Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu by Vistadome · 2 Days

After picking you up from your hotel in Cusco at approximately 8 am, we will head to Chinchero to start our Sacred Valley Machu Picchu tour. Soon, our first visit will be to the main square, full of walls and well-preserved Inca altars. Next, the visit will be to a Textile Center to immerse ourselves in an experience of learning the Andean textile art. Then, local weavers will guide you through a step-by-step process in the ancient art of Andean weaving, which has been given since long before the Inca culture.

Then, as we continue our tour of the Sacred Valley Machu Picchu, to our next destination, we will cross lush agricultural fields and small rural communities. Soon, our next stop will be Moray and its spectacular terraces or agricultural concentric rings. Certainly, they have proven to be an experimental center to understand the impact of climate and temperatures on different types of crops or agricultural plants, even for domestication.

After that, we will descend a little to the Salineras of Maras, 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 by the water that seeps into the earth, which we refer to as the tears of Mother Earth!

In the afternoon, our train will leave Ollantaytambo town towards the train station of Aguas Calientes town. You will have the option to visit the hot springs before retiring to rest at your hotel.

Places visited:

• Chinchero
• Textile Center
• Moray
• Maras (Salt Mines)

ROUTE DETAILS:

• Min. Elevation: 2,040 m / 6,692.9 ft
• Highest Elevation: 3,755 m / 16,600 ft
• Campsite Elevation: --
• Walking Distance: 49 km / 30.44 mi
• Walking time: 7 hours
• Difficulty: Easy
• Weather: Warm & Cold
• Meals: --
• Accommodation: Golden Sunrise Machu Picchu Hotel *** or similar

We will rise in the light of dawn to have our breakfast. Then we will head to the bus station to take the first bus to the majestic mountain of Machu Picchu, also known as "La Ciudad de Cristal". We recommend arriving early enough to witness the sunrise in the citadel before receiving the guided tour which will last approximately 2 hours and a half.

If you book in advance, we will arrange for you to ascend to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, we have previously agreed an hour to meet in Aguas Calientes and board the return train to Ollantaytambo and then a private bus back to your hotel in Cusco with which we have completed our tour of the Sacred Valley Machu Picchu.

OPTIONAL:

• The hike towards the peak of Huayna Picchu, a rigorous ascent with steep steps of Inca manufacture, has impressive sites and spectacular views, a 2-hour round trip.
• The hike towards Machu Picchu Mountain has the most spectacular view, but in turn, is one of the most overlooked hikes in Machu Picchu. Located southwest of the citadel of Machu Picchu with a height of 3,050 m (10,007 ft.), this hike offers unparalleled views of the famous Inca sanctuary and panoramic views of the surrounding mountain landscape. Difficulty: Moderate to challenging.

ROUTE DETAILS:

• Min. Elevation: 2,040 m / 6,692.9 ft
• Highest Elevation: 2,430 m / 7,972.4 ft
• Campsite Elevation: --
• Walking Distance: 2 km / 1.25 mi
• Walking time: 2 hours
• Difficulty: Easy
• Weather: Hot and very humid (bring lots of water)
• Meals: Breakfast
• Accommodation: --