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Lima to Cusco |
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Fly from the airport in Lima to Cusco. Upon your arrival in Cusco you will be welcomed at the airport and escorted to your exclusive hotel where you will be briefed on all of your travels during your stay in Peru. Your private tour of Cusco and the Archaeological sites that surround the city will commence when you are ready. Your first stop is the impressive Colonial Cathedral in Cusco that contains over 400 paintings from the Cusqueña School and several altars. Next you will visit the Temple of the Sun, also known as the Korikancha, which was the main religious center of the Inca and was dedicated to the Sun Cult. According to old chronicles, the gilded golden walls of this temple were polished to a mirrored finish. Following this you will make your way to the outskirts of Cusco and be guided around the archaeological sites of Sacsayhuaman (famous for its enormous carved rocks), the ruins of Puca Pucara, Q´enqo, and Tambomachay.
There are a few fine restaurants in the area that your Peru travel specialist can recommend. However, for the initial evening you may want to dine with your hotel and have a light dinner, considering the change in altitude. Nonetheless, feel free to ask your Peru Sales Representative for advice on where to dine should you want to. |
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Into the Sacred Valley of the Incas |
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After a delicious breakfast in the lodge you will depart from Tinki and commence a short climb through to a more level area with less vegetation. On this plain you will walk for three hours before stopping for lunch. The lunch stop is ideally located and offers splendid views of the magnificent Ausangate peak (6372m/20900ft). Following lunch you continue upon the trail for another couple of hours before reaching the campsite in Upis (4400m/14432ft). The campsite itself is situated amongst a group of high snow peaked mountains, most tents face directly onto the most impressive of them all – Ausangate. (Meals – B, L, D) |
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The Colors of Chinchero, Maras, and Moray |
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In the early morning you will visit the ruins and church by Chinchero before hiking towards the town of Maras. On the way there you will witness amazing views over the Lake Huaypo and the mountains of the cordillera Urubamba and pass through a number of small Quechua villages and farming areas. Upon arrival in Maras you can take a short break to enjoy the views over the valley. You will then follow a winding trail down to the salt mines of Maras, an incredible site that has been exploited since Inca times. The people of Maras still maintain the rights to the mines; and for most people mining the salterinas is the family business.
Following lunch you will continue towards the archeological site of Moray, where it is said that the Incas used the site as an agricultural experiment laboratory. Numerous circle terraces line the area and were used to improve the quality of corn and potatoes during Pre-Columbian times. After visiting the area you will camp not far from the site. The evening can be spent at your leisure discussing the day’s events and admiring the starry sky. (Meals – B, L, D) |
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Morning at Maras on the way to Ollantaytambo |
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Early in the morning you will be able to visit the site of Maras again and experience the silence and the sunrise. During this experience it is easy to understand why the Inca used to worship Pachamama (Mother Earth) and the Inti (Sun). After a filling breakfast you will continue your adventure and and hike down into the small valley of Pomatales. It is here that you enter the Sacred Valley. You will continue hiking along the Vilcanota River to Ollantaytambo stopping to have lunch in one of the local restaurants on the way. After visiting the site of Ollantaytambo you will be transferred to your comfortable hotel in the Sacred Valley and be given some leisure time to relax and refresh. (Meals – B, L, D) |
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Inca Trail |
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Tour starts with your transfer from the hotel to the train station. Train ride to Km. 104 (2,000 m) where you arrive at the Warden’s post of Chachabamba Incas’ Ruins. From this point you will begin ascending up over 700 meters. You start the day’s trek visiting the Chachabamba archaeological complex (2150m/7052ft), located very close to the control point. Following this you will embark upon an 8 km ascending trail before arriving at the archaeological complex of Wiñaywayna (2650m/8692ft). This is an impressive complex made up of an agricultural center with numerous terraces, a religious sector and an urban sector. On the way up you will have magnificent views over the Urubamba River valley as well as the Choquesuysuy archaeological complex located on the opposite side of the river. There is also a beautiful waterfall located just a few minutes away from Wiñaywayna. Following this you leave to climb up to Intipunku, or The Sun Gate. This takes about an hour, and most of the path is constructed of flat stones on the edges of cliffs in the highland jungle. From this Inkipuntu, you may gaze over the sacred citadel of Machupicchu. From Intipunku you descend to the ruins and then take a bus to Aguas Calientes. You will then be transferred to your comfortable hotel. (Meals – B, L, D) |
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Encounter the Majesty of Machu Picchu |
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You will rise early in order to make your way to the magnificent ruins of Machu Picchu that lay just a short drive from the small town. Following your private guided tour of the ruins, you will break for a full course meal at the Sanctuary Lodge. You will then have the rest of your afternoon to explore the ruins and its surroundings, such as Huayna Picchu and the temple of the Moon, at your leisure. When the sun begins to set you will be transported back to your hotel in Aguas Calientes where you may decide to spend sometime in the hot springs at the end of town – or dine in one of the many little restaurants that line the cobbled streets of this charming little town. (Meals – B, L) |
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First Class Train to Cusco |
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Today you will have the morning at your leisure and will be able to either return to the ruins for further exploration, or we can arrange private visits to some of the areas that lie outside the gates of Machu Picchu. Your train will depart in the afternoon and arrive in Cusco just after sundown. We suggest, and have included, your ride in the first class VistaDome train; the quarter panels overheard are made of Plexi-glas and allow for a spectacular view of the scenery and starlit sky as you wind your way back to Cusco. Once in the Inca capital, you will be met at the station and shown back to your hotel. You may want to consider staying an additional day in the Cusco area to attend one of our walking tours, Cusco Adventures, or simply wander the streets at your leisure. (Meals – B)
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Return to Lima |
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Following breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back to Lima. With a collection of unforgettable memories, you can either take a flight back home or proceed to another of Class Adventure Travel's magical destinations. |
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