Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

After your flight lands at Lima Jorge Chavez airport, follow the signs for immigration, then walk to the baggage claim area, and then get to customs. After clearing customs, you will be in the international arrivals area, where our staff, who will be holding a sign with your name, will welcome you and drive you to your hotel located in Miraflores, the nicest and safest area of Lima, facing the Pacific Ocean! Private transfer from Lima airport to your hotel Estimated driving time from Airport to Hotel: forty-five minutes Upon arrival at your hotel, our staff will assist you with your hotel check-in and all you may need. Overnight in Lima at Casa Andina Premium Miraflores Hotel – Superior Room *Lima city is located at an altitude of 80 meters (262 feet) above sea level.

Early in the morning, you will be picked up from your hotel and driven to Lima airport to board your flight to Cusco city. You will be assisted with your flight check-in, baggage drop-off, and then escorted to the entrance to the security check area. Notice that gates and departure times may change, please check the airport monitors. Upon arrival at Cusco airport, follow the signs for the baggage claim area, after collecting your luggage you will be in the arrivals area, where our staff will welcome you and drive you to the Sacred Valley, the most comfortable area to adjust to the altitude. On the way to your hotel, you will enjoy visiting Awanacancha center and Pisac village and Market. Cusco – Awanacancha Farm. Feed Llamas and Alpacas! Estimated driving time: one hour Our staff will drive you to Awanacancha farm. The fun can’t wait, here you will feed Llamas and Alpacas, take pictures with them, and learn about the amazing textiles made by the Quechua weavers in the Peruvian Andes. Awanacancha – Pisac Market & Empanadas Estimated driving time: twenty minutes. After visiting Awanacancha you will be driven to the peaceful Quechua village of Pisac, a perfect place to immerse yourself in the Quechua world! Here you will explore its famous Indian market and interact with Quechua families who sell unique handicraft and amazing souvenirs, some of them wearing their traditional outfit. You will also have the chance to try the delicious Empanadas made in a wood-burning oven! After visiting Pisac you will be driven to your hotel located in the sacred valley, the most comfortable area to adjust to the altitude. Free afternoon to rest to adjust to the altitude of the Andes. Overnight in the sacred valley at Casa Andina Premium Valle Hotel – Superior Room Meals included: Breakfast *Cusco city is located at an altitude of 3,400 meters (11,155 feet) above sea level. **The Sacred Valley is located at an altitude of 2,870 meters (9,416 feet) above sea level.

Hotel pickup time: 08:00 a.m. Zip Line duration: four hours After enjoying a delicious breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up and taken on a short drive to Pachar village, where your extraordinary adventure in the Sacred Valley begins! The Sacred Valley zip-line experience offers people of all ages the opportunity to soar through this enchanting and awe-inspiring valley, ensuring both safety and excitement. With a total of 7 lines or cables ranging from 150 meters to 700 meters, covering 2800 meters, this exhilarating activity promises an unforgettable journey. Your adventure will commence with a 30–40-minute hike, followed by a brief via Ferrata climb of four meters, providing you with a taste of the Ferrata climbing experience. Each zip-line offers a unique and varying experience, starting with a gentle and short line, and progressively increasing in difficulty, allowing you to enhance your ziplining skills along the way. Prepare for a thrilling three-hour zip-lining excursion that will leave you with lasting memories. Afterward, we will transport you to your back to your hotel, ensuring a comfortable end to your day in the highlands of the sacred valley. Private tour of Maras and Moray Estimated touring time: four hours. After lunch, you will be picked up from your hotel and embarked on a captivating journey through some of the most fascinating archaeological sites and traditional villages in the Sacred Valley. The first destination, Maras. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by the stunning sight of the Maras salt mines, a series of intricately terraced salt evaporation ponds that have been in use since ancient times. You will have the opportunity to explore the site, learn about the salt extraction process, and witness the striking natural beauty of the contrasting white salt pools against the surrounding mountains. Next, the tour takes you to Moray, an archaeological complex known for its unique circular terraces. These terraces, arranged in concentric circles, were used by the Incas for agricultural experiments due to the varying microclimates they created. Your knowledgeable guide will provide insights into the Inca farming techniques and the significance of Moray as a center for agricultural innovation. After enjoying these amazing Inca sites, you will be driven back to your hotel. Overnight in the sacred valley at Casa Andina Premium valley Hotel – Superior Room Meals included: Breakfast.

Estimated hiking distance: 7 miles/11 kilometers Estimated hiking time: seven hours. This morning you are picked up by your guide from your hotel and embark on a smooth train ride through the spectacular sacred valley of the Incas to Km 104 of the railroad to Machu Picchu, the trailhead of your Inca trail adventure. Morning Expedition train journey from Ollantaytambo to Km 104 Estimated train journey time: one hour and forty minutes. Upon arrival at Km 104 (trailhead), we will cross the foot bridge over the Vilcanota River, pass the checkpoint (you need to show your passport), and start our adventure on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Our first stop will be by the Inca Ruins of Chachabamba, considered an important religious site and a guardhouse to control the access to Machu Picchu. Then we embark on a four-hour uphill hike to Wiñaywayna Ruins, the largest and most amazing Inca site on the Inca Trail, here you will have enough time to explore its terraces, and houses and enjoy the magic scenery. After our box lunch, we continue hiking through the cloud forest until reaching the stone threshold of Inti Punku, known as “The Sun Gate,” located at an altitude of 2,745 meters (9,005 feet) above the sea level and a unique place to enjoy the most beautiful picture of Machu Picchu. We arrive in the “Hidden City” of Machu Picchu late in the afternoon. Overnight in Machu Picchu Pueblo at Casa Andina Standard – Superior Room Meals included: Breakfast, Box lunch *Aguas Calientes is located at an altitude of 2000 meters (6,562 ft) above sea level. **Machu Picchu is located at an altitude of 2400 meters (7,874 ft) above sea level.

Hotel pickup time: to be confirmed. After breakfast, you will be met by your guide and embark on an adventure of a lifetime that takes you back to the 15th century. Machu Picchu private tour Estimated guided touring time: two hours and half. This morning, you will explore this impressive Inca city and learn about the history of this site, who lived here, how it was discovered in modern times and why the Spaniards never found it. You will have some insight into the various features of this sacred city and have free time to really enjoy yourself alone in this spectacularly located site, an unforgettable experience that will stay with you forever! After visiting Machu Picchu, you will board the bus to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo) where you can have lunch and free time in Machu Picchu Pueblo Vista dome train journey from Machu Picchu Pueblo to Ollantaytambo-Cusco Estimated train journey time: one hour and thirty-five minutes. Upon arrival at Ollantaytambo train station, you will be met by our staff, and driven to your hotel in Cusco. Upon arrival at your hotel, our staff will assist you with your hotel check-in and all you may need. Overnight in Cusco at Casa Andina Premium Cusco – Superior Room Meals included: Breakfast.

Hotel pickup time: 09:00 am. Estimated guided touring time: four hours. This morning, you will be picked up from your hotel for an unforgettable experience exploring the beautiful city of Cusco, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tour begins with a leisurely stroll to the city's main attractions, starting with the renowned Plaza de Armas, the central square. From there, you will visit the Cusco Cathedral, an architectural masterpiece constructed in 1559. Inside, you will find a remarkable collection of over 400 paintings from the Cusco school, dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries. As you wander through the narrow Inca streets surrounding the Plaza, you will marvel at the massive Inca walls that form the foundation of the city. Your tour also includes a visit to the magnificent Koricancha, known as the Temple of the Sun during the Inca era. This sacred temple once boasted walls adorned with solid gold sheets and a courtyard adorned with golden statues and ornaments. You will also have the opportunity to explore the Santo Domingo Church, a Spanish colonial construction built upon the ruins of the Koricancha. After exploring the city of Cusco, the tour will continue to the remarkable fortress of Sacsayhuaman. This Inca stronghold features perfectly fitted walls constructed with enormous stones. Here, you will unravel the secrets of the Incas and gain insights into their impressive architectural skills. The tour will then proceed to Qenko, a site featuring intricately carved living rocks, followed by Puca Pucara, an Inca lodging site. Finally, you will visit Tambo Machay, known as the Baths of the Inca, where you can enjoy breathtaking views of the Inca city and its surrounding areas. Throughout the tour, your knowledgeable guide will provide informative commentary, offering a deeper understanding of the rich history and cultural significance of each site you visit. Free afternoon to explore Cusco’s plazas with your private guide. Overnight in Cusco at Casa Andina Premium Cusco – Superior Room Meals included: Breakfast.

Hotel pickup time: 04:30 am. Estimated hiking distance: 4 miles/7 kilometers Estimated hiking time: four hours Summit elevation: 5200 meters (17060 feet) above sea level. Early in the morning you will be picked up from your hotel and driven for almost two hours by private van to Cusipata, where we will enjoy a delicious Andean breakfast. It is important to note that we will be in a remote community far from Cusco and we won't have the amenities of a city. Fulawasi is the next stop on our tour to the 7-Color Mountain, where we will start our hike. The hike to Apu Vinicunca will last approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes uphill until we reach the foothills of the Red Valley, the access point to this beautiful 7-Color Mountain. We will walk along a trail that gradually changes the landscape to intense colored mountains and small icy streams that nourish and give life to this valley. We will reach an altitude of 5200 meters above sea level, the height of the majestic Vinicunca Mountain. At the summit, we will have enough time to take beautiful photos in the colorful landscapes and immortalize this unforgettable experience. Our guide will provide us with information about the 7-Color Mountain. We will return to Cusipata, where we will enjoy an Andean lunch. Then, we will head back to the city of Cusco, concluding our tour to the 7-Color Mountain. Overnight in Cusco at Casa Andina Premium Hotel - Superior Room Meals included: Breakfast and Box Lunch.

After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel and driven to Cusco airport to board your flight to Lima city. You will be assisted with your flight check-in, baggage drop-off, and then escorted to the entrance to the security check area. Notice that gates and departure times may change, please check the airport monitors. Upon arrival at Lima airport, you will be transported to Lima's Historic Center, a delightful area characterized by its charming narrow streets, picturesque squares, and intricate balconies that showcase the city's colonial architecture. Lima Tour Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988, the Historic Center holds immense historical significance, as Lima played a pivotal role in shaping the New World between the 16th and 18th centuries. During your visit, you will have the opportunity to explore notable plazas such as San Martin square and the Plaza Mayor, the main square. As you wander through the Plaza Mayor, you will encounter the magnificent baroque cathedral, the Government Palace, and the Archbishop's Palace, distinguished by its exquisite carved wooden balconies. Accompanied by your knowledgeable guide, you will stroll along the main streets of Lima Antigua, where you will discover remarkable landmarks, enchanting balconies (Lima boasts an impressive collection of over 1500), and colonial houses adorned with intricate Moorish-style balconies that once housed the early Spanish settlers. One of the highlights of the Historic Center is the San Francisco Monastery, a revered religious complex dating back to the 16th century. Its impressive architecture, including a grand church and monastery, will leave you in awe. Inside the San Francisco convent, you will have the opportunity to explore the largest collection of religious art in the Americas. Additionally, beneath the convent lies an extensive network of catacombs that served as the colonial-era cemetery, adding a fascinating layer of historical depth to your Lima experience. To conclude your Lima tour, you will be driven to the upscale district of Miraflores, nestled along the scenic coastline. Miraflores offers breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and boasts beautiful parks, including the Parque del Amor (Park of Love), adorned with mosaic artwork and a romantic sculpture. You can also explore the vibrant Larcomar shopping center, which provides a wide range of shops, restaurants, and entertainment options to suit your preferences. International Flight Four hours prior to your scheduled international flight departure, you will be transported to the airport to begin your journey back home. Upon reaching the airport, a team of dedicated staff will be present to help with the required flight procedures, including check-in and the handling of your baggage. Meals included: Breakfast.