Peru: Cusco, Machu Picchu & the Sacred Valley

Travel to Andean Highlands. Follow Ancient Farming Paths to Cuyuni Village; 4 miles, easy. Travel to Pisac and Sacred Valley

After enjoying an included breakfast at your hotel your guides meet you at 8:00 a.m. in the lobby of your Cusco hotel. They will be wearing Country Walkers shirts. Please be dressed for walking.

Depart Cusco and shuttle to the start of your morning walk, which will allow you to experience local life as it unfolds in the peaceful Andean Highlands. Begin your hike along ancient farming paths in this primarily agricultural community. You will make various stops throughout your walk today to learn about local farming, religious ceremonies, and textile production in this region.

After an included lunch, descend to the Sacred Valley (7,841 feet) and continue to the town of Pisac. Here you’ll visit a local market where you can peruse shops of diverse handicrafts, souvenirs, art pieces, clothing, and other local products.

You’ll also have a chance to interact with the vendors as they barter their wares. If you didn’t pack a small bag to take with you to Machu Picchu, this is a wonderful place to pick up a bag.

Tonight, enjoy a special welcome reception and dinner at our acclaimed inn.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Shuttle to Urubamba and the Market of Urubamba. Shuttle to Highland Footpath from Maras town to Maras Salt Mines. Moray Terraces to Maras; 3 miles, moderate to challenging. Maras to Urubamba River; 1.5 miles, moderate. Shuttle to hotel

After breakfast, shuttle to the largest town in the valley – Urubamba. Here you will have a chance to visit its authentic market where you will see sellers from surrounding regions offering their products. This particular market, held on Wednesdays, is vital for the local people. The varieties of potatoes, corn, and fruit you will find are amazing. After your visit to the market, venture into the Andean countryside to walk scenic footpaths downhill through the Maras salt mines, which are fed by underground saltwater springs, to Maras village. The terraced Incan saltpans of Salineras are still mined for salt using methods unchanged over centuries. You will be rewarded with a sumptuous picnic lunch overlooking Huaypo Lagoon at the end of your walk before shuttling back to the hotel.

The remainder of the afternoon is yours to relax in your comfortable accommodations, join your guides for an optional walk of approximately four miles around Yucay, before dinner on your own in the hotel this evening.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Shuttle through the villages of Patacancha and Willoc to the Inca site of Pumamarca. Walk from Pumamarca to Ollantaytambo; 3.8 miles, easy to moderate. Afternoon Chicha (corn beer) tasting at a typical Chicheria and return shuttle to hotel

This morning, you shuttle (60 minutes) passing through the valley communities of Patacancha and Willoc before arriving to the archeological complex of Pumamarca, a set of pre-Inca warehouses.  After exploring this incredible site, begin your morning walk on an ancient Inca trail where you can marvel at the diverse species of flora in the Andes. Throughout the walk you will witness fascinating views of the valley and it’s impressive Inca terraces on the bordering mountain slopes.  Your walk concludes in the town of Ollantaytambo, known as the only Inca town still alive, where local people maintain their traditional costumes and live in the old stone houses of their ancestors.  After lunch, join your leaders for an exploration of the Ollantaytambo fortress. After your visit of Ollantaytambo, take a short ride to a chicheria where chicha de jora, corn beer, is prepared and sold. It’s believed the Incas consumed chicha for rituals during religious festivals and, today, you will have an opportunity to sample this unique beverage and learn about its brewing process.

Upon returning to the hotel, enjoy some relaxation at your resort.

This evening, a short shuttle ride takes you to a nearby restaurant for tonight’s included dinner.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Vistadome Train. Inca Trail from Km 104 marker to Machu Picchu; 8 miles, moderate to challenging, 2,000-ft. elevation gain and loss. Non-Inca Trail Machu Picchu walk, 2 miles, easy. Travel to hotel

Shuttle early this morning to Ollantaytambo to catch the narrow-gauge Vistadome train. Your train ride traverses the narrowing valley, which offers breathtaking views of the river and surrounding peaks.

Those who have elected to hike the Inca Trail will disembark at the “Km 104” marker (7,183 feet) to start one of the world’s most iconic hikes. The walk offers spectacular panoramas of the mountains and cloud forests, making for an unforgettable entry into the Machu Picchu Sanctuary. Expect to be on the legendary trail for six hours with a mostly continuous ascent. An elevation gain and loss of about 2,000 feet and some steep stair climbing will keep you on your toes. Note: the minibus support vehicle will not be available on the Inca Trail. You will be required to walk the entire eight miles. A picnic break is well deserved.

Your effort is rewarded when you arrive at Intipunku – the Sun Gate (8,954 feet) – the most impressive approach to Machu Picchu. This was the original entrance to the “Lost City.” Give yourself time to take it all in, perhaps perching on a rock for the best views of the ruins. Then continue down to our hotel located below Machu Picchu. You’ll have tomorrow afternoon to discover the wonder of Machu Picchu, with your guides and independently. Note:  This is the itinerary for guests who sign up for the Inca Trail walk at time of booking the tour.  If you decide while in Peru to not walk the Inca Trail, your guides may not be able to obtain entrance tickets for a visit to Machu Picchu this day as it is based upon availability. You will therefore have the day free to enjoy optional excursions offered by the Inkaterra hotel. If your guides are able to purchase last-minute Machu Picchu entrance tickets there will be an additional cost that you will need to pay to the guide.

For those looking for a less-strenuous option (and for those unable to obtain a permit for the Inca Trail), you’ll stay on the train past Km 104, arriving in Aguas Calientes in the early morning. Your guide will take you into Machu Picchu for a morning visit before you check into your hotel. Check-in at the inn is not until 1:00 p.m. In the afternoon, you may wish to take advantage of the spa or admire the incredible orchid gardens at the inn. You will be given the same box lunch provided to the guests on the Inca Trail walk so that you may take lunch at your leisure today.

This evening, regroup for dinner at your lovely resort’s restaurant.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Shuttle to Machu Picchu. Guided walking tour of Machu Picchu; 1.5 miles, easy. Travel to hotel

Enjoy a leisurely morning at the hotel. Feel free to go birding on the hotel grounds or stroll the hotel’s Orchid Trail with over 350 different native orchid species, this garden holds the world record according to the American Orchid Society.  Alternatively enjoy the pool or visit the spa and treat yourself to traditional Andean treatments (additional cost) using local botanical ingredients such as cocoa and tea leaves.  You may also want to explore the city of Aguas Calientes and shop for some last-minute gifts at the open-air Machu Picchu market. While small in area, this market is crammed with stalls offering traditional products such as alpaca ponchos, Andean instruments, woven bags, and silver jewelry. This afternoon shuttle to Machu Picchu. Follow your guides on a walk around Machu Picchu, as well as in the surrounding area, including a roundtrip walk to Inca Bridge (1.5 miles).

Enjoy recounting the day over an included dinner tonight.

Please note: The Peruvian Government regulates Machu Picchu’s historical site and the visit restrictions periodically change. Visiting times may vary depending upon government restrictions for the day of your visit. Your guides will confirm your exact visit times to Machu Picchu once you are in Peru.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Various morning walking options from the hotel; 2-4 miles, easy. Vistadome train and shuttle to Cusco. Cusco walking tour; 2.6 miles, easy

Indulge in a relaxing breakfast. You may choose from several walking trails that begin right at the hotel, or you may wish to visit the tea plantation located within the hotel grounds. Later this morning, return to Cusco through the Sacred Valley by train. Upon your arrival in Cusco, put on your walking shoes and discover this ancient Incan capital on a walking tour. Evidence of both the original Incan city and the Spanish colonial city (established in 1533) will be pointed out as you explore Koricancha (“Temple of the Sun”), Cusco Cathedral, and Hatun Rumiyoq, a narrow Inca Street famous for its precise assembly of large stones believed to be the palace of the 6th Inca king, Inca Roca. Admire one well-known stone in particular that has 12 perfectly fitted angles.

Cusco’s many dining options are at your doorstep tonight.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Shuttle to Tambomachay. Tambomachay to Sacsayhuaman; 5 miles, easy. Travel to Cusco

After breakfast, travel six miles (25 minutes) north of Cusco to begin your day. Trace your way on foot back towards the city, visiting important Incan monuments. This is a spectacular area for walks, with Andean mountain views, colorful villages, and impressive remains of the Incan Empire.

First, visit Tambomachay (the highest elevation of the day at 12,500 feet), which may have fulfilled an important religious function linked to water and the regeneration of the land. Walking down a gentle slope, stop to explore the complexes of Puka Pukara, Qenqo, and Laqo. Your guides can explain more about traditional religious ceremonies held here.

Next, visit Sacsayhuaman. Though this impressive fortress is only a fraction of its original size and scope, the intact walls and structure will astound you. Take a moment to look back over the orange tile rooftops of Cusco before your short transfer into the city.

Enjoy lunch at your leisure and spend time soaking in some last bits of Andean culture in Cusco’s colorful plazas. Tonight, head out on the town for a festive farewell dinner.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

There is mid-morning transportation to the Cusco airport for the flight to Lima. Upon arrival, check in to comfortable rooms for day use. Tonight, dinner is at your leisure before returning to the airport for overnight flights departing in the late evening. Your flights may arrive at your final destination in North America the following day.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Travel to Andean Highlands. Follow Ancient Farming Paths to Cuyuni Village; 4 miles, easy. Travel to Pisac and Sacred Valley

Your guides meet you at 8:00 a.m. in the lobby of the designated meeting point hotel in Cusco. They will be wearing Country Walkers shirts. Please be dressed for walking.

Depart Cusco and shuttle to the start of your morning walk, which will allow you to experience local life as it unfolds in the peaceful Andean Highlands. Begin your hike along ancient farming paths in this primarily agricultural community. You will make various stops throughout your walk today to learn about local farming, religious ceremonies, and textile production in this region.

After an included lunch, descend to the Sacred Valley (7,841 feet) and continue to the town of Pisac. Here you’ll visit a local market where you can peruse shops of diverse handicrafts, souvenirs, art pieces, clothing, and other local products.

You’ll also have a chance to interact with the vendors as they barter their wares. If you didn’t pack a small bag to take with you to Machu Picchu, this is a wonderful place to pick up a bag.

Tonight, enjoy a special welcome reception and dinner at our acclaimed inn.

Included Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Shuttle to Urubamba and the Market of Urubamba. Shuttle to Highland Footpath from Maras town to Maras Salt Mines. Moray Terraces to Maras; 3 miles, moderate to challenging. Maras to Urubamba River; 1.5 miles, moderate. Shuttle to hotel

After breakfast, shuttle to the largest town in the valley – Urubamba. Here you will have a chance to visit its authentic market where you will see sellers from surrounding regions offering their products. This particular market, held on Wednesdays, is vital for the local people. The varieties of potatoes, corn, and fruit you will find are amazing. After your visit to the market, venture into the Andean countryside to walk scenic footpaths downhill through the Maras salt mines, which are fed by underground saltwater springs, to Maras village. The terraced Incan saltpans of Salineras are still mined for salt using methods unchanged over centuries. You will be rewarded with a sumptuous picnic lunch overlooking Huaypo Lagoon at the end of your walk before shuttling back to the hotel.

The remainder of the afternoon is yours to relax in your comfortable accommodations, join your guides for an optional walk of approximately four miles around Yucay, before dinner on your own in the hotel this evening.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Shuttle through the villages of Patacancha and Willoc to the Inca site of Pumamarca. Walk from Pumamarca to Ollantaytambo; 3.8 miles, easy to moderate. Afternoon Chicha (corn beer) tasting at a typical Chicheria and return shuttle to hotel

This morning, you shuttle (60 minutes) passing through the valley communities of Patacancha and Willoc before arriving to the archeological complex of Pumamarca, a set of pre-Inca warehouses.  After exploring this incredible site, begin your morning walk on an ancient Inca trail where you can marvel at the diverse species of flora in the Andes. Throughout the walk you will witness fascinating views of the valley and it’s impressive Inca terraces on the bordering mountain slopes.  Your walk concludes in the town of Ollantaytambo, known as the only Inca town still alive, where local people maintain their traditional costumes and live in the old stone houses of their ancestors.  After lunch, join your leaders for an exploration of the Ollantaytambo fortress. After your visit of Ollantaytambo, take a short ride to a chicheria where chicha de jora, corn beer, is prepared and sold. It’s believed the Incas consumed chicha for rituals during religious festivals and, today, you will have an opportunity to sample this unique beverage and learn about its brewing process.

Upon returning to the hotel, enjoy some relaxation at your resort.

This evening, a short shuttle ride takes you to a nearby restaurant for tonight’s included dinner.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Vistadome Train. Inca Trail from Km 104 marker to Machu Picchu; 8 miles, moderate to challenging, 2,000-ft. elevation gain and loss. Non-Inca Trail Machu Picchu walk, 2 miles, easy. Travel to hotel

Shuttle early this morning to Ollantaytambo to catch the narrow-gauge Vistadome train. Your train ride traverses the narrowing valley, which offers breathtaking views of the river and surrounding peaks.

Those who have elected to hike the Inca Trail will disembark at the “Km 104” marker (7,183 feet) to start one of the world’s most iconic hikes. The walk offers spectacular panoramas of the mountains and cloud forests, making for an unforgettable entry into the Machu Picchu Sanctuary. Expect to be on the legendary trail for six hours with a mostly continuous ascent. An elevation gain and loss of about 2,000 feet and some steep stair climbing will keep you on your toes. Note: the minibus support vehicle will not be available on the Inca Trail. You will be required to walk the entire eight miles. A picnic break is well deserved.

Your effort is rewarded when you arrive at Intipunku – the Sun Gate (8,954 feet) – the most impressive approach to Machu Picchu. This was the original entrance to the “Lost City.” Give yourself time to take it all in, perhaps perching on a rock for the best views of the ruins. Then continue down to our hotel located below Machu Picchu. You’ll have tomorrow afternoon to discover the wonder of Machu Picchu, with your guides and independently. Note:  This is the itinerary for guests who sign up for the Inca Trail walk at time of booking the tour.  If you decide while in Peru to not walk the Inca Trail, your guides may not be able to obtain entrance tickets for a visit to Machu Picchu this day as it is based upon availability. You will therefore have the day free to enjoy optional excursions offered by the Inkaterra hotel. If your guides are able to purchase last-minute Machu Picchu entrance tickets there will be an additional cost that you will need to pay to the guide.

For those looking for a less-strenuous option (and for those unable to obtain a permit for the Inca Trail), you’ll stay on the train past Km 104, arriving in Aguas Calientes in the early morning. Your guide will take you into Machu Picchu for a morning visit before you check into your hotel. Check-in at the inn is not until 1:00 p.m. In the afternoon, you may wish to take advantage of the spa or admire the incredible orchid gardens at the inn. You will be given the same box lunch provided to the guests on the Inca Trail walk so that you may take lunch at your leisure today.

This evening, regroup for dinner at your lovely resort’s restaurant.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Shuttle to Machu Picchu. Guided walking tour of Machu Picchu; 1.5 miles, easy. Travel to hotel

Enjoy a leisurely morning at the hotel. Feel free to go birding on the hotel grounds or stroll the hotel’s Orchid Trail with over 350 different native orchid species, this garden holds the world record according to the American Orchid Society.  Alternatively enjoy the pool or visit the spa and treat yourself to traditional Andean treatments (additional cost) using local botanical ingredients such as cocoa and tea leaves.  You may also want to explore the city of Aguas Calientes and shop for some last-minute gifts at the open-air Machu Picchu market. While small in area, this market is crammed with stalls offering traditional products such as alpaca ponchos, Andean instruments, woven bags, and silver jewelry. This afternoon shuttle to Machu Picchu. Follow your guides on a walk around Machu Picchu, as well as in the surrounding area, including a roundtrip walk to Inca Bridge (1.5 miles).

Enjoy recounting the day over an included dinner tonight.

Please note: The Peruvian Government regulates Machu Picchu’s historical site and the visit restrictions periodically change. Visiting times may vary depending upon government restrictions for the day of your visit. Your guides will confirm your exact visit times to Machu Picchu once you are in Peru.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Various morning walking options from the hotel; 2-4 miles, easy. Vistadome train and shuttle to Cusco. Cusco walking tour; 2.6 miles, easy

Indulge in a relaxing breakfast. You may choose from several walking trails that begin right at the hotel, or you may wish to visit the tea plantation located within the hotel grounds. Later this morning, return to Cusco through the Sacred Valley by train. Upon your arrival in Cusco, put on your walking shoes and discover this ancient Incan capital on a walking tour. Evidence of both the original Incan city and the Spanish colonial city (established in 1533) will be pointed out as you explore Koricancha (“Temple of the Sun”), Cusco Cathedral, and Hatun Rumiyoq, a narrow Inca Street famous for its precise assembly of large stones believed to be the palace of the 6th Inca king, Inca Roca. Admire one well-known stone in particular that has 12 perfectly fitted angles.

Cusco’s many dining options are at your doorstep tonight.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Shuttle to Tambomachay. Tambomachay to Sacsayhuaman; 5 miles, easy. Travel to Cusco

After breakfast, travel six miles (25 minutes) north of Cusco to begin your day. Trace your way on foot back towards the city, visiting important Incan monuments. This is a spectacular area for walks, with Andean mountain views, colorful villages, and impressive remains of the Incan Empire.

First, visit Tambomachay (the highest elevation of the day at 12,500 feet), which may have fulfilled an important religious function linked to water and the regeneration of the land. Walking down a gentle slope, stop to explore the complexes of Puka Pukara, Qenqo, and Laqo. Your guides can explain more about traditional religious ceremonies held here.

Next, visit Sacsayhuaman. Though this impressive fortress is only a fraction of its original size and scope, the intact walls and structure will astound you. Take a moment to look back over the orange tile rooftops of Cusco before your short transfer into the city.

Enjoy lunch at your leisure and spend time soaking in some last bits of Andean culture in Cusco’s colorful plazas. Tonight, head out on the town for a festive farewell dinner.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Your tour concludes at the Aranwa Cusco Boutique Hotel after an included breakfast this morning. The hotel will help you book a taxi at your own expense to the Cusco airport.

Included Meals: Breakfast