ESSENCE OF THE ANDES CUSCO 6D 5N

Day 1: Arrival in Cusco + City Tour

• Welcome! We will pick you up at the airport and take you to your hotel.
• Our first half-day tour starts in the afternoon with a visit to the Cusco Cathedral, the city’s main temple, which houses countless paintings from the Cusco School. We will then continue with a guided visit to Qoricancha, also known as the Temple of the Sun, where we will admire the finely crafted walls that showcase the advanced engineering skills achieved by the Incas.
• Next, we will board our tourist transport to head to the archaeological complex of Saqsayhuaman, an enigmatic site featuring sacred constructions such as residential buildings, towers, shrines, storage rooms, pathways, and aqueducts. This is also where the Inti Raymi, or Festival of the Sun, takes place. Following that, we will visit the archaeological complex of Qenqo, a ceremonial center that includes tunnel-like structures where the Incas performed mummifications. We will then explore Pucapucara, an ancient Inca control point for entry and exit from the city of Cusco, characterized by large walls, terraces, and staircases.
• Finally, we will visit the archaeological complex of Tambomachay, a center dedicated to water worship that features carved stone channels that flow into two springs, providing crystal-clear water year-round.

Day 2: Classic Sacred Valley

• Our full-day tour departs from Cusco in the morning, heading to the Taray viewpoint, where we can appreciate the full splendor of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Our first site of visit will be Pisaq, known for its impressive ruins, which make it one of the most important Inca treasures. The site features vast terraces, sacred enclosures, and finely crafted stone temples.
• Around midday, we will stop in Urubamba for a buffet lunch, allowing you to savor exquisite Andean cuisine. After lunch, we will continue to Ollantaytambo, a strategic military, religious, and agricultural center that continues to dazzle with its stone terraces and imposing structures over four meters high.
• Finally, we will visit Chinchero, where you can learn about the process of making Andean textiles entirely by hand using ancient techniques passed down through generations. We will also visit the archaeological complex here before returning to Cusco.

Day 3: Visit to Machu Picchu

• Our full-day tour starts very early heading towards to the train station in Ollantaytambo to board the train to Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes). Upon arrival, we will proceed to the buses that will take us to the Machu Picchu citadel, where we will enjoy a guided tour and marvel at the impressive architecture. You will learn about the history, mysteries, and significance of Machu Picchu, capturing incredible photographs and absorbing the energy of this ancient site.
• After a unique journey through Machu Picchu, you will have some time to rest before returning to Aguas Calientes to board the train back to Ollantaytambo, where our transport will be waiting to take you back to Cusco.

IMPORTANT: Train schedules and entrance to Machu Picchu are subject to availability.

Day 4: Moray and the Salt Mines of Maras

• Our half-day tour begins in the morning, heading to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Our first stop will be Moray, an Inca agricultural research center where various crop experiments were conducted thanks to its impressive circular terraces.
• Next, we will visit the Salineras de Maras, which has over 3,000 ponds of various sizes fed by salty water that emerges from the mountain’s subsurface. This salt is currently used in gourmet cooking. Finally, we will return to Cusco.

Day 5: Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain

• Our full-day tour starts very early, heading to the village of Cusipata, where we will enjoy a delicious breakfast. We will then continue with a 40-minute drive to the starting point of our hike. We will walk for approximately an hour and a half until we reach Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain, which stands at over 5,000 meters above sea level.
• Upon arrival, you will be greeted by a breathtaking view of the Andes, where nature has displayed its vibrant colors. We will have time to rest, take photographs, and breathe in the fresh mountain air. Our guide will share the fascinating history of the mountain and its geological secrets.
• Afterwards, we will return along the same path to our transport, and finally continue to Cusipata, where we will enjoy a buffet lunch to recharge before returning to Cusco.

Day 6: Free Time + Transfer to the Airport

• After an unforgettable experience in Peru, it is time to return home. You will be transferred from your hotel to the airport for your return flight.