8 Day Tour Highlights of Cusco

Day 1: Cusco, Peru

1. 2h · Admission ticket included
   Arrive at any time at Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport in Cusco, the gateway to Peru’s Inca heartland. Settle into your hotel. Take the rest of the day to relax or explore Cusco’s old town, a UNESCO World Heritage site on your own.

Day 2: Cusco

1. Qorikancha
   3h · Admission ticket included
   Embark on a sightseeing excursion of the sacred city of Cusco this morning with your Local Specialist, admiring the 16th century Spanish colonial buildings that stand on the foundations of former Inca temples and palaces. See the baroque Cathedral on the Plaza de Armas and 17th century Church of Santo Domingo. Visit the site of the Saqsayhuaman fortress and see nearby warehouses where the Incas once stored their grain. In the afternoon, explore this captivating city further at your leisure. This evening, visit the Cusco Planetarium for a presentation on the skies of the Southern Hemisphere, and learn about the vital role that astronomy played in the lives of the ancient Inca. Weather permitting, peer through the planetarium’s telescopes for a dazzling look at the stars.

Day 3: Sacred Valley of the Inca

1. Sacred Valley
   8h · Admission ticket included
   Drive to the scenic Sacred Valley for a full day of exploration with a local guide. Experience the Parque de la Papa, or Potato Park, a rural Andean community working to preserve hundreds of varieties of native potato. During this exclusive excursion, you’ll walk through the park to learn about potato cultivation, traditional weaving, and the importance of both these practices to Andean culture. We’ll also visit the fascinating Inca sites of Ollantaytambo and Pisaq, and enjoy a meal at the Parwa Community Restaurant in Huchuy Qosqo, an indigenous village.

Day 4: Machu Picchu

1. Machu Picchu
   8h
   This morning, delve into the mysteries of this once-great civilisation, admiring the 15th century stone site of temples, palaces and terraces perched high amidst the clouds. Join your Local Expert for an exploration of the iconic great Temple of the Sun, the House of the Priest, the Sacred Plaza and the Intihuatana, an intricately carved rock most likely used as a sundial centuries ago. After being taken through this awe-inspiring UNESCO World Heritage site, return to Cusco by train.

Day 5: Humantay Lake

1. Humantay Lake
   8h · Admission ticket included
   An exhilarating morning car ride takes us along the Mollepata valley, passing through a patchwork of verdant fields and between steep slopes on the way to gorgeous Humantay Lagoon. Isolated among mountain peaks, Humantay is one of the world’s most awe-inspiring places that was unknown until someone explored the area and recomended to visit it. Enjoy a pictureque hike to this turquoise glacial lagoon and feel the great vibes at the Cordillera de Los Andes mountain range.

Day 6: Southern Valley

1. Tipon
   8h · Admission ticket included
   After a delicious coffee from our region, we head east of the city of Cusco. Today, we explore mysterious and incredible Incan cities that were crucial to the development of their society. We visit Tipón with its stunning Incan architecture, followed by Pikillaqta, a pre-Incan city with marvelous walls and an impressive layout. Witness the breathtaking decorations of the Andahuaylillas temple, often called the Sistine Chapel of America. Return to Cusco in the afternoon.

Day 7: Rainbow Mountain

1. Vinicunca Mountain
   8h · Admission ticket included
   Head south on an early and scenic drive to Vinicunca, perched on the western slope of Vilcanota Mountain Range of Cordillera de los Andes. Depart Cusco by van to Cusipata Village where we have a buffet breakfast overlooking the farmlands, and continue to LLactoc for the begining of this epic adventure. The journey will take us through picturesque Andean villages, agricultural platforms from the Inca time, fertile valleys, and beautiful Rolling mountains. Colorfully decorated, this mountain was known recently by melting the snow which covered since the begining, and becoming famous rapidly. This evening we join our travel companions for a farewell dinner in a traditional restaurant.

Day 8: Cusco

1. 2h · Admission ticket included
   After breakfast, transfer to the Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport and connect with your flight home or consider extending your holiday.

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
• Travel insurance not provided
• Airfare to and from destination not included