Antiguo Cusco Inka Sites 6D/5N

DAY 1.- Arrival and Transfer from Airport – HTL in CUSCO

Upon arrival reception, assistance and transfer to the hotel. Visitors should rest in order to adjust to the altitude.

13.30 PM CITY TOUR + 4 RUINS

In the afternoon we pick you up at your hotel around 13:20 pm in our touristic transportation to visit the archaeological complex of Qoricancha (also knowns as the Sun Temple), later the Cusco Cathedral which was constructed over the grand Inca palace of Wiracocha.  Later we tour four ruins outside of Cusco known as Saqsayhuaman (the real Sun House) with enormous rocks that were formed and assembled to fit together precisely.  Some of the rocks are over 9 meters in height and weight over 350 tonnes.  We also see Q’enqo (once an astrological observation center), Pukapukara (military, vigilance and administrative center that once controlled entrance to the Inca Trail) and Tambomachay (Temple of Water) featuring aquaducts and water chanels built by the Incas).

Return to hotel around 6:20pm – about a 4 hour tour

DAY 2. – MARAS MORAY & SALT MINE (B)

(09.00 am pick-up from hotel, return 14.00pm)

After breakfast in the hotel we will pick you up around 8:45am

Maras: located to the West of Cusco, this small village is typical of Hispanic roots, with small streets and the majority of the homes constructed in a straight line where you may also notice the historic coat of arms on the lintels of each door.  From this place you can see a part of the Urubamba cordillera and the snowy peaks of the Chicon and Veronica mountains. It is also a place in which many fragments of ceramics from the ancient Chanapata culture have been unearthed, including scrapers and knives of obsidian.

Moray: Belonging to the classic Incan period, these giant circular terraces that make up the site of Moray resemble a soccer stadium, only without the seats. According to one traditional theory, Moray may have been a series of amphitheaters with a capacity for 70,000 people, which could have served to train young Incas and for hosting social or religious festivities since from the base of the lower platform to the last platform at the top voices can be heard very clearly throughout this site.  A more modern theory believes that Moray was built of an agricultural nature because of the shape and position of the terraces, the existence of water channels and the existance of different micro-climates.

Salt Mines: The Salt Mines (Salineras) are formed by more than 3000 small wells in a perimeter of 5m², which are individually owned by inhabitants of Maras. The water is warm and salty emanating naturally from the top of the wells and as the water evaporates it gradually solidifies into salt of color similar to white snow.

DAY 3. – SACRED VALLEY EXCURSION (B)(L)

(08.00 am pick-up from hotel, return 18.20pm)

After breakfast provided in hotel, we pick you up in our touristic transport between 8:10am – 8:20am and head out to the Sacred Valley of the Inkas.  We will have a strategic look-out above the Taray village; see the snow-capped Veronica Mountain and more of the beautiful Valleys along the way.  Arriving to Pisac community, we will tour a typical hand-craft market, which was long-ago known as the place to interchange products for many villages in the area.  Later, we take a guided tour of the ruins of Pisac, then continue to Urubamba for a buffet lunch.  Continuing on our adventure, we stop in Ollantaytambo to see the impressive archaeological complex which includes a unique architecture similar to the Tiahuanaco culture from the South of Peru.  Finally, we return to Cusco, taking a stop along the way at Chinchero (Village of the Rainbow) which was an important agricultural center for the Incas and that offers a rich cultural experience.  Final transfer to Hotel in Cusco.

DAY 4.- EXCURSION FULL DAY MACHUPICHU (B)

We will pick you up from your hotel early in the morning and travel directly to the train station, takes 4 hours by bus and train to get Aguas Calientes town, once we get there we will walk to the bus station to take the bus up the mountain to the Machu Picchu entrance (about 30 minutes and 400 meters above the Aguas Calientes town), after checking in with original passports or ID at the government control check-point. your guided tour of the citadel then commences, visiting the main plaza, Circular Tower (Torre Circular), Sacred Solar Clock (Sagrado Reloj Solar), the Sacred Quarters, Temple of the Three Windows and the cemeteries, take photos and catch the bus that heads down to Aguas Calientes town (2000m) and finally board the return train and transportation to the hotel arrives approximately 09.30pm.

DAY 5. – SOUTH VALLEY EXCURSION (B)

(09.00 am pick-up from hotel, return 14.00pm)

Tipon: is a beautiful Incan archaeological complex consisting of agricultural terraces, stone steps and ornamental and functional irrigation channels and fountains which reveal the wonders of the civil engineering of the Incas. According to old legends, this place may have been like a private country property or garden ordered to be constructed by the Inca King Wiraqocha as a dwelling refuge for his father Yawar Wakaq after the war against the Chankas.

Piquillaqta: This huge pre-Inca archaeological complex, located 32 kms from Cusco city, is said to be attributed to the Wari culture, constructed between 500 – 900 years AC. The citadel is surrounded by embankments and walls that measure up to 7 meters high that once had around 700 buildings, and 504 small granaries or storage barns. According to studies this area could have possessed a population of 10 thousand people and apparently was a part of a military garrison.

Andahuaylillas: is a small town with a more Spanish influence, the name translating as Copper Prairie. Here, the Sistine Chapel of the Americas belonging to the Colonial period is located in the same square of the village where you can also see the famous Pisonay tree, a large and impressive tree dating back to a few hundred years old. This cathedral was built overtop an important Inca construction and there are still remains of some buildings belonging to the Quechua surrounding it After completing the tour we will back to Cusco

DAY 6.- TRF OUT CUSCO AIRPORT (B)

Transfer from HOTEL / AIRPORT two hours before the flight, end of Services.

PROGRAM INCLUDES:

• Include, transfer from the Aiport to the Hotel in Cusco round trip
• City Tour Tours  : Include touristic transport, entrance fee to catedral and temple of sun or Qoricancha,
• entrance fee to 4 ruins Sajsaywaman, Qenqo, Pukapukara, Tambomachay, tour guide English speaking.
• Maras Moray salineras Tours: Include Transport touristic Bus, entrance fee to Moray and Salt mine, tour guide
• English speaking.
• Sacred Valley Tours: Include Transport touristic Bus, entrance fee to Pisac, ollantaytambo and chinchero, tour
• guide English speaking, buffet lunch in Muña Restaurant
• Machupicchu Full day:  Include transfer to the train stations In/Out, Tourism class train Tickets round trip,
• Bus Up/down to Machupicchu, Entrance fee to Machupicchu, tour guide English speaking
• South Valley Tours: Include touristic Transport, entrance fee to tipon, piquillaqta, andahuaylillas, tour guide
• English speaking.
• 5 Nights Hotel in Cusco: accommodation in DWB

PROGRAM DOES NOT INCLUDE:

• Meals
• Tips
• Airline Tickets Lima / Cusco / Lima (we can book please ask for quote in advance)