The mystery of Machu Picchu begins in Cusco and the Sacred Valley. The Inca Empire, South America’s largest and most powerful civilization, was born here amid high Andean peaks and fertile valleys fed by glacial waters. Great kings built up the imperial city with grand palaces and temples and filled them with unimaginable riches. In the Sacred Valley, they built royal estates and fortresses perched on the sides of mountains.
The 4 Day Machu Picchu Tour offers you the ideal opportunity to discover and experience closely the Inca history, legacy and cultural ways which still endure in the present time, in only 4 days! Your trip to Machu Picchu will take you through Cusco, the Sacred Valley and finally Machu Picchu citadel!
Your trip to Machu Picchu will include:
An excursion through the outstanding Inca and Colonial sights in the lively city of Cusco.
A visit to the formidable and long lasting fortress of Sacsayhuaman.
Travelling across the gorgeous landscape the Sacred Valley of the Incas has to offer.
Shopping at the historical artisan market of Pisac.
Climbing up the stairs to the Wind shrine in the archaeological site of Ollantaytambo.
And finally your Machu Picchu full day tour.
Day 1
This day is to discover the magic of Cusco City. Also you will visit the most important archeological sites in Cusco. Including visits to Cusco’s Cathedral, the Temple of the Sun (Qoricancha) and the various Inca sites found outside of the city you get to see an incredible mixture of Inca and Spanish-style and in the case of Qoricancha, the two combined. Cusco is truly a fascinating place to visit; providing a blend of the two cultures (Inca and Spanish) the city has a look and feel about it that is completely different to the rest of Peru. This tour is a must-do when visiting Cusco and is usually one of the first ports of call for all visiting tourists. Tour ends around 13:30 pm – 14:00 pm. Finally you will return to your hotel.
Overnight in Cusco.
Day 2
Today you will enjoy the impressive landscapes of the Sacred Valley and its unique weather. Pìck up from hotel, a 45 minutes bus ride will take you to the Sacred Valley for a full day group visit to the Pisac market and then on to Ollantaytambo, an attractive little village located at the western end of the Sacred Valley, which has been built on top of original Inca foundations and is the best surviving example of Inca urban planning. The village is divided in canchas (blocks), which are almost entirely intact. Each cancha has only one entrance (usually a huge stone doorway) that leads into a central courtyard. We will also visit the Inca ruins situated on a hilltop landscape with surrounding terracing and cyclopean rock carvings. From the hill-top there is an extraordinary view of the village below and the surrounding countryside.
Tour ends around 16:30 – 17:30 pm. The train station is located 10 minutes away from the Main Square (walking). Go there on your own and take the Expedition train to Aguas Calientes at 20:43 pm. When you arrive to Aguas Calientes you will be assisted by the hotel’s staff.
Overnight in Aguas Calientes.
Day 3
Early in the morning the guide will pick you up at your hotel to help you taking the bus up to Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu. Perched 8,200 feet above the valley, it was hidden by mountains and semi-tropical jungles for 400 years until discovered by Hiram Bingham of Yale University in 1911. Archaeologists believe that the Inca “Virgins of the Sun” took refuge from the Spanish Conquistadors here. The tour takes around 2 hours visiting Machu Picchu. After that you have some free time to take pictures and enjoy the amazing panoramic view of the Sanctuary of Machu Picchu.
Then you may have lunch (not included in the quote) and take some last pictures from Machu Picchu before you catch your bus down to Aguas Calientes (on your own). At your arrival you have time to go to the Hot Springs (optional, not included). Then take the train from Aguas Calientes to Poroy The train station is located between 15 – 20 minutes away from Cusco City. Arriving to the train station a representative will be waiting for you with a sign with your name to transfer you to your hotel in Cusco City.
Overnight in Cusco.
Day 4
At an appropriate time pick you up from the lobby of your hotel to transfer to the airport to take your flight to Lima.
