Guide

Operated with English, Spanish or French speaking local guide on a private basis

Accommodation

5 nights of accommodation. Day 1-2 Sacred Valley: Standard Hotel Category = AVA Spots or similar 3* Superior Hotel Category = Casa Andina Private Valle Sagrado or similar 4* Deluxe Hotel Category = Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba or similar 5* Day 3 Aguas Calientes: Standard Hotel Category = Ferré Machu Picchu or similar 3* Superior Hotel Category = El Mapi by Inkaterra or similar 4* Deluxe Hotel Category = Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo or similar 5* Day 4-5 Cusco: Standard Hotel Category = Tierra Viva or similar 3* Superior Hotel Category = Hilton Garden Inn or similar 4* Deluxe Hotel Category = Aranwa Cusco Boutique or similar 5* OPTIONAL EXTRA Pre- and Post - night stay in Cusco: Standard Hotel Category = San Agustin Internacional or similar 3* Superior Hotel Category = Hilton Garden Inn or similar 4* Deluxe Hotel Category = Aranwa Cusco Boutique or similar 5*

Meals

5 Breakfast. 2 Lunches on days 2, 3

Transport

Private transfers from and to the airport Private transfers from and to the train stations Roundtrip train to Machu Picchu in Expedition Service (PeruRail) or Voyager (IncaRail) for Standard and Superior category, and Vistadome Service (Perú Rail) or 360° (Inca Rai) for Deluxe category

Others

Pre- and Post - night stay in Cusco: Admission to all major monuments and sightseeing attractions mentioned in the above itinerary: Living Museum of Yucay, Ollantaytambo and Chinchero archaeological complexes in Sacred Valley; Machu Picchu on day 3; Coricancha, Cathedral, Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Tambomachay and Puca Pucara in Cusco; Cusco Tourist Ticket (BTC ticket) included.

Not included:

Insurance

Insurance is not included

Optional

Other activities and services not included

Flights

International flights are not included Domestic flights are not included

Others

Expenses of a personal nature. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages during meals. Meals not stated in the programme Tips for driver and guide Additional optional visits International flights to Peru Domestic flights (we advise booking the first flights in the morning before 11:00hrs) International and domestic airport departure taxes KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Rates do not apply to Peruvians or residents with more than 60 days of stay. If passengers are Peruvians or exceed 60 days of stay, sale taxes (18%) will be collected by our local operator Domestic flight from Lima to Cusco must arrive not later than 10:30hrs. Noon arrivals are too late. Please note that Check In in most hotels begins at 13:00 hrs. Clients will be subject to the availability of the room if they arrive before, waiting in the hotel lobby If your trip includes the visit to high altitude cities such as Cusco and Puno located at more than 3400 meters (11 200 feet above sea level), do not forget to take precautions in order to avoid altitude sickness. Passengers who have heart problems or high blood pressure should check with their doctor before travelling Upon arrival is recommended to rest for few hours, drink coca tea and eat lightly. As a reference Machu Picchu is located at 2400 meters (8 000 feet above sea level) IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE NEW ENTRANCE REGULATIONS TO MACHU PICCHU: The current restrictions on visits to Machu Picchu allow a maximum stay of 4 hours in the citadel accompanied by a guide during the first entry. If the visitor tours an alternate route (Mountain Machu Picchu or Huayna Picchu) the passenger will have 3 hours to for this purpose, additional to the 4 hours in the citadel. If the passenger wishes to enter the citadel again during the afternoon shift or the next day, he must acquire previously an additional ticket to enter in the new shift. There is no ticket sale in the archaeological zone. It is forbidden the follow objects: professional cameras that require lights and tripods, or with telephoto lenses with a weigh higher than 2 kilos (in order to use them, special authorization is needed, as well as the payment of an additional fee), drones, selfie sticks, sprays, high heels, walking sticks without rubber tip, banners and posters, sharp objects and backpacks bigger than 40cm x 35 cm x 20 cm. INSTRUCTIONS: Carry the same document that you presented to the agency, given that the train tickets and entrance to Machu Picchu will be issued with the same information In all train services to Machu Picchu, the passenger can carry only hand luggage (backpack, bag or briefcase) weighing no more than 5kg / 11lb on the train to / from Machu Picchu. You will find your luggage at the chosen hotel. Allowed size: 62 linear inches 157cm (height + length + width) NEW PLASTIC REGULATION: After the prohibition of the access of single use plastic items to 76 natural areas including Machu Picchu, it is important to use reusable bottles.

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Arrival Cusco – Sacred Valley (50Km – 1.5 Hours)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Arrival Cusco – Sacred Valley (50Km – 1.5 Hours)

Arrive at Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport in Cusco. Upon arrival, a guide will be waiting to greet you at the airport and the transportation service will transfer you to your Sacred Valley hotel. En route to the hotel, following the road to Pisac, you will make a stop at the Inkariy Museum where you will learn about the pre-Columbian history and traditions of Peru. This museum features a chronological circuit of exhibits that will not only give you an insight into the impressive Inca Empire, but will also introduce you to the lesser-known peoples of Peru, including the Caral, Chavín, Paracas, Moche, Nasca, Wari, Malbayeque and Chimú cultures. Upon arrival at your hotel, check in to your room and enjoy some free time to make use of the hotel facilities or to relax and re-charge your batteries ready for the trip ahead. Domestic flight from Lima to Cusco must arrive not later than 10:30hrs. Noon arrivals are too late. Overnight in Sacred Valley.
Day 2 Day 2: Sacred Valley – Chinchero – Ollantaytambo (85Km - 2 Hrs)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Sacred Valley – Chinchero – Ollantaytambo (85Km - 2 Hrs)

Today breakfast at the hotel is followed by visit to the town of Chinchero, a small high-altitude town offering beautiful views of the valley and the chance to witness traditional clothing, customs and local handicrafts. Visit archaeological remains and a beautiful seventeenth-century church, one of the first Catholic buildings in Peru. You will then be transferred to the Yucay Museum of Living Culture, where you can see textiles, adobe pottery and silverware being crafted using techniques dating back to the Incas. This centre not only gives you an insight into local Andean traditions, but you also have the opportunity to feed the llamas, sheep and alpacas! Feel the true spirit of the Sacred Valley as you sample a lunch of local cuisine in a cosy restaurant in Ollantaytambo. After eating, explore the streets of Ollantaytambo, inhabited uninterruptedly since Inca times, and climb the iconic fortress built into the mountainside. At the end of the day, return to your hotel to rest full of the spirit of the Incas.*On Sundays, you may also visit the local market. Overnight in Sacred Valley.
Day 3 Day 3: Sacred Valley – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes (75Km – 1.5 Hrs)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Sacred Valley – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes (75Km – 1.5 Hrs)

Wake up to breakfast at the hotel then transfer to the Ollanta station to begin your trip to Machu Picchu. Enjoy the approximately two-hour scenic train ride to Aguas Calientes, also known as ‘Machu Picchu Pueblo’, the last stop before entering the most important archaeological site in Peru. It is believed that Machu Picchu was built for the Inca emperor Pachacútec around 1450 as a holiday residence. The citadel was abandoned just over 100 years later, probably as a result of the Spanish Conquest, although historians have never uncovered why it was abandoned or how it escaped the destruction that other Inca settlements faced. Instead, the jungle slowly engulfed its stone construction, covering it in a thick vegetation that kept it hidden and protected until the ‘lost city of the Incas’ was brought to international attention in 1911. Your tour will introduce you to the origins of this impressive citadel and guide you around some of its most iconic monuments, such as the main square, the royal rooms, the Temple of the Three Windows, the circular towers, the Sacred Clock and cemeteries. At the end of the tour, return to Aguas Calientes for lunch and free time in the afternoon. Overnight in Aguas Calientes.
Day 4 Day 4: Machu Picchu - Cusco (115Km - 4 Hours)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Machu Picchu - Cusco (115Km - 4 Hours)

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before spending a relaxing morning at your leisure in Aguas Calientes, where you will find restaurants, bars, shops, and a craft market. Alternatively, you may return to Machu Picchu to further explore this spectacular ancient city. Spend the morning over Machu Picchu and discover its secrets. Some of the best views of the sunrise can be found by hiking up Huayna Picchu, which houses a complex of underground temples, and Inti Punku (the Sun Gate), both more than 300 metres above the citadel itself. Another option is to take the short 30-minute trek to the Inca Bridge, the secret entrance to Machu Picchu used by the Inca army. Built into a spectacular path along a sheer mountain side, the simple plank bridge could quickly be removed to scupper the progress of any unwanted arrivals. In the afternoon, board the train back to Ollanta station where you will be met by the transportation service who will transfer you back to your hotel in Cusco. Overnight in Cusco.
Day 5 Day 5: Cuscocity Tour & Nearby Archaeological Site
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Cuscocity Tour & Nearby Archaeological Site

After breakfast at the hotel, take advantage of your free morning in Cusco to rest at the hotel or to explore its cobblestone streets and shop for local handicrafts. In the afternoon, enjoy a guided tour of the capital of the Inca Empire. The tour begins at the Santo Domingo Convent, a building constructed on the site of Coricancha, one of the most important Incan complexes dedicated to sun worship. According to historical records, the original temple walls depicted scenes of nature and were covered in gold leaf. After Coricancha, visit the imposing cathedral in the Plaza de Armas, then head to the Cusco hills, where you’ll find the fortress of Sacsayhuamán and panoramic views of Cusco. Continue on to Qenqo, an archaeological site where it is believed the Incas carried out religious rituals. Your tour ends in Puka Pukara, meaning ’strong red’ in Quechua. Puka Pukara is an ancient military site comprising numerous rooms, courtyards, baths, aqueducts and towers. At the end of the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel. Overnight in Cusco.
Day 6 Day 6: Departure Cusco
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Departure Cusco

After finishing your breakfast at the hotel, check out and transfer to the airport. Although this is the last day of your journey we hope that your memories of this remarkable region, bursting with both culture and history, will last a lifetime. Breakfast included.

6 days tour

The Heart Of The Empire, Private Tour

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip The Heart Of The Empire, Private Tour

Day 1: Arrival Cusco – Sacred Valley (50Km – 1.5 Hours)

Day 2: Sacred Valley – Chinchero – Ollantaytambo (85Km - 2 Hrs)

Day 3: Sacred Valley – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes (75Km – 1.5 Hrs)

Day 4: Machu Picchu - Cusco (115Km - 4 Hours)

Day 5: Cuscocity Tour & Nearby Archaeological Site

Day 6: Departure Cusco

Experience Style

Accomodation level

Experience Type

Physical Rating

Age range

Who talk about us:

Best cities to travel to

America

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania