the essence of Machu picchu & cusco

Program: 5 Days / 4 Nights

Day 1º: Arrival in Lima

Upon your arrival in Lima, a representative from Mystery Peru will meet you at Lima's airport. Afterwards you will be transferred to the designated hotel at the residential zone of Miraflores. Overnight at the designated hotel.

Day 2º: Flight to Cusco - City Tour of Cusco

After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel by a representative from Mystery Peru, and then transferred to the airport in Lima. At the airport you will be assisted by our guide and then you will fly towards the Inca Capital of Cusco. The flight will last about one and a half hour approximately. Upon you arrival at Cusco airport (3300 m.a.s.l.) you will be met by one of our representative and then transferred to the hotel. 1:30 pm. We start a tour, which includes visits to colonial buildings and ancient Inca constructions. Our tour involves the visit of the City’s Highlights, located in and around Cusco. We start off by visiting the huge “Inca Ceremonial Centre of Sacsayhuaman”. This enormous structure overlooks the city of Cusco. Its constructions are amazing, with huge rocks perfectly fitted. It is said that it took over 10,000 workers 50 years to build it. The origin of the temple of Sacsayhuaman is still today unknown. The archaeologist attributed its construction to the Period of the Inca Pachacutec (in the Inca language Pachacutec means either Cataclysm or He who transforms the world), the man essentially credited with founding the Inca Empire.
Later on we will visit another important Inca site known as “Qenqo”. This is a place with subterranean passages and carved stone channels in a zigzag pattern. In its inner part there is a carved stone table where it is said the Incas mummified their dead. Afterwards we will do a short visit to the archaeological Inca site of “Tambomachay”, a temple dedicated to the God of Water. After these visits, we will return to Cusco, where we will visit one of the most sacred Inca buildings, “The Temple of Koricancha”. Koricancha was the most important temple of the Inca Empire. According to archaeologists it housed over 1000 priests and attendants. Within its walls religious ceremonies were constant and offerings to the Gods and the Inca’s mummies were made each day. Finally we will visit the beautiful “Cathedral” of Cusco. This enormous Cathedral was built in the XVI. It contained nearly 400 colonial paintings, including many from the Cusco School, which was prominent in the 17th century. Among them a painting of the Last Supper by Marcos Zapata, showing Christ and the apostles eating guinea pig (Guinea-pig was the one of the main courses at sacred feasts in Inca times). After our city tour our local guide will drop you off at your hotel. Overnight at the designated hotel.

Day 3º: Early train ride to Aguas Calientes

Early in the morning, at 5:30 am, transfer to the Train Station of San Pedro in Cusco. The train leaves at 6:00 am towards Aguas Calientes, a modern little town close to the Sanctuary of Machu Picchu. The train ride to Machu Picchu is one of the most beautiful journeys that visitors can experience in our country. The first 30 minutes the train makes its way up following a zig zag route ascending level by level to the upper part of the Cusco city, passing popular neighbourhoods and allowing travellers to enjoy a fantastic view of the sunrise over the Inca capital of Cusco. Afterwards the train starst to descend gradually to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, riding throughout lush fields and small villages. From this moment on, the trip offers great natural sceneries, with many staggering views fo the Andes. After passing the villages of Ollantaytambo, the train will start to descend more and more, riding along the edge of the Urubamba River, till finally reach the cloud forest. After approximately 4 hours we will have arrived in Aguas Calientes, where a representative from our agency will welcome you and will take you (on foot, no taxis in this town) to your hotel. On this day we will not visit Machu Picchu, but on the next day (in case you want to visit Machu Picchu on this day, you can do it, but at your own expense). The day is free, so you may wander around the village, or go to visit the Museum of Machu Picchu, which is located down hill, about 1 kilometre away from Aguas Calientes. The museum of Machu Picchu shows fine Inca artefacts found at the zone, virtual videos of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, and great pictures of the discovery of Machu Picchu by Hiram Bingham. At Aguas Calientes, if you wish, you can go late in the afternoon to relax in the thermal baths. The hot springs are located on the upper section of the village; visitors may ask for orientation at the hotel. Overnight at the selected hotel.

Day 4º: Early guided visit to Machu Picchu

In order to enjoy a peaceful atmosphere in Machu Picchu and avoid large numbers of tourist, it is advisable to go there early in the morning, therefore we will leave at 5:30 am, after breakfast. Our guide will pick you up in your hotel and then will take you to the local bus station to catch the bus that goes up to the ruins of Machu Picchu. The bus ride to the sanctuary of Machu Picchu lasts around 20 minutes and it follows a steep winding path, offering spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. Upon your arrival, our guide will show you the most important sectors of this great Inca City, such as the great Intiwatana (solar clock), the Sun Temple, the urban sector, the agricultural sector among others. Machu Picchu was long thought to be legendary. Then in 1911, the explorer Hiram Bingham stumbled upon it remains. Machu Picchu stands 2,430 m above sea-level, in the middle of a tropical mountain forest, in an extraordinarily beautiful setting. It was probably the most amazing urban creation of the Inca Empire at its height; its giant walls, terraces and ramps seem as if they have been cut naturally in the continuous rock escarpments. The natural setting, on the eastern slopes of the Andes, encompasses the upper Amazon basin with its rich diversity of flora and fauna. The guided tour in Machu Picchu will last about 2 hours, and afterwards you will have free time to explore the ruins on your own, and if you wish, you might climb the Huayna Picchu Mountain, the huge mountain that appears on the background in every classic picture of Machu Picchu. It takes about one hour or so to get to the top, following very steep stairs, though is a little hard, at the top you will be rewarded with one of the most impressive views in your lifetime. Later on, we will take the bus down to Aguas Calientes, where you will have time for lunch and also to explore the many craft shops in Aguas Calientes. At Aguas Calientes, if you wish, you can go to relax in the thermal baths. The hot springs are located on the upper section of the village; visitors may ask their local guide how to get there. Finally, at around 4:00 pm, we take the train back to the city of Cusco, arriving there after nightfall. Overnight at the designated hotel.

Day 5 º: Flight to Lima

At the designated time, you will be transferred to the Cusco airport to take the flight back to Lima.

End of our service.

Places you will visit:

• Ruins of Cusco ( Sacsayhuaman fortress, Qenko, Puka Pukara, Tambomachay)
• Gold Temple of Coricancha.
• The Cathedral of Cusco.
• Citadel of Machu Picchu.

What is included ?

• Pick up from the airport upon your arrival in Peru.
• Transfer to the selected hotel.
• 01 night accommodation at a mid range hotel in Lima at the zone of Miraflores.
• Transfer to the airport in Lima to take the plane to Cusco.
• Flight tickets to Cusco.
• Pick up at the airport of Cusco upon your arrival & transfer to the selected hotel.
• City Tour of Cusco & all entrance fees.
• 02 nights accommodation in Cusco at a mid range hotel.
• Transfer to the train station to take the train to Aguas Calientes town.
• Train tickets to Aguas Calientes. VISTADOME service.
• 01 night accommodation at a mid range hotel in Aguas Calientes.
• Bus tickets from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu. (round trip).
• Entrance fees to Machu Picchu.
• Guided visit in Machu Picchu. (English speaking guide)
• Return train tickets to Cusco. VISTADOME service.
• Pick up from the train station upon your arrival in Cusco & transfer to the hotel.
• Transfer to the airport of Cusco to take the plane back to Lima.
• Flight tickets from Cusco to Lima.

What is NOT included ?

• Meals.
• Airport taxes.
• Extras.

Additional information:

• Confirmation of the excursion will be received at time of booking.
• All tours are operated in English unless otherwise stated.
• All your personal information is required at the moment of your booking.

Travel voucher:

• For every confirmed booking you will be required to print a voucher for presentation at our office in Lima.
• You will receive an electronic voucher via e-mail once your booking is confirmed.

Local Operator Information:

• We will send you complete operator information, including phone numbers at your destination in Lima.
• Our Managers select only the most experienced and reliable operators in each destination, removing the guesswork for you, and ensuring your peace of mind.

How to book this tour...

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