7 Day Discovering Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu

Overview

This seven-day Machu Picchu tour gives you ample opportunity to experience the Andean wonders of today and the Incan culture of yesteryear, while we take care of your every requirement and comfort. This route combines adventure with the cultural exploration of Sacred Valley, taking you off the beaten track with visits to the authentic Andean communities that exist alongside ancient ruins. You’ll be surrounded by stunning mountains and valleys, all while staying in the Sacred Valley.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Cusco

We start out at 9:00am with a visit to Koricancha, also known as the “Temple of the Sun”, the construction of which was ordered by Inca Pachacútec (1438-1471) and was used as base for the construction of the Santo Domingo Convent upon the arrival of the Spaniards. This is one of the places where the Sun (lnti, in Quechua) was worshipped during the Inca Empire. At the time of the Incas, its walls were fully covered with gold sheets and its courtyards were planted with golden corn and life-size llamas.

You will then go to the Cathedral, the most impressive building on the Main Square, the construction of which lasted almost a century, beginning in 1560 and ending in 1654. The Ecclesiastical Chapter ordered the extraction and transport of thousands of stones from the Sacsayhuaman fortress for this purpose. You will then visit Sacsayhuaman, a magnificent building conceived and built by Inca Pachacútec in the 15th century. The Sacsayhuaman complex was built with megalithic blocks, the transportation and erection of which continue to be a fascinating mystery. The lnti Raymi Festival, which worships the Sun, is reenacted on June 24 of each year, during the winter solstice. We continue with the visit to the San Pedro market, where you will find thousands of products from different areas of the region. Finally, you will return to your hotel.

Meals: B, L

Day 2 - Cusco - Urubamba

You will start your tour about 8:00am heading to the Pisac market, which has scores of stands that exhibit and sell products manufactured by the residents of the area. Beautiful alpaca textiles, musical instruments, paintings, carvings, necklaces and replicas of old Inca pieces stand out. You will continue to the Pisac archaeological ruins, which has the largest complex of terraces in the area and is a masterpiece of the agriculture of the Inca Empire. Then we visit the archaeological sites of Maras and Moray.

Maras is a surreal sight. It is close to Moray and is an impressive complex of salt mining. These large deposits of salt were used for exchange for other products with other regions of the empire. On the other hand, the archaeological site of Moray consists of mysterious concentric circular terraces that according to some investigators, was an agricultural research center. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before going to Hacienda Urubamba, where we will have dinner and stay overnight.

Meals: B, L, D

Day 3 - Urubamba

You’ll be picked up at your hotel at 8:00am to go to the first stop on your tour today, the village of Chinchero, one of the most important communities during the Inca empire. Here, we will explore the archaeological site and the colonial church, which is full of murals. After exploring the terraces, we start the descent on the Inca Trail to Urquillos, a cozy valley with spectacular views that the Andes provide us. In the distance, on a clear day, appreciate the snow-capped mountains of Pitusiray and Sawasiray, symbol of the duality to the Incas. Also notice how the temperature and the vegetation changes as we descend. As we arrive at Urquillos, we will meet up with our transport and transfer to your hotel in the Sacred Valley. We will enjoy a box lunch en route. Dinner at lnkaterra Hacienda Urubamba Hotel.

Meals: B, L, D

Day 4 - Private Sacred Valley Tour

After breakfast, your guide will meet you at your hotel at 7:00am for a trip to the Huilloc community, where we will have a chance to take a short walk through this traditional Andean village that has maintained its original way of life. Here, the inhabitants wear traditional clothing, live in traditional houses and maintain ancient customs. We’ll have the opportunity to attend a weaving demonstration to learn the techniques used in the preparation of their fabrics, the raw materials used, and the use of natural dyes. After the visit, we drive to Pumamarca, the beginning of today’s hike. Pumamarca is an Inca site where we will have time to explore the area and see ancient Inca terraces, water canals and the amazing architecture from Inca times, all surrounded by beautiful views of the Sacred Valley. After the short visit, we have time to enjoy a box lunch and breathe in the pure air of the Andes. After lunch, continue the hike down to Ollantaytambo, crossing Inca terraces and agricultural fields. This hike to Ollantaytambo takes about an hour and 45 minutes. After the tour, we transfer back to the hotel.

Meals: B, L, D

Day 5 - Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

We pick you up early in the morning at your hotel and drive to the train station to board the train that will take us to Km. 104 (the starting point of the hike). After crossing the suspension bridge over the Urubamba River we visit the archaeological site of Chachabamba (2,150m / 7,052ft). From here, we will hike upwards for about 8 km. (approximately 4 hours) and get to the magnificent archaeological site of Wiñayhuayna (2,700m), an impressive complex made up of an agricultural center with numerous terraces, a religious sector and an urban sector. On the way we can appreciate the vegetation of the forest. After having a box lunch we will continue for about one hour further into ‘lnti Punku’ (The Sun Gate) at 2,730m (8,792ft), from where you will have your first dramatic and impressive view of Machu Picchu (2,430m / 7,972ft). As we descend, we will take a side path off the trail to get on a bus that transports us to Aguas Calientes, where you will spend the night.

Meals: B, L, D

Day 6 - Machu Picchu

After an early breakfast we will take the bus back up to Machu Picchu. A walking tour is given by your guide through the different sectors of this great Inca citadel. This day you will have a new entrance to Machu Picchu (until 12:00 pm) and enjoy some time at the citadel. Afterwards, we will enjoy a delicious lunch at the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge. We descend by bus to Aguas Calientes.

Meals: B, L, D

Day 7 - Machu Picchu - Sacred Valley - Cusco

We will pick you up at your hotel and transfer you to the bus station to ascend to the citadel once more. We will enter Huayna Picchu that is located north of the citadel of Machu Picchu. It is a mountain of great beauty that displays in its summit a group of terraces apparently used for religious and aesthetic purposes, and an incomplete temple. The Temple of the Moon is found on the northern flank of the mountain. We will take a bus to Aguas Calientes for lunch at a cafe, afterwards meeting at the train station to take the train back to Cuzco. In Cuzco we will check into the Aranwa Cuzco Hotel and eat dinner, spending the rest of the night here.

Meals: B, L, D

Inclusions

What's included

5 nights in our preferred properties, hand-selected for comfort, convenience and quality.
Privately guided tours with your own personal guide and driver.
All private airport transfers with English speaking assistance.
Round-trip Vistadome train to the trail start and then back to Cusco.
Round-trip bus tickets to the Machu Picchu ruins in the company of your private guide to ensure a seamless journey.
All required entrance fees.
24hr. support.
All taxes.