Cusco Tour and Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 6 Days

We begin this beautiful day at 7:30 am, when your guide picks you up at your Cusco hotel in our private van. Our route to the Sacred Valley of the Incas leads us to Pisac. We stop first at the Mirador de Taray to enjoy a wide view of the Urubamba Valley and its traditional agricultural towns. You will see how agriculture in the Sacred Valley has changed little in the last five hundred years. Next, we head to the archaeological site of Pisac, where you can see an impressive Inca cemetery with more than 2000 tombs. There we can admire the carefully designed cultivation terraces dug into the mountain, explore the Inca tunnel and the religious area of this important citadel. Here, we will spend about 2 hours exploring the Inca city. Next, we headed to the colorful Pisac market, spent about 20 minutes visiting it, and then headed to Urubamba for lunch.

Our next stop is the fascinating archaeological site of Moray, also known as “The Greenhouse of the Incas”, a deep basin of architectural wonder.The terrace levels are carved into a huge bowl, which was carefully designed by the Incas. Terraces have varied microclimates depending on how deep into the bowl they are placed. Archaeologists believe they were used by the Incas to discover the optimal growing conditions for their crops and experiment with hybridization.

Continuing our journey towards the colonial city of Maras, we observe the pre-Inca “salt mines”, called salineras in Spanish. Thousands of salt pans have been passed down through countless generations and have been used for salt extraction since before the time of the Incas. A hot spring at the top of the valley discharges a small stream of very salty water, which is diverted into the salt flats and evaporated to produce salt. This is one of the few places in the world where you can find pink salt naturally!

Finally, we head to Ollantaytambo, taking time to explore the Inca village that has remained intact since Inca times and the massive Inca ruins, with a tour provided by our guide. Visit the massive architecture of the Temple of the Sun at the top of the formidable terraces and learn about the importance of this site to the Incas during the beginning of the Spanish conquest. Ready for a relaxing night, we will return to Cusco and drop you off at your hotel around 6:30 p.m.

Overnight at the hotel in Cusco.

Includes:

• Entrance fees to Chinchero, Moray, Salt Mines and Ollantaytambo.
• Transfers in tourist transport.
• Guided in group. Professional English – Spanish guide.
• Buffet lunch.
• Hotel night in Cusco.

Not Include:

• Other services not mentioned..

This day we will get up very early to have breakfast at your hotel and at 7:20 am we will board the train in Ollantaytambo that will take you to km. 104, The trip is approximately 1 hour. It is here at Km 104 (2,200 m / 7,217 ft) where we will begin the walk, we will pass through the bridge that is over the Urubamba or Willkamayuc River, which translated from Quechua means Sacred River, which was very important for them. When you arrive at the checkpoint, you must show your identification documents, be it a Passport or Immigration Card or National Identity Document. A 15-minute walk away is the archaeological center of Chachabamba and Choquesuysuy, which are hidden in the semi-tropical forest. After your visit, we will begin the walk through ascending steps until we reach the next place on the way, where we will observe the sacred valley. , waterfalls and different types of orchids from the semi-tropical forest. After 3 hours of walking we will arrive at Wiñaywayna (2,650 m / 8,694 ft), which is a perfect example of what agriculture was like in the time of the Incas, since along its slopes lie a large number of circular terraces, in where the Incas cultivated different agricultural products. The name of Wiñaywayna comes from a beautiful orchid that is abundant in the area and has the Spanish meaning “Eternally young” and has more than 20 buildings, one of them the Rainbow Temple, also called the Temple of Fertility. The visit will last 1 hour on average, followed by a box lunch to replenish energy and continue until reaching the Wiñaywayna checkpoint.

In this second part of the tour we will walk for 2 hours through an Andean plane, stone stairs and tambos (resting places) until we reach the Inti Punku – Puerta del Sol (2,720 m / 8,923 ft) that functioned in the time of the Incas as entry control to the Citadel of Machu Picchu; From here you have an impressive panoramic view of Machu Picchu and the entire valley that surrounds it, then we will descend for approximately 30 minutes to the wonder of the world Machu Picchu (2,490 m / 8,169 ft). Finally we will take the bus to Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu Pueblo (2,160 m / 7,086 ft) the trip lasts 25 minutes, here we will spend the night in a very comfortable hotel. If you are not too tired, you have the option of visiting the thermal baths which are located 10 minutes from the town, the cost is 10 soles. For those who like to dance or have a few drinks in a bar, we inform you that Aguas Calientes has a wide variety of bars and restaurants, including an ATM, in case you want to withdraw money from the bank. Here we will also have a delicious a la carte dinner in a very cozy restaurant in this town.

Overnight at the hotel in Aguas calientes (Machu Picchu).

Includes:

• Transfers in tourist transport.
• Guided in group. Professional English – Spanish guide.
• Ollantaytambo train ticket to Km. 104.
• Pre-tour assistance.
• Lunch.
• Hotel night in Machu Picchu.

Not Include:

• Other services not mentioned.

In the morning we will transfer you to the bus station to go up to the Archaeological Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, in a trip that lasts approximately 25 minutes.

Arriving at Machu Picchu, at the beginning you will enjoy the magic and energy that Machu Picchu has, you will enjoy a temperate climate from the moment you enter the archaeological center, you will be able to see its natural beauty, its artificial terraces and its spectacular stone constructions represented in its Inca enclosures and ceremonial temples.

Its intense green platforms and the imposing mountain range that surrounds it make up a beautiful landscape that exceeds any expectation. You will be amazed by its enormous and impressive stone blocks joined together, making it unique as one of the most important religious, political and cultural centers of the Inca empire.

The guided tour in Machu Picchu has an approximate time of 02 hours where our guide will provide you with all the information and will be attentive to all your concerns. After your guided tour you will have time to explore the entire archaeological center on your own.
Once the view is over, we return to the town of Aguas Calientes, taking enough time to optionally enjoy the thermal baths that exist in the town of Aguas Calientes. You can also enjoy a walk in the town. Finally board the train back to Ollantaytambo, where your bus will be waiting to take you back to Cusco.

Important: The indicated train schedules are referential and may vary based on departures and train availability.

Overnight at the hotel in Cusco.

Includes:

• Night at a hotel in Cusco.
• Bus ticket Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu, round trip.
• Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu.
• Group guide service. Professional guide in English and Spanish.
• Train ticket Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytambo.
• Return transfers from Ollantaytambo train station to Cusco.

Not Include:

• Food.
• Other services not mentioned.
• Entrance to Wayna Picchu (subject to availability).

Recommendations:

• Arrive half an hour early at the train station.
• In Machu Picchu you will climb many steps, wear appropriate shoes.
• We suggest carrying a small backpack with your camera, wearing a hat, sunscreen, mosquito repellent and a bottle of water.
• Once the guided tour in Machu Picchu is over, enjoy the magical moment appreciating the wonder, open your arms and recharge your energy.
• Visit the thermal baths in Aguas Calientes.

The tour starts very early in the morning; We will pick you up at the hotel and you will begin your trip by car to the Cusipata – Paucarpata district, where you will have breakfast. They will then continue for a further 1 hour drive to the checkpoint to begin their challenging hike. The adventure lasts approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes, during the walk you will see the beautiful landscapes of the Andes, the snow-capped peaks and the representative fauna that is characterized by the presence of llamas and alpacas. When you arrive at the Vinincunca or Rainbow Mountain viewpoint (5080 meters above sea level), our guide will give you an explanation about the geography, ecosystem and colors of the mountain. You will return to the checkpoint, where we will be waiting for you to take you to Cusipata and enjoy lunch. Then we will take you back to your hotel in Cusco.

Overnight at the hotel in Cusco.

Includes:

• Night at a hotel in Cusco.
• Assistance throughout the tour.
• Transfers from Cusco to the starting point of the trip round trip.
• Group guide service. Professional guide in English and Spanish.
• Breakfast in Cusipata.
• Lunch in Cusipata.
• Entrance to the community.

Not Include:

• Other services not mentioned.

We start the day with breakfast and depending on the time of the final flight, we may have a free morning before going to the airport back to Lima and connecting with the return flight to your country of origin.​

Includes:

• Breakfast.
• Transfers from the Hotel to the airport.