If you dream about a very active holiday with a lot of trekking possibilities as well as with other adventure experiences with stunning scenery. And if you would like to learn more about Peru, the Inca Empire, as well as the most famous of Inca ruins – Machu Picchu, this package is just for you.
Come and discover the best of the best in the Cusco region with us!
Package: Cusco, Chinchero, Moray, Salineras de Maras, Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley (Ollantaytambo and Pisac) and the Ausangate trek
Duration: 11 days
ITINERARY:
Day 1: Arriving in Cusco
- Acclimatization (getting used to the altitude-very important!)
- Half-day tour
- Overnight in Cusco
On the first day after arriving to Cusco we plan a light schedule because of the altitude (around 3 400 m.a.s.l.). Depending on the arrival time, you will visit the ruins of Saqsaywaman, museum of Koricancha and maybe you will have a cooking class. Here you will learn how to prepare typical Peruvian food and the most famous beverages, like Pisco Sour.
Day 2: The Sacred Valley – Ruins of Ollantaytambo and Patachancha Valley
- Partial trekking, partial journey by car (there is an option to do the whole tour only by car)
- Full day tour
- Overnight in Ollantaytambo
The Sacred Valley of the Incas, also known as the Urubamba Valley is a unique valley in the Cusco region. It offers not only great and stunning landscapes, but also as Peruvians say, has special energy. Here are the most important and the most strategic ruins of the Inca Empire. It is definitely in these parts of the Cusco region where you can spend a lot of time discovering new things. There are also two very important and beautiful towns in the Sacred Valley worth seeing and exploring: Ollantaytambo and Pisac. During the second day you will have a chance to discover the first of them – Ollantaytambo. It is a very small town but cozy and warm.
We will start this day early in the morning, around 7:00 am. First, you will visit the Inca ruins situated in town. After that we will go by car to Patacancha Valley. This valley is famous for producing textiles in the natural way. During the tour you will meet local communities and learn about the production of textiles and handicrafts in this region. After that, we will go by car to the Puma Marka ruins and from here we will descend (around 3 hours of hiking in beautiful scenery) to Ollantaytambo, where we will arrive around 6:00pm.
Day 3-6: Inca Jungle Tour to Machu Picchu
- Includes biking, rafting, zip line and trekking
- Full 4 -day tour
- First night will be in a lodge in the jungle, second night in Santa Teresa, third night in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu pueblo) and forth night in Cusco
This tour will give you a lot of different experiences. Definitely during this trip you will not get bored. The Inca Jungle Tour is not just a tour, it is a great and unforgettable adventure during which you will experience different activities on completely new levels. You will start the tour at an altitude of more than 4 300 m.a.s.l., from where you will ride by mountain bike down to the high jungle at an altitude of 1 200 m.a.s.l. After that you will have a chance to check your skills in rafting (optional) and at the end you will hike to the rustic lodge surrounded by coffee plantations, hidden in the jungle, at an altitude of 1 500 m.a.s.l. During the second day you will follow real Inca paths and at the end of the day you will have the possibility to take a warm bath in the hot springs near the small town of Santa Teresa. The third day will give you other experiences, like zip lining (optional) and trekking to Aguas Calientes.
Finally, the fourth day, you will spend in one of the New 7 Wonders of the World – Machu Picchu, situated on the top of the hill, surrounded by the mountains and jungle. You will have the opportunity to enjoy this incredible place from the early morning until 5 pm (closing time). The fourth day of the Machu Picchu tour you will return to Cusco about 1:00 am.
Day 7: Sacred Valley – Pisac expedition
- Partial trekking, partial journey by car (there is an option to do the whole tour only by car)
- Half-day tour
- Overnight in Cusco
During this day you will go by car to the other important town in the Sacred Valley – Pisac. Here you will have a walk in the center and then you will explore the Inca ruins situated just above town. From the ruins you can descend towards the town, passing different sections of the ruins and terraces from the times of Incas (optional).
At the end of the trip you will visit a small zoo, in which you will have the possibility to see some of the most popular Peruvian animals, like: jungle birds, llamas, alpacas, vicunas and condors. Around 6:00pm you will come back to Cusco and have time to explore the city’s nightlife.
Day 8: Exploration of the most beautiful sites in Chinchero, Moray, Maras and Salineras de Maras
- Partial biking, partial journey by car (there is an option to do the whole tour only by car)
- Full day tour
- Overnight in Cusco
Chinchero
First, around 8:00am you will visit the ruins in Chinchero after which you will have a lesson about textiles of this region. In Chinchero you will have the unique opportunity to participate.
Moray
After Chinchero, you will explore an archaeological spot in Moray, which contains unusual Inca ruins, mostly consisting of several enormous terraced circular depressions.
Maras
From Moray to the next destination – Maras where you will have the possibility to go on bike (if you do not have experience in mountain biking, you will do the biking tour from Chinchero to Moray). Maras is a small, cute town we will stop at for a moment and learn more about the production of the most popular Andean beverage called chicha de jora (corn beer).
Salineras de Maras
After Maras we will continue the biking tour (optional trekking) towards the incredible salt ponds, in use since Inca times, called Salineras de Maras. Here you will have a chance to walk through more than 5000 salt ponds and learn about the production of salt here.
VIDFEO ABOUT THE TOUR TO MORAY, MARAS, SALINERAS DE MARAS
Day 9-10: Short version of Ausangate circle
- Trekking or horseback riding (there is an option to do the tour partially on foot and partially on horse).
- Full 2-day tour
- First night in Q´ampa base in a tent (4 650 m.a.s.l.), second night in Cusco
During this trip you will have the opportunity to see wonderful landscapes of the Andean. You will reach almost 5000 m.a.s.l., as you pass through small villages placed high in the mountains. You will also learn a lot about the cultivation of llamas and alpacas whose herds meet along the way. At the end, you can take a very warm bath in the local hot springs with the view of Ausangate summit – fifth highest mountain in Peru. The tour will start around 5:00 am and will finish the next day around 9:00 pm. More details about this tour you will find here.
FACEBOOK PHOTO GALERY ABOUT AUSANGATE TOUR
Day 11: Departing from Cusco
- Free time, shopping
Depending on your flight schedule you will have some hours to enjoy Cusco city, including the famous San Pedro Market (Mercado San Pedro) or Museums, as well as the chocolate and coffee tour – choco museo, where you can learn a lot about the world renowned Peruvian chocolate and coffee.
If you will have a flight late in the afternoon, there is possibility to organize a half-day tour to some local communities outside the city or to other archaeological sites.
Additional Information
This itinerary is flexible. We always prepare tours which match each group best, that is why it is possible to change them depending on the possibilities and likes of our clients. The price of each tour depends on the size of the group, the type of accommodation and the type of the service. If you have any questions about the tour, please feel free to contact us by e-mail sylwiatravel@gmail.com
FACEBOOK PHOTO GALERY ABOUT EXPEDITIONS TO PERU 2015
The region of Cusco is definitely one of the most beautiful and attractive part of Peru. It is worth seeing not only because of the beautiful Andean landscapes, great trekking, and very interesting history and archaeological sites; it is also worth seeing thanks to its warm and friendly inhabitants as well as rich traditions and culture. From here you can easily reach the famous Inca ruins of Machu Picchu as well as jump to the jungle or to the high mountains. This famous region will provide you with incredible and unique attractions and experiences. Do not miss opportunity to see all that Peru can offer you.
