Day 01: Arrive in Cusco / PM City tour.

Upon arrival at the Cusco airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the morning will be at your leisure. In the afternoon (13:00h) enjoy a half day tour of Cusco, visiting the Cathedral on the Plaza de Armas and the legendary Qoricancha, the most important religious center in the Inca time, a temple devoted to worshiping the Sun deity. Your tour includes also the visit to some nearby archaeological sites such as the impressive fortress of Sacsayhuaman; the religious site of Q’enqo; the ancient site of Puca Pucara and finally the water temple of Tambomachay.

Day 02: Cusco - Santa María – Santa Teresa – Hidroeléctrica - Aguas Calientes.

We will start the day by picking you up at your hotel (approx.07:15 am). The tour will begin with a nice, scenic ride to Ollantaytambo, where we will have a chance to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the area. From there, we will continue down a long, winding path to "Habra de Malaga", which stands at an altitude of 4,316 m.a.s.l from that vantage point, we will see some of the most amazing landscapes that Peru has to offer. After a brief stop, we will begin our descent into the thick jungle, passing through the different micro-climates that combine the paradisiacal landscapes of the majestic snow-capped peaks with the hot, tropical entrance to the rainforest. We will continue along our route until we have reached Alfamayo, where there is a nice, paved road in perfect condition that we can use. We will need to take an unpaved road though, in order to continue in the direction of Santa Maria, which is located at an altitude of 1575 m.a.s.l. From this point we will continue to the small village, Santa Teresa, where a delicious lunch will be awaiting us at approximately 2:00 pm. Afterwards, at around 2:45 pm, we will return to the route in the direction of the train station at the nearby Hydroelectric Plant. From where you have to walk 12 Kilometers - 2 hours (or take an optional train will have us in Aguas Calientes), at which point you will be taken to the designated hostals and hotels. If we have any extra time to use, we can also go take a relaxing dip in the natural, heated waters of the hot baths. At 7 pm, though, it will be time to enjoy a hearty dinner along with the guide who will be taking you to the ancient citadel, Machu Picchu. At that time, he will have a chance to go over the plan for the following day and answer any questions. We spend one night in a basic hostel/hotel in Aguas Calientes. Travel time by car: 6hrs approx. Hiking time: 2hrs approx. Important: Optionally, passengers who do NOT want to walk the section between Hidroeléctrica and Aguas Calientes can buy their train ticket at the same station. Please make an inquiry about it.

Day 03: Machupicchu – Aguas Calientes - Hidroeléctrica – Cusco.

You will have the option to go up to Machu Picchu by bus or walking. Breakfast will be served from 04:00 am. The guided tour of the site will begin at 6:00 am and will last for at least 2 hours. Afterwards, you will be able to enjoy some free time until approximately 11:30 am, which is the recommended time to begin returning down the mountain to the train station. The train back to the hydroelectric plant will be leaving Aguas Calientes at 1:30 pm (the train ticket has an additional cost), if you want to avoid the train you can walk for around 2 hours so have to leave at 12:30 from Aguas Calientes as transportation in Hidroeléctrica will wait only until 2:30 pm. Upon our arrival to the hydroelectric plant, we will transfer you to a private van, which will take us to Santa Teresa. There, we will have a one-hour break for one last chance to get some food or use the restroom before we undertake the final leg of the ride. We will then proceed back to Cusco, returning down the same road that brought us here. We will arrive to Cusco around 10:00 pm (approx.) Hiking time: 2hrs approx. Travel time by car: 6hrs approx. Include: Bus ticket Aguas Calientes - Machupicchu, entrance ticket to Machupicchu, professional tour guide, meals (01B, 01L, 01D), transportation Hidroeléctrica – Cusco, chosen hotel.

Day 04: Sacred Valley of the Incas.

Today you will enjoy a full day tour to explore the Sacred Valley of the Incas. This fertile river valley was home to many important sites for the Incas, both strategic and religious. The first stop is the village of Pisaq, with its famous market. In the market comes alive with locals from nearby hillside villages in traditional dress selling local fruit and vegetables as well as handicrafts. There is free time to wander the colorful market stalls before to visit the spectacular Pisaq Ruins – a hilltop Inca citadel and fortress with impressive agricultural terracing. Afterwards, you will enjoy a delicious buffet lunch in a local restaurant in Urubamba. Following, you will visit Ollantaytambo, an Incan military, religious, administrative and agricultural center located at the top of a mountain. Unlike other small towns, this one has maintained its original Incan design, featuring stone buildings and narrow streets. Finally, in the way back to Cusco visit the traditional Andean village of Chinchero. The visit combines the Inca archeological site, and a colonial church.

Day 05: Rainbow Mountain.

Very early in the morning (approx. 4:15 am) we will pass by your hotel in our private transport, then we will leave the city of Cusco towards the south valley, after traveling approximately 2 hours we will arrive at the Cusipata sector (Paucarpata), where we will enjoy a delicious breakfast (scrambled eggs, cheese, ham, fruit salad, hot drinks etc). After breakfast we will continue for approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes more until we reach the checkpoint, it is there that we will begin our walk. Previously, our guide will give us the instructions and recommendations of the route to finally begin. The walk will take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes until you reach Vinincunca or The Rainbow Mountain (5,020 m / 16,466 ft.). On the way we will observe a large number of llamas and alpacas that are in the care of shepherds dressed in beautiful colorful costumes. Similarly along the way we can see snowy peaks that are part of the slope of the Andes Mountains, among which the Apu Ausangate (sacred mountain) stands out one of the highest mountains in southern Peru; almost upon reaching the top we will observe the change of landscape, at which point we can appreciate the mountain range of Vinincunca or Rainbow Mountain, reaching this point between 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Here our guide will explain us in detail aspects about the orography, ecosystem and color of the mountain, we will also have time for the most beautiful photos of the mountain of 7 colors, after a little free time we will take the way back to Llaqto, where our vehicle will be waiting. We will continue the return to the Cusipata sector where we will have our delicious buffet lunch. Finally we will take the return route to the City of Cusco arriving at approximately 05:00 pm.

Day 06: Maras – Moray.

In the morning (08:00am) you will be picked up from your hotel to start a half day tour, you will head out on the road that crosses the Sacred Valley of the Incas to reach the important Moray archeological site (3176m/10419ft), where enormous circular and Pre-Incan semi-circular agricultural terraces were constructed to be used as a botanical laboratory for experimenting on plant domestication and foreign crop acclimatization. The area is so large that at least 3000 plant varieties, including potatoes and corn, could have been grown. Next, Maras is located about 4 km from Moray, and is the site of pre-Inca Salineras (salt ponds). Each terraced pond is polygonal in shape; salty water emerges from an underground spring, flows into the ponds, and evaporates with the sun. The Maras’ salt mines are still active today and maintained cooperatively by the Maras community. The white salt ponds contrast with the green hills and mountains that surround the mines and the views of the Sacred Valley from here are amazing. The tour will end in the early afternoon at your Cusco’s down town.

Day 07: Humantay Lake.

Very early in the morning (approx. 4:15 am) we will pass by your hotel in our private transport then we will leave the city of Cusco towards the towns of Izcuchaca and Limatambo, to finally access to the route to Salkantay and reach the town of Mollepata, in this place we will stop to enjoy a delicious breakfast and fill ourselves with the energy needed for the walk. After breakfast we will continue for approximately 1 more hour until we reach the Soraypampa sector, where we will start the trek. Previously, our guide will give us the instructions and recommendations of the route to finally begin. The walk will take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes until reaching Humantay Lake (4,200 m / 13,780 ft.). During the ascent we can see snowy peaks that are part of the slope of the Andes Mountains, among which the Apu Salkantay (sacred mountain) stands out, one of the highest mountains in southern Peru. Upon reaching the lake we can see the variation of colors, depending on the perspective that gives us the point where we are, in addition to the glacier in front that feeds the lake. After the explanation with the guide, take pictures and rest from the walk, we will go back to Soraypampa and continue in the vehicle to Mollepata where we will have our buffet lunch. Finally, we will take the return route to the City of Cusco arriving at approximately 06:00 pm.

Day 08: Cusco – Lima.

You will be collected from your hotel and transferred to the airport for your flight to Lima or your next destination.