The Andean Journey: 5 Days in Cusco & Machu Picchu

We welcome you to the imperial Cusco city (3,350 m / 11,151 ft), where we eagerly await you at the airport or bus terminal, to transfer you to your hotel in our private transport.

Cusco city is located in the heart of the Andes mountain range. Therefore, we know how important it is to acclimate well before starting this adventure.

After settling into your accommodation and taking a short break, in the afternoon, we will visit the Inca Museum, where we will learn more about the Inca culture. This museum houses ceramics, textiles, tools, and Inca sculptures. You can also observe a series of mummies and deformed skulls, which reveal the funerary and cultural practices of the time.

After the visit to the museum, we will continue our journey to the Qoricancha (3,399 m/11,151 feet), an Inca temple dedicated to the sun god. This historic place was one of the most important buildings of ancient Cusco, with its walls adorned with gold sheets inside.

After this cultural and archaeological experience, we will take you back to your hotel so you can relax.

ROUTE DETAILS:

• Min. Elevation: 3399 m. / 11151 feet.
• Highest Elevation: 3399 m. / 11151 feet.
• Campsite Elevation: --
• Walking Distance: --
• Walking time: 2 hours
• Difficulty: Easy
• Weather: Sunny and Cold
• Meals: --
• Accommodation: Ayni Cusco Hotel*** or similar

We will start our day with a tour to Saqsayhuaman, a jewel of Inca architecture that stands out for its magnificent attributes and colossal rocks. This work is considered in the history of humanity as one of the greatest constructions on the face of the earth. Then, we will continue to the Moon Temple, a place of spiritual connection, and encounter the feminine energy of the Moon Goddess. Finally, we will visit the ceremonial center of Qenqo.

The places we will visit are:

• Saqsayhuaman.
• Temple of the Moon.
• Qenqo.

In the afternoon, we will travel by bus to Ollantaytambo town, where we will take the train to Aguas Calientes town. (2,050 meters/6,561 feet)

Note: We recommend you choose the Vistadome service for your section by train, as you will have panoramic landscape views along the way. This service has larger windows and skylights in the ceiling, which guarantees a unique and pleasant experience.

ROUTE DETAILS:

• Min. Elevation: 2040 m. / 6692 feet.
• Highest Elevation: 3700 m. / 12139 feet.
• Campsite Elevation:  --
• Walking Distance: --
• Walking time: 3 hours
• Difficulty: Easy
• Weather: Sunny and Humid
• Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Golden Sunrise Machu Picchu *** or similar

Today we will get up early for breakfast and take one of the first buses that will take us from Aguas Calientes to the Machu Picchu Inca Citadel (2,430 meters / 7,972 feet).

Upon arrival at the entrance, we will present our ticket and passport. Our guide will explain the history of this Inca wonder as we travel through the most important sectors of Machu Picchu, such as the classic viewpoint, the Guardian House, the viewpoint of the Temple of the Sun, the Sacred Rock or the Set of Water Mirrors.

After the guided tour, you will have time to climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, if you have purchased the entrance ticket for any of these places. These extra routes in Machu Picchu are an optional activity, which has an additional cost and must be booked in advance for limited space.

After finishing the visit to the wonder of the world, you will return by bus to Aguas Calientes town for lunch. Then you will take the train back to Ollantaytambo, where we will rest at the hotel.

ROUTE DETAILS:

• Min. Elevation: 2040 m. / 6692 feet.
• Highest Elevation: 2792 m / 9160 feet.
• Campsite Elevation:  ----
• Walking Distance: 2 km /  1.2427
• Walking time: 2 hours
• Difficulty: Easy
• Weather: Sunny, Humid & Cold
• Meals: Breakfast
• Accommodation: Intitambo *** (Ollantaytambo) or similar

In the morning we will visit Moray (3,500 meters/11,483 feet), an old construction designed for agricultural research. Here the many concentric "rings" of platforms (cultivation terraces) produce a fine micro-climate gradient. Thus, the heat from the lower center ring slowly dissipates as the rings ascend outwards, creating a temperature reduction to the ground-level standard.

After that, we will descend a little to the Maras Salt Mines (3,500 meters/11,483 feet), located about 2 kilometers, an important production center that dates back to pre-Inca times. Here we will find more than 3,000 salt wells minted along the mountainside, filled daily with water that seeps into the earth.

The last place we will visit will be Chinchero (3,762 meters/12,342 feet), here we will admire the Inca walls well preserved in the main square as many altars. We will also visit the beautiful colonial church, unique for its works of art and imagery. Continuing, we will participate in a wonderful introduction to the art of Andean fabrics. Throughout the afternoon we will familiarize ourselves with the wisdom of Andean Fabrics.

ROUTE DETAILS:

• Min. Elevation: 2792 m / 9160 feet.
• Highest Elevation: 3755 m. / 16600 feet.
• Campsite Elevation:  --
• Walking Distance: --
• Walking time: 3 hours
• Difficulty: Easy
• Weather: Sunny & Cold
• Meals: Breakfast
• Accommodation:  Ayni Cusco Hotel *** or similar

Depending on your flight or bus itinerary, you will have the morning free in Cusco to relax, tour the city on your own, or take an optional tour.

We will be attentive to your flight schedule to transfer you promptly to the airport and finish our services on this way.

ROUTE DETAILS:

• Min. Elevation:3399 m. / 11151 feet.
• Highest Elevation: 3399 m. / 11151 feet.
• Campsite Elevation: ---
• Walking Distance: --
• Walking time: --
• Difficulty: Easy
• Weather: Sunny and Cold
• Meals: --
• Accommodation: ---