Tour Overview
The Inca ruins of Machu Picchu, which would be stunning anywhere, are truly spectacular in their Andean setting, high above the Urubamba River. And Cuzco, once the center of the Inca Empire and now a vibrant gateway to Inca ruins, is even higher in the Andes. Yet even at sea level, Peru can leave you breathless. With unspoiled beaches, coastal desert, deep canyons and dense Amazon jungle, its variety of natural wonders is astonishing. Then, there are the cultural treasures. The contrast between old and new runs throughout the land: Poncho-clad Amerindians walk their llamas through modern cities, past Spanish cathedrals built on the foundations of ancient Inca ruins. Giant, stylized designs were etched in the earth by a great - and unknown - civilizationDay by Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Lima, PeruUpon arrival in Lima, you are met for private transfer to your hotel and check-in. The Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro founded the city of Lima on January 5, 1535, the eve of the Epiphany of the Magi – from which it derived its evocative original name of La Ciudad de los Reyes or “The City of Kings”. It is a city of rare fascination and unexpected pleasures. Lima has decaying colonial splendor and the teeming vitality of an oriental bazaar; melancholy cloudy winters and warm breezy summers; impoverished urban sprawl and quiet elegant corners among ancient buildings where the night air is scented with jasmine. Meals today are under your own arrangements.
Casa Andina Private Collection Day 2: Lima- Cusco- Sacred Valley
Breakfast at the hotel. This morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Cusco. NOTE: Domestic flight Lima-Cusco is not included in land price. Upon arrival in Cusco, you are met by a local representative and transferred by private vehicle to the “Sacred Valley of the Incas” for a full day tour. At an elevation of 8,500 feet, the Sacred Valley of the Incas was a historic heart of the Inca Empire. Small villages lined the valley floor, while the stone fortresses of Ollantaytambo and Pisac served the dual purpose of providing protection as serving and religious centers. Visit the small village of Pisac with its colorful market. After lunch, continue on to the massive fortress of Ollantaytambo The fortress, a formidable stone structure that climbs massive terraces reaching the top of a high peak, was the valley’s main defense against the Antis and was the site of the Incas’ greatest victory against the Spanish during the wars of conquest. Constructed of rose-colored granite, this huge installation was once a thriving complex of baths, temples and military barracks. Below the fortress lies a complete Incan town, also called Ollantaytambo, still inhabited and with its original architecture and layout preserved. Check-in to your hotel for overnight.
Breakfast, Lunch
Sol y Luna Day 3: Sacred Valley
Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a full day at leisure. Optional excursions (rafting, mountain biking, and visits to markets, villages or ruins) may be arranged.
Breakfast
Sol y Luna Day 4: Sacred Valley- Machu Picchu
Breakfast at the hotel. This morning, you will be transferred to the Ollanta station where you will board the Vistadome train bound for Machu Picchu (note: your guide will meet you on the train.) The 1.5-hour journey follows the ever-narrowing gorge of the Urubamba River to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo). Outside the window, watch the picturesque Andean scenery as you pass the traditional villages. As you approach Machu Picchu Sanctuary, the valley turns into a canyon and the vegetation changes to a cloud forest. A late morning arrival gives you time to begin your exploration of this breathtaking Incan citadel. Accompanied by your guide, explore the city's ruins, and feel its pulse as you visualize the lives of the priests, craftsmen, and servants who inhabited this seemingly uninhabitable citadel. Excavations at the site have revealed skeletons, artifacts and woolen clothing, but no gold. The same precision of assembled stones exists here as in other Incan sites. Overlooking the raging Urubamba River and discovered in a hidden tangle of vines and trees atop the mountain, the city of Machu Picchu will forever hold the secret of its destruction - the Incas left no written record. Enjoy lunch at the Sanctuary Lodge before returning to your hotel.
Breakfast, Lunch
Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel Day 5: Machu Picchu- Cusco
Breakfast at the hotel. Today you may return to the ruins for a visit on your own. It is said that Machu Picchu is a place of great spirituality, and the ultimate spiritual moment of the day happens at sunrise. This morning therefore there is an option to rise early and view the world’s most spectacularly situated ruins at sunrise. Board the shuttle bus to the Machu Picchu Village, where you will have a short walk to the train station. Here, board the train to Cusco (note: trains terminating in Ollanta Station provide shuttle transfers to Cusco.) Upon arrival you will be met by an iExplore representative and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy the evening at leisure.
Breakfast
Casa Andina Private Collection Day 6: Cusco Breakfast at hotel. Enjoy a guided tour of the nearby Inca ruins including Kenko “The Labyrinth”, the ceremonial bath of Tambomachay, and the amazing Sacsayhuaman, a huge fortress of stones (one stone weighs 125 tons!) and a true testimonial to Incan architectural skills. At Sacsayhuaman, you are challenged to try to slip a piece of paper through the cracks in between these blocks, cut and fitted together with incredible precision without a single drop of mortar to hold them in place. This ancient fortress (where the greatest battle between the Spanish and Incas took place) overlooks the red-tiled roofs of Cusco and the breathtaking countryside surrounding the city. Return to the city for a walking tour. Sights include the Cathedral on the Plaza de Armas; and the Santo Domingo Temple, a Dominican Church and convent built on the foundations of the Koricancha, the Incas principal religious building, dedicated to the worship of the sun. You will stop for lunch at a local restaurant before you return to your hotel and enjoy the afternoon at leisure.
Breakfast, Lunch
Casa Andina Private Collection Day 7: Cusco- Lima
After breakfast at the hotel, you will me met and driven to the airport for your return flight to Lima. NOTE: Domestic flight: Cusco - Lima is not included in land price.
Breakfast
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