Peru Travel Ideas

Itinerary:

Day 1. Cusco

Upon arrival at the airport a host will meet and assist you in transferring to the hotel and help you in registering. Morning at leisure to adjust to the altitude. Visitors are caught up in the excitement of the ancient capital of the Inca Empire, a delightful combination of Inca and colonial architecture.

Day 2. Chincheros with weaving demonstration Pisac Ruins & Ollantaytambo - Sacred Valley

A full day excursion to the Pisac Indian Market and the Ollantaytambo Fortress in the Heart of the Sacred Valley. With a early start we drive through the fertile countryside of the Urubamba Valley to the colonial village of Pisac where an Indian Market takes place Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

Other days you will tour the religious nucleus and archaeological site of Pisac. During your visit to the bustling marketplace you will have the opportunity to bargain with the natives for many different types of Peruvian handicrafts and jewelry.

We visit the Inca archaeological remnants of Pisac known as Inca Pisac, which lie atop a hill at the entrance to the valley. It features an irrigation system, an astronomical observatory, and a solar clock and calendar (Intiwatana). The hillside is lined with agricultural terraces constructed by the Inca and still in use today. With military, religious, and agricultural structures, the site served at least a triple purpose. Besides a country estate, it is thought that Pisac defended the southern entrance to the Sacred Valley, while Choquequirao defended the western entrance and the fortress at Ollantaytambo the northern.

We then continue on down the valley to the Ollantaytambo archaeological complex. Conjectures suggests the Incas built it as a fort that included a temple, agricultural terraces, and an urban area. There are two distinct sectors: The religious and worship zone, and the residential area.

Ollantaytambo was an important administrative center with probable military functions if one considers the walls and towers. There are also traces of ancient roads and aqueducts. The town of Ollantaytambo is called a "Living Inca Town" since the inhabitants maintain ancient practices and customs with the town itself being a living museum of Inca construction, irrigation and housing.

Lunch is at a beautiful country estate on the shores of the Urubamba River. Two nights accommodation in the Sacred Valley.BL

Day 3. Maras Salt Pools, Moray & Quechua Village - Sacred Valley

Today we pass through unspoiled and picturesque Andean communities on our way to the Incan agricultural experimental center of Moray, famous for its sunken amphitheater, made up of four circular terraces, which appear to fade away into the earth like an artificial crater.

The site was apparently an Inca agricultural research station filled with fertile earth and watered by a complex irrigation systems, designed for experimenting with crops at various altitudes.

We continue onto the impressive Maras salt pools formed by water emerging from a lake inside the mountain in the Urubamba Valley. An amazing view is offered of the evaporating ponds used for the extraction of salt.

Learn about ancestral techniques, which are still used, in agricultural, irrigation and salt-recollection tasks, as well as in Andean festivals and rites.

Lunch is a the local Andean community - Misimay. BL

Day 4. Sacred Valley - Machu Picchu - Aguas Calientes

Today we board our train for the ride through the sacred valley of Urubamba to the "Lost City of the Incas," Machu Picchu.

Perched 8, 200 feet above the valley, it was hidden by mountains and semi-tropical jungles for 400 years until discovered by Hiram Bingham of Yale University in 1911. Archaeologists believe that the Inca "Virgins of the Sun" took refuge from the Spanish Conquistadors here. Guided tour of the ruins upon arrival.

Lunch is at the Orient Express' Sanctuary Lodge located just a few steps from the Inca citadel.

We return to Aguas Calientes at the base of the ruins in the late afternoon where you are free to explore the many restaurants of this mountain village. BLD

Day 5. Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Cusco

Free morning to enjoy one of the most incredible sights on earth, the sanctuary of Machu Picchu. Take as much time as you need to study these magnificent ruins, hike the steep stone-paved trail of Huayna Picchu, the pyramid-shape mountain above Machu Picchu for a breathtaking view of the site, or stroll to the Inca Bridge a secret entrance used by the Inca's army or walk toward the Inca Trail to find the historic Intipunku or Sun Gate.

We return to Cusco in the late afternoon where you are free to explore the many restaurants of this magical city. B

Day 6. Onward Travel

Today you are transferred back to Cusco airport to connect with your onward journey. B

Additional nights are available on request.

PRICES FROM:

Exchange rates differ from time to time. For the most up-to-date prices of this holiday idea please fill out our Latin America Travel Quote form.

NOTES:

• Peru international departure tax $30 USD
• Peru domestic departure tax $8 USD
• Local currency is Soles
• Time Zone: GMT/UTC -5
• Dialing Code: 51
• Electricity: 220V, 60Hz
• Weights & measures: Metric

HOTEL CHOICES:

Cusco:
Amerindia Hotel - (E)
Terra Andina Hotel - (M) San Agustin El Dorado - (M)
Novotel - (F)
Libertador Cusco - (D), Monasterio - (D)

Sacred Valley:
La Casona Yucay - (M) Sonesta Posada del Inca Yucay - (M)
Casa Andina Private Collection - (F)
Aranwa - (D), Libertador Urubamba - (D) Superior

Aguas Calientes:
Hatuchay Tower - (M)
Inka Terra Machu Picchu - (D), Sumaq - (D)

DEPARTURE:

Departs daily

PRICE INCLUDES:

• 5 Nights accommodation
• Airport transfers
• All entrances
• Cusco City Tour
• Sacred Valley tour
• Moray and Maras guided tour
• Guided tour in Machu Picchu
• 2 Entrances to Machu Picchu
• Bus transfers to and from the ruins
• All meals as listed B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

NOT INCLUDED

• Visa fees (if required)
• Passport & Visa Costs
• Vaccination Costs
• Personal Spending Money
• Meals where not listed
• Drinks
• International Flights
• Travel Insurance
• Airport departure taxes
• Border taxes or fees

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

• Cusco Add Ons
• Machu Picchu extensions
• Nazca Lines extension
• Northern Peru Amazon Cruise
• Amazon Jungle expeditions
• Lake Titicaca adventures
• Colca Canyon adventures
• Lima City stop over
• Arequipa extension

Package Information

Amerindia Hotel Cusco, Cusco, Peru (hotel)

Aranwa, Sacred Valley, Peru (hotel)

Casa Andina Private Collection Arequipa, Arequipa, Peru (hotel)

Hatuchay Tower, Machu Picchu, Peru (hotel)

Inkaterra Machu Picchu Hotel, Machu Picchu, Peru (hotel)

La Casona de Yucay, Yucay (Sacred Valley of the Incas), Peru (hotel)

Libertador Palacio del Inka, Cusco, Peru (hotel)

Hotel Monasterio, Cusco, Peru (hotel)

Novotel Cusco, Cusco, Peru (hotel)

Terra Andina, Cusco, Peru (hotel)

Sol y Luna Hotel, Urubamba (Sacred Valley of the Incas), Peru (hotel)

Sonesta Posada del Inca Yucay, Yucay, Peru (hotel)

Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel, Machu Picchu, Peru (hotel)

Package Departures

Please call us to inquire about departure dates

8 - Our Antarctic adventure begins. Flight from Punta Arenas to King George Island (South Shetland Islands).
The flight takes a little under 2 hours. Upon arrival we will be able to tour around the area where the "Presidente Eduardo Frei M." Chilean Base and "Bellinghausen" Russian Base are located. We will gather at the beach on Fildes Bay for embarkation, by Zodiac boats, to M/V "Ocean Nova". BLD

9 - Our Antarctic adventure begins. Flight from Punta Arenas to King George Island (South Shetland Islands).
The flight takes a little under 2 hours. Upon arrival we will be able to tour around the area where the "Presidente Eduardo Frei M." Chilean Base and "Bellinghausen" Russian Base are located. We will gather at the beach on Fildes Bay for embarkation, by Zodiac boats, to M/V "Ocean Nova". BLD

10 - Our Antarctic adventure begins. Flight from Punta Arenas to King George Island (South Shetland Islands).
The flight takes a little under 2 hours. Upon arrival we will be able to tour around the area where the "Presidente Eduardo Frei M." Chilean Base and "Bellinghausen" Russian Base are located. We will gather at the beach on Fildes Bay for embarkation, by Zodiac boats, to M/V "Ocean Nova". BLD