Cusco & Machu Picchu

After arriving in Lima, the capital city of Peru, you fly on to Cusco, the Inca Citadel nestling amongst the Andes Mountains. You will be met at the airport for the short journey to your hotel in the historic areas of the city. Once there, you can check in, drink some coca tea and begin the process of acclimatising to the altitude. Taking things easy is essential on your first day in the mountains, and a gentle wander around the city in the afternoon is recommended as well as highly interesting. Your first meals at altitude should be light, but there are still plenty of options for lunch and dinner in Cusco.

Today you head up and out of Cusco to the Urubamba Valley. Your first stop will be at the village of Pisac and its local market, with Tuesday, Thursday and especially Sunday being the most colourful days. In the early afternoon you will enjoy lunch with a view of the valley. The afternoon will be spent exploring the impressive ruins at Ollantaytambo, climbing up and down the steep terraces with views down the three valleys that meet there, and made Ollantaytambo a strategic point for any travellers. You finish at your hotel for the evening amongst the scenic splendour of the Sacred Valley.

Your first morning in Cusco can be spent at your leisure, either exploring the city or relaxing at your hotel. Your guided tour of the city and its archaeological sites will begin in the afternoon, starting with a visit to the impressive colonial cathedral, followed by Korikancha (The Temple of the Sun). From here you will travel to the outskirts of Cusco for a tour of the archaeological site of Sacsayhuaman, later visiting the ruins of Puca Pucara, Qenqo, and Tambomachay. The evening is free to enjoy dinner at a restaurant in some historic building set amongst the cobbled streets, or perhaps even at the Pre-Colombine Art Museum.

You leave during the morning for your train ride through the Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu. Upon arrival at the station in Aguas Calientes your guide will retrieve your luggage and escort you to your transportation to the magnificent ruins of Machu Picchu. Following a guided tour of the ruins, in which you will learn all about the origins of this archeological wonder, you have the rest of the afternoon free to explore. Transportation is provided to the base of the mountain, from where you can return to your hotel. The evening is free to enjoy dinner in the sheltered little town of Aguas Calientes, with mountains towering all around.

You may want to visit the ruins a second time to catch the magical moments of Sunrise at Machu Picchu, although you need to be prepared for an early start. You may also consider the trek up to Huayna Picchu, the steep little mountain behind the ruins. This hike requires approximately three hours to complete and allows for spectacular views of Machu Picchu and the valleys and mountains, with the train tracks almost directly below. After descending, you may have time to enjoy the hot springs that give the town its name before your train to Cusco departs in the afternoon, arriving in Cusco after dark.

You have time in the morning to enjoy Cusco some more, to walk among the Inca walls of the historic buildings in the city centre, and to buy some souvenirs from Peru. After lunch, you transfer to the airport for your flight back to Lima, connecting their with your flight away from Peru and South America. Here's hoping that the wonderful memories of your tour will last you a lifetime.