4 Days The Charm of Cusco Private Tour from Cusco

Day 1: Day 1 : ARRIVAL IN CUSCO

1. 12h
   Arrive at Cusco Airport and enjoy a comfortable transfer to your selected hotel. A guide will accompany you, offering useful information about the city attractions and assisting you along the way. Domestic flight from Lima to Cusco must arrive not later than 10:30 am. Noon arrivals are too late. Depending on your arrival time in Cusco, you can join our optional tour: the Cusco Planetarium for 3 hours (optional tour not included). Go on your own to the Plaza Regocijo, where you will find the tour guide. We recommend that you arrive 15 minutes before the start of the visit that begins at 5.40 pm. This is a center of cultural interpretation about Inca astronomy, astronomical observatory and a beautiful place surrounded by nature; all in one experience. Upon arrival, you will have a talk about Inca astronomy and then a virtual projection of the southern sky in the Dome, where you will see the constellations. Finally, you will participate in an observation activity with a telescope. At the end of the visit return to the hotel on your own. Please take note that this optional tour is not available on Sundays
   Overnight in Cusco.

Day 2: Day 2 : CUSCO CITY TOUR & NEARBY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES

1. 12h
   Breakfast at the hotel. At around 1 pm, your guide will be waiting in the hotel lobby to start a 4-hour guided tour of this charming city, which was the capital of the Inca Empire. The tour starts with a visit to Santo Domingo Convent, a large Renaissance-baroque complex, which was built over the Inca Coricancha temple. It was one of the most important temples dedicated to worshipping of the sun, and its foundations are still prominent at the base of the convent. Ancient chronicles say the temple was covered in gold leaf and filled with golden representations of nature. Then, visit the Cathedral, the most imposing monument of the Main Square. You will be transferred to the hills above Cusco to visit the remains of the fortress of Sacsayhuamán, whose imposing ramparts offer a stunning panoramic view of Cusco, the ruins of the temple and amphitheatre of Qenqo, where it is believed the Incas practiced agricultural rituals. Admire Qenqo and then finally visit Puka Pukara (‘Red fortress’ in Quechua) an Inca military complex located on a prominent hill. Its dwellings squares, bathrooms, aqueducts, walls, and towers can still be appreciated. Afterwards, return to your hotel at about 5.30 pm.
   Overnight in Cusco.

Day 3: Day 3 : CUSCO – MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO (75 Km – 2 hrs drive / 1.5 hrs by train)

1. 12h
   Early Breakfast at the hotel. Pick up at the hotel at around 4.30 am. The exact pick up time will be confirmed one day before. Transfer to Ollanta train station. Your tour to Machu Picchu begins with approximately one hour and a half train ride to Aguas Calientes. This town is also known as "Machu Picchu Pueblo". Upon arrival, you will be guided to the bus that takes you to Machu Picchu. After a 25-minute bus ride, you will finally arrive at the 'lost city of the Incas'. It is believed that Machu Picchu was built for the Inca emperor Pachacútec around 1450 as a holiday residence. The citadel was abandoned just over 100 years later, probably as a result of the Spanish Conquest, although historians have never uncovered why it was abandoned or how it escaped the destruction that other Inca settlements faced. Instead, the jungle slowly engulfed its stone construction, covering it in thick vegetation that kept it hidden and protected until the ‘lost city of the Incas’ was brought to international attention in 1911. Your 2.5 hour tour will introduce you to the origins of this impressive citadel and guide you around some of its most iconic monuments, such as the main square, the royal rooms, the Temple of the Three Windows, the circular towers, the Sacred Clock and cemeteries. At the end of the tour, return by bus to Aguas Calientes for lunch. Finally, you will return by train to Ollanta Station and will be transferred to your hotel in Cusco in the late afternoon.
   Overnight in Cusco.

Day 4: Day 4 : CUSCO DEPARTURE

1. 12h
   After finishing your breakfast at the hotel, your representative will assist you with check out and you will be transferred to Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport in Cusco to board your flight to Lima. Although this is the last day of your incredible journey with us in Peru, we hope that your memories of this remarkable region, bursting with both culture and history, will last a lifetime.

Pickup details

Arrive at Cusco Airport and enjoy a comfortable transfer to your selected hotel. A guide will accompany you, offering useful information about the city attractions and assisting you along the way.

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Rates do not apply to Peruvians or residents with more than 60 days of stay. If passengers are Peruvians or exceed 60 days of stay, sale taxes (18%) will be collected by our local operator.
• Domestic flight from Lima to Cusco must arrive not later than 10:30hrs. Noon arrivals are too late.
• Please note that Check In in most hotels begins at 13:00 hrs. Clients will be subject to the availability of the room if they arrive before, waiting in the hotel lobby.
• If your trip includes the visit to high altitude cities such as Cusco and Puno located at more than 3400 meters (11 200 feet above sea level), do not forget to take precautions in order to avoid altitude sickness. Passengers who have heart problems or high blood pressure should check with their doctor before travelling.
• Upon arrival is recommended to rest for few hours, drink coca tea and eat lightly. As a reference Machu Picchu is located at 2400 meters (8 000 feet above sea level).
• IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE NEW ENTRANCE REGULATIONS TO MACHU PICCHU The current restrictions on visits to Machu Picchu allow a maximum stay of 4 hours in the citadel accompanied by a guide during the first entry. If the visitor tours an alternate route (Mountain Machu Picchu or Huayna Picchu) the passenger will have 3 hours to for this purpose, additional to the 4 hours in the citadel. If the passenger wishes to enter the citadel again during the afternoon shift or the next day, he must acquire previously an additional ticket to enter in the new shift. There is no ticket sale in the archaeological zone. It is forbidden the follow objects: professional cameras that require lights and tripods, or with telephoto lenses with a weigh higher than 2 kilos (in order to use them, special authorization is needed, as well as the payment of an additional fee), drones, selfie sticks, sprays, high heels, walking sticks without rubber tip, banners and posters, sharp objects and backpacks bigger than 40cm x 35 cm x 20 cm.
• NEW PLASTIC REGULATION: After the prohibition of the access of single use plastic items to 76 natural areas including Machu Picchu, it is important to use reusable bottles. Lima Tours installs a water refill point in our office in Aguas Calientes.
• What do I need to bring? Comfortable and light clothing is recommended for visiting the coastal areas of Peru, while for the high Andean area the use of warm clothing is recommended. It is not recommended that visitors wear sleeveless shirts, shorts, short skirts or short clothes when visiting religious temples or official buildings. Sunscreen, sunglasses, hat and mosquito repellent can be very useful during your stay. Carry the same document that you presented to the agency, given that the train tickets and entrance to Machu Picchu will be issued with the same information. In all train services to Machu Picchu, the passenger can carry only hand luggage (backpack, bag or briefcase) weighing no more than 5kg / 11lb on the train to / from Machu Picchu. You will find your luggage at the chosen hotel. Allowed size: 62 linear inches 157cm (height + length + width).