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CUSCO
and INCA TRAIL to MACHU PICCHU
Machu
Picchu is indeed the symbol of Inca Civilization for
International Tourism. It is believed that the Inca
Trail was the Inca Royal Road used by pilgrims and authorized
officials of the Empire leading to the  supposed
Sacred City. The excursion on this Andean trail is really
an unforgettable and amazing experience.
The Inca Trail is made out of blocks, stairs and tunnels
of stone, as well as wood bridges that allow us to cross
rivers, and it goes along valleys, Cloud Forests and
high plateaus up to 4200 meters. All this atmosphere
makes the passenger think about the intellectual and
spiritual greatness of the Andean man whose one of the
greatest achievement was the Inca Civilization.
This tour also includes staying in Cusco, which will
allow us to know the most important Inca and also Colonial
buildings, as well as the Sacsayhuaman Fortress and
the Sacred Valley of the Incas
Duration
9 Days/ 8 Nights
Tour Type: Ecological, Archaeological,
Mystic.
Activities: Trekking, Camping.
Tour Itinerary
All
our programmes can be tailor made according to your
requirements, whether regarding the length of your tour,
any special interests or specific activities, flight
reservations, optional destinations or tours. 
DAY
01: International Arrival in Lima.- Assistance
at your arrival to Lima International Airport and transfer
to your hotel. There you will receive a briefing on
your tour; receive vouchers covering all the services
included in your tour and additional information on
the organisation of your Peru trip.
DAY 02: Lima: Sightseeing Tour & Archaeological
Museum.- Morning free to rest after your International
travel. We recommend you to sleep long enough to be
ready to start this unforgettable journey through this
wonderful country. Free time for lunch. In the afternoon,
guided sightseeing tour to the most attractive and important
sites in Lima, the "City of Kings". The tour
includes Lima's Historical Centre, passing by Plaza
San Martin, Plaza Mayor, the Government Palace, the
City Hall, the Cathedral and its Religious Art Museum,
the Church of Santo Domingo, with the tombs of Santa
Rosa and San Martin de Porras, and Lima's Colonial Balconies.
We will visit the Convent and Church of San Francisco,
the greatest monumental complex of Colonial Art in America
and Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The tour includes
a visit to the Basilica of 21 altars, Convent of Cloisters,
Capitulary and Clementine Rooms, Chorus and Library
of the monks, a Museum showing 11 paintings of the Rubens
School, the Sacristy with paintings of Surbaran and
Ribera, its great patio decorated with Seville tiles
of the XVIth Century, Moorish arches and underground
Catacombs.
From here, we leave downtown Lima towards the District
of Pueblo Libre to visit The Museum of Anthropology
and Archaeology that comprises the biggest collection
of pre-Hispanic objects such as stone sculptures from
Chavin Culture, weavings from the Paracas Culture, ceramics
of the Nazca and Mochica Cultures, and metal work of
the Chimu Culture, as well as paintings, documents and
objects that belonged to important people of the Colonial
and Republican Periods of Peru. This visit will allow
you to have a global vision of Peruvian History to frame
what you will visit the following days.
We then drive through the residential Districts of San
Isidro and Miraflores, passing by the Huaca Pucllana,
a Ceremonial and Administrative Centre of the Lima Culture
built in the II Century A.C. that the Incas considered
as "Ñaupallaqta" or Sacred Town. We
will also visit El Olivar Park with olive trees brought
from Spain in the XVth Century, the Central Park of
Miraflores and Larcomar, a symbol of modern Lima and
a tourist and entertainment Cent re
as well as a privileged site to enjoy an amazing view
of the Pacific Ocean. Late afternoon transfer to the
selected hotel.
Evening free to rest as the next day our guide will
pick you up early.
DAY 03: Lima / Cusco - Sightseeing Tour and
Visit to Nearby Ruins.- In the morning transfer
to Lima Airport to board your flight to Cusco. Meet
upon arrival and transfer to your selected hotel. Remaining
morning free to rest in your hotel in order to avoid
altitude sickness. In the afternoon, we will visit the
City of Cusco on a guided sightseeing tour visiting
the Main Square, the Cathedral and the Temple of the
Sun or Korikancha. Then, we drive out of the City to
visit the Inca sites of Kenko, Tambomachay, Puca Pucara
and the impressive Fortress of Sacsayhuaman, strategically
built on a hill overlooking Cusco, famous for its enormous
carved stones, some of them standing over 9 m / 30 ft
high and weighing over 350 tons.
DAY 04: Cusco - Sacred Valley of the Incas.-
Early morning excursion to the Urubamba Valley, the
Sacred Valley of the Incas. Visit to the picturesque
Indian Pisac Market held on Tuesdays, Thursdays and
Sundays, the shopping paradise of the Andes where barter
is still practiced. Enjoy the unique atmosphere during
a typical lunch.
In the afternoon, passing through the Towns of Calca
and Urubamba, we visit the Inca Fortress and Citadel
of Ollantaytambo, built to guard the entrance to this
part of the Valley, and protect it from possible invasion
from the tribes in the Lower jungle. You can walk through
the quaint streets of t he
nearby Town, and get a good idea of what this Strategic
Military, Religious, and Agricultural Centre was like
during the era of the Inca Empire. On our way back to
Cusco we stop of at the picturesque Andean village of
Chinchero to visit the ruins of the Royal Hacienda of
Tupac Inca Yupanqui. We will admire a well-preserved
Inca Wall in the Main Square, and visit the beautiful
Colonial temple built on Inca foundations, with interesting
frescoes in the portico. Late afternoon return to your
selected hotel for overnight.
Evening free. We suggest strolling around the Main Square
and enjoy the night atmosphere trying a delicious Pisco
Sour in some of the many pubs around the Square.
Note: The visit to the Village of Chinchero depends
on the time available.
DAY 05: Cusco / Machu Picchu - Inca Trail (Cusco
- Piscacucho - Wayllabamba).- Very early in
the morning our guide will pick you up from your hotel
in Cusco to transfer you by bus to the Town of Piscacucho,
where we will have a snack. After approximately three
hours of walking we will stop for lunch. Then, we will
continue walking heading for the first camp in Wayllabamba;
we will visit the Archaeological Complex of Llactapata
en route. Dinner and overnight in the camp.
DAY 06: Inca Trail (Wayllabamba - Warmiwañusca
- Pacaymayo).- After breakfast, the hardest
part of the trail begins, with a steep ascent, followed
by 3 hours walking until reaching the first step, Warmiwañusca
called (Dead Woman), up to 4200 m.a.s.l. approximately.
You will not only enjoy incredible panoramic views from
here but you will also have the satisfaction to have
reached the top. After lunch in Vizcachayoc we will
descend towards Pacaymayo (3500 m.a.s.l.) for dinner
and camp.
DAY 07: Inca Trail (Pacaymayo - Phuya Patamarka
- Wiñay Huayna).- After breakfast the
ascent will begin until the second more important step
of the route, up to 3900 m.a.s.l., where you will enjoy
a guided visit to the Archaeological Complex Runkurakay
and the Inca Citadel of Sayacmarca (3600 m.a.s.l.).
Lunch in Chaqquicocha. Then, you will continue walking
towards Phuya Patamarka (Town in the Clouds), another
important Archaeologic al
Monument. After a brief rest , we will continue walking
until arriving at Wiñay Huayna (Always Young),
for a guided visit to this spectacularly located Archaeological
Complex . Dinner and overnight in the camp. Note: The
above are the regular camp sites according to the circuit
operated by Enjoy Peru, however, these can vary according
to disposition levied by the Machu Picchu Management
Unit without previous warning, but which will not affect
the itinerary.
DAY 08: Wiñay Huayna - Machu Picchu -
Cusco.- After breakfast (05:00 approx.), start
walking for one hour by the forest until the Inti Punku
(Door of the Sun), known like the front door to Machu
Picchu, from where we will be able to have an impressive
panoramic view of the Inca citadel. Upon arrival to
Machu Picchu, you will have a guided tour of the ruins
and monuments, such as the Main Square, the Circular
Tower, the Sacred Solar Clock, the Royal Quarters, the
Temple of the Three Windows and the cemeteries. Free
time to stroll around the Citadel and then meet the
rest of the group to be transferred by bus to Aguas
Calientes. In the afternoon return to Cusco by train.
Upon arrival in Cusco, transfer to your selected hotel.
Evening free. We recommend you to dinner out at any
of the restaurants in downtown Cusco and stroll around
the Main Square.
DAY 09: Cusco / Lima / International Departure.-
We will pick you up from the hotel and transfer to the
Airport to board your flight back to Lima. Upon arrival
in Lima, transfer to your hotel to rest or do some last-minute
shopping until your transfer time to the International
airport to board your homebound flight.
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