CUSCO IMPERIAL TOUR 5 Days

Overview

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Explore the city of Cusco
• Full-day tour to Sacred Valley of the Incas
• Train through Urubamba Valley to the town of “Aguas Calientes”
• Enjoy Machu Picchu Tour
• Optional climb Huayna Picchu Mountain (Due to its popularity see availability)
• Visit Maras-Moray a wonderful Inca ruins.

Description for Cusco Imperial Tour

Five-day Cusco Imperial Tour offers an intriguing combination of beauty and contrasts in scenery. In this tour you will visit the city of Cusco before travelling though the Sacred Valley of the Incas and explore the Inca ruins of Pisaq and Ollantaytambo. The tour also take you to explore the mysterious Inca citadel of Machu Picchu and Finally you will visit Maras and Moray; an extraordinary Inca sites unique in its stile.

Cusco Imperial Tour starts in the city of Cusco. You need arrive in Cusco’s airport or bus station from where our staff will transfer you to the designated hotel. Once in the hotel you’ll be served a cup of coca tea which is very recommendable for the acclimatization to the altitude. During the tour is included hotels of 3-stars category and you’ll be escorted by experienced Guide.

Included activities

• City Tour in Cusco.
• Sacred Valley of the Incas.
• Machu Picchu Tour.
• Free time within Machu Picchu
• Maras-Moray Tour.

Short Ititnerary for Cusco Imperial Tour

Day 1: Cusco & City Tour

Arrival to Cusco before noon – we will meet you in the airport and transfer you to the designated hotel; In the afternoon you’ll have guided city tour from 1:30PM to 6:00PM.

Day 2: Sacred Valley tour

A full-day tour – we’ll visit the Pisac Inca ruins, perched on a hilltop with incredible views of the snow-capped mountains. Then, we’ll go to visit the traditional Pisaq’s market. We also will visit Ollantaytambo with its enormous Inca terracing constructed on the side of the mountain.

Day 3: Machu Picchu

Explore Machu Picchu known as the lost city of the Incas. and retun to Cusco.

Day 4: Maras-Moray

Enjoy a panoramic drive across the changing landscape of the region and explore the inca ruins of Moray and the salt mines of Maras.

Day 5: Departure time

Departure from Cusco at any time; we will transfer you to the airport.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival to Cusco & City Tour

WELCOME TO CUSCO: We’ll be waiting for you in the airport of Cusco on your arrival date and transfer you to the hotel, where you will receive the briefing of the Tour  and you will have a cup of coca tea, which is very good for your acclimatization to the altitude. The city of Cusco is Located at 3,400 masl/11,154 fts.

In the afternoon, you will have guided city tour that starts at 01:30 p.m. Where you’ll have the opportunity to visit 6 tourist places (entrance to the archaeological centers and museums are included). The city tour will last for 4:30 hours.

The Guided City Tour in Cusco:

We pick you up from the Hotel and take you to visit the following tourist Places, with our professional guide:

• The Koricancha and Convent of Santo Domingo.- Religious center known as “The Temple of the Sun” where you will admire the impressive engineering used in its construction.
• The Cathedral in the main square.- Colonial religious monument of extraordinary artistic value.
• Sacsayhuaman.- Located 3 km from the city of Cusco, impressive stone fortress monumental and magnificent architecture, famous for its enormous carved stones, some of which are at 9 m/ 30 feet tall and weigh of 361 tons. Here is where the Inty Raymi or “Fiesta del Sol” takes place every year on June 21th.

• Qenqo: Ceremonial and ritual center, amphitheater where sacrifices were made in time of the Incas.
• Puca-Pucara: An old Inca “Tambo” (resting place), monitoring place throughout the Inca Empire Routes.
• Tambomachay: At 7 Km. From the city of Cusco, ceremonial center of worship of water , traditionally known as the place of water.

Day 2: Sacred Valley of the Incas

Today we’ll starts at 08:00 a.m. We’ll pick you up from the hotel and head to the fertile valley for a full-day tour. The Sacred valley is renowned for its excellent climate and fertile lands; it is embraced between the towns of Pisac and Ollantaytambo.

The valley has wonderful landscapes where its inhabitants, native of the Quechua ethnic group, still preserve their customs, traditions and ancestral rites. The sacred Valley, is a valley where you can enjoy the high technological development that the Inca reached in terms of agriculture through the “andenería” systems (platform terraces).

The “Andeneria” systems are still in use today and show sophisticated designs of hydraulic engineering for irrigation. They were also outstanding adoration centers to the Pachamama (or Mother Earth). The tour passes the town of Urubamba and ends in the town of Ollantaytambo.

In the afternoon, we will take the tourist train for two hours to the town of “Aguas Calientes”; here you’ll have hotel accommodation.

Important recommendations

• We suggest suitable footwear; you will climb stairs with many steps.
• Bring a small backpack, camera; wear a sun hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, and a water bottle.
• In Pisac, do not forget to try the delicious empanadas, and purchase an artisan souvenir/memorabilia.
• In Urubamba enjoy a delicious buffet lunch where we invite you to try the corn of Sacred Valley.

Day 3: Machu Picchu Tour

After breakfast in the hotel, we’ll leave at 05:30 a.m and walk 5 minutes to the bus station, from where we’ll take the bus for 25 minutes up to Machu Picchu and start exploring it with experienced Machu Picchu Tour Guide.

Once we arrive to Machu-Picchu; we’ll pass throught the control, where you’ll show your entrance and your passport; then our Machu Picchu Guided Tour will start, visiting the main square, the Circular tower, the sacred solar watch, the royal rooms, the temple of the three windows and the cementeries, The Tour will lasts for around 2 -3 hours.

After the tour you’ll be given enough time to walk around the citadel and have your lunch at any restaurant in Aguas Calientes or if you wish at Santuary Lodge (this is not included).

In the afternoon, between 15:30 hrs and 17:00 hrs we’ll return by train to the train station of Ollantaytambo; from here we’ll transfer you by car to the hotel in Cusco.

Important recommendations

• In Machu Picchu we will climb many stairs, use appropriate shoes.
• We suggest a small backpack, camera; wear a sunhat, sunscreen, insect repellent and a water bottle.
• Visit the thermal baths of Aguas Calientes.
• Arrive to the train station half an hour before the departure time.

Day 4: Maras-Moray Tour

Today we’ll pick you up from the hotel at 08:30 a.m in our private mobility and drive to the village of Maras (one hour); the travel will be with some stops along the way in order to take pictures and see the mountain lands cape. During the tour of today we’ll visit the following places:

MARAS:

Located in the province of Urubamba to 3,300 masl.  During the tour you will see the snow-caped mountains of the Vilcanota range like:  “Chicón” (5,500 masl) and “Veronica” (5,750 masl), etc.

The village of Maras is attractive colourful town, guard of the pre-Hispanic, colonial and republican period, emphasizing in the town colonial streets and covers with shields of the noble and caciques of centuries  XVI and XVII.

MORAY:

Located to about 7 km to the southwest of the vilage of Maras; it is unique archaeological group in its sort in the region. Moray is about enormous terraces that are superposed concentrically in a gigantic hole.

These beautiful terraces that served in the time of the Incas, as an agricultural laboratory (Prototype as Conservatory) in which Incas experienced and obtained improvements. The site of Moray was the place where incredible advances in agriculture were obtained.

SALINERAS or “SALT MINES”:

Located to the northwest of the village of Maras; the salt mines are constituted for about 3,000 small wells with an area average of about 4 m², operated from the Inca times, Colonial time and that even continues being exploded by the villagers.

They indicate that the mountain has in its interior salt mines; a spring of salt water that arise from this mountain. Serves during the time of drought to fill to the wells in form of “irrigation” every 3 days with salt water during a month; so that it is solidified gradually, then has the process for the consumption of the region.

Important recommendations

• We suggest suitable footwear; you will climb stairs with many steps. Bring a small backpack, camera; wear a sun hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, and a water bottle.
• In Maras, do not forget to try the delicious toasted corn, and purchase an artisan souvenir/memorabilia.

Day 5: Farewell and air travel from Cusco to Lima

Departure from Cusco at any time; we will transfer you to the airport.

Cusco Imperial Tour includes

• TRANSPORTATION: Transfer in/out (Airport/Hotel/Airport), Private bus for the City Tour, Sacred Valley Tour and Maras-Moray Tour; bus up and down from the town of “Aguas Calientes” to Machu Picchu, round-trip train ticket expedition class from Ollantaytambo to “Aguas Calientes” and from “Aguas Calientes” to Ollantaytambo, transfer to your hotel.
• ENTRANCE FEES: For the city tour, Sacred Valley tour, Maras, Moray and Machu Picchu.
• GUIDE: Licensed bilingual tour guide.
• ACCOMMODATIONS: Room based on double occupancy. 3 nights in Cusco ***Hotel and 1 night in ythe town of Aguas Calientes
•  OTHER: Local guide for permanent assistance, first-aid kit and emergency oxygen bottle.

The cost excludes:

• MEALS: Lunch and dinner, you must consider a budget of $10 to $25 USD for each meal.
• Airport taxes and tips.

PRICE OF THE TOUR

• In the following price is included 3-stars category hotel which we consider appropriated and very confortable hotel for Cusco Imperial Tour.
• We have other options based on the hotel, type of train; the options are adapted to all budgets and THE PRICE IS PER PERSON. We gladly will assist you, write or please call Us.

Daily departure

Hotels for Cusco Imperial Tour

IN CUSCO – HOTEL GARCILASO  OR SIMILAR

• Address:Matara 394, Cusco
• Rating: 3 stars
• Web: http://www.hotelesgarcilaso.com

Hotel Garcilaso is a charming hotel decorated in a classic Cusco style – using local artisans to create an aura of beautiful Inca tradition. Guest rooms are well furnished with air conditioning and en suite facilities. The hotel is located to half a block from the main square.

HOTEL IN “AGUAS CALIENTES” – HOSTEL PRESIDENTE  OR SIMILAR

• Hotel for Cusco Imperial Tour
• Address: “Aguas Calientes” town – Cusco
• Rating: 3 stars
• Web: http://hostalpresidente.com/rooms.html

The Hotel is located in the heart of “Aguas Calientes” town, beside the River Vilcanota. Is very clean, helpful, and friendly and all rooms have a private bath and 24 hour hot water. Some of the rooms have small balconies with great views over the river Vilcanota.

FACILITIES

• Restaurant (open to public for breakfast, lunch and dinner)
• Bar-Cafeteria
• Telephones with international and national dial up
• Fax services
• Luggage porters
• Laundry service

Cusco Imperial Tour Video

The city of Cusco located at 3,400m

Explore the Sacred Valley of The Incas

The Iconic Machu Picchu located at 2,400masl

Moray – A beautiful XV Century Inca building