Cusco Wonders and Machu Picchu

Day 1 Welcome to Cusco City Airport pick-up

Cusco City is located on the east side of the Andes, southern Peru, at 3,450 m/ 11,318 ft. Today a Kuntur Peru representative or tour guide will pick you up from Belasco Astete airport in Cusco, you will be given a brief welcome introduction about the city while you will be driven to your hotel.

You will be invited to have a free walking tour in downtown exploring the plaza, important streets, restaurants, shops, and markets. However, we understand about your long traverse flying across the ocean and the altitude in Cusco is strenuous, so that take a rest the rest of the day may help you to adapt and recover your energy to continue on the coming days of your Kuntur Peru Travel Package.

Arrival Date Cusco City:

Flight number: ……., time ….…

Hotel in Cusco: …….

Have a good time overnight in Cusco City!

Day 2 Cusco City and surrounding Inca sites

Upon the first day of our program, we will visit the surrounding sites out of Cusco City. We will pick you up from your hotel at 8:00 am to drive towards Tambomachay ruins, where you will see a small Inca construction, walls, and sacred water fountains; near Tambomachay is Pukapukara, another Inca site made up of small enclosures and a Platform from where you will have a panoramic view of mountains and Cusco valley, carry on in a private transport you will get Qenqo, a mysterious site with stone altars and big niches built over a massive natural rock outcrop, where Inca priest took out ritual practices, the tour continues toward Saqsayhuaman to admire its megalithic constructions. From Saqsayhuaman, you will be driven down to Cusco’s main square, where we will have the chance to visit the Cathedral (optional), considered an art museum for its invaluable collection of paintings made by Andean people in the XVI century. You will end up on our city tour visiting Qoricancha, the Sun temple of the Incas.

Enjoy the city tour the way only Kuntur Peru knows to do, avoiding the crowds; we are engaged in providing a memorable experience to all our travelers.

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  Meals Included
  Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner.
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  Hiking Distance
  18 km/ 11.18 miles
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  Difficulty
  Demanding 
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  Hike Duration
  6 hours approx.
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  Highest elevation
  4,632 m / 15,193 ft.
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  Camp elevation
  2,750m / 9,020ft.

Day 3 Cusco – Llama farm – Pisaq ruins – Ollantaytambo  

Today, we explore the most outstanding sites of the Sacred Valley. From Cusco city, we will drive towards Pisaq village; on the way, we will stop at Ahuanacancha, where you will see the variety of South American camelids and distinguish a Llama between the Alpaca, their background history, their economic importance for the Incas, and more. Continuing ahead, you will witness the natural beauty of the Sacred Valley and massive farmlands from the lookout point; the tour continues to Pisaq town, then up to the mountain where it is located the first archeological site, also called Pisaq, your guide will give you introductory information about the site, then take a short hike around the archeological complex. On the way back to the town, get the chance to visit the Pisaq market, where you will find a wide variety of handicrafts perfect for gifts. The journey continues driving throughout the Sacred Valley toward Urubaba town, where you will stop to enjoy lunch. In the afternoon, continue for half an hour more to Ollantaytambo, an astounding archeological site known for its Sun temple and its impressive stone walls built on a millimetric precision.

Stay at Ollantaytambo village in a 3* stars hotel, later get the chance to explore the traditional town set up over the foundation of Incan constructions.

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  Meals Included
  Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner.
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  Hiking Distance
  15 km/ 9.32 miles
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  Difficulty
  Demanding.
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  Hike Duration
  6 hours approx.
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  Highest elevation
  2,750 m / 9,020 ft.
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  Camp elevation
  2,050m/ 6,724 ft

Day 4 Chinchero – Maras, Moray – Salineras – train to Aguas Calientes town

On the third day of the program, you will explore the other side of the Valley. You will leave the hotel from Ollantaytambo toward Chinchero, an archeological site considered the residence of the Tupac Inca Yunpanqui ruler. You will have the chance to explore the enclosures, farming terraces, and colonial church if possible; at the end of the tour, visit the weaving center, where you will learn ancient techniques for weaving blankets and clothing; from Chinchero carry on driving 40 minutes to Maras town, then towards Moray, an archeological site made up primarily for circular terraces intended to improve some products for agriculture. After a walking tour around the farming terraces, go on board our transport onward to the last destination at the saltwater wells of Maras town, there you will witness how locals obtain the salt that comes out through the water spring, its artisanal extraction, get the chance to taste and know how the famous Maras salt is classified for its sell and consumption.

After having enjoyed the day exploring the sites up on the sides of the Sacred Valley, we will drive back to Ollantaytambo to get the second overnight in the village; you will have enough time to pack your backpack for the coming days’ adventure on the 5 Days Inca trail to Machu Picchu.

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  Meals Included
  Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner.
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  Hiking Distance
  17 km / 10.5 miles
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  Difficulty
  Challenging.
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  Hike Duration
  7 – 8 Hrs. Approx
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  Highest elevation
  2,850 m / 9,348 ft.
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  Lodging
  3* Hotel

Day 5 Machu Picchu Discovery – Back to Cusco 

Upon the fifth day of the program, Cusco wonders 7 Days, we will be exclusively dedicated to exploring, interpreting, and discovering the most iconic archeological remain in Peru, the Machu Picchu Inca citadel, get first-hand information from someone who has visited Machu Picchu hundreds of times, Machu Picchu is not a simple site, but a whole complex full of stories, mysteries, and enigmas. To us, it is the core of all our adventures.

For today, your tour guide will pick you up early from the hotel, and together you will take the 25 minutes bus ride up to the citadel; please note it is crucial to carry your passport, as it must be shown before you enter the citadel, once is done your guide will take you upwards the lookout point to get the panoramic views of Machu Picchu citadel, Huaynapicchu mountain at the background, you will see the entire site surrounded by Vilcanota river, if you go in the early mornings, you will witness seeing the mist rises as the sun’s rays hit the cold and wet environment a unique phenomenon that can only be seen in the mornings, once you have done taking your amazing photos, the guide will start with a background introduction, and a two-three hours guided tour, within the citadel exploring the residences, enclosures, temples, altars, and more. After the tour, take the bus down to Aguas Calientes town, where you will have enough time for lunch; in the afternoon, board the expedition train back to Ollantaytambo town,then carry on in our private transport to your hotel in Cusco city.

Day 6 Cusco – Limatambo – Mollepata – Soraypampa – Hike to the lake 

Our adventure starts from Cusco City, we will pick you up at your accommodation at 04:30 am on our private transportation; it will take us about 3 hours to drive toward the trailhead at Soraypampa (3850 m / 12,631ft.) along the way, we will pass through small Andean towns and Villache such as Izcuchaca, Marcahuasy, Limatambo, Mollepata and finally to Soraypampa which is base camp for Salkantay trek hikers, we will have a delicious breakfast before embarking on our trek. The trail leads crossing a small stream to get to the camping zone of Soraypampa, from where the trail goes uphill for about two hours to Humantay Lake at 4200 m (13,779 ft.), witnessing the stunning views of the surrounding mountains and snow-capped peaks, if the sky is clear enough, we can see the impressive snow-capped Mountain of Salkantay.

After a great effort, you will be captivated by the vibrant blue-turquoise color of the Humantay Lagoon hidden in the moraine produced by a massive avalanche. Your guide will give you brief information about the mountains and the Andean religiosity, followed by a performance of the Incan culture using the coca leaves, then you will have free time to explore the lagoon. After all this, we will return downhill to Soraypampa for lunch and get back to Cusco City on board our private transport. We will drop you off at your hotel or place of preference.