Cusco land of the Incas
Tour Details
Duration: 5 days / 4 nights
Tour Type: Archaeological and cultural
Places to be visited: Sightseeing tour in Lima; Combined Sightseeing tour, The Sacred Valley of the Incas and Machu Picchu in Cusco.
Tour Description
All our programmes can be tailor made according to your requirements, whether regarding the length of your tour, any special interests or specific activities, flight reservations, optional destinations or tours.
DAY 01: International Arrival in Lima
Assistance at your arrival to Lima International Airport and transfer to your hotel. There you will receive a briefing on your tour; vouchers covering all the services included in your tour and additional information on the organisation of your Peru trip.
Meals Included: None
DAY 02: Lima / Cusco: Sightseeing Tour and Visit to Nearby Ruins
Breakfast. Early in the morning transfer to Lima Airport to board your flight to Cusco. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel. Remainder of the morning free to rest and get used to the altitude.
In the afternoon, guided sightseeing tour in Cusco visiting the Main Square, the Cathedral and the Temple of the Sun or Korikancha. Then, we drive out of the City to visit the Inca sites of Kenko, Tambomachay, Puca Pucara and the impressive Fortress of Sacsayhuaman, strategically built on a hill overlooking Cusco, famous for its enormous carved stones, some of them standing over 9 m / 30 ft high and weighing over 350 tons.
Return to your hotel and get ready to enjoy a dinner in a typical restaurant with a folklore show where the musicians play their melodies with Andean instruments of beautiful sounds while typically dressed dancers will show you different ancient Peruvian dances.
Meals Included: Breakfast and dinner
DAY 03: Cusco: The Sacred Valley of the Incas
Breakfast. Full-day excursion to the "Sacred Valley of the Incas", along the Vilcanota River. We will have the opportunity to share closely the peasants' customs and bargain with vendors at the typical indian market of Pisac, held on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Lunch in a local countryside restaurant.
In the afternoon, passing through the Towns of Calca and Urubamba, we visit the Inca Fortress and Citadel of Ollantaytambo, built to guard the entrance to this part of the Valley, and protect it from possible invasion from the tribes in the Lower jungle. You can walk through the quaint streets of the nearby Town, and get a good idea of what this strategic military, religious, and agricultural centre was like during the era of the Inca Empire.
Back to Cusco, transfer to your hotel for overnight.
Evening at leisure. We suggest going around the Main Square and enjoy the night atmosphere tasting a delicious Pisco Sour in some of the many pubs around the Main Square
Meals Included: Breakfast and lunch
DAY 04: Cusco / Machu Picchu / Cusco
Breakfast. The day starts with an early morning rise to transfer to Cusco Train Station for a 3 ½ hour train journey to the famous Inca Citadel of Machu Picchu, also known as "The Lost City of the Incas", discovered for science in 1911 by the American explorer Hiram Bingham.
Arrival: Upon arrival at Aguas Calientes, you will make the 25-minute motor coach ascent to the "Lost City of the Incas".
We tour the ruins for around 3 hours, during which time our guide explains the astounding degree of technology achieved by the builders of this famous site. The tight construction, the water channels, the staircases carved from the living rock of the mountain, and the Intihuatana, (or "Hitching Post of the Sun"), which served as an astronomical calendar, all show technological advancement far beyond anything this area of the world was thought to have achieved. These, along with the Temple of the Sun, the Royal Tomb, the Priests' House, the Inca Baths and the Temple of the Three Windows, all allow us to glimpse back into the past and, with the help of our guide, revisit the lives of these truly remarkable people.
We enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in Aguas Calientes.
The mid-afternoon train takes you back to Cusco. Meet by our Representative and transfer to your hotel.
Note: Possibility of staying overnight at Machu Picchu (subject to hotel's availability).
Meals Included: Breakfast and lunch
DAY 05: Cusco / Lima - International Departure
Breakfast: Leisurely breakfast at your hotel in Cusco.
Transfer to the Airport for your flight to Lima. Meet on arrival by our Representative and transfer to your hotel.
Lunch on your own.
In the afternoon, guided sightseeing tour to the most attractive and important sites in Lima, the "City of Kings". The tour includes Lima's Historical Centre, passing by Plaza San Martin, Plaza Mayor, the Government Palace, the City Hall, the Cathedral and its Religious Art Museum, the Church of Santo Domingo, with the tombs of Santa Rosa and San Martin de Porras, and Lima's Colonial Balconies.
We will visit the Convent and Church of San Francisco, the greatest monumental complex of Colonial Art in America and Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The tour includes a visit to the Basilica of 21 altars, Convent of Cloisters, Capitulary and Clementine Rooms, Chorus and Library of the priests, a Museum showing 11 paintings of the Rubens School, the Sacristy with paintings of Surbaran and Ribera, its great patio decorated with Seville tiles of XVIth Century, Moorish arches and underground catacombs.
We then drive through the residential Districts of San Isidro and Miraflores, passing by the Huaca Pucllana, a ceremonial and administrative centre of the Lima Culture built in the II Century A.C. that the Incas considered as "Ñaupallaqta" or Sacred Town. We will also visit El Olivar Park with olive trees brought from Spain in the XVth Century, the Central Park of Miraflores and Larcomar, a symbol of modern Lima and a tourist and entertainment centre as well as a privileged site to enjoy an amazing view of the Pacific Ocean. Late afternoon transfer to your hotel.
Evening departure transfer to the Airport. Assistance at the International Airport with all departure formalities.
Meals Included: Breakfast