Sacred Lands of the Incas

Welcome to Peru! Arrive Lima and transfer to the Wyndham Airport Hotel located adjacent to the terminal.

After arriving in Cusco and meeting your guide, you’ll set off. As you head out of Cusco, the high mountain peaks of the Andes begin to appear as you enter the Sacred Urubamba Valley of the Incas. Your first stop is the village of Pisac, known for its Inca temple complex, one of the best-preserved and most impressive ruins in the area. Pisac is a picturesque and welcoming Andean community with a vibrant market selling traditional crafts, local produce, handmade garments, and gifts.

Today you’ll wind your way up above the town of Lamay to a remote Andean village in the clouds. The villagers of this small community still keep to their traditional way of life by supporting their families through agriculture. You’ll have an opportunity to talk with the women and men and even try your hand at some of the fieldwork that they do year-round. Visit with local weavers and learn what it takes to create the amazing and intricate textiles this region is known for. You’ll be served a traditionally prepared lunch with organic produce grown on-site. Return this afternoon down to the Sacred Valley.

This morning you’ll explore the Sacred Valley, an agricultural hub for the Incas and still a fertile area today. Your first stop will be the Maras salt works. Here, over 5,000 evaporative salt ponds are hand-tended and produce some of the purest salt in the world. Your journey continues up to the Moray archeological site. Used as an agricultural testing ground, the site’s system of concentric terraces served as a perfect agricultural laboratory for the Incas. Return to the Sacred Valley for a final night overlooking this special corner of Peru. Note: Ask us about an option to visit the Maras salt works and Moray ruins by mountain bike!

Head out this morning to Ollantaytambo for the morning train to Aguas Calientes. After lunch and after the crowds have thinned, you’ll catch the shuttle that climbs up the winding mountain road to the Machu Picchu complex. You’ll enter on foot past the gatehouse and ascend to where the great city in the sky will spread out below in a surreal panorama. After some time soaking up the glorious view, and a short walk through the upper reaches of the citadel, you’ll take a bus back to the village of Aguas Calientes at the foot of the mountain.

A quick, half-hour bus ride brings you up the road to the gates of Machu Picchu, where you’ll enjoy a half-day tour of Machu Picchu led by your expert guide. Exploring the different pathways and entering some of the houses and temples brings these iconic ruins to life. As you immerse yourself in this mystical place, the mind cannot help but wonder what life was like here. The fit and bold may be so inclined to scale Huayna Picchu for a bird’s eye view over this mountain settlement – be sure to inquire ahead about this. In the afternoon, return to Aguas Calientes, where a train will take you to the Sacred Valley, where you’ll meet your driver for the return journey to Cusco.

Enjoy a city tour with your guide including the Qoricancha Temple dedicated to the worship of the Sun, the cathedral on the Main Square, and finally, the Fortress of Sacsayhuaman, a colossal stone structure, carved and fitted together with incredible precision. There’s so much to see in this charming and historic city.

The morning is yours to relax at the hotel or head out in Cusco for some last-minute souvenir shopping before heading to the airport to catch your departing international flight.