L

We will board the bus to go up the winding road to Machu Picchu, amid a spectacular view of the Urubamba River and its canyon. The Lost City of the Incas, Machu Picchu, will astonish us with its terraces, ceremonial shrines, steps and urban areas. Energy is all around us. After a guided visit, we will have lunch at one of the restaurants in the area. At the arranged time, we will return to Cusco and will be transferred to the hotel. Overnight in Cusco.

- DAY 6: CUSCO/LIMA

INC: B.

Departure transfer.

- INCLUDED

CUSCO
– Transfer Airport / hotel / train station / hotel / Airport
– Hd City Tour
– Hd Visit Sacsayhuamán Archaeological Park
– 2D/1N Sacred Valley of the Incas:
– 1D Awanacancha, Pisac Inca and Colonial, Visit to Inkariy Museum with lunch in the museum.
– 2D Fd Maras, Moray and Ollantaytambo with buffet lunch at local restaurant
– Fd Excursion to Machu Picchu by train
– Buffet lunch at local restaurant
– 3 nights accommodation in Cusco
– 1 night accommodation in the Sacred Valley
– 1 night accommodation in Aguas Calientes
– Daily breakfast

- VISITED AREAS

CUSCO:
San Cristobal Plaza; San Pedro Market, Koricancha, Santo Domingo Church, San Blas, Archbishop’s Palace, Twelve Angle Stone, Cusco Main Square, Cusco Cathedral, Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Puca Pucará, Tambomachay, Pisac, Inkariy Museum, Moray, Maras, Ollantaytambo, Machu Picchu.