Itinerary
Day 1: ARRIVAL IN CUSCO
Pass By: Cusco 08007, Peru
Upon your arrival to the airport in Cusco, a Inkayni Peru Tours staff member will be there to greet you and take you to our partner hotel, located in the charming historic district of San Blas. The lodge is centrally located and only a few minutes’ walk from the Plaza de Armas, the beautiful and bustling town center.
This day will be reserved for resting to adapt to the altitude, approximately 3400 meters (11,000 feet).
Meet your expedition group at 5:00pm.
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Tandapata Boutique Hotel *** or similar
Day 2: CHINCHERO – MARAS SALT MINES & MORAY.
Stop At: Sacred Valley of the Incas, 0051 Peru
We will pick you up from your hotel around 8 AM and head to Moray. The drive is about 1 hour and 20 minutes and is absolutely beautiful. You will drive through the snow-capped peaks of the Andes, through lush yellow fields of wheat, past some villages.
Finally you will arrive to the fascinating display of terraces in Moray. Moray boasts three amphitheater-like terraces made by the Incas. These terraces, which are carved deep into the earth in a bowl shape, were thought to be used to determine the optimal conditions for growing crops.
When you are done exploring Moray you will head to the salt mines of Maras, which is about 2 miles away. This village is known as a former salt-producing center that is thought to date back all the way to pre-Inca times. There are over 3000 salt pools all carved into the mountain side, being filled daily by a little stream of water.
The last place to visit will be Chinchero. Here we can admire the well-preserved Inka walls of the main square as well as the many altars. We will also visit the beautiful colonial church, unique for its interior artwork and imagery. Moving on we will participate in a wonderful introduction and learning experience of the art of Andean textiles; throughout the afternoon we will become acquainted with the wisdom of Andean weavings as maintained since long before Inka times.
If you want to see something really different from ruins, this is your tour! The area is amazing and spectacularly beautiful. Once you are done with the visit, you will head back to the city in time to enjoy some lunch on your own.
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Tandapata Boutique Hotel *** or similar.
Day 3: FIRST DAY INKA JUNGLE ADVENTURE: CUSCO – SANTA MARIA (34 miles, 55 km) (BIKING AND RAFTING)
Stop At: Inca Jungle, Cusco Peru
Our transportation will pick you up around 7:00 am (Time to be reconfirmed). After 3 hours approximately by bus, we will arrive at the high mountain pass of Malaga ( 4,316 meters above sea level) (14,160 feet above sea level). ), around 10 am, where will start our descent on mountain bikes, descending for about 3 hours, passing through small villages, orchards, rivers and streams, reaching the town Huamanmarca around 1:30 pm. We continue our journey by bus for approximately 30 minutes until we reach the town of Santa Maria, where we have our first lunch and spend the first night.
After a short break and lunch, we will begin the rafting trip for the next 2 hours, encountering class III and IV rapids, always accompanied by a professional safety kayak to watch over the group until leaving the river.
Duration: 7 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Santa Maria - Home Stay
Day 4: SECOND DAY INKA JUNGLE ADVENTURE: SANTA MARIA – SANTA TERESA: TREKKING (14 MILES, 23 KM)
Stop At: Inca Jungle, Meson De La Estrella 194 - Office 201 int, Cusco 08002, Peru
Wake up call around 6:00 a.m. for a typical breakfast while immersed in nature, then departing for our trek, walking along the banks of the river before climbing for 30 minutes, eventually meeting up with the original Inca trail. On our way we will see small coffee plantations, fruit trees, and an abundance of flora and fauna such as birds and orchids. This ecosystem belongs to the high montane forest and is one of the richest in biodiversity in the tropics. At the highest point we will have a view of the valley of the lower Urubamba River. From here we descend about 2.5 hours until arriving at the village of Qellomayo for lunch. After a rest we will continue hiking for 3 hours, traversing farms, waterfalls and rivers until arriving at the Cocalmayu hot springs. After a relaxing bath, from here we will walk 40 minutes to the town of Santa Teresa for tonight’s dinner and lodging.
Duration: 6 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Santa Teresa - Home Stay
Day 5: THIRD DAY INKA JUNGLE ADVENTURE: SANTA TERESA – AGUAS CALIENTES: HIKING AND ZIP LINE (10 miles, 16 km)
Stop At: Inca Jungle, Cusco Peru
We will start our day around 7 am to continue exploring the Urubamba River valley. Those who reserved in advance will visit zip line in Santa Teresa. Afterwards our bus will take us to the area known as the hydroelectric. Here we will break for lunch before catching the short train ride through the final stretch to the town of Aguas Calientes below the mountain of Machu Picchu. Tonight we will stay in one of the hotels in town. In the evening we will meet in a local restaurant for dinner and a briefing about tomorrow’s excursion to Machu Picchu.
Duration: 4 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Golden Sunrise Hotel *** or similar.
Day 6: MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO
Stop At: Machu Picchu, 08680, Peru
Our final day will begin very early. We will wake you up around 5 am for breakfast and then take one of the first buses up to the mountain Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu is at its finest at dawn. The Inca city is quietest very early in the morning and with the best lighting for fantastic pictures and enchanted views of the surrounding landscape. There will be a short guided tour around the city to explain some of its history and visit the most important features.
Once you feel that you have seen every corner of Machu Picchu, you may return by bus to Aguas Calientes.
In the evening we will return by train to Cusco.
Duration: 7 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Tandapata Boutique Hotel *** or similar.
Day 7: DEPARTURE
Pass By: Cusco 08007, Peru
Free morning to relax. In the afternoon there will be a transfer to the airport for your departure to Lima.
Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.
