This multi-day tour from Cusco will guide you to Huchuy Qosqo, one of the most important archaeological sites in the sacred valley. The spot is home to impressive Inca terraces, patios, esplanades, squares, pedestrian paths, three-story buildings, and an advanced hydraulic system. It really showcases the fantastic architectural skills that the Incas employed.
Day 1: Cusco – Tambomachay – Qenko
Your tour will begin with a pickup from your Cusco accommodation around 6 am. From there, drive a short distance to Tambomachay, where you will begin your trek to Machu Picchu! Start with a 4-hour uphill trek to Koricocha Lake (3700 m / 12130 ft), where you will eat lunch. Along the way, you will pass beautiful lakes, travel through native communities, and see numerous llamas, alpacas, and birds.
After your lunch break, you will continue for another 3 hours uphill and downhill until you reach Qenko village. This community is beautifully nestled in the Peruvian Andes at (3800 m/12,467 ft). It is home to a few hundred inhabitants who survive and make a living mostly from agriculture. The area is known for its potatoes, beans, llamas, alpacas and sheep. You will eat dinner and spend the night at Qenko.
DAY 2: Qenko – Huchuy Qosco – Lamay – Aguas Calientes
Day two will be relatively easy and relaxing. Wake up and eat breakfast, then play games with the local Andean children and visit their school and houses, which is sure to be an unforgettable experience. After that, you will make your way to Huchuy Qosco, an archaeological site built over 500 years ago. The city boasts farming terraces, temples, storehouses, water channels, big plazas and spectacular views. The city sits on top of the Sacred Valley and looks out over the Urubamba River and the Peruvian Andes. You will have plenty of time to explore the area and enjoy the beauty and energy of this astonishing Inca site.
After exploring, enjoy a delicious lunch before walking for another hour downhill to Lamay, where a private bus will be waiting to take you to Ollantaytambo (i.e. the “Last Living Incan City” or as it is sometimes known, “World Capital of the Native American”). You will have plenty of opportunity to explore these ancient streets and the water channel that has been in use since Inca time. Eat dinner in a local restaurant in Ollantaytambo before catching the 7 pm train to Aguas Calientes, where you will spend the night in a hotel.
Day 3: La Playa – Llactapata – Hydroelectric – Aguas Calientes
Today is arguably the most beautiful of your entire tour! After waking up and eating breakfast, you will make our way to Lucmabamba (2000 m / 6600 ft), where you will join an original Inca trail built in the 15th century. Walk along part of the ancient, lost Inca trail that was only rediscovered a few years ago. You will hike for approximately 3 hours uphill until you reach Llaqtapata, another extraordinary Inca ruin location situated right in front of Machu Picchu.
Walk around Llaqtapata, enjoying the beauty of the site as you learn about Inca history from your guide. After that, hike for about 2 hours downhill to your lunch spot. After lunch, you will take the train or hike (optional) to Aguas Calientes, arriving at around 5 pm. Once there, you will eat dinner at a local restaurant and spend the night in a hotel.
DAY 4: Machu Picchu (Lost City of the Incas)
The last day of your tour will start very early to prepare for the highlight of your tour - Visiting Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas. You will head straight to the bus stop to Machu Picchu departing at 5:30 am. You will arrive to the city as the sky starts to brighten. If you're lucky and the sky is clear enough, you may witness incredible views of the sunrise over Machu Picchu as take a 1-hour walk up to Sun Gate.
From there, your tour guide will lead you on a 2 to 3-hour comprehensive tour of the city before leaving you to explore Machu Picchu on your own. You can opt to climb either Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain if you wish (tickets must be booked as far in advance as possible). Your guide will explain how to take the bus from Machu Picchu back to Aguas Calientes for lunch (not included) and then take the train and bus back to Cusco. Once you arrive in Cusco, you will be greeted by your guide who will return you safely to your hotel.
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