Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu like never before!

Upon arrival, on the first day of your trip to Peru, you will be welcomed by our personnel at Lima airport and transferred to the selected hotel. After check in you will have a briefing in which you will be handed your "Travel kit" which includes all your travel documents such as itinerary, flight, train and bus tickets, and hotel information.

Today, you will visit colonial Lima, the Cathedral, located in the Main Square; it is in the same place as the original building of 1555. After the earthquake in 1746, the Cathedral was rebuilt on the same site under the direction of Jesuit priest Juan Rehr. Both its facade and interior are austere with its remarkable wooden choir stalls, altars and the tomb of Francisco Pizarro, who died in 1541. Later, you will visit the Church of San Francisco, its convent, Art Museum, cloisters and catacombs.

Afterwards, you will have a panoramic view of the Main Square with the Government Palace, the Municipal Hall, the "Desamparados" Train Station, before driving through the old streets, where you will have a spectacular view of traditional mansions and Moorish style balconies. You will then continue through classic and modern Lima. Finally, you will enjoy an amazing view of the Pacific Ocean.

Afterwards, you will visit Larco Museum, founded in 1926, which has the largest private collection of pre-Columbian art in the world. The collection concentrates on the refined ceramics of the Moche Dynasty and the people who lived along the northern coast of Peru between 200 and 700 AD. There you´ll learn about their religion, agriculture, transport, dance and music through their ceramic designs and shapes.

Afterwards, you will return to your hotel to rest or spend the time as you please.

At the coordinated time, you will be transferred to the airport to board your flight to Cusco.

Upon arrival in Cusco, you will be received and transported to the Explora hotel in the Sacred Valley. A unique travel experience which is carefully planned every aspect of your stay. Upon arriving the portfolio will be available with all the activities offered by the hotel to discover the natural and cultural wealth of the Sacred Valley and its fascinating Inca heritage.

BIKE

o Cuesta del Sapo (20km - 3h):The journey offers views of the mountains and the Urubamba River, the drop zone is full of orchards, cornfields and Inca terracing, perfect activity for families.

o Rio Urubamba (33 km - 3h): Exploration descending the southern slope of the Urubamba River, a quiet area between cornfields, old estates and manor houses of the twentieth and nineteenth century.

VAN

o Potato Valley (Full Day): Starting in the lagoon Qoricocha, we continue to the potato valley; through Pisac and then enjoy a picnic on the pampa. We will visit textile manufacturers to learn the techniques of natural dyeing, and weaving loom waist.

HIKING

o             Salineras (6 km - 2h45): This easy walk begins with a tour of the center of the colonial town Maras, it continues along a path that descends among the potato orchards and ends at the salt mines of the community.

o          Sacsayhuaman & Cusco (13 km - 5h30): The trail crosses the mountains between Cusco and Sacred Valley. It starts at 4300 meters above sea level and culminates with a visit to the ruins of the great fortress of Sacsayhuaman

At the coordinated time, you will be transferred to the train station to board the Train to Machu Picchu, a great World Heritage Site. This archaeological site was hidden for centuries until it came to light during the early 1900s, by the famous discoverer Hiram Bingham. It´s almost impossible to describe in words how you will feel when faced with the citadel, a huge complex located between the mountains and the jungle, it's a wonderful challenge for your imagination.

By the afternoon, you will board a shuttle bus uphill to Machu Picchu (approximately 20 minutes). Once you arrive, you will begin your tour of the Citadel where you will appreciate the history of this enigmatic and impressive place.

The citadel was built on a very special spot covered in vegetation between two mountains: the Machu Picchu (old mountain) and Huayna Picchu (young mountain), at the foot of which meanders the Urubamba or Vilcanota River (lower jungle featuring abundant flora and fauna).

Very Important:

As Machu Picchu is a Historic and Cultural Heritage site, government authorities have developed Regulations for Sustainable Use and Touristic Visits for the Conservations of the Machu Picchu.

Considering these new regulations, visiting hours to vulnerable zones within the Machu Picchu Citadel have been implemented starting today.

Finally, you will return to Aguas Calientes town where you will spend the night.

In the afternoon board your return train to Cusco. Upon arrival, reception and transfer to your hotel to overnight.

Today, you will be picked up from your hotel, to start the City Tour visiting Cusco's Historical Inca and Spanish Colonial Monuments, such as the Main Square, known in Inca times as Huacaypata or the Warrior's Square; it was the scene for many key events in Cusco's history.

The Cathedral, originally built on the site of the old temple of SunturWasi (House of God), now the church of El Triunfo, the choir cloisters are a point of interest, the pulpit, the engravings on the altar and furniture. Continue onto the Church and Convent of Santo Domingo, a Spanish construction belonging to the Dominican Order built upon the foundations of the Inca temple of Koricancha or Temple of the Sun. Koricancha (in quechua, site of gold) was the main religious building of the Incas dedicated to worship the Sun and which walls, according to the chroniclers, were plated with sheets of gold. Magnificent blocks of finely carved stone were used in its construction.

You will then visit the surrounding ruins of the city of Cusco: Sacsayhuaman, this was a huge Inca fortress that is built on three overlapping platforms, each of them over 360 m long. Then, you´ll continue onto Tambomachay, known as the Inca baths. It was, apparently, a site dedicated to the worship of water and a resting place for the Inca monarch Kenko. It´s rumored to have been a worship site. There is a huge 59 meters high stone block that looks like a puma. There are also passages, canals and stairways with stone engravings representing animals. Finally, you´ll see PucaPucará, which was an administrative and military center formed by terraces, stairways, passages, turrets and vaulted niches. Finally, return to the hotel.

At the coordinated time, you will be transferred to the airport to board your flight.

Upon arrival to the airport you will be welcomed by our personnel at Lima, who will assist you on your connecting flight.