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This accelerated tour is ideal for those travellers with a limited timeframe, but who wish to experience Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. The tour begins and ends in Lima, a charming city with a rich cultural heritage and growing gastronomic reputation. You will spend a day exploring the major colonial and indigenous sights of Cusco and then travel through the Incas’ Sacred Valley, stopping at the market town of Pisac and staying in the last surviving Inca town of Ollantaytambo. From there it’s onwards to Machu Picchu via train where you will have the day to explore this magical last city of the Incas. This tour will be an experience of a lifetime where you will create countless unique memories with Apu Andino!
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Day 1: Arrive Lima
On arrival in Lima, you will be picked up at Lima International Airport and transferred to your hotel. Apu Andino can arrange city tours, museum visits or sightseeing excursions matching your interests if you arrive early. Overnight in Lima hotel.
Day 2: Lima – Cusco
Your day begins with a morning flight to Cusco, center of the Inca Empire. Apu Andino tour guides pick you up at the airport and take you into the city center, stopping for a quick tour of the beautiful Plaza de Armas before taking you to your hotel to check in. After lunch on your own, you will spend the afternoon touring prominent Inca sights in and around Cusco. You will visit the colonial cathedral; Qoricancha (famous Temple of the Sun); Sacsayhuamán, a fortress with megalithic stone terraces; the carved stone surfaces and subterranean altars of Qenqo; the small Puka Pukara fortress that protected the royal capital; and the water temple of Tambomachay. After visiting these sites, you return to your hotel to spend the evening relaxing or exploring Cusco’s fascinating city center on your own. Overnight in Cusco hotel. (B)
Day 3: Cusco – Sacred Valley
After breakfast and checking out, your day-long guided excursion begins. You’ll pass through snowcapped mountains to reach the renowned Sacred Valley of the Incas, along the way observing Inca terracing that climbs steep valley walls and the ruined temples of Pisac with panoramic views of the jagged granite peaks. Lunch will be in the charming town of Pisac and after you will have the opportunity to visit its local market, one of the best in the Andes where visitors find one-of-a-kind souvenirs at bargain prices and learn about the local culture. The next stop is Ollantaytambo (2,800m / 9,185 ft.), a small town with an impressive Inca fortress. Overnight in Ollantaytambo hotel. (B, L)
Day 4: Ollantaytambo – Machu Picchu – Cusco
This is the most exhilarating day of the tour! After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll depart from the Ollantaytambo train station on the first leg of your Machu Picchu adventure. The train makes its way along the Urubamba River, traveling into a magnificent cloud forest before arriving at the Aguas Calientes station. After your traditional lunch, a bus will drive you up to Machu Picchu (2,400m / 7,875 ft.). You’ll spend a glorious afternoon exploring and learning about the famous ruins from your knowledgeable guide. Afterwards, you will return to nearby Aguas Calientes to board the train back to Ollantaytambo. From there, a private van takes you back to Cusco to relax and enjoy one last evening here on your own. Overnight in Cusco hotel. (B)
Day 5: Cusco – Lima
You will be taken to the Cusco airport for your return flight to Lima and then make connections to your international flight home or next destination, marking the end of your Machu Picchu Accelerated Tour with Apu Andino. (B)
Key: (B)reakfast (L)unch (D)inner
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What’s Included
- Licensed guide fluent in English, Spanish, and Quechua
- Meals as indicated in Detailed Itinerary
- Drinking water and snacks
- Private transportation
- Inca Trail permit and entrance to Machu Picchu
- Hotel in Lima, Cusco and Ollantaytambo
What’s Not Included
- Optional climb to Huayna Picchu.
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Details about hiking the Inca Trail
Inca Trail regulations limit the number of people allowed on the Inca Trail to 500 people each day, including guides, porters and support staff. Permits are given on a “first-come, first-serve” basis only, so booking early is essential.
This trek consists of six to eight hours of hiking per day. Plenty of time is allowed for you to set your own pace. Porters carry all equipment, food and 8kg of your personal belongings. You are responsible to carry your daypack with your camera, water bottle, and extra layers of clothing and/or rain gear. Free from the weight of a large pack, you have more time for snapping photos and enjoying the spectacular scenery.
You will awake early in the morning to a fresh cup of tea brought to your tent, along with a bowl of hot water for washing. During the trek, our experienced cooks will prepare your meals using locally grown produce. The meals are well constructed, taking into account how your body digests food at different elevations.
