The Ultimate Machu Picchu Adventure: 7 Days and 6 Nights

In the morning, fly to Cusco, the colonial jewel and ancient capital of the Inca Empire. A guide will pick you up and take you to the Plaza de Armas and local markets before dropping you at your hotel. The rest of the day is free to rest and acclimatize to the altitude.

Today we have a guided tour of Cusco and its nearby ruins. You’ll tour prominent Inca sites in and around Cusco, including temples, the megalithic Sacsayhuaman fortress, the carved stone surfaces and subterranean altars of Kenko, the small Puka Pukara fortress that protected the capital, and the Tambomachay water temple. After a local lunch, we explore the city by foot to appreciate its superbly constructed Inca walls and architecturally extravagant colonial churches and palaces. This also includes a visit of Qoricancha, 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.

We leave Cusco and head to the Chinchero Plateau to explore Chinchero, an important town in Inca times. The most striking remnants of this period are 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 we 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 4,000 salt pools, all carved into the mountain. Transfer to ypur hotel in the Sacred Valley (9290ft / 2830 mt).

The day begins with a short ride from the hotel to Patacancha valley and the gorgeous hamlet of Marcacocha with its beautiful chapel. After this we walk up an ancient Inca Trail to Pumamarca, which showcases a unique example of circular Inca and pre-Inca buildings. From here we walk down past Inca terraces, still used for agriculture, and back into the village of Ollantaytambo, the ruins of an impressive Inca fortress, and the nearby small town, where you’ll explore this archeological site before heading to 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.

We walk to the train station where you will embark for the valley of the Urubamba River to the tiny village of Aguas Calientes.  Emerging from a magnificent cloud forest, (7,875 ft.). You will stay overnight at Aguas Calientes.

Overnight: Aguas Calientes or Machupicchu, 6,232 ft / 1,900 mt

Hiking Details: 2.7 miles / 6 km; approximately 2-3 hours hiking: easy to moderate

Altitude max/min: from 11,482 ft to 9,284 ft

After a bus ride to the gates of this wonder of the world, you will pass through the main gates with your private guide to finally emerge at the top of the world – Machu Picchu. The incredible Inca stone construction will be spread below, alternately hidden and revealed by clouds. Your expert guide will give you a private tour of the ancient city.

We return by bus down to Aguas Calientes for lunch before we depart from Machu Picchu for the train ride back to Ollantaytambo, where we transfer to our vehicle for the drive back to Cusco. Overnight in Cusco. OPTIONAL HUAYNA PICCHU CLIMB – For the more adventurous, you can purchase an additional Huayna Picchu Mountain permit (ask us for costs).

Overnight: Cusco City, 11260 ft / 3435 mt

Huayna Picchu – 07:00 am Shift

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

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

After breakfast, transfers back to the Cusco airport will be arranged for travelers departing today. Trip members can opt to return to Lima for connecting flights home or extend their travels in Peru.