Classic Cusco and Nature 8D/7N

• Upon your arrival at Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport in Cusco, our Viajes Pachacútec team will welcome you and provide a private transfer to your hotel located in the city (3,400 m.a.s.l.).
• At the hotel, you will receive an infusion of coca leaf tea, a traditional Andean beverage recommended to help with the acclimatization process to the altitude. The rest of the day will be free to rest or engage in light activities.
• We recommend taking a relaxed walk through Cusco’s Historic Center, visiting the Main Square (Plaza de Armas), the Cathedral, or exploring the traditional San Pedro Market, where you can observe daily Cusqueñan life and taste local products.

Overnight in Cusco

• Morning: Free time for rest, altitude acclimatization, or personal exploration of the city. It is recommended to stroll around the historic center, visit local markets, or enjoy a coffee overlooking the Plaza de Armas.
• Afternoon: At 1:30 p.m., we will begin the Cusco City Tour, an essential cultural experience that allows you to understand the greatness of the Inca Empire and the transformation of the city during the Spanish colonial period. The tour is conducted in tourist transportation with a professional guide.
• Places to visit:
• Qoricancha (Temple of the Sun): Considered the most important religious center of the Tahuantinsuyo. Its finely polished stone walls were dedicated to the worship of the Sun god (Inti). During the conquest, the Spaniards built the Convent of Santo Domingo on its foundations, creating an impressive contrast between Inca engineering and colonial architecture.
• Sacsayhuamán: A majestic archaeological complex located above Cusco. It stands out for its enormous stone blocks, some weighing over 100 tons, assembled with astonishing precision. It was an important ceremonial and strategic center, as well as the main stage of the Inti Raymi festival.
• Qenqo: An ancient Inca ritual center associated with religious ceremonies, sacrifices, and astronomical observations. At the site, you can see passageways, rock-carved altars, and a semicircular amphitheater that reflect the Andean worldview.
• Puka Pukara: Known as the “red fortress” due to the color its stones acquire at sunset. It served military and control functions and was also a resting point for Inca delegations traveling to Cusco.
• Tambomachay: An archaeological complex famous for its finely carved water channels and fountains that still flow today. It is believed to have been dedicated to the worship of water and purification rituals, as well as a resting place for the Inca nobility.

Overnight in Cusco

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• At 7:30 a.m., we will begin our full-day excursion to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, one of the most important, fertile, and spiritual regions of the Andean world. This valley was key to the development of the Inca Empire thanks to its privileged climate, sacred rivers, and spectacular landscapes.
• Our first stop will be Pisac, where we will visit its impressive archaeological complex, famous for its extensive agricultural terraces, ceremonial temples, and stone structures perfectly integrated into the mountain. From here, we will enjoy unique panoramic views of the Sacred Valley. Afterwards, we will descend to the town to explore its traditional handicraft market, renowned for its colorfulness, handmade textiles, and crafts representative of Andean culture.
• We will then continue to Urubamba, the heart of the valley, where we will enjoy a buffet lunch with a varied selection of traditional Andean and international dishes, in a natural setting surrounded by mountains and green fields.
• In the afternoon, we will visit Ollantaytambo, a majestic Inca fortress that served military, religious, and agricultural purposes. We will walk through its temples, terraces, and ceremonial enclosures while our guide explains the strategic importance of this site. We will also visit its living town, one of the few that still preserves original Inca stone streets and water channels.
• At the end of the visit, we will head to the train station to board the tourist train to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo). During the journey, we will enjoy spectacular landscapes of cloud forest, rushing rivers, and mountains that mark the transition from the Andes to the Amazon.
• Upon arrival, we will receive personalized assistance and transfer to the hotel, where you can rest and prepare for the visit to one of the wonders of the world.

Overnight in Aguas Calientes

• Early breakfast at the hotel to begin one of the most anticipated days of the trip. At the coordinated time, our professional guide will pick you up at your hotel and accompany you to the bus station, where we will board the ecological buses that will take us to the majestic Inca Citadel of Machu Picchu (2,430 m.a.s.l.). The ascent takes approximately 25 minutes, traveling along a road surrounded by lush vegetation and spectacular mountain views.
• Upon arrival, we will enjoy a guided tour of approximately 2 hours, visiting the most emblematic sectors of the citadel, such as the Main Plaza, as well as urban, agricultural, and religious areas. Our specialized guide will provide a detailed explanation of the history, spiritual symbolism, and impressive Inca architecture, allowing you to understand the greatness of this sacred sanctuary, considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• During the tour, you will have time to appreciate the natural surroundings, take photographs, and connect with the unique energy of Machu Picchu, a masterpiece of engineering and Andean worldview.
• At the end of the guided visit, we will descend by bus to the town of Aguas Calientes, where you will have free time for lunch, rest, or a walk through its streets and handicraft markets. Later, we will board the tourist train back to the Ollantaytambo station, once again enjoying the landscapes of the Sacred Valley.
• Upon arrival, we will continue the journey by private transportation to the city of Cusco, Important Information about Entrance to Machu Picchu
  • • Entrance is subject to availability and to the official circuits established by the Ministry of Culture of Peru.
    • Spaces are limited per day.
    • It is recommended to make the reservation at least 3 months in advance, especially during high season (April to October).
    • Once issued, Machu Picchu entrance tickets do not allow date changes, name changes, or refunds, in accordance with official regulations.

Overnight in Cusco

Enjoy a free day in the Imperial City to explore Cusco at your own pace, connect with its living history, and be surprised by every corner filled with culture, art, and tradition. This is the ideal moment to rest or discover the city according to your own interests.

Options to enjoy the day:

Visit museums and galleries.
Cusco is home to a wide variety of museums and cultural spaces where you can learn about the Inca, colonial, and contemporary legacy, appreciating art, history, and archaeology all in one place.

Explore the bohemian neighborhood of San Blas.
Narrow streets, artisan workshops, charming viewpoints, and cafés with identity make San Blas one of the most authentic and photogenic neighborhoods in the city.

Shopping for handicrafts.
Explore local markets and shops where you will find textiles, ceramics, jewelry, and handmade souvenirs, ideal for taking a little piece of Peru with you.

Local gastronomy
Enjoy the renowned Cusco cuisine in traditional and contemporary restaurants. Savor emblematic dishes such as adobo cusqueño, roasted suckling pig (lechón al horno), alpaca stir-fry (lomo saltado de alpaca), or the so-called “Andean salmon” (trout), as well as the ever-present rotisserie chicken (pollo a la brasa), one of the most famous dishes in Peru.
Local gastronomy stands out for the fusion of ancestral Andean flavors with modern proposals that highlight native ingredients from the region.

Other recommended dishes:

• Chiri uchu, Cusco’s flagship dish, traditional during festivities
• Oven-roasted or fried guinea pig, prepared with Andean herbs
• Cusco-style stuffed rocoto
• Quinoa soup or chuño lawa
• Kapchi de habas, creamy and full of flavor
• Cusco-style tamales
• Olluquito con charqui

Optional activities (additional cost):

Maras and Moray Tour. Visit the impressive circular terraces of Moray, an ancient Inca agricultural laboratory, and the famous Maras Salt Mines, a unique landscape formed by thousands of salt ponds.

Peruvian cooking class or pisco sour preparation.
Enjoy a hands-on experience learning how to prepare emblematic dishes of Peruvian gastronomy such as ceviche, lomo saltado, or the traditional pisco sour, guided by local experts.

Dinner show with traditional dances.
Enjoy a cultural evening with live music and traditional Peruvian dances, accompanied by a delicious dinner in a festive and authentic atmosphere.

Andean massages or cultural experiences.
Relax with treatments inspired by ancestral Andean techniques or participate in cultural experiences that connect body, mind, and spirit.

Overnight in Cusco.
A night of rest in the city, surrounded by history and ancestral energy, to continue the next day with new adventures together with Viajes Pachacútec.

Hotel in Cusco.

• Difficulty Level: Moderate – High | Duration: Full day
• Very early, around 04:30 hrs, we will begin hotel pick-up in Cusco to start a scenic journey south through the valley, passing small Andean villages and high-altitude landscapes.
• After approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes of travel, we will arrive in Cusipata, where we will enjoy a comforting buffet breakfast, ideal to recharge energy before starting the hike. We will then continue by transport to the starting point of the hike, located at 4,630 m.a.s.l.
• The hike has an approximate distance of 3.5 km (one way) and an average duration of 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the group’s pace and weather conditions. Along the route, we will cross unique high-Andean landscapes, surrounded by mountains, snow-capped peaks, high-altitude valleys, and the constant presence of llamas and alpacas, emblematic animals of the Andes. Our professional guide will accompany the group at all times, providing information about the geography, local life, and recommendations for a safe hike.
• Upon arrival at Rainbow Mountain – Vinicunca (5,036 m.a.s.l.), we will have free time for photographs and contemplation of this impressive natural attraction, famous for its reddish, green, yellow, and turquoise tones, the result of mineral accumulation over millions of years. The guide will explain the geological origin and cultural importance of the mountain for local communities.
• After enjoying this unique moment, we will begin the descent along the same route until reaching the point where our transport awaits us. We will return to Cusipata, where we will enjoy a buffet lunch with options from Andean and international cuisine.
• Finally, we will return to the city of Cusco, arriving approximately between 16:30 and 17:30 hrs, depending on traffic and road conditions.

Overnight in Cusco.

• Difficulty Level: Moderate – High | Maximum altitude: 4,200 m.a.s.l.
• We will begin this unforgettable experience very early, with hotel pick-up around 04:30 hrs, departing from Cusco toward the town of Mollepata, crossing Andean landscapes, inter-Andean valleys, and small rural communities that keep their ancestral traditions alive.
• Upon arrival in Mollepata, we will enjoy a comforting buffet breakfast, ideal to recharge energy before starting the hike. Afterwards, we will continue by transport to Soraypampa (approx. 3,900 m.a.s.l.), the starting point of the hike and base camp of the Salkantay route.
• From Soraypampa, we will begin a gradual hike of approximately 1.5 hours, following a natural trail surrounded by mountains, Andean ichu grass, and spectacular views of the Salkantay snow-capped peak, one of the most sacred mountains in the Andean worldview. During the trek, our professional guide will provide information about the geography, flora, fauna, and the spiritual importance of this place.
• Upon arrival at Humantay Lagoon (4,200 m.a.s.l.), we will be welcomed by its impressive turquoise waters, the result of glacial melt. We will have free time for photographs, rest, and contemplation, as well as a special moment for spiritual connection with nature, respecting Andean traditions and the natural environment.
• After enjoying this magical place, we will begin the descent back to Soraypampa, where we will board our transport to return to Mollepata and enjoy a buffet lunch with typical dishes from the region.
• Finally, we will return to the city of Cusco, arriving in the afternoon, with the satisfaction of having lived an authentic, natural, and spiritual experience in one of the most emblematic landscapes of the Peruvian Andes.

Overnight in Cusco.

• After breakfast at the hotel, at the coordinated time, our Viajes Pachacutec team will provide private transportation to the Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport to board your departure flight.
• This is not just the end of an itinerary, but the closing of a profound experience that will remain engraved in your memory and heart. During these days, Cusco opened its doors to share its millenary history, living culture, the strength of its sacred mountains, and the warmth of its people. You walked through ancient Inca temples, contemplated breathtaking landscapes, connected with the energy of Machu Picchu, challenged the altitude at Rainbow Mountain, and allowed yourself to be embraced by the serenity of Humantay Lagoon.
• Every sunrise, every hike, every flavor, and every explanation from our guides was designed so that you could experience the authentic Cusco, beyond tourism, connecting with the essence of the Andes and their ancestral legacy.
• We say goodbye by thanking you for trusting Viajes Pachacútec as your travel companion. We take with us the privilege of having been part of your adventure and of sharing unique moments in one of the most magical regions of the world.

Cusco will always await you with open arms.
Until next time… and may the spirit of the Andes accompany you on every new path.