For those who find themselves in Peru for various reasons, whether it’s business, a cruise stop, attending conferences, or simply reconnecting with friends in Lima, there’s an exciting opportunity to embark on a spontaneous journey to Machu Picchu. While your initial plans might not have included a visit to this iconic destination, the allure of Machu Picchu has now captured your interest, prompting you to seize the chance for a quick three-day tour.
This carefully curated excursion grants you the opportunity to explore the magnificent Inca city, immersing yourself in the mesmerizing ruins of Machu Picchu. Along the way, you’ll also have the chance to make a captivating pit stop in Cusco, the ancient Inca capital, where history comes to life. This remarkable journey is led by our Peru Travel specialists, ensuring that you make the most of your time and experience the wonders of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, which stands as a testament to the illustrious Inca civilization.
Key Highlights:
AM: Welcome! your adventure begins in the airport of Cusco, you will be transferred and settled into your hotel for a briefing. Later we suggest a rest to adapt to the altitude of Cusco City (3,360mt/11,022ft).
PM:
The afternoon city tour includes visiting the Cathedral houses a collection of paintings from the ‘Cusqueñan school’ of religious art which reached popularity in the 17th century. Continue the tour circuit to Qoricancha, the principal sun temple of the Inca empire whose name means ‘courtyard of gold’. When the Spanish occupied the city, they destroyed the temple. They constructed the Dominican “Santo Domingo” church in its place, although the original Inca architecture can still be seen.
Just outside the Cusco city is Sacsayhuaman: an Inca fortress and royal residence that looks down upon the city from its hilltop site. The fortress’s precise zigzags of massive stone remain unmoved by the centuries. This is the center of the ceremonies for the famous “Inti Raymi” festival of the sun.
Continuing away from the city, visit the labyrinthine ruins of Q’enqo, a religious site incorporating a massive Huaca or Inca altar stone. We continue to Puca Pucara (red fort), This ruin was probably a hunting lodge or guard post-in-between Cusco and the Sacred Valley and it looks similar to a small European defense.
Finally, we arrive at Tambomachay where the Incas’ fountains capture the waters containing three terraces from where water cascades down through finely worked channels of a natural spring additionally used as a place for the elite classes to bathe.
This morning we catch the train in Cusco’s city and we travel through the Urubamba Valley, Domed windows offer up unbelievable views of the Andes en route to the tiny town of Aguas Calientes. Here we board a bus to take us up to the lost city of Machu Picchu (2,430m/7,973ft approx.) – the most marvelous Inca citadels – constructed between two towering peaks. It was rediscovered in 1911 by the American explorer, Hiram Bingham, who believed it to be the “Lost City” of the Incas in Vilcabamba. Machu Picchu was probably one of the agricultural centers that served Cusco in its prime – but intense speculation still goes on as to its origins.
Our explorations of the Lost City of the Incas include all of the sectors of the ruins; the industrial area, the Temple of the Sun, the Royal Tomb, the ceremonial water fountains, baths, and Sacred Plazas.
More than a hundred flights of stone steps connect its palaces, temples, storehouses, and terraces, which command outstanding views over a great bend of the Rio Urubamba far below and the snow-capped peaks around Salkantay (6271m/20,574ft).
There will be the option of climbing Huayna Picchu (“young peak”) from where you have a superb overlook of the ruins.
After our spectacular tour, we board our bus back to Aguas Calientes town to enjoy lunch.
In the afternoon from the bus station, we walk about 10 minutes to the Aguas Calientes train station. From there, we’ll return by train to Ollantaytambo, a ride of about 1.5 hours. Then we continued traveling by bus for about two hours to reach Cusco’s city, arriving around 8:30 pm.
AM:
Enjoy the last morning to explore Cuzco at your own pace or choose the options to explore Cusco’s colorful San Pedro market, discover the cultural treasures of the Inka Museum, visit the Artisan’s Market, handmade jewelry and musical instruments, remember your tour guide will be happy to offer suggestions.
PM:
We are picked up at the hotel late morning for the drive to the airport in Cusco to catch the flight back to Lima.
