Machu Picchu and Cusco (7 Days)

Itinerary

DAY 1: AIRPORT RECEPTION – CUSCO CITY TOUR

Upon your arrival in Cusco, the Xploringperu team will be waiting for you with an identification sign at the airport or bus terminal. We will transfer you to your chosen hotel, providing all the guidance you need for your stay in the city, and afterward we will begin the city tour.

Itinerary:
If you choose the Qoricancha circuit, pickup will be at 8:45 a.m.
At 11:00 a.m. we will stop by your accommodation to head to the first stop of the City Tour. You will get to know the following attractions:

• Qoricancha: A sacred precinct, considered the main axis of the Inca world.
• Sacsayhuaman: Temple of Thunder, a ceremonial fortress with stone blocks weighing up to 120 tons.
• Qenqo: A labyrinth-shaped ceremonial center dedicated to earth worship.
• Puca Pucara: A reddish-toned structure used as a military checkpoint.
• Tambomachay: Temple of Water, a space dedicated to the worship of the sacred liquid.

The tour will end around 7:00 p.m.

DAY 2: SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS – AGUAS CALIENTES (MACHU PICCHU)

At 8:00 a.m. we will pick you up at your hotel to board our vehicle and travel for 1 hour and a half to the archaeological complex of Pisac, where we will enjoy a satisfying breakfast.
Following the route of the Willka Mayu river (sacred river), we will arrive in Urubamba, capital of the Sacred Valley, where we will have a buffet lunch featuring the best of Andean cuisine.
After lunch, we will travel 30 minutes to the town of Ollantaytambo to explore its archaeological site. We will take a 1-hour guided visit, with special attention to the Temple of the Sun, the Intihuatana, the Princess Baths, and the impressive Andean terraces.
Once the visit to Ollantaytambo is finished, we will head to the train station to board the service that will take us to Aguas Calientes, where we will spend the night in order to visit Machu Picchu the following day. In the evening, the guide will come to your hotel to go over the details of the visit to the citadel.

DAY 3: MACHU PICCHU

After breakfast at the hotel, the guide will pick you up (coordinate the time with the guide). We will board the bus up to majestic Machu Picchu. Upon arriving at the entrance to the citadel, we will present our tickets and begin the guided excursion, which lasts 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Afterward, we will return to the town of Aguas Calientes for lunch.
In the afternoon, you will take the train back to Cusco (you must check in 30 minutes before departure).
The return will follow the same route as the way there; upon arriving at the Ollantaytambo station, a vehicle will be waiting to take you to your hotel in Cusco.

DAY 4: MARAS, MORAY, AND THE SALT MINES

At 8:00 a.m. we will stop by your hotel. We will make a first stop in Chinchero, where we will learn about the weaving process and how to distinguish the different materials used.
We will continue on to Maras to visit the salt mines, a visually stunning spectacle. Located on an open hillside above the Urubamba Valley, an underground stream of salt water rises to the surface. Since pre-Inca times, the pools have been used to evaporate the water and obtain salt.
The hypersaline water emerges from a natural spring. After exploring the salt pans, we will travel a short distance to the ruins of Moray. This site consists of three large circular terraced depressions, believed to have been used as agricultural laboratories. The deepest one reaches about 30 m / 98 ft. Although its exact function remains uncertain, the orientation and depth create temperature differences of up to 15°C between the top and bottom, which would have allowed the Incas to experiment with different crops.
Return to Cusco is scheduled for around 2:00 p.m.

DAY 5: RAINBOW MOUNTAIN (VINICUNCA)

The day begins very early, between 4:00 and 4:30 a.m., with pickup at your hotel. We will head to the picturesque town of Pitumarca, south of Cusco, where we will make a brief stop to stock up on water, energy drinks, snacks, and other supplies.
After this stop, we will continue the journey enjoying multicolored landscapes, terraced crops, and Andean animals such as llamas, alpacas, sheep, and vicuñas. We will arrive at the town of Cusipata, where we will have breakfast.
After breakfast, we will get back on the bus to Wasipata, the starting point of the 1-hour-and-50-minute hike to the summit of Vinicunca mountain. We will reach 5,080 m a.s.l.
At the summit we will have plenty of time to take photos and videos and marvel at the magic of the landscape. After this unique experience, we will begin the descent to the point where our transport awaits to take us back to Cusipata, where we will have lunch. We will return to Cusco around 5:00 p.m., bringing the expedition to the Rainbow Mountain to a close.

DAY 6: HUMANTAY LAKE

After picking you up at your hotel, we will set off on a private 3-hour trip to Mollepata, where we will have breakfast and, if you wish, you may purchase some snacks. We will then continue by vehicle to the community of Soraypampa (3,850 m a.s.l.).
In Soraypampa, we will begin the hike to Humantay Lake (4,200 m a.s.l.), enjoying panoramic views. Weather permitting, we will be able to see the majestic Salkantay and Humantay snow peaks. The ascent takes 1.5 hours and is of low to moderate difficulty, rewarded with a magical view. After some free time at the lagoon, we will begin the descent to Soraypampa (approximately 1.5 hours), which is easier. Lunch awaits us in Mollepata and, after a rest, we will return to Cusco, arriving at 4:30 p.m.

DAY 7: CUSCO – FAREWELL

Free morning to relax.
In the afternoon, transfer to the airport for your flight to Lima.