CUSCO AND ITS LIVING SECRETS
Discover the Heart of the Inca Empire: A 5-Day Adventure
Immerse yourself in the rich history and breathtaking landscapes of the Andean region with this unforgettable 5-day journey through Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu. This well-planned itinerary allows you to experience the ancient capital of the Incas, walk through its historic streets, and visit some of the most impressive archaeological sites in Peru. Along the way, you’ll connect with local families and explore the mystical ruins that have fascinated travelers for centuries.
Explore Cusco and Its Archaeological Wonders
Your adventure begins in Cusco, the historic capital of the Inca Empire. Stroll through its cobblestone streets lined with original Inca walls, and admire the perfect blend of Incan and colonial architecture. Visit the incredible Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Pucapucara, and Tambomachay, each offering a glimpse into the sophisticated engineering and spiritual beliefs of the Incas.
Ollantaytambo and the Train to Machu Picchu from Cusco
After an enriching experience in the Sacred Valley, continue to Ollantaytambo, an important military, religious, and agricultural center during the Inca Empire. Its massive stone terraces and well-preserved structures make it one of the most fascinating sites in Peru. From here, board a scenic train ride from Cusco to Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu.
Return to Cusco After Your Machu Picchu Adventure
Wake up early to visit Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. With your expert guide, explore the iconic terraces, temples, and plazas of this legendary citadel. Learn about the history, mysteries, and significance of Machu Picchu as you take in the breathtaking views. After an unforgettable visit, return to Cusco by train, bringing home incredible memories of your journey.
Machu Picchu: The Crown Jewel of the Incas
Wake up early to visit Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. With your expert guide, explore the iconic terraces, temples, and plazas of this legendary citadel. Learn about the history, mysteries, and significance of Machu Picchu as you take in the breathtaking views. After an unforgettable visit, return to Ollantaytambo by train and head back to Cusco.
Return to Lima
On the final day of your journey, take your return flight to Lima, bringing home incredible memories of your time in Cusco and Machu Picchu. This carefully crafted 5-day itinerary ensures an immersive and enriching experience, blending history, culture, and adventure in one seamless journey.
Language
English or Spanish Tour
Altitude
3,400 m.s.n.m
Transportation
Car
Difficulty
Easy
Itinerary
Meals Included: None
Once your flight arrives in Cusco, you will be transferred to your hotel for check-in and to place your belongings in your room. You will then embark on a short walk around the city to familiarize yourself with essential places like banks, currency exchange, ATMs, laundry services, and nearby restaurants.
In the afternoon (1:30 PM), you will have the opportunity to explore Cusco’s beautiful attractions in a 4-hour city tour with an official guide. The tour will include visits to the QORICANCHA temple, the CUSCO CATHEDRAL, and the archaeological remains of SACSAYHUAMAN, QENQO, PUKAPUKARA, and TAMBOMACHAY. Afterward, you will return to your hotel to rest, and we will provide restaurant options for dinner.
Meals Included: 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
We will start this excursion by picking you up from your hotel at 8:30 AM to head northeast of Cusco. Along the way, we will stop at viewpoints to appreciate the beauty of the inter-Andean valleys. You will also have the opportunity to visit a place where we can see the four different South American camelids (llamas, alpacas, huanacos, and vicuñas), and learn how alpaca fiber is used to make beautiful textiles with intricate designs.
We will continue to PISAQ, where we will ascend to visit the archaeological remains of this great Inca city. After a guided tour and time for photos, we will descend to the colonial town of PISAQ and visit the traditional artisan market, where you can find beautiful crafts and jewelry, especially silverwork.
We will then head to HUARAN, a town located 20 minutes from Calca in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, where we will enjoy a typical lunch with local families and rest.
In the afternoon, we will participate in activities with the local families, such as strawberry harvesting, weeding corn plantations, or collecting roses.
At night, we will enjoy a dinner prepared by the families using organic products grown in the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
Meals Included: 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch
We will wake up early to help milk the cows and see up close how local families obtain the milk used for their own consumption and to make artisan cheeses. Afterward, we will enjoy a hearty breakfast.
Next, we will take a short 3-hour walk, visiting a local bar (chicheria), where we will learn how the famous maize beer, “chicha,” is made. We will also discover how some families in the area raise guinea pigs. On the way, we will see native flowers, birds, and local families engaged in their daily activities.
Afterward, we will head to OLLANTAYTAMBO, where we will have a guided tour of the archaeological complex and explore the town, seeing the original Inca walls, aqueducts, and streets that remind us of the beauty of this town during the Inca period.
We will then head to the Ollantaytambo train station to board our train to Machupicchu town (Aguas Calientes). The journey takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes, during which we will see parts of the Sacred Valley and surrounding communities. We will also pass the starting point of the famous Inca Trail, at km 82. We will enter the impressive Urubamba Canyon and finally arrive in Machupicchu town (Aguas Calientes), where we will stay overnight in a hotel according to your itinerary.
Meals Included: 1 Breakfast
We will start our activities early, and after enjoying breakfast, we will board a shared bus that will take us to MACHUPICCHU, chosen as one of the seven new wonders of the world since 2007 and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
This enigmatic Inca city was considered one of the most important religious sanctuaries during the Inca period. It is one of the most important architectural gems in the world, built by the Andean people in this beautiful corner of the Americas. Famous for its urban planning, advanced hydraulic engineering, and stunning natural surroundings, it is one of the most visited places today.
We will have a 2-hour guided tour of the archaeological complex, where we will explore the most important parts of the Inca city. After the visit, we will take the bus back to Aguas Calientes for lunch (not included). In the afternoon, we will head to the Machupicchu town train station to board our train to Ollantaytambo (1:30 hrs), and then take a minibus back to Cusco, where we will drop you off at your hotel.
Meals Included: 1 Breakfast
We will provide a transfer service from your hotel to the airport, according to your flight itinerary, for your return to Lima.
Include
INCLUDES: TRANSFERS:
- Arrival and departure transfers, according to flight coordination.
PRIVATE TOURS INCLUDED:
- City tour (Qoricancha, Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Pukapucara, and Tambomachay) and Machupicchu.
LOCAL GUIDES INCLUDED:
- City tour, Sacred Valley, overnight with family, and Machupicchu.
ENTRANCE FEES:
- Tourist ticket.
- Entrance to Machupicchu.
TRANSPORTATION:
- Train tickets: Ollantaytambo – Machupicchu town / Machupicchu town – Ollantaytambo.
- Transportation for excursions.
- Bus tickets for ascent and descent to Machupicchu.
ACCOMMODATION:
- Basic hotels with private bathrooms for 3 nights, and 1 night with a local family.
MEALS:
- Breakfasts (4).
- Lunches (2).
- Dinners (1).
Not Include
- Domestic flights.
- Tips.
- Meals not included in the itinerary.
- Extra activities during free time.
Recommendation
SUGGESTED BUDGET FOR MEALS:
- Approximately 100 USD for meals not included.
Prices
Extras
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES:
As per the itinerary.
Is this trip right for you?
- This trip visits places at high altitudes, and as a result, some people may experience altitude sickness regardless of age or physical condition. Please refer to the Medical and Health Information section of the Essential Trip Information for more details.
- This journey involves extensive walking to visit the sites, and if you choose to trek the Inca Trail or the Quarry Trail, you will face strenuous hikes. We recommend this trip for those with a good level of fitness. It is important to bring comfortable footwear suitable for hiking. See the “Packing” section of the Essential Trip Information for more details.
- For those trekking the Inca Trail or the Quarry Trail, accommodation will be in campsites with basic facilities. Undoubtedly, this experience is not just about reaching the final destination (Machu Picchu) but about the incredible journey itself.
- According to Machu Picchu’s visiting regulations, all visitors must follow a pre-determined route within the site in a single direction. Once the guided tour begins, exiting and re-entering the site is not permitted. After the guided visit concludes, visitors must leave the site, and personal exploration of Machu Picchu is not allowed. Please refer to the Itinerary for more details.
- Travelers who choose different ways to reach Machu Picchu (Inca Trail, Quarry Trail, or Train) will not follow the same routes within the site. This means that you may not be able to take photos together overlooking Machu Picchu, whether traveling on the same booking or separate bookings.
Frequently Asked Questions
The ‘Cusco and Its Living Secrets’ tour usually lasts 3 days and 2 nights, although it can be adjusted depending on the itinerary. It includes transportation within Cusco, a professional bilingual guide (Spanish and English), visits to archaeological sites such as Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo and Tambomachay, tours to local markets, traditional ceremonies with Andean communities, accommodation in comfortable hotels, and full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner according to the itinerary). It does not include personal expenses, tips or optional entrances to additional museums, but we will provide you with a detailed list to prepare you.
The ‘Cusco and Its Living Secrets’ tour has a low to moderate level of difficulty, with light walking through the streets of Cusco and short trails at the archaeological sites, at an altitude of approximately 3,400 meters. Advanced physical fitness is not required, but it is advisable to acclimatize to the altitude of Cusco and be used to walking for a few hours a day. Our team will give you advice on how to adapt, and if you have health concerns, we can adjust the itinerary for your comfort.
The cost of the ‘Cusco and Its Living Secrets’ tour varies by season and group, but generally ranges from $300 to $450 USD per person for international tourists, and from 1,000 to 1,500 Peruvian soles for nationals, with possible discounts for students or minors. It includes everything mentioned above, except personal expenses. We accept payments by credit/debit card, bank transfers, and in some cases cash at our office in Cusco. We recommend booking in advance to ensure availability and special prices.
We recommend that you bring comfortable clothing suitable for walking (light sneakers or boots, warm clothing at night and light clothing during the day), sunscreen, a hat, drinking water, identification documents (passport for internationals, DNI for nationals), and a small backpack. It is also useful to bring cash for purchases in local markets or tips, and a raincoat in case it rains. Our team will provide you with a complete list of recommendations and tips to make the most of the cultural and historical experience.
It is not necessary, but it is an advantage. Our guides are bilingual and offer explanations in both Spanish and English, ensuring that both national and international tourists understand the history, traditions, and living secrets of Cusco, such as its archaeological sites and cultural practices. If you speak another language, you can let us know in advance, and we will do our best to accommodate or provide materials in other languages. The experience is designed to be inclusive and accessible to everyone.
TALK TO AN SPECIALIST
One of our specialists will respond to your travel request as soon as possible.
