CHINCHERO

The small town is located 28 kilometers from Cusco and surrounded by patchwork style fields of exquisite natural colors. Chinchero is a charming town with great colonial style constructions which has been one of the major agricultural centers during the time of Tahuantinsuyo. We invite you to appreciate its archaeological site, the famous church and the stone walls with its trapezoidal niches that provided the optimal setting for the traditional market. Chinchero’s women can always be recognized for their very distinguishing clothing and braided hair.

MORAY

Continuing our ride a further 20 breathtaking kilometers, enjoying the beautiful view of the snowcapped mountains Chicon and Veronica in the Cordillera Vilcanota, we arrive at Moray. The site Moray is an Inca agricultural greenhouse or laboratory which was used as an experimental place to study the adaption of plants to new ecosystems. The four platforms in an amphitheater style consist of various overlapping concentric circular stone rings which have a total depth of 150 meters and widen as they rise.

MARAS and SALINERAS (Salt mines)

Located 7 miles from Moray at the altitude of 3380 meters we will find a small village, just like a model of a miniature city. Maras is famous for its salt terraces which contain about 3000 small wells, each one with an average size of about 5 ms². These were already exploited since the Inca times as a mean of economic exchange and security. You will be surprised to see how the salt is recovered from these mines and how the workers live here.

After visiting these attractions, we bring you to Ollantaytambo Train Station. In case we arrive early at Ollantaytambo, you will then have the opportunity to visit its archaeological site or to explore the Inca town itself. You will be amazed by the impressive Temple of the Sun with its intricate stone worked details, the terraces constructed to sustain the mountain and the temple in the shape of a llama.

If you use your free time to explore the complex, please take note that the train to Aguas Calientes will leave at 04:30 pm at the train station of Ollantaytambo. From here, you will enjoy the incredible journey of 2 hours on the train with its panoramic windows where you can observe the Urubamba River descending from the high valley down to the cloud forest at 2000 meters. The landscapes changes drastically in front of your eyes! You will be amazed to see the tropical mountain ending in a snow carpet and the small waterfalls shimering on the hills, forming small rivers that flow down to converge at the Sacred River. After these spectacular natural views you arrive at Aguas Calientes where the warm atmosphere welcomes you with typical jungle sounds.

Our staff will be waiting for you at the gate of the train station in Aguas Calientes and bring you to your hostel.

At 07:00 pm you will receive a short briefing from your tour guide for the next day’s excursion, so please make sure you will be in the hotel at that time.

Accommodation: Hotel Hatun Inti Classic

Machu Picchu – Ollantaytambo – Cusco

The day you were waiting for!

Wake up very early in the morning to have your breakfast (at 04:00 am) and then take the bus uphill to the famous Inca Citadel of Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas. The first bus leaves at 05:30 am and takes a 25 minutes ride.

Optional take the path which is winding up the mountain to reach Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu gate opens at 06:00, so arriving early you will be one of the first visitors of the day, avoiding the crowds. In case you don’t want to wake up early, please take the bus at 7 am.

At 07:45 am your bilingual tour guide will take you around the vast ruins for about 2.5 hours, comprehensively explaining the historical significance of Machu Picchu and its importance in the Inca Empire.

Machu Picchu is the best known of all the Inca Archaeological sites, as it is recognised worldwide as one of the new seven wonders, even though it’s not mentioned in any handwritten Chronicle of the Spanish Conquerors. Experts believe that Machu Picchu has been constructed around the mid-15th century by Inca Pachacuteq and was rediscovered in 1911 by American historian Hiram Bingham.

The guided tour of this fascinating site will be an unforgettable experience, visiting the Main Square, the Royal Quarters, The Temple of the Three Windows, the Circular Sun Tower, the Sacred Sun Dial (Intihuatana) and the Burial Grounds.

After the excursion, you can climb up the mountain Huayna Picchu from which you will have stunning views over the whole complex! However, there are only 400 entrance tickets per day. Therefore, please let us know in advance if you would like to do the hike when you do your tour reservation (extra cost of US$ 15.00).

Due Huayna Picchu is very fast oversold, we are offering Machu Picchu Mountain as a second climbing option. The advantage of this hike is that it is less crowed, but not less beautiful. The cost of this climb is also US$ 15.00 per entrance.

After this, you will have some free time to wander around. Optional you can do some unguided walks to Inti Punku, the Sun Gate, which is the traditional end of the Classic Inca Trail (1.30 hours hike both ways), or to the Inca Bridge (1 hour hike). Otherwise you can simply explore the ruins and enjoy the inspiring atmosphere and breathtaking views.

A frequent bus service takes visitors back to Aguas Calientes (included) at any time. If you prefer, take a walk down through the jungle – it will take you roughly 45 minutes.

You will arrive to Aguas Calientes for a late lunch or to enjoy a dip in the hot springs (not included). In the afternoon late afternoon at 07:00 pm, you take the train back to Ollantaytambo and then a tourist transport to Cusco. If you want to return to Cusco in the early afternoon, please let us know so we can book an early train at 2:30 pm or 4:12 pm (according to the service, it will have an extra cost of US$ 30.00).

Meals: Breakfast