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| SUGGESTED PROGRAMS |
 Unique Adventure: Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
11 days / 10 nights program |
Day 1 - USA/Lima
On arrival, we are met and transferred to the hotel. Overnight at selected Hotel.
Day 2 - Lima/Cusco
Morning transfer to the airport for flight to Cusco. On arrival transfer to our hotel. Rest of the morning for repose and adapt to the altitude. Afternoon tour of colonial Cusco and its surrounding ruins. We will visit the Koricancha or “Temple of the Sun”, which stone works are considered to have no equal. Then we visit the Cathedral featuring many important paintings from “Escuela Cuzquena”. Also the nearby ruins of Sacsayhuaman a fortress with huge polygonal stone blocks. Quenko and Puca Pucara. Overnight at selected Hotel. (B)*.
Day 3 - Cusco/Sacred Valley
Today we star our way out of the city of Cusco to the Sacred valley at an elevation of 8500 feet. The city lies in the Urubamba Valley. Without knowing the benefits of the wheels, or the use of mortar, the Incas constructed cities, suspension bridges, and aqueduct systems with an engineering expertise that still exists today. You will stop first at the colorful Pisac Community Market. Located in a quiet Andean village, we find at the market produce, goods and Peruvian handicrafts for locals and tourists. After lunch at a local restaurant we continue visiting the Ollantaytambo Fortress considered an architectural wonder. Overnight at selected Hotel (B,L)*.
Day 4 - Sacred Valley/Rafting
We are met and transferred to enjoy a rafting tour. We get to Puente Pachar (Ollantaytambo), where after a small safety talk we begin our trip down the river for approx. 2 hours. We pass majestic Andean mountains, unforgettable landscape and small villages. When we arrive to Huayracpunku after a couple of hours of fun a delicious lunch is waiting for us on the shore of the river. After lunch we start our way back to the hotel.
Rest of the day at leisure for optional activities such as Horse back riding, mountain bike tours or visit to a local public school, etc. Overnight at selected Hotel. (B,L)*
Day 5 - Sacred Valley/Chillca / Llaqtapata
A spectacular drive through the Sacred Valley of the Incas takes us to Chillca, our trailhead. Crossing a footbridge, we take an undulating trek through a dry cactus zone beneath soaring views to the snows of Mt. Verónica, with the turbulent Urubamba River on our right. We reach our campsite at the imposing sculpted terraces of Inca Llaqtapata, and explore further downstream to the outlying areas of this massive ancient farming complex. Overnight at campsite (B,L,D)*
Day 6 - Llaqtapata/Llulluchapampa
The trail climbs gently into the mountains through the last inhabited village of Huayllabamba, and then more steeply past a rushing stream through enchanted native polylepis woodland. Crossing the rim of a small plateau, we abruptly find ourselves in the puna, the treeless grasslands of the high Andes. We camp below mighty crags, looking eastward to the snow peaks and valleys of the Huayanay massif. Overnight at campsite (B,L,D)*
Day 7 - Llulluchapampa/Phuyupatamarca
We climb to the first and highest pass, Warmiwañusca (4,200m/13,776ft), with spectacular views of the trail ahead to the second pass. Descending to the forested Pacamayo valley, we pick up an Inca stairway and ascend again past the small Inca site of Runkuracay. We reach the second pass, where the landscape opens onto spectacular new views to the snow peaks of the Pumasillo range, and then descend to the ruins of Sayacmarca (Inaccessible Town), an intricate labyrinth of houses, plazas and water channels, perched precariously on a rocky spur overlooking the Aobamba valley. The Inca trail, now a massive buttressed structure of granite paving stones, continues along the steep upper fringes of the cloud forest through a colorful riot of orchids, bromeliads, mosses and ferns. At the third pass we camp by pinnacles topped with
Inca viewing platforms, overlooking the archaeological complex of Phuyupatamarca (Cloud-level Town). Overnight at campsite (B, L, D)*
Day 8 - Phuyupatamarca/Machu Picchu
We explore the wondrous maze of Inca stone towers, fountains and stairways spilling down the mountainside at Phuyupatamarca then begin a long descent through ever-changing layers of cloud forest. An Inca stairway partly cut from living granite leads us finally to the site of Wiñay Wayna (Forever Young), the largest and most exquisite of the Inca Trail sites. In the afternoon, we follow the last stretch of trail across a steep mountainside through a lush, humid cloud forest of giant ferns and broad-leaf vegetation. Suddenly we cross the stone threshold of Intipunku (Sun Gate) and encounter an unforgettable sweep of natural beauty and human artistry –a backdrop of twisting gorge and forested peaks framing the magical city of Machu Picchu. Ovenight at selected hotel (B,L,D)*
Day 9 - Machu Picchu /Cusco
We return to Machu Picchu and spend the day in both guided and individual exploration, visiting the best-known features of this astounding and mysterious Inca settlement. Some will want to take the optional hike to the summit of Wayna Picchu for an amazing overview of the site, while others may want to investigate Machu Picchu’s multitude of hidden nooks and corners. After a full-on experience of this glorious monument to the Inca achievement, we return to Aguas Calientes and board the return train to Cusco. On arrival, we are met and transferred to our hotel.
Overnight at selected hotel (B,L)
Day 10 - Cusco/Lima
Morning transfer to the airport for flight to Lima. On arrival transfer to hotel.
Afternoon tour of the colonial center visiting the Cathedral at the Main Plaza, and the modern districts of San Isidro and Miraflores. Drive though the stylish suburb of San Isidro and watch the surf of the Pacific Ocean pound the dry cliffs of the shoreline. Following, we visit the Gold Museum. Overnight at selected hotel. (B)*
Day 11 - Departure
Early transfer to the airport for flight back to USA.
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| *(Meals code: B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner) |
Does Include: Accommodations, mentioned meals, transportation, scheduled guided tours and entrance fees. Flight (Cusco/Manu/Cusco).
Does not include: International and internal flights (Lima/Cusco/Lima), International $30.25 and domestic $6.05 airport departure taxes, Optional tours, Tips to drivers and Guides.
Our sample programs are for information only and can be customized.
For pricing, please contact us at 1-888-232-4125 or info@peru-tours.biz |
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