Machu Picchu & Cusco

Machu Picchu Tour Highlights:

This is a compact trip for those short on time. Enjoy beautiful, historic Cusco, the lush Sacred Valley, and a Machu Picchu Tour (twice) – Choose to travel 3, 4 or 5-star.

• Two visits to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu
• Enjoy Imperial Cusco and the Sacred Valley of the Incas
• Wide choice of hotels, train services, and tour options
• Flexible dates, go and come back any day you like
• Full package, flights, hotels, tours and other services
• 5 Day Machu Picchu Tour from US$ 985 per person
• Add other destinations easily – see the links below

Remember everything we do is tailor-made to suit you: Find international flights at good prices and we design the tour around those. You choose if you want to do and see things not included below, we will add them seamlessly to the itinerary and deliver the perfect trip.

Day 1 | Cusco City Tour

Your Peruvian experience starts mid to late morning in the Inca capital of Cusco known by this ancient race as the “navel of the world”. We will meet you at the airport when you arrive from Lima and transfer you in a private vehicle to your hotel, we work with a wide range of Cusco hotels to suit your budget – from 3 to 5 stars (so you just let us know), all of which are central, clean and comfortable with private bathrooms of course.

After settling in and grabbing a quick snack maybe (don’t eat too much when you first arrive) you will then enjoy a Cusco city tour, visiting the Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman, plus the three other smaller Inca ruins close to Cusco; Cusco Cathedral in the main square; and the most important temple of the Inca Empire, Coricancha, the Inca Temple of the Sun. Cusco is a lovely city to wander around and you should take time to do this, when not being guided.

Day 2 | Sacred Valley of the Incas

This Machu Picchu tour includes a Sacred Valley route that visits Chinchero, an ancient village where much of the original character and traditions have been maintained. We will often use this route on shared tours to avoid many of the crowds in the Pisaq area (Pisaq can be visited of course, but we use a different itinerary). Also, your tour to the Sacred Valley of the Incas includes a buffet lunch so you can recharge your batteries along the way.

Today’s first destination is Chinchero, a quaint little town that houses an important Inca archaeological center, built at the end of the 1400s, as well as a lovely and very traditional church. You will visit “Urpi” a famous textile center where the townsfolk have preserved the traditional Andean spinning and weaving techniques, they will also show you how they get the vivid natural colors for their fabrics.  On our way to Ollantaytambo, we will stop at the lookout point of Racchi, where we will have the chance to have some of the best views of the Sacred Valley, after that, lunch will be served in a local restaurant.

Afterward, we will visit Ollantaytambo, one of the most monumental architectural complexes of the ancient Inca Empire, one of the few places where the Spanish conquistadors lost a major battle.  Very well known for its “Andenes” (terraces dug into the slopes of mountains for agricultural purposes), Ollantaytambo was a highly effective fortress that also served as a temple.

Then, we will continue to the town of Ollantaytambo on the valley floor, “a unique living Inca town” and the best surviving example of Inca city planning, with narrow cobblestone streets that have been continuously inhabited since the 13th century.

After your day out you will be dropped off at your Sacred Valley hotel.

Day 3 | Machu Picchu Tour | First Visit

You may have an early start to catch your chosen train to Machu Picchu which will be one of the services described in the link below. The advantage you have is that you have stayed in the valley overnight and therefore do not have to get up as early as you would in Cusco to catch the train and you have more time to play with later in the day.

A transfer will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the station. After the 90-minute train ride, you will be met in Aguas Calientes by your guide, you drop off your overnight bags at your hotel before taking the bus transfer up to the Machu Picchu site. Here you will enjoy a tour of one of the most spectacular places on the planet with your local guide.

In the late afternoon, you will return to your chosen hotel in Aguas Calientes, the town that nestles in the valley below Machu Picchu.

Note: The option exists to return to Cusco the same day, but if you have the time, it is well worth staying over the see this incredible place the next day. If you prefer to stay right at the gate of Machu Picchu, and your budget will stand it, you could choose the Sanctuary Lodge, as its location cannot be beaten.

Day 4 | 2nd Machu Picchu Tour Visit

Today you will be able to re-visit Machu Picchu and enjoy this fabulous site at your leisure, without being guided. You may choose to climb Huayna Picchu, the peak that overlooks Machu Picchu (400 people per day and by prior appointment only), which affords fantastic views and photo opportunities. 

You may choose to grab something to eat near the site or down in the village below. Then in the late afternoon, you will board the train for your trip back to Cusco. You will leave the train at Ollantaytambo where you boarded, as you know this is a station before Cusco in the Sacred Valley, to then have a faster transfer by road back to your hotel in Cusco.

Day 5 | Depart Cusco, home or onward?

Sadly it is time to bid farewell to South America, or is it? We will transfer you to Cusco airport, where you will fly to Lima to connect with your international flight home, but perhaps you will want to continue exploring in Lake Titicaca, the Amazon Jungle, or even by adding a Galapagos tour:

Included:

Hotels: We work with a wide range of hotels and lodges from 3-star, mid-range, through 4 stars, to high-end 5 star, luxury establishments. You choose and we quote, we custom design each tour to your budget. We deal with all transport from when you enter Latin America to when you leave. Transfers, trains, planes (unless specified in the “Not Included” section), buses, etc. Our “from” website prices are based on 3-star, twin share arrangements, and in the lowest season. Single supplements will vary by tour and season.

Guided Tours: You can choose private tours for just you and your traveling companions or take a tour with other people you don’t know. You can, of course, mix tour styles up during the same tour to suit your wishes, some private and some group.

Support & Backup: You will have 24 / 7 backup while on tour with us. We provide you with all the information and contacts you need and you will feel safe and very well taken care of.

Meals: This very much depends on the type of tour you choose, some places such as the Amazon jungle or Galapagos cruises are nearly always full board. Breakfasts are generally included, plus some lunches and evening meals in accordance with your specific schedule. More often than not we like to leave people to choose where to eat in the evenings as there is a wide range of great places to try.

Entrance Fees & Tickets: Where a particular tour is included in your itinerary the necessary entrance tickets or fees will also be included (unless local conditions dictate otherwise). Such tickets will be held by your local guide and presented to you at the correct time.

Not Included

Flights: We quote most domestic and international flights according to your specific program as prices vary greatly according to seasonal demand. We may be able to get special prices/discounts at some times and can pass these savings on to you. Your travel consultant will advise you and provide the flight costs with your tour program.

Many clients use miles to buy their flights and we just work those into the schedule, online booking engines like Kayak are also a great option.

Travel Insurance & Expenses: Personal expenses are not included and we advise that clients bring some cash and a credit/debit card to take funds from ATMs / pay directly. Travel insurance is considered mandatory under our terms and conditions, please ask your travel consultant for details.

Tips: Ask us for our advice regarding tipping as it varies by country and service.