Cusco and Short Inca Trail 6D

In the afternoon at 13:00 hours, we will start the archaeological City Tour of Cusco, in this tour we will visit the Cathedral of Cusco,  it houses a large collection of architectural works of Spanish Baroque style.

Then, we will visit the Temple of Coricancha, also known as the Temple of the Sun, where the Spaniards built the Church of Santo Domingo over one of the most important Inca Sacred enclosures.

After this, we’ll leave the city to go to four archaeological sites, such as Sacsayhuaman, where the Inti Raymi (Festival of the Sun) the most popular celebration of Cusco, is recreated every June 24th, then we will visit Qenqo, Tambomachay, and Pukapukara (famous Inca Baths).

The tour ends at approximately 6:30 pm.

At 08:00 h in the morning, is the departure from Cusco to Ollantaytambo, we´ll go along the famous Vilcanota River, better known as the Sacred Valley of the Incas. On the way, we will stop to have explanations from our guide about the Inca sites and to observe the landscape.

The first archaeological site to visit is Pisac, with its huge Inca terraces for agriculture, the extensive constructions over the valley such as temples, houses, altars, etc., and then we go ahead to the traditional market (only on market days), there you will have some free time to interact with local artisans, or to buy handmade souvenirs and handycraft in general.

Then we continue to the Inkary Museum, where you will learn about the amazing history of the most important cultures of Peru, here you can appreciate life-size models and mannequins of pre-Inca cultures such as: Caral, Chavin, Paracas, Nazca, Mochica, Lambayeque and Chimu. Then we visit this Inkary museun just with private gropus, but in shared service we go directly to Urubamba for lunch.

After lunch, we head to Ollantaytambo, well known as the Museum town , the Inca city with remarkable canals, stone streets, where the Inca architecture is still preserved. We visit the incredible temples with huge blocks.

Finally, we will transfer to your hotel in Ollantaytambo, and enjoy a delicious dinner at a tourist restaurant (not included), and then prepare for the visit next day Hike.

We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at 4 am.  If your hotel is in the Sacred Valley, we will pick you up at 5 am. Then we will drive to Ollantaytambo.

At 5:30 am, our tour guide will give you a box lunch to carry in your backpack, then we approach to the train station to board the train to kilometer 104.

After about an hour, we get off the train where the Short 2 day Inca Trail hike begins (2,000m/6,560 feet above sea level).  Here you must show your passport at the checkpoint to start the hike. The first hour and a half is uphill with several shelters along the way to rest and to appreciate the views of the Urubamba River Valley. The we will go to the spectacular Inca site of Wiñay Wayna (2,600 m/8,500 ft above sea level). Your guide will inform you about the history and function of this stunning and interesting place.

After lunch, rest and use of the restrooms, we will continue our 2 day Inca Trail hike, (mostly a flat way) to the famous Sun Gate (Inti Punku). There are a few steep stairs, just a few meters before we arrive at this destination. When arriving to the Inti Punku, The Gate of the Sun, we will have our first incredible view of Machu Picchu.

After a well-deserved rest, and enjoying the views, the last part of the hiking begins, heading down to Machu Picchu Park.

Along the way we will see amazing landscapes of mountains, plentiful vegetation, and a couple of Inca sites with more and more breathtaking views of Machu Picchu as we get closer.

When we arrive to Machu Picchu, you will have plenty of free time to take pictures and appreciate the sunset over Machu Picchu and the mountains.

Finally, we will board a bus from the Machu Picchu Park to the town of Aguas Calientes, where we will overnight in a hotel. Also, our dinner will be in a Tourist Restaurant, and after this, it is free time for you.

This is the most important day, your visit to Machu Picchu, one of the Wonders of the World!

We encourage you to get up early to board one of the first buses to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. Once we arrive to the Inca site of Machu Picchu, there you will have about two hours of guidance , during the explanation you will visit the viewpoint, the Intihuatana located at the top of the citadel, the temple of the sun, the temple of the condor, and other important sectors.

After this, you will have some free time to explore the rest of the citadel on your own. At the recommended time you will return to Aguas Calientes for lunch (not included) and board the train back to Ollantaytambo, here there will be a bus waiting to transfer you to your hotel in Cusco City

The team will be at the hotel two hours before the departure of the flight to take you from the hotel to the airport, to go back to Lima.

Here, our service and your visit to the marvelous City of Cusco finishes!