Southern Treasures - 8 Days

Upon your arrival to the airport in Cusco, an Inkayni Peru Tours member will be there to greet you and take you to our partner hotel, located in the charming historic district of Cusco. This day will be reserved for resting and acclimatising to the altitude, approximately 3400 meters (11,000 feet). Meet your expedition group at 5:00pm Lodging: Ayni Cusco Hotel *** or similar.

This day we will begin our adventure up to the high plains, stopping first at Chinchero, an important ancient site for the Inca, known as the birth place of the rainbow. We will visit the main site with its picturesque conlonial church located upon the ancient archaelogical site and continue to a local textile center where we will learn about the ancient science of weaving from the very artesans themselves and how they bring to magic these wonderful pieces of art dyed with minerals, plants and seeds. Continuing through the rolling hills we will visit the enigmatic circular terraces of Moray where we will learn about how these constructions served as an experimental agricultural center to selectivly cultivate the best breeds of Andean staple crops at different temperatures. Near Moray we will stop at the town of Maras to then visit the ancient salt mines, used for thousands of years by local families to supply salt not only to the Incas, but still to this day offering us an example of the natural art of salt harvesting straight from the land. In the afternoon, we will travel to Ollantaytambo and board our train to Aguas Calientes for our visit to Machu Picchu. Lodging: Waman Hotel Machupicchu *** or similar

Today we will wake early to have breakfast and board the bus up to Machu Picchu, and, if we are lucky, receive the first rays of the sun as dawn breaks and lights up this magical mountain. Your guide will be with you at every moment to inform you about the site and answer any questions. The guided tour through the Sanctuary will last roughly 2 hours, then you will have time to wander as you wish and continue to explore this wonderful other-worldly place. Later we will begin our return to Aguas Calientes for lunch and rest in our Hotel Lodging: Waman Hotel Machupicchu *** or similar