TRADITIONAL LUXURY MACHUPICCHU

Explore some of Peru’s most enchanting sites, from its capital Lima  to mysterious Inca ruins to charming colonial  Cusco city   and visiting legendary Machu Picchu.

Day 1: LIMA

• Arrival in lima and a warm welcome from our staff.
• Airport and hotel assistance with transfer.
• The rest of day to spend at your leisure in lima.
• Overnight in lima.

Day 2:LIMA – CITY TOUR

• Dazzling city tour of lima.
• Overnight in lima.

Day 3: LIMA – CUSCO – URUBAMBA

• Flight from lima to cusco.
• Delightful visit to the awanakancha textile workshop.
• Be impressed by pisaq archeological
• Site and colorful, traditional market.
• Exquisite lunch in the sacred valley.
• Overnight in the sacred valley.

Day 4: URUBAMBA

• Appreciate the majesty of Ollantaytambo.
• Be astounded by the circular terraces in Moray.
• Visit and lunch in the hacienda Huarocari
• Overnight in the Sacred Valley.

Day 5: URUBAMBA – MACHU PICCHU

• Catch morning train to aguas calientes.
• Guided tour of the beautiful machu picchu where you will be astonished by “the lost city of the incas”.
• Exquisite lunch in inkaterra restaurant.
• Overnight in cusco.

Day 6: MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO

• Visit huayna picchu or machu picchu mountain
• Return to cusco by train
• Travel by train throughout the sacred valley to cusco
• Overnight in cusco.

Day 7: CUSCO

• Wander the cobblestoned streets on a private city tour of Cusco.
• The Cathedral of Cusco and its art exhibitions in the baroque style.
• The Temple of the Sun, Qorikancha, which means “place surrounded by gold”.
• The nearby ruins of Sacsaywaman, Qenqo and Pukapukara, distinctively Incan locations. Leisure time in the afternoon to explore or relax.
• Overnight in Cusco.

Day 8: CUSCO – LIMA

• Transfer to the airport and flight back to Lima.

Day 1: LIMA

International Arrival
An English-speaking Inka Rainbow Travel Service representative will be expecting you from your international arrival will greet you and give you your customized welcome pack with a booklet of your trip itinerary and other useful information before whisking you off to your hotel, assisting you with all check-in procedures. The rest of the day at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Lima

Day 2: Lima – City Tour

One of the main fascinations of Lima is the concentration of ancient history in the area; not only do the origins of the city pre-date the Spanish foundation of the city by several millennia, its museums are full of the artistic treasures of magnificent pre-Columbian civilizations that flourished throughout the coastal deserts of Peru. Begin to unravel this multifaceted history and discover the complex past of this fascinating city accompanied our specialist guide. Visit an ancient adobe pyramid right in the middle of the city, Huaca Huallamarca, which dates back to around 200 BC. Journey to the Larco Herrera Museum, where thousands of years of complex ancient history will be turned into an easy-to-understand story, for kids and adults alike. Continue on to the colonial area of Lima, featuring the Cathedral, the Convent of Santo Domingo, and the Main Square with its beautiful baroque style buildings. You will also have a chance to visit Casa Aliaga, reportedly the oldest home on the Continent and still family-owned after 17 generations. The sites visited today can be tailored to alternatively include: La Casona de San Marcos; the Convent of San Francisco and its catacombs; Huaca Pucllana; and the Museo de la Inquisition. It is also possible to organize cocktails at Casa Aliaga (supplement price applies).

Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Lima

Day 3: LIMA – CUSCO – URUBAMBA

Flight to Cusco, Awanacancha, Pisac Market & Ruins
We will pick you up from your hotel for your private transfer to Lima airport, where he will assist you with check-in procedures for your domestic flight to Cusco. Upon arrival in Cusco, your personal guide and private driver will greet you at the airport to head straight to the Urubamba Valley – also known as the ‘Sacred Valley’. Your guide will accompany you throughout the Urubamba Valley, Cusco and Machu Picchu.
En route, stop for a short visit of Awanacancha where you will have the opportunity to see the different camelids that live in the Andes such as llamas, alpacas, vicuñas and guanacos. In Pisac experience the sights and sounds of the town’s famous market, with its variety of handcrafts and fresh produce. Continue on to the Pisac ruins. With Inca masonry of superlative quality, the stunning terracing following the contours of the mountain and superior view of the valley will leave you in awe. After lunch (own cost), check-in to your chosen hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Sacred Valley

Day 4: URUBAMBA

Today you’ll visit the fabulous town of Ollantaytambo and its archaeological sites. The town is unique in that it still preserves its original Inca plan with people living in traditional cancha enclosures once occupied by the Inca elite. The archaeological compound is a sensational sight to behold and is of great historical significance for the Incas during the Spanish Conquest: It was here that one of the greatest battles of the Conquest was fought and one of the few where the Incas defeated the Spaniards. Following your visit, transfer to Hacienda Huayoccari for a three-course lunch in this traditional hacienda, owned and lived-in by one of the oldest land-owning families in Cusco. Take a look at their private collection of folk art and ancient artifacts. In the afternoon, you visit Maras, the site of the remarkable and unusual Salinas, located in the heart of the Sacred Valley. This site consists of a huge number of watered terraces that collect salt by evaporation from the saline waters that gush from an underground stream. Built in a similar way to agricultural terraces seen throughout the Andes, the Salinas have been in use since pre-Columbian times. Visually, the shining, salt-encrusted terraces are extraordinary. Nearby Maras lie the most enigmatic Inca terraces at the site of Moray. This unique site, probably used for agricultural experimentation, consists of several enormous terraced circular depressions.

Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Sacred Valley

Day 5: URUBAMBA – MACHU PICCHU

Your guide will pick you up from your hotel this morning to transfer to Poroy train station to board the luxurious Hiram Bingham train – a must for those seeking the most level of luxury – to Aguas Calientes, at the foot of Machu Picchu. Enjoy a gourmet brunch during the spectacular journey descending into the Sacred Valley and passing through lush landscapes and Andean villages. On arrival in Aguas Calientes you will board a bus to reach the entrance of Machu Picchu.

“Magnificence” is the only word to describe the scene, as you gaze upon the ruins of Machu Picchu. The main destination on many travellers’ lists, the ‘lost city of the Incas’ is a man-made marvel that has become a symbol for the ingenuity and prosperity of one of the most expansive empires in Latin American history. Only a century ago were the incredible ruins uncovered; a two year-excavation led by Yale archaeologist Hiram Bingham and the National Geographic Society of Washington DC allowed Machu Picchu to gain the prominence that it deserves. Its fascination is due in part to its position, high on a mountain ridge and 2,430m/7,972ft above sea level. Believed to be an Inca settlement built to control the economies of neighboring communities, it is associated with being the royal estate of Pachacuti, the great Inca who sparked the expansion of the empire. Enjoy a 2-3 hour guided visit of Machu Picchu before spending the remainder of the afternoon exploring the ruins after the majority of visitors have left the site. Afterwards, return by bus to your hotel in Aguas Calientes.

Meals: Breakfast, Brunch
Overnight: Aguas Calientes

Day 6: MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO

This morning you’ll return to the ruins with your guide. Optionally hike to IntiPunku, the “Sun Gate”, take a more strenuous climb to Huayna Picchu or climb to the top of Machu Picchu Mountain, located south of the Citadel and offering spectacular panoramic views. Following your visit, take the bus back to the town of Aguas Calientes to catch the Vistadome train (approx. 1.5hrs) back to Poroy, where a private vehicle will be waiting to transfer you by road to Cusco to check in to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast,
Overnight: Cusco

Day 7: CUSCO

Since its narrow alleyways were originally designed by the Incas as a city for walking, start your exploration of Cusco on foot. Begin at the Plaza de Armas, the Main Square, which is marked by the exquisite Spanish Colonial architecture and ornamentation imposed by Spanish colonists to exert religious and political influence. Underneath it all, however, you can clearly see remnants of Inca Cusco in the solid stonework. Visit Koricancha, the most sumptuous “Sun Temple” in the Inca Empire, and the breathtaking Cathedral, a repository for Cusco’s colonial art, as well as many other important archaeological relics and artifacts. You will also stop by the colorful San Pedro market and pass through the charming neighborhood of San Blas. Next, visit Sacsayhuaman, an Inca citadel atop a hill, on the outskirts of the city. Not only are the imposing terraces of masterful stonework a sight to behold, but the vistas overlooking the sienna rooftops of Cusco provide a whole new perspective to the city you traversed.

Meals: Breakfast,
Overnight:
– Inkaterra La Casona
– Belmond Palacio Nazarenas

Day 8: CUSCO – LIMA

Transfer to Cusco airport for your domestic flight to Lima.

Flight tickets:
Lima – Cusco – Lima to be quoted on the day of enquiry (prices vary from US$100 to US$399 per person depending on the season.

INCLUDED

• 7 nights in Hotel 5*
• All transfers and entrance fees
• A welcome pack on arrival including: a printed booklet packed with insider tips alongside your detailed itinerary and up-to-date recommendations on dining and shopping
• Hand-selected English-speaking guides
• Specialist guides (where noted)
• 24-hour support from our locally based team
• 6 nights in a hand-picked selection of Peru’s finest hotels

NOT INCLUDED

• International flights and airport taxes
• Domestic flights
• Meals not indicated
• Additional expenses, such as laundry, telephone calls, snacks, etc.
• Travel insurance

PRICING

Please know we will work with you to change or modify these tours however you deem necessary – all Inka Rainbow itineraries are crafted just for you, built to suit your individual interests and schedules. Interested in customizing this particular itinerary?

Please inquire for a custom quote. The price is customized based on final accommodation choices, travel dates, and other custom preferences.

FURTHER INFORMATION:

For any inquiries or assistance please do not hesitate to contact us. You can get in touch by our Live Chat Help, or by email at: info@inkarainbow.com

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All our itineraries are fully customizable, jus ask !