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Overview
This tour involves culture and adventure all bundled into one amazing package. It includes visits to classic Inkan and Pre-Inkan sites of Cusco, the Sacred Valley of Urubamba, Pisac and areas surrounding these locations. Exploring these areas provides a profound insight to ancient traditions, architecture and culture. This tour package also includes an invigorating 7 night, 8 day supported trek from Cachora to Huancacalle, hiking across the breath-taking Peruvian Andes and visiting the famous Inkan ruin of Choquechirao. To top it all off, you will explore in and around the incredible ancient city of Machu Picchu. This is an invigorating experience!
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DAY 1
Fly from Home to Lima, on the Peruvian coast. Sea level.
DAY 2
Fly to Cusco and travel by private van to Ollantaytambo built on an original Inka city in the Sacred Valley of the Urubamba, where we will spend our first nights, begin our acclimatization and learn about the history of the Quechua people and Inkan rulers. Overnight in Ollantaytambo at Hotel El Sol.
DAY 3
Visit Inka ruins in and around Ollantaytambo including agricultural storage and Inka bridge. Overnight in Ollantaytambo at Hotel El Sol.
Day 4
Visit Salineras, family owned salt flats used since Pre-Inkan times. Visit Maras Moray, Pre-Inkan and Inkan ceremonial site and agricultural research on crop rotations and altitude; lunch provided at Tanupa, traditional Peruvian food, buffet style, alongside the Urubamba river. Visit Pablo Seminaro ceramic workshop. Travel to private van to Cusco. Overnight in Cusco hotel.
Day 5
Part day city tour of Cusco including the Plaza de Armas, Koricancha and the Cathedral. Overnight in Cusco hotel.
Day 6
Visit the Sacsayhuaman, Tambomachay, Quenco, Inka ruins above Cusco. Overnight in Cusco hotel.
Day 7
Visit private weaver’s home in Chinchero, learn about the wool, cleaning, dyeing, spinning and weaving. Eat traditional Peruvian food. Visit ruins at Chinchero. Overnight in Cusco hotel.
Day 8
Visit animal sanctuary, camelid zoo, and the Pisac Inka ruins which are located high above the Urubamba River and the town of Pisac. Lunch provided at Ulriches restaurant in Pisac. In the evening we will have a briefing about the upcoming trek – what to pack and what to expect in detail. (Major decision: Those preferring to ride may have private horses for rent.) Overnight in Cusco hotel.
Day 9
Free day. Preparation for Trek. Overnight in Cusco hotel.
Days 10 through 17
(7 nights, 8 days) –TREK – Leaving early Day 10 we join our guides, cooks, wranglers, mules, and shared riding horse (just in case!) for a fully supported trek starting from Cachora in nearby Department of Apurimac. We cross the river back into the Department of Cusco and climb on the second full day to the now famous Inka ruin of Choquecairao (the third day we explore the ruins and depending on the group, hike to the Llamas walls) and then up along the aqueduct and crossing a pass, dropping down and crossing a river and climbing to another pass and down into another valley…via the silver mines, the picturesque town of Yanama, up the Quelque Machay Valley and down the Colpe Chine valley ending at Huancacalle where there are more ruins at Rosaspatas and Vitcos
(from where the highly recommended White Rock book by Hugh Thomson got its title).
Day 18
The trek will end in Huancacalle and we will stay there that night hopefully with a Pachamanca celebration, possibly even getting a shower at the Sixpac Manco Inn(!) and we will visit the ruins there the following day and then go by van to the vicinity of Machu Picchu, from where and we will either take the train into Aguas Calientes or walk the track path from the hydroelectric plant near Santa Teresa. Overnight in Aguas Calientes Hotel.
Day 19
Visit archaeological site of Machu Picchu with early tour and free time to climb Huayna Picchu, Huchoy Picchu, and /or visit the Temple of the Moon and the Inka Bridge, if desired. Overnight in Aguas Calientes Hotel.
Day 20
Morning train to Ollanta and private van to Cusco with the balance of the day free. Overnight in Cusco hotel.
Day 21
A visit to Tipon, a beautiful Inka ruin near Cusco with water channels. Hiking above the ruin as desired. Visit Oropesa where much of the local bread is made. Overnight in Cusco hotel.
Day 22
Free day in Cusco. Overnight in Cusco hotel.
Day 23
Transportation to Cusco Airport for flights to Lima.
Day 24
From Lima to Home.
