Center Enter of the Inca Universe 9 Days and 8 Nights

Fly from your home city to Lima, Peru. Upon arrival, your Travelution Peru host will escort you to your hotel, assisting you with all check-in procedures. Situated in Lima’s city center.

Lima is a large city with a population of over 10 million in its metropolitan area. It also has flower gardens, great plazas, huge cathedrals, elegant colonial homes, fine museums, surfing, hopping nightlife, some of the world’s finest restaurants, and excellent hotels. You tour historic Lima, including the Plaza de Armas where you’ll see elegant carved wooden balconies and colonial architecture.

You visit the National Museum of Archeology, Anthropology and History which has one of the largest collections of Pre-Hispanic art and relics including exceptionally well-preserved mummies. From here you proceed to Museo Larco to see an impressive collection of pottery plus gold and silver artifacts.

You’ll lunch at the charming Larco Museum café. Located on the museum’s terrace, the café is the perfect place to enjoy the Peruvian and international gastronomy in a magical and welcoming atmosphere.

You return to the hotel and have free time to explore the nearby galleries and shops. Dinner is on your own this evening.

A quick flight over the snow-covered Andes brings you to Cusco (11260 ft / 3435 mt), your gateway to the Sacred Valley (9290ft / 2830 mt). You will make a stop at Awanacancha where you will see the four Andean camels (Llamas, Alpacas, Huanacos and Vicuñas) and then see a traditional Andean textile center that serves as a perfect introduction to the Andean life.

You will go to Pisac`s impressive archeological complex, after the visit to the Fortress, there is a short stop to explore the typical, indigenous village of Pisac. If you are inclined, you may hike down from the Fortress through the terraces to the village where you will find a large number of local artisans who gather from different communities to sell their handicrafts and unique food.

We leave The Sacred Valley and head to the Chinchero Plateau to explore Chinchero, an important town in Inca times. The most striking remnant of this period is the massive stone wall in the main plaza, which has 10 trapezoidal niches, and the colonial church. Next, we’ll proceed to the enigmatic Inca ruins at Moray. Visually, these stepped-terrace ruins resemble an ancient amphitheater, though some experts believe they served as agricultural laboratories where the Incas could experiment with new farming techniques. Enjoy a delightful picnic lunch, where you can savor dishes made with locally grown produce. Visit the salt mines of Maras. This village is a salt-producing center that dates back all the way to pre-Inca times. There are more than 4,000 salt pools carved into the mountain.

You begin the day with a visit to the spectacular temple-fortress and village of Ollantaytambo, a site that is little changed from the days of the Incas. You’ll catch a morning train in Ollantaytambo for one of the most breathtaking rail journeys in the world. The rail line follows the river down the impressive Canyon of the Vilcanota to the foot of Machu Picchu.

Your accommodations are at the lovely riverside Machu Picchu Pueblo, (6,232 ft / 1,900 mt). A short stroll from the Aguas Calientes train station. Following check-in, you will board a bus and head up to the archeaological site of Machu Picchu. It is an amazing ride including 22 switch backs.

You start your exploration of Machu Picchu with an orientation stroll around the site. This will give a rough sense of the layout of the ruins. After lunch you will enjoy an extended guided walking tour.

Hotel: Machu Picchu Pueblo; Sanctuary Lodge by request.

As the site opens at sunrise, you’ll have an early breakfast and catch the bus up to the ruins. Mist often shrouds the major peaks and floats onto the valley. The rising sun casts a golden glow into this fantasy land; it is not to be missed at this hour. 

There is an optional (weather-dependent) challenging hike up Machu Picchu Mountain—a 5-6 hour round trip scenic workout! It’s a steady climb, gentle stairs all the way up. The view of the site is awe inspiring. Your camera will give you astounding images. It’s one of the most spectacular picnic sites you may ever enjoy.

There’s another optional hike up a steep trail, hidden in crevasses and bushes that leads to the top of Huayna Picchu, the slender granite peak that appears in every photo of Machu Picchu. On top, the view of Machu Picchu, the archeological site, the surrounding valleys and snow-capped peaks is truly breath taking. The climb is impressive and requires no more than 1.5 – 2 hours, even if you are a very slow hiker. It is a challenging hike, not for everyone, but the reward of reaching the summit is one of the greatest views in the world! The descent is relatively quick and easy, but steep, and leads straight to lunch!

After lunch you’ll have the option for further guided exploration of the ruins or you may also hike up to the Sun Gate overlooking Machu Picchu, explore the Inca Bridge.

Overnight: Machu Picchu Pueblo, 6,232 ft / 1,900 mt; Sanctuary Lodge by request, 

Huayna Picchu – 07:00am Shift

Hiking Details: 1.25 miles; approximately 2-3 hours hiking, 

Altitude min/max: from 7,970 ft to 8,835 ft

This morning, we’ll board the morning train to Ollantaytambo then we will head the Albergue restaurant to try the most famous dish in the Andes. Pachamanca is the traditional Peruvian dish common in the central Andean region.

The word Pachamanca comes from the Quechua indigenous language, with “pacha” meaning earth and “manka” meaning pot. This tradition supposedly dates to before the Spanish conquest in 1532 and was a form of ritual to celebrate life and fertility and to thank “pacha mama”, or mother earth, for providing food. While you are waiting for the food to cook, our chef will take you on a tour of the organic farm that provides 90% of ingredients for the Pachamanca. They grow many varieties including typical local plants like huacatay (black mint), Inca berries and quinoa, and raise their own rabbits, ducks and sheep. 

After this delight lunch we will be transfer by van to Cusco—the Center of the Inca Universe (alt. 11,200 feet). Inca means “ruler,” or “king” – an equivalent to the Roman Caesars

You visit the bustling Cusco “Mercado Central”, a traditional market were you will get a sense of the daily rhythm of Cuzqueño life. From open air stalls, everything from coca leaves, carrots, rubber boots, jeans, padlocks, beef, live chickens and ducks, to cuys, Band-Aids, and a range of familiar and unfamiliar fruits and vegetables are sold -sometimes for cash, sometimes in the traditional manner-barter. This also includes a visit of Koricancha, the Golden Temple of the Sun, in ancient times the cathedral. Then you may have time to explore some of the central parts of the city and a chance to look at some of the great varieties of local craft work on sale in open-air artisan markets and shops

After lunch you will visit the Inca Historical Museum for a fine overview of the history of the Inca Empire from its beginning to its demise.

In the late afternoon you will venture up to Sacsayhuaman to explore the spectacular ceremonial and “parade” grounds used by the Incas for major celebrations, pageants and sporting events. Inti Raymi, the Incan “Festival of the Sun,” is still celebrated here on June 24. Cusco fills with colorfully dressed, chicha-drinking Indians from villages all over the Andes, who come for this week-long festival of folk-dance competitions, pageantry and renowned debauchery.

You will be treated to a special ceremony with plants and herbs conducted by a shaman before your return to Cusco.

You will be met and transferred back to the airport approximately 2 hours prior to your flight’s departure time.