Cusco and Inca Trail To Machu Picchu 6 Days
Explore amazing ruins and the fabled Lost City of the Incas, The Inca City of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu is the articulating center of its surroundings, a masterpiece of art, urbanism, architecture and engineering of the Inca Civilization. The working of the mountain where Machu Picchu sits at the foot of the Huayna Picchu.
TIME TOUR |
ACTIVITIES |
TOUR PRICE |
6 Days | Trekking, Visit archaeological sites, travel to bus, walks in the city. | $ 965 |
ITINERARY
The appeal of the SHORT INCA TRAIL MACHU PICCHU is the stunning cultural show of Inca ruins, Exotic Inca Side by side mountains, primitive lush vegetation and extraordinary ecological varieties. The trail goes through the National Park and enters through the Sun Gate with unforgettable views of Machu Picchu, through cloud pitted forest and finally into subtropical vegetation. Ending at the magnificent wonder of the world: Machu Picchu.
Day 1 Flight to Cusco and City Tour through the capital of the Incas
We will pick you up at the airport of Cusco City and take you to your hotel, you will have some free time to have a first look around Cusco: visit the charming quarter San Blas, famous for its crafts and arts stores and gallerys, the historical center with its ancient Inca stone walls, narrow streets and colonial buildings, churches and museums.
In San Blas and the center you find a variety of local restaurants to enjoy a typical Peruvian lunch and lots of nice small cafes. At around 1:00pm we will pick you up at your hotel you will start your guided tour through Cusco, the capital of the Incas, with a local tour guide. You will first visit the impressive cathedral on the main square “Plaza de Armas” and then walk through some of Cusco’s oldest Inca streets to the “Qoricancha” temple, also called the temple of the sun. This extraordinary building is one of the most important examples for the clash between Inca and Colonial culture, as the Spanish built their Catholic monastery upon the remains of the ancient Inca temple. After visiting the temple, you will hop on a small bus that will take you the archaeological zone in the upper part of Cusco.
Here, you can find one of the most important Inca ruins of Peru: Sacsayhuaman, an extended archaeological complex with huge stone walls and a lot of mysteries. You also visit the ceremonial center of Qenqo, the small ruins of Puka Pukara and the water temple Tambomachay. You’ll return to the city center in the late afternoon / early evening.
Day 2 Visit the Sacred Valley of the Incas (B,L)
The Sacred Valley is a beautiful valley with picturesque landscapes and small charming villages located between Cusco and Machu Picchu. We will pick you up at around 8:00am in the morning and travel to the valley, our first stop being the village of Chinchero. Here, we will visit one of the most extended archaeological complex of Peru located on the top of the hill. Then we’ll stop in the city center for a visit of the colorful market where people from the valley sell their handmade textiles, pottery, paintings, jewelry and food. After a little shopping tour we continue our journey through the sacred valley for visit moray a agricultural laboratory then the huge salt manes of maras then we continúe to the town Urubamba where a delicious lunch buffet is waiting for you. On a full stomach we continue approx. 1 hour to Ollantaytambo, a beautiful traditional village that hosts other Inca ruins worth visiting. We will continue to Urubamba, town where we will have free time for lunch, then the trip will be to Ollantaytambo, the largest Inca site in this area, this is known as a living Inca city, as the twin was built on the remains of the Inca, it is also very easy to find local people wearing typical clothing that makes their daily lives. Then we will go to the last place Pisaq, this is another great Inca city where you will find huge agricultural terraces and buildings used for ceremonial purposes.
On the way back to Cusco (19:00 approx.), we will leave you one block from the main square because at this moment we have a lot of traffic to take you back to your hotel.
Day 3 Cusco – 104 Kms – Wiñayhuayna – Sun Gate To Machu Picchu (B,L)
The best way to get to Machu Picchu is the Short Inca trail, because, on the one hand, the ancient road is a beautiful way to get to the Sun Gate and Machu Picchu. On the other hand, people hiking the short Inca Trail will be able to visit Machu Picchu twice. One at the end of the day of their hike, and when they return to Machu Picchu the following day”
we will pick you up from your hotel at 4:00am and drive you to the train station. A two hour scenic train ride to 104 kms point (elevation 2,100m/6,927ft) will take us to the place where we begin our trek. At this point we begin a moderate climb for three hours to the chiseled remnants and remote archaeological site of Wiñayhuana, (2,650m/8747 ft).
Enjoy the spectacular plunging views of the Urubamba Canyon, and the ethnic wonders of the ancient Inca sites, as you embrace them with an open mind and heart your connection with the ancient Inca Trail will begin. After your being at one with this beautiful sight, we will continue onward towards the Sun Gate. (2,730mts/9,007ft) Following the ancient remote footpath we get our first spectacular view of Machu Picchu in all its brilliance and majesty. As we move closer to the citadel of Machu Picchu you will feel her mystical presence. Then we will take our bus to Aguas Calientes, where we will spend the night in our hotel.
Day 4 VISIT TO MACHU PICCHU –OLLANTAYTAMBO – CUSCO (B)
Today you will get to enjoy exploring Machu Picchu and experience her magical presence by taking the first bus at 5:30AM to the Machu Picchu archeological site. If you hurry you will get to see the sunrise over Machu Picchu. Take your time, making sure you tour every nook and cranny of this New 7 Wonder of the World and UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. It is an unforgettable experience.
Your guide will expertly direct you through the energetic ruins and its diverse main streets. Then on your own, wander around the town squares of the world’s spiritual center of esoteric wisdom as well as climb the intricately carved stairways made of stone. Or stay still and drink in the pure majesty of her presence, and enjoy the pure delight of the moment.
You will descend to Aguas Calientes when you are ready to eat lunch and later on board the Expedition train at 4:30pm for the return trip to Cusco. stopping at the Ollantaytambo Train Station and you will be driven back to your hotel in Cusco from Ollantaytambo in our private van arriving at around 8pm.
Day 5 RAINBOW MONTAIN TREK and RED VALLEY- FULL DAY (B,L)
Rainbow Mountain Trek You will need to wake up early to enjoy this natural marvel at its best. Between 3:30am and 4am we will collect you directly from your hotel to start our ride to Qollasuyu, located to the south of Cusco city. First we will drive for around 1 and a half hours where we will then stop for 20 in the district of Cusipata (3310m.a.s.l.) There we will find a restaurant named Tonceca where we get to enjoy an appetizing breakfast. After this, we will continue our journey for another hour to Fulawasipata (4660m.a.s.l.), where we will speak about the details of our route. From there, at the foot of the sacred mountain Ausangate, we will begin our hike. We start with an approximately 2 hour ascent with our destination being Rainbow Mountain, orVinicunca (5200m.a.s.l.). Along the way we get the opportunity to observe diverse South American camelid species like alpacas, llamas and vicunas. When we reach the red hill or colina roja you will have some time to rest, enjoy the impressive landscape and and take photos of Vinicunca mountain that shows us all it’s imposing colors: red, pink, turquoise and yellow. At this point it will be time to start the descent back along our return route. We descend for an hour towards level ground and then upwards again to where we started the days hike in Fulawasipata. There our transport will be waiting to take us to restaurant Tonceca where we enjoy an energizing lunch. Finally we return back to Cusco city arriving at approximately 4:30pm to 5pm.
Day 6 FREE- Transfer Out-, (B)
Enjoy your last day in Cusco, today we will transfer you to the airport, hour to confirm with your travel advisor.
IT INCLUDES
- Accommodation in basicand but charming hotels (let us know if you want superior category)
- Meals as indicated (B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner)
- All excursions listed including local tour guides (English and Spanish speaking), transportation and entrance fees
- All transportation:
- Briefing in your hotel.
- Travel in comfortable and safe tourist buses
Cusco:
- Transfer apto cusco – Hotel
- City Tour and Sacred Valley Tour (enttances tickets)
- Transfer to ollantaytambo – Cusco
- Acomodation confortable
- Train Ollantaytambo – km 104 – Machupicchu – Ollantaytambo
- Bus Aguas Calientes round trip – Machu Picchu
- Guided tour in Machu Picchu
- Rainbow mountain, ticket, tourist bus, tour guide, (B, L)
- Transfer Hotel – Airport
- Flight Cusco – Lima
Recomendations for Inca trail to machu picchu
- Here are a few of alternative activities that you might wish to indulge in on your own: Climb up Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain and appreciate the beauty and magnificence of Machu Picchu (not included in your tour price and must be booked in advance.)
- You will be given some time to walk to the Sun Gate or Inti Punku (free of charge)
- Other optional activities in Aguas Calientes include a visit to the new local museum or to the hot springs (entrance fees required)
NOT INCLUDED
- Meals not indicated (B,L,D)
- Extra activities such as optional tours, entrance to the hot springs in Aguas Calientes, water and snacks for the excursions…
- Tips for tour guides and drivers (optional, if you really enjoyed the service)
- Flight lima to cusco.
NOTES
SOME FREQUENT QUESTIONS
Yes, we are a local sustainable & responsible tourism operator, that incorporates the universal principles of tourism: protect the environment and benefit the local communities respecting their culture and religion. With this in mind, we have trained all our staff to know, understand and respect native communitys and its people.
Of course! During your trek or tour your primary luggage can be stored at our office or at your hotel. Both are free! But is better stored in your hotel because sometimes you will be late and office is already closed to pick up your suit case.
Our Tents:
Enjoy a good night sleep in our 4 season igloo waterproof, spacious and professional EUREKA tent. All our tents are 4 person tents. ONLY 2 people will sleep in each, leaving lots of room to spread out comfortably and store your duffel bag. They also include a little vestibule in front, giving you some extra outdoor space to leave your boots and walking poles so you don’t have to bring the dirt inside.
Absolutely! Included in our packages is picking you up and dropping you off at your hotel on the return from your trek or tour. If you have booked your hotel in the Sacred Valley like Ollantaytambo or Urubamba, we will drop you there too! Also, if you spend the night at Ollantaytambo before your trek (if your are doing the Machupicchu), we will pick you up there.
Tipping
If you’re happy with the services provided, a tip – though not compulsory – is appreciated. While it may not be customary to you, it’s of great significance for the people who will take care of you during the Tour. It inspires excellent service and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many aAmazon Trip Peru Destinations. Of course, you are free to tip more or less as you feel, depending on your perception of the quality and the length of your trip. Remember, a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.
The maximum group size is 10 persons. Usually our groups are between 4-10 persons. Amazon Trip Peru specializes in SMALL and PRIVATE groups and provides personalized services.
In general, if you exercise regularly and spend 1 to 2 days in Cusco or in the Sacred Valley. You will acclimate normally!
The recommended remedies for altitude sickness is WATER, COCA TEA and OXYGEN IF NEEDED; our guides are trained to treat you for Altitude Sickness.
The weather is very unpredictable and it’s difficult to foresee. You will have many different varieties of weather as you pass through the numerous microclimates and it will depend on the location. We highly recommend you dress in layers to adapt to the climate changes.
Huayna Picchu – The hike to the summit is approximately 45 minutes, along narrow and steep Inca stairs. Once at the top, you get to see the Citadel of Machu Picchu and its surrounding hills and valleys. This is the famous peak in the background of every iconic Machu Picchu photo. Summiting Huayna Picchu is always a top item on most Machu Picchu visitor’s lists which means that you usually need reserve this hike months in advance. Only a certain amount of people are allowed to hike this mountain each day (currently 400). Along this trek you’ll see breathtaking views of the Machu Picchu ruins. The limited number of tickets is a restriction set forth by the ministry of culture in Cusco. This is completely out of our hands unfortunately. Tickets for this mountain are non-transferable.
Yes! You have to bring your original passport and it is very important that it is the same passport number you sent to us to book your Inca Trail Machu Picchu permit, entrance to Machu Picchu, train ticket or other entrances and reservations depending on your choice of trek.
In case you are renewing your passport or changing your name, go ahead and send us your old passport information to secure your permit, and we can change it when you get your new passport number or updated your name for a fee of $25 per person. We must have a copy of your old and new passport to make the change. Before you change your passport keep a copy of your old one.
If you do not wish to pay this fee you will need to bring both passports to Peru with you. You can enter Peru with your new passport but you will need to show both passports, old and new to be to enter the Inca Trail, Machu Picchu or the train. If you do not have both you will not be allowed to enter the Inca Trail, Machu Picchu or get on the train.
YOUR PASSPORT MUST BE VALID FOR AT LEAST 6 MONTHS FROM THE DAY YOU ENTER PERU! Most airlines will not let you bord your flight if your passport has less than 6 months left from the date you enter Peru.