Colorful Cusco (6 Days/5 Nights)

Overview

Day 1: Welcome to Cusco and City Tour.
Day 2: Sacred Valley tour (full day)
Day 3: Rainbow Mountain (1 Day) – Cusco
Day 4: Trip to Machu Picchu (overnight)
Day 5: Machu Picchu tour – Huayna Picchu – Cusco
Day 6: Departure transfer.

Itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to Cusco and City Tour.

Upon your arrival at the Alejandro Velazco Astete Airport, in the Imperial City of Cusco (3,350 m.a.s.l.), Info Machupicchu´s staff will be waiting for you, to transfer you to the hotel of your choice. Once at the hotel, you´ll have the opportunity to enjoy a famous coca leaf tea, as that plant possesses properties that will help your organism overcome altitude sickness. Afterwards, you´ll get a chance to rest and get a bit acclimatized, at the hotel.

Around 1:30 p.m., we´ll pick you up at your hotel, to start the city´s tour with the visit of Cusco´s Cathedral, located on the city´s Main Square. Then, we´ll go to the ‘Qoricancha’, or Temple of the Sun, that was the Incas´ maximum expression of architecture and engineering, where the Santo Domingo Monastery is presently erected.

Then, we´ll board a tourism bus, to head towards the 4 archaeological complexes located on the city´s outskirts, which are Saqsayhuaman, famous for its huge cut stones, some of which are 9 meters high, and weigh over 350 tons. Then, we´ll visit Qenqo, which means ‘Maze’ or ‘Zigzag’, and fulfilled clearly religious functions. Afterwards, we´ll go over to Puca Pucara which is considered to have served as a watch post and, finally, we´ll visit Tambomach’ay that was destined to the Cult to Water.

Between 6:00 and 6:30 p.m., you´ll return to the city of Cusco, to have dinner (not included) and spend the night at your hotel.

Day 2: Sacred Valley tour (Full day).

After breakfast, at your hotel, our bus will pick you up between 8:00 and 8:30, to start the tour at 9:00 a.m., with the guided visit of Pisaq´s Incan Architectural Complex which is one of the most important and visited, in the Incas´ Sacred Valley. Then, we´ll go to Pisac´s Native Handicraft Market, where we´ll have the opportunity to observe its inhabitants´ customs, from up close. Then, we´ll go to the town of Urubamba, where we´ll enjoy a delicious buffet-lunch.

After lunch, we´ll ride on by the Vilcanota River´s banks, to visit the Incan Architectural Complex of Ollantaytambo, next to the ‘Last Living Incan Village’. Afterwards, we´ll visit Chinchero which is presently considered as tourist attraction, due to its famous handicraft and textile works, with Incan designs, elaborated in the pre-Columbian style.

Finally, we´ll take you back to the city of Cusco, between 6:30 and 7:00 p.m., in time for you to have dinner (not included), and spend the night at your hotel.

Day 3: Rainbow Mountain (1 Day) – Cusco

We´ll pick you up at your hotel, between 4:00 and 4:30 a.m., to travel, for about 2 hours, to the village of Cusipata, where we´ll enjoy a delicious breakfast, after which we´ll go on, for about 40 minutes, to the checkpoint where we´ll start the hike.

The hike lasts about 1 hour and 20 minutes, to get to Vinicunca, better known as the Rainbow Mountain (5,020 m.a.s.l.). On the way, we´ll observe the area´s fauna, with lamas and alpacas led by shepherds dressed in beautiful traditional clothes, typical of that region, as we´ll be passing by gorges, on our way to the heights, surrounded by the Ausangate´s snowcapped peaks. As we almost get to the summit, we´ll notice changes in the landscape, and sighting the Vinicunca Mountain Range (5,020 m.a.s.l.).

There, our guide will give you a detailed explanation on the mountain´s orography, ecosystem and colors, and then, you´ll have free time to admire the landscape, and take the most beautiful pictures of the Rainbow Mountain. Afterwards, we´ll return to Cusipata, where we´ll enjoy a delicious lunch, with food products of the area and, finally, we´ll travel back to the city of Cusco, to get there around 5:00 p.m., for you to freshen-up, have dinner (not included) and spend the night at your hotel.

Day 4: Trip to Machu Picchu (overnight)

After an early breakfast, at your hotel, our staff will pick you up at your hotel, to transfer you to Poroy´s Railway Station (30 minutes). There, you´ll board a tourism train bound to Machupicchu Pueblo (ex Aguas Calientes). (about 3 hours and a half).

That train trip will allow you to contemplate the fascinating landscape, all along the Sacred Vilcanota River. Upon your arrival at Machupicchu Pueblo, Info Machupicchu´s staff will be waiting for you at the train station´s main exit gate, to help you get to your hotel, and your room. You have the free afternoon, you can do some activities, such as visiting the streets of the city, visiting the thermal baths and relaxing, any of these visits can be done on your own, and assume the cost of admission.

In the evening, your guide will visit you, to give you an information briefing on the next day´s tour, in Machu Picchu. Overnight stay at the hotel, in Machupicchu Pueblo.

Day 5: Machu Picchu tour – Huayna Picchu – Cusco

Very early in the morning, after breakfast at your hotel, our guide will pick you up, to go to the bus station, and ride up to the Incan City of Machu Picchu.

Once in Machu Picchu´s archaeological complex, you´ll enjoy a 2-hour guided tour, to discover and visit the Incan city´s most outstanding architectural compounds. Then, if you have reserved that activity, you might hike up to Mount Huayna Picchu´s summit, or to that of Mount Machu Picchu, which will take you a couple of hours or more, during which you´ll have plenty of chances to admire the surrounding landscapes, and take impressive pictures (There is no guide for these activities).

At the indicated time, according to your return train´s departure schedule, you´ll have to take a bus down to the village of Machupicchu Pueblo, and go to the railroad station, where you should be 30 minutes before your train´s departure time, to board it, and go on the same trip back to Poroy, where our staff will be awaiting to transfer you to your hotel, in Cusco.

Day 6: Departure transfer.

Breakfast at the hotel and, at the indicated time, Info Machupicchu´s staff will pick you up, to take you to the airport.

END OF OUR SERVICES.

Includes

Included:

Transfers: Airport – Hotel – Airport
Cusco´s City Tour
Sacred Valley Tour
Guided excursion in Machu Picchu
Guided excursion to RainBow Montain.
Entrance tickets to all tourist attractions to be visited
Tourism transportation for all programed tours
Professional tour guide, in the language you prefer (English or Spanish)
Transfers: Hotel – Railway station – Hotel
Two-way Expedition Train tickets: Poroy – Machupicchu Pueblo – Poroy.
Two-way bus ticket in Machu Picchu Pueblo (Up and back down)
Entrance tickets to the Incan City of Machu Picchu and Huaynapicchu Montain (second day).
4 nights at the hotel you´ve chosen, in Cusco
1 hostal night, in Machupicchu Pueblo (ex Aguas Calientes)
4 breakfasts at the hotel
1 buffet-lunch in the Sacred Valley
1 buffet-lunch in Machupicchu Pueblo.
1 breakfast and buffet-lunch in Cusipata Village (RainBow Montain Tour)
Daily orientation and assistance, on the part of our professional tourism staff.