Andean Experience is a journey into the heart of Andean culture, traditions, and breathtaking landscapes. Immerse yourself in the wisdom of local communities, participate in ancestral rituals, and savor the flavors of authentic Andean cuisine. Whether exploring ancient trails, engaging in spiritual ceremonies, or learning the art of traditional weaving, this experience offers a deep connection to the heritage and soul of the Andes.
- Tour Location: Cusco city, Sacred Valley and 2 days along the famous Inca Trail
- Tour Type: Enjoy for few days the region’s highlights before beginning the 2-day Inca Trail
- Total Walking Distance: 15 KM / 9.3 miles
- Suitable for: Passengers who enjoy nature, living culture, hiking, and are in reasonably good shape.
- Difficulty: Moderately challenging hike
Itinerary
Day 1 Welcome to Cusco + City Tour
Welcome to the regal Cusco City! Our friendly staff will greet you at the airport of Cusco and transfer you to your accommodation in Cusco. Please notice that landing at 3,400 meters above sea level might relate some body effects. Don’t worry if you experience difficult breathing, headaches, or other symptoms upon arrival. Over time, you will witness all of these effects. Therefore, it is highly suggested to take it easy after arriving and let your body acclimate to the altitude by staying hydrated.
Your city tour in Cusco will begin at 1:00 PM, when the tour guide picks you up from the hotel. This tour will take you to the primary points of interest in the downtown and the Inca archaeological sites in its surroundings, such as the Cathedral of Cusco, Q’oricancha, Sacsayhuaman, Q’enqo, and Tambomachay.
We’ll kick off our tour by making our way to the Cathedral from Cusco, located at the Plaza de Armas, declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The Cathedral will amaze you with its impressive architecture, extensive collection of original artworks, and all the decoration executed in gold flakes that embellish the altarpieces.
We will keep walking through ancient streets built by the Incas towards Q’oricancha, or the Temple of the Sun. At Q’oricancha, you’ll be able to compare and contrast the building methods from the Inca culture and the Spanish conquerors. This was the most important religious shrine for the Incas, and it was also the gathering spot for the gods of the conquered settlements during the expansion to the four regions of the Inca Empire.
From Q’oricancha, you will take private transportation to continue the tour. The car ride outside the city will get about 25 minutes to visit the most outstanding archaeological sites among Cusco. We’ll guide you to the magnificent Inca archaeological park of Sacsayhuaman, with its enigmatic 200-ton monoliths. Here, you will have a guided tour of the site and then free time to explore it by your own. You will get the car for five minutes to reach the Inca site Q’enqo to appreciate its fascinating Inca altars. Then, ten minutes in the transportation to reach Puca Pucara, a small circular Inca site. The last stop on our tour is Tambomachay, a shrine devoted to the veneration of water. with impressive water fountains used by the Incas for rituals. Then we will return to the main square of Cusco, where the tour ends or, for more convenience, we will drop you off at your hotel.
- Accommodation: 3-star hotel
- Meals: Not included
- Entrance Tickets: Included
Día 2 Hiking with Alpacas with in the Andes
Today’s tour will start with the pickup from your hotel, approximately at 08:30 AM, from your accommodation in Cusco. This full day tour allows you to visit natural sites to enjoy the unparalleled landscapes.
From Cusco, we will head to the first stop along the tour, Chinchero archaeological site, which will take us about a 1 hour to explore it. Once in Chinchero town, you will have the opportunity to join a women’s association for a scenic alpaca trek through the town’s countryside, which will take about half a day. After that, we will go to the workshop of this organization to enjoy a traditional lunch from this town. Moreover, the women’s organization will be delighted to bring you a demonstration of the whole textile process with ancestral techniques, using natural dyes from shearing the fiber to obtaining the final product. In addition, this place will be the perfect place for souvenir shopping for your loved ones.
After this journey of living ancestral culture, we will carry on the adventure for 1 hour more until we reach the domes, a place with spectacular views to enjoy the sunset in the Andes.
Day 3 Moray, Maras salt ponds and Ollantaytambo
The morning starts with a hearty breakfast for another day of excitement. Moray is an archaeological site located in the Sacred Valley and known for its unusual remains. The site boasts deep circular agricultural terraces from the Inca Empire. As well, you will have the chance to appreciate the greatness of this complex and be amazed by the perfection of its construction.
After Moray, the tour continues towards the next stop in Maras town. Here, you will get surprised by the existence of natural salt ponds that are still in function nowadays. This site will surely impress you with the thousands of small salt evaporation ponds. Make sure to visit the small shops that offer some products made by salt from Maras for relaxing baths.
To end the day, we will visit to Ollantaytambo town, an archaeological site that still preserves its original layout. Here, you can appreciate the different enclosures, irrigation canals, and agricultural terraces that are still used by local inhabitants. Due to many other aspects more, Ollantaytambo is considered the living Inca city.
Finally, after the tour, you will go to the accommodation, where your tour guide will provide you with information about the following day.
- Accommodation: 3-star hotel
- Meals: Breakfast (at the hotel)
- Entrance Tickets: Included
Day 4 Inca Trail - 2D / 1N
This day will start early in the morning with a pickup from your accommodation in Ollantaytambo, at approximately 05:30 AM. Then, we will head to the train station to take the 06:10 AM train towards Aguas Calientes town. The train route follows the Urubamba River, offering spectacular views of Inca terraces along the valley, snow-capped mountains, and the mighty Urubamba River. The train journey will last approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes and will take us directly to the starting point of the hike, commonly known as KM 104 or Chachabamba, located at 2,150 meters above sea level.
Once at the trailhead, we will pass through the first check point, where you will get ready for the day’s hike. At this spot, you will meet your mountain chef and porters who will provide you with a snack for the hike before beginning the hike. Make sure to bring your original passport, because this is the first check point along the Inca Trail. After that, you will visit the first Inca site, named Chachabamba, and during ancient times was an Inca control point to get in the Inca Trail, therefore you will have a brief guided tour to understand its importance. Also, we will take a moment for a group photo.
After the archaeological site, the hike will take us to a gentle uphill climb until it joins the Classic Inca Trail. Along the hike, you will appreciate wonderful views of Machu Picchu Mountain, Urubamba River, and other surrounding Inca sites. You will also pass by some waterfalls, a perfect opportunity to get refreshed. The trail boasts some flat areas as well as some short uphill and downhill stretches. It also features sections with narrow steps, but they are not hazardous. After walking for about 3 hours, you will arrive at the most beautiful Inca site throughout the Inca Trail, Wiñay Wayna (Forever Young) at 2,650 meters above sea level. Here, you will enjoy this archaeological site with stunning water fountains, shrines, and agricultural terraces. The backdrop of Wiñay Wayna will also impress you, dropping off a cliff, with beautiful mountains surrounding the area in perfect harmony.
From Wiñay Wayna, we will keep hiking for 10 more minutes to stop at the campsite of the same name to recharge your body energy and our chef will be happy to bring lunch. After a short nap, we will continue with the hike.
From this spot, the hike becomes easier, passing through a lush forest typical of the high jungle area, leading us to the Sun Gate, from where you will have an impressive and picturesque view of Machu Picchu. Here, you will have enough time to enjoy the beauty of the surrounding landmarks before continuing our descent to Machu Picchu and Aguas Calientes town. A great advantage of this hike is the time we arrive at Machu Picchu, owing to most other travelers will have gone home at those hours. This will leave the views of Machu Picchu almost empty.
From Machu Picchu, we will take the bus to Aguas Calientes and head to your hotel. After some rest, we will gather as a group and head to one of the best restaurants in Aguas Calientes. After dinner, we recommend going to bed early to make the most of the next day.
- Accommodation: 3-star hotel.
- Meals: Breakfast (at the hotel), lunch, and dinner.
- Entrance Tickets: Included.
Día 5 Visit to Machu Picchu
This is the most important day of your journey. To make the most of the day, we suggest that all our groups have an early breakfast to take one of the first buses towards the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu (starting from 5:30 AM). The hotel will store your luggage while you are at Machu Picchu. Thus, you only need to carry your personal backpack with all the essentials for your visit to Machu Picchu. The bus ride from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu will take approximately 30 minutes.
Once at Machu Picchu, your tour guide will introduce you to the beautiful Machu Picchu. You will head directly to the classic photo spot located at the top, where you will enjoy the sunrise and the enigmatic landscape around Machu Picchu. In addition, your tour guide will take you through the main sectors of the citadel for a total of 2.5 hours. During this guided tour, you will learn more about the history and culture of the Inca Empire. At the end of the tour, you will have some free time to explore the lower part of Machu Picchu by your own. If you have arranged an additional hike, such as Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, your tour guide will show you the entrance gate to these hikes.
We recommend starting your return to Aguas Calientes at least 2 hours before your train’s departure from Machu Picchu. Your tour guide will inform you about the train schedule before your return. The train ride from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo will take approximately 2 hours. In Ollantaytambo, our staff will be waiting for you at the station’s exit gate, ready to take you back to Cusco in a private vehicle. The return trip to Cusco will take about 2 hours, and the day’s service concludes at your hotel in Cusco.
OPTIONS
The Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain are additional hikes available once inside Machu Picchu. Any of the additional hikes can be done after your guided tour in Machu Picchu and must be arranged in advance. Both hikes are subject to availability and have an additional cost of USD $75 per person.
- Accommodation: 3-star hotel
- Meals: Breakfast (at the hotel)
- Entrance Tickets: Included
NOTE:
Availability of all hotels is subject to change, and any modifications will require your approval
HOTEL TRANSFER – AIRPORT:
Depending on your domestic flight schedule, the tour includes complimentary transfer. Please inform your tour guide of your transfer time, which should be scheduled at least 2 hours before your flight.