Cusco: 7 Day Andean Experience of the Living Incas Culture – Cusco, Peru

EXPERIENCE:

Day 1: Arrive in Cusco. 
Be collected when you arrive at the airport in Cusco and driven to your lodge, which is located in the charming historic district of Cusco. Your lodge will be the 3-star Ayni Cusco Hotel or similar. Today is reserved for resting and acclimatising to the altitude of approximately 3,400 meters (11,000 feet). You will meet your expedition group at 5:00 PM. 

Day 2: Cusco Tour. 
Begin your day tour at Sacsayhuaman, which is one of the emblematic buildings of the Inca Empire. It is just a few minutes from the center of the city and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has been calculated that what we see today is only twenty percent of the original structure because when the Spanish arrived they used the stones for new buildings such as the cathedral. The other places that you will visit this morning are Qenko, Tambomachay, and Puca Pucara. In the afternoon, you will travel by car to the town of Ollantaytambo and board the train Machu Picchu. Stay tonight at the 3-star Aguas Calientes Golden Sunrise Hotel or similar. 

Day 3: Machu Picchu. 
Today, you will rise very early for breakfast and then ascend to the citadel Inka of Machu Picchu, which is approximately 25 minutes by bus. It is a famous masterpiece of architecture and engineering, believed to have been a sanctuary and energetic center. Today, Machu Picchu is recognized by UNESCO as one of the seven wonders of the world and a World Heritage Site. Return to the 3-star Aguas Calientes Waman Hotel Machu Picchu or similar for the night. 

Day 4: Ollantaytambo, Moray, and Salt Mines of Maras.
Return to living Inka town of Ollantaytambo by train then continue by car to Moray. Moray is an ancient construction designed for agricultural investigations and studies of different crops in a range of altitudes. Here, the many concentric rings of terraces produce a fine gradient of micro-climates. The warmth of the lowest central ring slowly dissipates as the rings ascend outward and upward, creating reductions in temperatures until reaching the ground-level norm. You will also visit Maras to see the salt mines. Stay tonight at Ayni Cusco Hotel or similar.

Day 5: Chinchero Textile Interpretation Center.
Chinchero is the rainbow village and home to the ruins of the royal palace of the Inka Túpac Inca Yupanqui. It is a picturesque community located on a high plateau overlooking the many snowcapped peaks of the Cusco region. Visit the beautiful colonial church, which is unique with its interior artwork and imagery. Participate in a wonderful learning experience about the art of Andean textiles. Enjoy a traditional lunch here. Return to Cusco and spend the night at Ayni Cusco Hotel or similar.

Day 6: Animal Sanctuary and Pisaq Market. 
Travel to the Sacred Valley of the Inkas towards the town of Pisaq. Stop on the way to visit the Animal Sanctuary of Cochawasi. Here, see many native Andean species including the puma, Andean cóndor, and alpaca. Further en route, stop at a spectacular viewing location to observe the Urubamba River. See the design of the archaeological site of Pisaq, which many say portrays the profile of a condor. Pisaq is known mainly for two reasons, its famous craft market, and its archaeological site. Here, you have free time to wander the market and to interact with many local artisans. The ruins of Pisaq are one of the most important in the Sacred Valley. Stay tonight at the 3-star Ayni Cusco Hotel or similar. 

Day 7: Return to Lima. 
You have this morning to relax. In the afternoon, take your transfer to the airport for your departure. 

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

Visit the Sacred Valley of the Incas
Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Macchu Picchu
Get an insider look at South American culture and history

Discover top places to stay, exciting tours, and unforgettable events in Peru, and popular cities like Cusco, and Lima.