Amazing Andean Inca Culture 8 Days

Andes Magic & Archaeological Mysteries of Peru 8 Days - Itinerary

Day 1: Welcome To Cusco + Cusco City Tour

Upon your arrival to the cosmopolitan capital of Cusco, you will be greeted by our representative and transferred to your hotel. There you will receive a short briefing and be given the morning to acclimatize.  In the afternoon, You will be picked up from you hotel at approximately 13:00. From here you will head to Cusco’s Plaza de Armas where you will be able to appreciate the important colonial attractions and the wonderful landscape

After touring this beautiful place  you will continue on foot with your group through an ancient Inca-built street from the Plaza de Armas to Qoricancha, the Temple of the Sun. In Qoricancha you will observe the clash between Inca culture and Catholicism, and you will have the opportunity to see firsthand the difference in building methods. Your guide will explain about the history behind the arrival of the Spanish to Cusco.

Continue your City tour.The first stop is Sacsayhuaman, a huge fortified citadel and sacred ritual ground. Marvel at the master Inca stonework and the immense stones used to construct the fortress.

From Sacsayhuaman will go by bus to the farthest archaeological site, Tambomachay, a water temple conveying Inca principles of duality and displaying their mastery of hydraulics. Then you will visit Quenqo, small temple site of the Inca, It is a temple which was dedicated to sacrifices and the principle of the world being divided into three realms; Hanan Pacha, the celestial realm in the sky, Cay Pacha, the outer Earth, where people live and Uku Pacha, the inner Earth and the last visit it is Puca Pucara  ruins.

After finishing the visit of the archaeological sites (as allowed by the daylight) you will return to Cusco by bus, arriving by approximately 18:30.

• Meals : None
• Difficulty: Enjoyable
• Accommodation: Hotel
• Entrance Tickets: Included

Day 2: Cusco - Hot Springs - Huacahuasi

After breakfast we will start with our trip in a private van that will take us through the Sacred Valley until the town of Calca (2,925 m.a.s.l), where we will make a brief stop to buy some products that we might need for the trek.  Later we will go through the Amparaes pass (4,580 m.a.s.l.) from where we will see the mountain chain and beautiful valley of this area. We will descend into this valley passing through Andean communities, groups of llamas, and alpacas, e.g. Close to the town of Lares we will find the Hot Springs where we can enjoy a relaxing swim and rest after a long trip. 

We will also have lunch here and later in the afternoon we will start with our trek.  We will ascend until the mountain town of Huacahuasi (3,750 m.a.s.l).  This is a real Andean community where you will be able to see textiles full of color and traditional clothes.  We will set our campsite for the night here.

• Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Afternoon Tea – Dinner
• Accommodation: Camping facilities
• Distance: 8kms
• Time: 4 hrs approximately
• Difficulty: Moderate

Day 3: Huacahuasi - Ipsaycocha

Before we start trekking, we will have the chance to visit the community of Huacawasi and learn about the customs and traditions still kept from ancestral times. After this we will start our trek, gradually ascending and passing by small populations that still use the very colorful clothings of their ancestors and herds of llamas and alpacas. Along the way we will have the opportunity to share local experiences.

After ascending for approximately 3-4 hours, we will arrive at the highest pass on our trek- Ipsayccasa (4,450 masl). Here we will rest for a bit, feeling the cold of the air high in the Andes, almost touching the clouds. From here we can see the entire chain of snow-capped mountains in the area, such as the Mountain of Verónica (5,750 masl).

After we are rested, we will descend to the Ipsaycocha lagoon (4,350 masl), a small lake with an abundance of high-altitude birds, including the Andean goose, known for its color and size; the Puna ibis, and other aquatic birds that soar through the mountains. Here we will have our first campsite, close to the lagoon of Ipsaycocha.

• Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Afternoon Tea – Dinner
• Accommodation: Camping facilities
• Distance: 8kms
• Time: 6 hrs approximately
• Difficulty: Challenging

Day 4: Ipsaycocha - Pumamarka – Ollantaytambo

We will wake up early to local birdsong, and have our breakfast surrounded by the mountains and lagoon in all their splendor. We start out descending toward the community of Patacancha (3,750 masl), which is another ancestral community characterized by its colored woven textiles and indigenous culture. From here we will take a local car/van for approximately 30 minutes to the archaeological site of Pumamarka (3,750 masl), known locally as “The Pueblo del los Pumas” (The City of the Pumas), a mystical and magical place in its location overlooking the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

After our visit to Pumamarka, we will have a delicious lunch and a nice rest. After lunch, we start walking again on one of the original Inca Trails, passing by different archaeological sites, filled with different flora and fauna, with incredible views of various valleys, mountains, and local villagers along the route, finally arriving in Ollantaytambo, where we will spend the night.

• Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Afternoon Tea – Dinner
• Accommodation: Camping facilities
• Distance: 8kms
• Time: 7 hrs approximately
• Difficulty: Moderate

Day 5: Short Inca Trail To Machu Picchu

After breakfast, we will make our way to the Ollantaytambo train station where you will board the train that leaves from Ollantaytambo train station heading to Km 104 (start of our walk of Short Inca Trail). The train trip lasts an hour and a half, in this tour you will be able to appreciate beautiful landscapes and different ecosystems.

When you reach km 104 and then cross a suspension bridge to reach the checkpoint, you must present your passport or document with which you made your reservation. At the end of the respective controls we will start with the uphill walk for 4 hours until we reach the Inca Wiñaywayna site which in Quechua means (forever young) Wiñaywayna has a height of 2680 meters above sea level and is considered one of the most attractive sites of this route.

After your guided tour we will stop to eat our box lunch. After recharging our energy we will continue our hike for an hour and a half until we reach the Intipunku (Sun Gate) where you can enjoy the first panoramic views of Machu Picchu. Finally we will continue walking through the last section of the Inca Trail until we reach the place where you can take the classic photo with the old citadel.

Then we take our bus to Aguas Calientes, where we spend the night in our hotel.

• Meals: Box Lunch & Dinner.
• Accommodation: Hotel
• Distance: 12 kms
• Time: 7 hrs approximately
• Difficulty: Moderate.

Day 6: Guiding Tour Of Machu Picchu

This is the day you’ve been waiting for! Today is your once in a lifetime visit to the majestic Machu Picchu. We encourage every group to have an early breakfast We take the 7:30am bus to Machu Picchu archeological site, arriving in time for the sunrise, making sure we tour every nook and cranny of this New 7 Wonder of the World and UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. On your 2.5 hours private tour, your guide will expertly direct you through the energetic ruins and its diverse main streets.

Then on your own, you can wander around the town squares of the world’s spiritual center of esoteric wisdom as well as climb the intricately carved stairways made of stone until the end of your session time.

• If you wish to indulge in a few of the following activities on your own, you can (not included in the price)
• Climb up Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain and appreciate the beauty and magnificence of Machu Picchu (An additional fee)
• Other optional activities in Aguas Calientes include a visit to the new local museum or to the hot springs. (Entrance fee to enter)

After your time to enjoy Machu Picchu, you will descend to Aguas Calientes at 12pm. You can take in a leisurely lunch or explore Aguas Calientes handicraft market and board the Vistadome train by 4:43pm for the return trip to Cusco stopping at the Poroy (Cusco) Train Station and then you will be driven back to your hotel in our private van, arriving around 9pm.  (During rainy season, January to May train only runs to Ollantaytambo. Passengers will be transferred by van to Cusco)

• Meals: Breakfast
• Accommodation: Hotels
• Entrance Tickets: Included
• Difficulty: Enjoyable

Day 7:  Rainbow Mountain And Red Valley

We pick you up in your Hotel around 4:30 to 4:50 a.m. then we’ll travel 02 hours on a bus to Cusipata where you’ll have a delicious breakfast, after we continue to Phullawasipata (4626 mts. /15177 fts.) this is the trail head where we start the hiking, first we walk 1 and an 1/2 to two hours uphill where you will find a beautiful landscape, big mountain and local people with their typical clothes making their daily life, you will find groups of Alpacas, Llamas and sometimes wild Vicuñas, also small lagoons created by the thaws of the glaciers, once you arrive to the summit (Vinicunca 5020 mts. / 16469 Fts.).From the highest part you can appreciate this stunning landscapes ,a free time to rest and to take your pictures, then

We start to go back by a different way, the “Red Valley”, we call it likethat for the red color of the mountain soil, they look pretty nice and you will find only few people, this is a total different experience, this will be other 2 and 1/2 hours walk downhill to arrive again in Phullawasipata.

After having our delicious buffet lunch we take back our tranport to Cusco and drop you off at your hotel in Cusco , arriving around 5pm.

• Meals: Box Lunch & Dinner.
• Accommodation: Hotel
• Difficulty: Moderate.

Day 8: Departure From Cusco

Great journey ends here. Airport drop-off is included and it can be done at any time. Today is your last day in Cusco! You will be met at your hotel for a transfer to the Cusco Airport, where you will catch your flight back to Lima and then transfer to your international departure. Alternatively, stay and extend your time in Peru — there's so much to see and explore.

¡Buen viaje!

• Meals: Breakfast

What Is Included

What Is Not Included

Added Values For Free

Price & Availability

““This unique trekking package of the Lares trek & 2 day Inca Trail Package can leave on any date, as long as we have a minimum of 2 participants.”

 Prices :

• US$ 1145 PER PERSON (AMERICAN DOLLARS) Without Hotel
• US$ 1385 PER PERSON (AMERICAN DOLLARS) 4N 3* hotels 
• US$ 1585 PER PERSON (AMERICAN DOLLARS) 4N 4* hotels 

***Deposit for 3* hotels is $ 100 per person and for 4* hotels $200 per person

***Private service is available for $300 more per person for the entire tour.

***This price includes a round trip Vistadome Train is which allows you to enjoy the gorgeous landscape of the Sacred Valley!

Discounts

• 18 to 25 years old: US$30 Information required on student card: name of university, student name, photo of student, expiration date etc. A copy of the card at booking is required & government approval for discount.
• Under 18 years old: US$30 Please send us a copy of your passport at the time of booking.
• Under 11 years old: US$40 Please send us a copy of your passport at the time of booking.

Extras

• Huayna Picchu Mountain: US$75 per person
• Machu Picchu Mountain: US$70 per person
• Single supplement US$50 per night 3*(for solo travelers with single room)
• Single supplement US$100 per night 4*(for solo travelers with single room)

**Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain are optional treks within Machu Picchu Citadel which do not include a guide. The climb is usually done on your own after your tour of Machu Picchu Citadel. If you would like the extra hike to be guided, please request in advance. There is an extra cost for this extra guided tour.

Essentials:

• Passport
• Valid, STUDENT CARD (if you booked as a student)
• Immigration Card (given on the plane as you enter Peru)
• Good daypack (the smaller, the better)
• Water storage: Water reservoir like Camelbaks are encouraged – but enough for at least 2-3 liters.
• Comfortable hiking boots (lightweight with good soles)

For Your Duffel: 

• Wicking t-shirts
• Hiking pants
• Undergarments.
• Hiking socks
• Fleece
• Warm, down jacket: gets very cold at night
• Rain jacket and pants
• Sun hat
• Wool hat
• Headlamp: essential
• Waterproof gloves (even if they are ski gloves, take them)
• Comfortable shoes for camp
• Walking boots
• Waterproof jacket/rain poncho
• Quickdry towel. We provide small ones, you might enjoy something a little larger.
• Small bottle of soap: we provide warm water each day to clean – might make you feel fresh if you had a little soap.
• Battery Charger: There is no place to plug in while trekking!
• Large plastic bags: to help organize and keep clean from dirty.

Toiletries: 

• Sunscreen
• Bug spray
• Handsanitizer
• Wet wipes
• Toothbrush and paste
• Toiletpaper
• Personal medication
• First aid kit: band aids, moleskin, etc.

Inside Your Daypacks: 

Daypacks can be any size for hiking, but we always recommend the smaller, the better. Inside Machu Picchu, no bag larger than 25L will be allowed in. If larger, you will need to store outside citadel gates.

• Water: we supply clean water at each meal. You are responsible for your first morning of water only as we won’t have time to filter water until your first lunch.
• Sunhat
• Rain gear
• Fleece
• Camera
• Music (IPhone)
• Handsanitizer
• Toilet paper and small plastic bag for waste
• Extra Money for Souvenirs, Drinks & Tips

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Thank you for choosing Peruvian Guiding Tours! We will do everything within your means to take care of you and ensure an enjoyable trip of a lifetime in Peru!

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