In this tour package, we combine our favorites: The fascinating city of Cusco, the top sites in the Sacred Valley, the lost Incan City of Machu Picchu, and its sister city, Choquequirao. Your journey will begin with our Cusco City tour where you will be immersed in the history of the Spanish and Incas. Then we will explore the top sites of the Sacred Valley to learn more about Incan archeological sites and traditional weaving and agricultural practices. We will then work our way to the most famous archeological site in the world: Machu Picchu – a masterpiece of architecture and engineering. Finally, we will trek through high Andes mountains to Choquequirao where you will explore ancient ruins without the crowds of other Peruvian tourist sites. Choquequirao (the Cradle of Gold) is our specialty, since your guides grew up here! We don’t create tours, we create experiences!
Overview
Day 1: Cusco City Tour
Day 2: Sacred Valley – Chinchero – Moray – Salt Mines – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes
Day 3: Machu Picchu – Cusco
Day 4: Cusco – Cachora – Chikisca
Day 5: Chikisca – Playa Rosalina – Santa Rosa – Marampata
Day 6: Marampata – Choquequirao
Day 7: Choquequirao – Santa Rosa – Chikisca
Day 8: Chikisca – Capuliyoc – Cusco
Highest Point: 3,050m / 10,007ft
Distance: 44km / 27.3mi
Difficulty: 1 2 3 4 5
Day 1: Cusco City Tour
Upon your arrival in Cusco, we will pick you up at the airport and take you to your hotel in Cusco. There you will receive a short briefing to prepare you for our next week together, and we can also plan your day in this lovely and ancient city of the Incas. The Cusco City tour lasts only half a day, so you can have some time to rest, if you wish, before we begin. Cusco is a truly fascinating place to visit. It has a unique blend of two cultures (Inca and Spanish) which gives the city a look and feel that is completely different from the rest of Peru. We will give you an excellent introduction by visiting the most significant Inca and colonial sights of this historic city, including exploring the three amazing ruins just outside the city. Highlights include The Temple of the Sun (Qoricancha), Sacsayhuaman, and learning Inca history as you explore Cusco’s main streets and enjoy its unique charm.
Day 2: Cusco – Chinchero – Moray – Salt Mines – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes
We pick you up from your hotel for our tour in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Our first stop is Chinchero – a very interesting colonial town whose economy is still based on traditional weaving practices. Local family cooperatives will invite you in and teach you how they do their craft. Or second stop is Moray – impressive circular terraces which are considered an impressive Incan agricultural laboratory. The Salt Mines of Maras are some of the oldest mines in the world, and they are still producing pure and natural salt under the ownership of local families. After a delicious lunch in the town of Urubamba, we will head to Ollantaytambo with its impressive Incan fortress and charming stone streets. Finally, we will take a train to Aguas Calientes where we will spend the night in a hotel.
Meals: B
Day 3: Machu Picchu – Cusco
This is a special day, because you will visit Machu Picchu – a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983. A 30-minute bus ride will take you to this magical, mysterious city. You will have an informative, 3-hour tour exploring the stone quarry, sun temple, royal residence, and living quarters. A 16:22pm train will take you back to Ollantaytambo, where our private transport will be waiting for you to drive you back to Cusco and drop you off at your hotel.
Meals: B
Day 4: Cusco – Cachora – Chikisca
We pick you up at 6:30 am with our private transport to drive to the village of Cachora. Here we will meet our staff and drive 30 more minutes to the Capuliyoc lookout point and the trail head (2,941masl / 9649 ft). Before we begin our trek, we will enjoy a good lunch with an amazing view of the Apurimac canyon and a chance to see the Andean condor. Our hike begins with a spectacular view of Nevado Padreyoq, with the archaeological complex of Choquequirao in the distance. Our path continues downhill for about 5 hours, where we will arrive at our first campsite at Chikisca (1,863masl). We can expect a warm night in the valley.
Meals: B, L, D
Maximum Altitude: 2,977m / 9,767ft
Minimum altitude: 1,836m / 6,024ft
Distance Travelled: 8 km / 5.0 mi
Walking Time: 5 hrs
Day 5: Chikisca – Playa Rosalina – Santa Rosa – Marampata
We leave early and continue downhill for around one hour, to the Apurimac River, where we cross a bridge. We begin our walk uphill, arriving in 2 hours at Santa Rosa where we can stop for a rest. Here we find a family house, where we can freshen up and enjoy the sugar cane chicha which is made here. We can also buy mineral water, soft drinks and rehydrating drinks. We continue uphill for approximately 2 more hours, until arriving at Marampata (2,950 msnm) which will be our second camp. Here we visit local families and share their daily activities. Depending on the season, you may have a chance to harvest some local, organic vegetables to prepare for our meals on the rest of our trek. This is a great way for us to support the local families who live near Choquequirao.
Meals: B, L, D
Maximum Altitude: 2,914m / 9,560ft
Minimum altitude: 1,500m / 4,921ft
Distance Travelled: 9 km / 5.6mi
Walking Time: 6 hrs
Day 6: Marampata – Choquequirao
We start with a 2-hour hike to the principal archaeological complex of Choquequirao, where we visit and explore the Usnu, Priests House, Llamayoq, (stoned llama figures designed into farming terraces) and the Administrative Sector. We spend the day exploring and learning about the Inca people of Choquequirao, the remote city of the Incas. With your native, certified guide, you will explore every site of this magical city. Only about 50% of this ancient city has been excavated, so new areas continue to be uncovered and restored. Late in the afternoon we will go to the campsite within Choquequirao.
Meals: B, L, D
Maximum Altitude: 3,050m / 10,007ft
Minimum altitude: 2,914m / 9,560ft
Distance Travelled: 7km / 4.3mi
Walking Time: 7 hrs
Day 7: Choquequirao – Santa Rosa – Chikisca
After a leisurely breakfast, we pack up our equipment to begin our return to Marampata. After lunch will will retrace our steps to Chikisca. The gradient of the path is “Peruvian flat” in the beginning, but will steepen on the descent to the Apurimac River. After crossing the river we will hike uphill for around 1 hour to our campsite in Chikisca.
Meals: B, L, D
Maximum altitude: 3,000m / 9,843ft
Minimum altitude: 1,500m / 4,921ft
Distance: 12km / 7.5mi
Walking Time: 7 hrs
Day 8: Chikisca – Capuliyoc – Cusco
We begin the day as early as possible to avoid the midday sun, which is exhausting. The climb today will be challenging, but the views when we finally reach the Capuliyoc lookout point will make you forget your exhaustion. After lunch we will drive you back to your hotel in Cusco. If you wish, we can drive you to the airport in the morning.
Meals: B, L
Maximum Altitude: 2,977m / 9,767ft
Minimum altitude: 1,836m / 6,024ft
Distance Travelled: 8km / 5.0mi
Walking Time: 5 hrs
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PRICE: 1490 USD$ per person when booking 2 people
PRICE: 1400 USD$ per person when booking 3 people
PRICE: 1350 USD$ per person when booking 4-6 people
PRICE: 1310 USD$ per person when booking 7- 10 people