Cusco and Machu Picchu it is fascinating, impressive, and authentic, whose history lives in the streets, squares, valleys, and villages. The city of Cusco is an impressive sample of the high Inca engineering that dominated the stone as in Choquequirao, Sacsayhuaman, Qenko, Tambomachay, Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu (the Inca jewel built with the wisdom of the ancient Peruvians in an ecological environment).
Located in the Andean Sierra of southern Peru. With an area of 72,104 km2. Cusco shows endearing attractions and landscapes such as the Sacred Valley, with terraces that dress the mountains and picturesque towns where the past is part of the present.
Cusco really is the navel of the world.
 Duration: 5 Days |  Max. Altitude: 3399 m / 11151.6 ft |  Accommodation: Hotel |
 Difficulty: Easy |  Season: All year |
Overview
DAY 01: CUSCO CITY TOUR
- Arrival in Cusco and transfer to the hotel of your choice
- Afternoon: Cusco City Tour to Qoricancha, Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Puca Pucara, Tambomachay
- Time Schedule: 13:20 – 18:30 hrs. approx.
- Overnight in a Hotel in Cusco
DAY 02: SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS
- Sacred Valley of the Incas Tour: visits to Pisac – Ollantaytambo – Chinchero
- Time Schedule: 08:00 – 19:00 hrs.
- Overnight in a Hotel in Cusco or in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town)
DAY 03: MACHU PICCHU
- Transfer from Hotel to Train station
- Time Schedule: depending on previous coordination during the reservation
- Visit Machu Picchu Sanctuary
- Overnight in a Hotel in Cusco
DAY 04: MARAS Y MORAY
- Maras and Moray Tour
- Time Schedule: 9:00 – 14:00 hrs. approx.
- Overnight in a Hotel in Cusco
DAY 05: CUSCO – TRANSFER TO THE AIRPORT
- Transfer from your Hotel to the Airport or Bus station depending on your travel arrangements
Itinerary
DAY 01: CUSCO CITY TOUR
We will pick you up from the Cusco airport and transfer you to the hotel of your choice. Then you will have some free time in order to relax and acclimatize to the altitude of 3350 m / 10990.8 ft.
From around 1:20 PM to 1:45 PM we will begin the city tour of Cusco. You will learn all the necessary background information about this fascinating and ancient city, whose colonial outlook was mainly built on top of old Inca foundations. Firstly we will visit the Cathedral which is situated right on the main square, built in an impressive renaissance architectural style it reveals on the inside a gorgeous exhibition of many beautiful paintings of the “School of Cusco”. Then we will visit the famous Koricancha or Temple of the Sun which was considered the Royal House of the Sun of Urin in Cusco. Afterward, we continue with the visit to four archeological ruins near Cusco: First Sacsayhuaman a large fortress located 5 km from the city. Second Qenqo a sacred amphitheater that was a center of worship of the god Puma and the Center of Archaeoastronomy where human sacrifices were made. Third Puca Pucara which means when translated “Red fortress” due to the color of the stones that it is built of. Fourth Tambomachay a temple that was used to worship water.
The tour ends at approximately 6:00 PM
** Accommodation in Cusco.
DAY 02: SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS
Breakfast at the hotel.
In the morning, we will pick you up from your hotel and start our visit to the Sacred Valley. We will first visit the city of Pisac a picturesque colonial city of mixed races, where the mass on Sundays is celebrated in Quechua. There we will go up the mountain and visit the impressive archeological complex of Pisac where you will be able to observe the ancient agricultural terraces that were built on the mountain cliffs.
Afterward, we will visit the cities of Coya, Lamay, Calca, and Urubamba.
Then we will make a stop to have a delicious lunch buffet.
Fully energized we will have a guided visit to the village of Ollantaytambo. There we will visit the archaeological park, where our guide will explain to you the importance of this place as it was a gigantic agricultural, social, administrative, religious, and military point for the Incas during the Tahuantinsuyo era.
Upon returning to Cusco, we will pass through Chinchero which is famous for its Andean Textile Centers.
** Accommodation in Cusco.
DAY 03: MACHU PICCHU
Breakfast at the Hotel.
At the agreed-upon time, we will transfer you to the train station of Ollantaytambo in order for you to take the train to Aguas Calientes.
We will arrive at approximately 1:45 PM at the Aguas Calientes station, where a representative of our agency will pick you up to go to the bus station. The bus will drive us up the mountain to the lost city of the Incas, the famous Machu Picchu.
You will enjoy a guided tour of all the most important buildings of the citadel such as El Mirador, Temple of the Three Windows, Intihuatana, Plaza Mayor, etc. At the end of this tour, we will take the bus to the city of Aguas Calientes, where we will have lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, we will return to Cusco departing by train to Ollantaytambo station, from where we will board a shuttle service that will take you to Cusco.
Arrival in the city of Cusco.
** Accommodation in Cusco.
** Optional: lunch buffet in Machu Picchu town in the restaurant “mapy” with an additional cost of $25.00 (does not include hot or cold drinks)
DAY 04: CUSCO – MARAS AND MORAY – CUSCO
Breakfast at the hotel.
We will pick you up from your Hotel between approximately 8:00 AM and 8:30 AM to begin our tour to Maras and Moray.
Firstly we will visit the salt mines of Maras, which are located west of Cusco, at an altitude of 3300 m. From there, you can see the Urubamba mountain range and the snow-capped peaks of “La Verónica” (5682 m) and “Chikón” (5530 m). Its important occupation began when the noble inhabitants of the Inkario were stripped of their palaces in Qosqo and had to settle in other small towns such as Maras. It has a church made of adobes, typical of the religious architecture of the town.
Afterward, we will visit Moray which is only 7 km southwest of Maras. You will have a guided tour of these special circular terraces which are truly unique, as the Incas used these terraces as an agricultural experimentation laboratory. They used the natural depressions and microclimates that existed on the different levels of the terraces in order to acclimate seeds of lower regions to higher altitudes. With their immense expertise, they were able to increase their agricultural yields and acclimatize plants to different altitudes.
In the afternoon, we will return to the city of Cusco.
Free afternoon.
** Accommodation in Cusco.
DAY 05: CUSCO
Breakfast at the hotel.
According to your travel plans, we will pick you up from your hotel at the previously coordinated time to transfer you to the airport or to the bus terminal.
Important: All our tour packages can be modified according to your wishes
Why should you book this package?
- Get to know the Cathedral Basilica and Qoricancha on the City Tour.
- Enjoy the mixture of flavors of Peruvian gastronomy in the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
- Experience the thrills of the citadel of Machu Picchu.
- Capture the best photo shot from the House of the Guardian in the Lost City of the Incas.
- Discover the mystery found behind the Intihuatana.
- Fall in love with the Inca culture with its living history.
- Be amazed by the Impressive Circular Architecture of Moray.
Included
TOUR INCLUDES
- Incoming/outgoing transfers.
- 04 nights of accommodation in Cusco with breakfast.
- Combined Tour of the City of Cusco (Cathedral, Qorikancha, Saqsayhuaman, Qenqo, Pucapucara, Tambomachay).
- Sacred Valley of the Incas with lunch.
- Machu Picchu: by Peru Rail Expedition or Executive Inca Rail (subject to availability).
- 01 Lunch in Machu Picchu in a local restaurant.
- Maras and Moray.
- Shared services with bilingual professional orientation (Spanish or English).
- Tickets included.
TOUR DOES NOT INCLUDE
- National or international plane tickets.
- Services not detailed in the program.
CONTACTS
GENERAL CONDITIONS
- All rates are in US dollars (optional for currency exchange) and are scheduled per person.
- The valid rates for Peruvians only include IGV.
- All our rates are subject to availability and changes.
- Children under 02 years and 11 months are considered INF (babies), do not pay any service and do not have the right to food, bed or seat on tours.
- DCC (child) is considered a child from 03 to 10 years and 11 months, has a special rate and shares a room with parents.
- Children over 11 years considered adults.
- Minors must travel with an identity document.
- Rates do not apply to holidays, Easter, long weekends, national holidays, Christmas or New Year.
More Information
Did you know that Cusco is considered the Archaeological Capital of America?
Yes, the ancient capital of the Incas is a place full of archaeological sites, museums, temples and more. Magical places like the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, the temple of Coricancha, the archaeological centres of Qenqo, Puca Pucara, Tambomachay, the Plaza de Armas and the Cathedral of Cusco, visit all these places with the City Tours.
The Cathedral of Cusco or The Basilica Cathedral of Cusco
It is the first site that we will visit, it is located in the Plaza de Armas of the city of Cusco or Cuzco; it was built with enormous blocks of stone in 1560, over the Inca palace of Wiracocha in the Sunturwasi, in this wonderful religious construction you can appreciate beautiful wood carvings, works of embossed silver and approximately 300 paintings of the Cusco School.
The Cathedral of Cusco has a Renaissance style façade that contrasts with the Baroque and Plateresque of its lavish interiors where the most significant religious samples of colonial art are preserved.
Qoricancha or Temple of the Sun
It is one of the most important religious centres of the Inca empire, and it is definitely one of the best examples of the fusion of the Inca and Spanish cultures. It is located 2 blocks from the Main Square of Cusco; it houses paintings of the Cusco School and Inca structures that are true works of art.
Qoricancha was considered as the Royal House of the Sun of the Urin Qosqo for the Incas where they paid the highest obeisance to the God Inti (Sun). It also housed different temples dedicated to their Gods such as: Pachamama (Mother Earth), the Ray (Illapa), Rainbow (Kuychi), Chaska (Venus and the Stars), Quilla (Moon), the Solar Drum where the God Punchao (Golden Child) was located.
Nowadays, it is there where part of the Inti Raymi, also known as the festival of the sun, takes place.
Sacsayhuaman or Real Casa del Sol (Royal House of the Sun)
Located 2 Km. from the city of Cusco, it is one of the most enigmatic places on the planet, its 3 superimposed platforms of 390 mt. long, were built with “enormous carved stones” and fitted together with incredible precision; you can appreciate stones up to nine meters high and more than 120 tons of weight. This place is the head of the puma formed by the original layout of the imperial city of Cusco.
In the time of the Incas it was considered the Royal House of the Sun of the Hanan Qosqo for being a religious, administrative and political centre for the Incas. Nowadays, the Inti Raymi or Festival of the Sun is celebrated here on the 24th of June every year.
Qenqo
It is located 1 km. from Sacsayhuaman and 4 km. from the city of Cusco and will be your next stop.
Qenqo was a centre of astronomical and ceremonial Inca cult; it was dedicated to the mother earth. In this place stands out the underground cavern where the mummification of the dead was carried out, an amphitheatre where there was a monolith carved in stone with figures of toads and monkeys of a great size and around it there are trapezoidal niches where the Incas placed their dead; nowadays, only half of the original structure remains.
Puca Pucara Cusco
This will be the next place you will visit, it is located 10 minutes from Qenqo and is known as the red fortress, thanks to the amount of iron present in its stones. It is deduced that this place was used as a military post and resting place, and it is possible that its function was that of a military space. It was the main control point for the entrance to the city of Cusco.
Tambomachay
It is the last site of the Cusco City Tour, it is located only 100 meters from Pucapucara and 8 km. to the northeast of the city of Cusco; it was used as a centre of worship and water cult. The enclosure is formed by a set of finely carved rocks, waterfalls, canals and aqueducts fed by nearby springs that come from the Ojos de Agua de los Nevados (waterfalls of the snow-capped mountains).
Sacred Valley of the Incas
Hidden beneath the tawny foothills of formidable hills, the beautiful Urubamba River Valley, known as the Sacred Valley.
It lies about 15 km north of Cuzco.
It is well worth exploring this tranquil and attractive corner of the Andes with attractive colonial towns and isolated woven villages. The star attractions are the markets and towering Inca citadels of Pisac and Ollantaytambo, but they are also packed with other Inca sites.
Its countless hiking trails are deservedly gaining in popularity. Adrenaline activities range from rafting to rock climbing.
If you wish to visit the Sacred Valley, the first thing you should do is buy the Cusco Tourist Ticket, with which you will have access to various attractions in the city and the Sacred Valley.
History of the Sacred Valley of the Incas
The Sacred Valley was inhabited by small Andean communities until the conquest of the Incas (mainly under the rule of the emperor Pachacutec from 1438 to 1471), then began a period of important constructions of terraces, temples and cities such as: Ollantaytambo, Moray and even Machu Picchu.
With the arrival of the Spaniards, the rebel Inca Manco Inca fled through the Sacred Valley, setting fire to Chinchero and settling in Ollantaytambo where he fought fiercely against the invaders. Faced with his imminent fall, he settled in the inaccessible jungle and established his reign in Vilcabamba.
With the conquest, the fertile territories of the valley were divided up by the Spaniards. The main temples were destroyed and Christian churches were built in their place.
Despite this, today the Sacred Valley of the Incas is a popular tourist destination. The inhabitants preserve many of the ancestral traditions, even from Inca times.
Where is the Sacred Valley of the Incas located?
The Sacred Valley of the Incas is located in the province of Urubamba in Cusco – Peru. It is located 15 kilometres northeast of the city of Cusco.
It is reached by paved road from the city of Cusco. A drive through one of the nearest villages will take you about 40 minutes approximately.
From there you can move around the other villages in the valley. It is even possible to get there by train. And your trip will end in the village of Machu Picchu.
Main citadels in the Sacred Valley to visit:
- Pisac
- Urubamba
- Ollantaytambo
- Chinchero
- Maras
- Moray
History of Machu Picchu
The history of Machu Picchu says that mountain populations from the Vilcabamba and Sacred Valley regions inhabited the Picchu ravine.
In the Middle Horizon period there is a demographic explosion by groups not historically documented but possibly linked to the TAMPU ethnic group of Urubamba and it is believed that these people could be part of the Federation that were rivals of the first Inca of Cusco.
Attractions of Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is simply spectacular, every space within it is fascinating, and no matter where you look, you will be amazed. But within the Inca city there are attractions that stand out from the rest, either for their architectural beauty, their natural beauty, or the intense desire that is generated by wanting to be in them. Here is the list of the most spectacular attractions of Machu Picchu. You will see all these attractions during the Machu Picchu 1 day tour from Cusco.
Terraces
The terraces or terraces are representative structures of the Inca Empire, they were a very significant advance for the agriculture practiced by the Incas, with which they managed to generate microclimates at different levels of the slopes of the mountains where they used to be built. Machu Picchu had to be a self-sustainable city, so an agricultural sector was assigned in the Inca city, this is where you can see the beautiful platforms next to some Colcas (deposits).
Fountain stairway
Water is fundamental to the functioning of any city. Machu Picchu has a whole system of fountains that supplied fresh water to the city and are still in operation to this day. Among them all, the Escalera de Fuentes (Fountain Staircase) stands out, an astonishing work of hydraulic engineering, composed of 16 carefully carved and carved artificial waterfalls, located between the Temple of the Sun and the Royal Palace.
Price
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
We have price alternatives that accommodate all budgets, prices per person, expressed in US Dollars.
Make your quotes and reservations by email [email protected], you can also communicate with one of our sales executives at the telephones detailed below, we will be happy to assist you.
Phone – WhatsApp: +51 969 787 221
Phone – WhatsApp: +51 986 994 218
HOW TO BOOK THE TOUR?
To start the reservation process, please send us the following information:
- Name and surname:
- Passport number:
- Nationality:
- Date of Birth:
- Phone:
- Very important – We need the address and information about the hotel that you are staying at, in the city of Cusco, to be able to pick you up at the time when the tour starts
To confirm reservations it is required to pay 50% in advance and the other 50% can be paid upon arrival at your destination.
PAYMENT METHODS
- IZIPAY
- PAYPAL
- WESTER UNION
- MONEYGRAM
- TRANSFER TO OUR BANK ACCOUNT PERU
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