5 Days of History and Andean Wonders
Don’t miss a Colourful experience with this Cusco, Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu tour.
Cusco, which is the capital of the Inca Empire, proudly holds the title of Archaeological Capital of the Americas since there isn’t another place in the whole continent where the monumental remains of a great culture are so easily accessible and in such good conditions. Cusco is also a museum-city provided with a mystical beauty given by the contrasts between the native and the western, the present and the past.
We can divide Cusco in three main destinations: Cusco city, with its ruins, temples, churches, mansions and archaeological complexes. Machu Picchu: “The Lost City of the Incas”, which is considered one of the archaeological gems of the world and the Sacred Valley of the Incas which has a nice weather, fertile lands, plains and wonderful views that are the frame for picturesque towns, impressive terraces and important archaeological complexes. These archaeological complexes include:
The Sacred Valley is the perfect place for outdoor sports such as canoeing, mountain bike, climbing, treks etc., due to its warm weather and peculiar geography.
According to documents Machu Picchu dated from 16th century, It was a resting place for the Inca Pachacútec between 1438 and 1470. However, according to studies, the ruins were allegedly used before his rule so it can be said that it was a religious sanctuary because of its strong ceremonial nature.
Booking this Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu tour you will know the principal places of the Inca Empire.
**All our programs can be modified according to your requirements on duration, interests, activities, flight reservations or other additional destinations.**
On arrival, you will be assisted and transferred to your hotel. We suggest resting the rest of the morning to acclimatize to the altitude.
In the afternoon, we will get to know Cusco city on a guided tour, visiting the Main Square, the Cathedral and the Temple of the Sun or Korikancha. The tour continues outside the city to visit the Kenko, Tambomachay and Puca Pucara archaeological complexes and the impressive Sacsayhuaman Fortress which was strategically built on a hill dominating Cusco. It is famous for its huge carved stones, put together with amazing precision to form the external walls of the complex. Some of these stones are over 9 meters high and weight more than 350 tons.
Meals: None
Tour to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, on the Vilcanota River where you will be able to see the typical Indian market and experience its people´s customs. (On Sundays, the mass is celebrated in Quechua the native language). Lunch in a valley’s local restaurant.
In the afternoon stop by Calca and Urubamba on our way to the Ollantaytambo fortress and citadel, built to guard the entrances to this part of the valley and protect it from possible invasions from the rainforest´s inhabitants. It is formed by a series of overlapping terraces. We will have the chance to walk through the towns’ streets so we can have a clear idea of how this military, religious and agricultural strategic center was during the Inca Empire.
At the end of the day, you will board the train to the town of Machu Picchu, where you will spend the night.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Early in the morning, you will board the bus for a 30-minute ride up to the Machu Picchu citadel to begin your guided tour along the classic route. This circuit allows you to explore the main sectors of the urban area of the Inca city. It begins in the agricultural zone, from where you can admire the full panoramic view of Machu Picchu. The route continues through the Llaqta Punku sector or main entrance, the viewpoint of the Temple of the Sun, the Main Square, the Sacred Rock, and the Water Mirrors. The round-trip walking distance is approximately 2.5 km and requires a medium to high physical effort. This route is ideal for capturing the iconic postcard photo of Machu Picchu.
Please note that the route through the citadel may vary depending on ticket availability at the time of booking.
After the tour, you will descend to Aguas Calientes to enjoy lunch before taking the train back to the city of Cusco.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Enjoy a free day in Cusco to explore the city at your own pace and uncover its magic in every corner. Stroll through its cobblestone streets, admire the blend of Inca and colonial architecture, and discover charming cafés, artisan shops, and vibrant local markets.
If you prefer a more curated experience, you can choose from our optional tours — join an interactive cooking class to learn the secrets of Peruvian cuisine, or indulge in a relaxing afternoon at a luxury hotel spa, surrounded by the serene energy of the Andes.
Meals: Breakfast
At appropriate time, transfer and assistance on your departure.
Meals: Breakfast
| Destination | Tourist | Superior tourist | Superior | Deluxe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cusco |
Hostería de Anita |
Illa Hotel |
Xima |
Casa Andina Premium |
|
Machu Picchu |
Ferré Boulevard Machu Picchu |
Casa de Luz |
El MaPi by Inkaterra |
Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel |
| Price per person: USD | 759 | 808 | 1043 | 1440 |
| Cusco | Hostería de Anita |
| Machu Picchu | Ferré Boulevard Machu Picchu |
| Price per person: USD | 759 |
|---|
| Cusco | Illa Hotel |
| Machu Picchu | Casa de Luz |
| Price per person: USD | 808 |
|---|
| Cusco | Casa Andina Premium |
| Machu Picchu | Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel |
| Price per person: USD | 1440 |
|---|
Prices per person in US Dollars, based on double occupancy.
INCLUDES:
NOT INCLUDED:
PRICES
All rates are expressed in US dollars, per person, based on double occupancy and are subject to change without notice.
ITINERARY
All our itineraries have been very carefully prepared taking your trip’s best operation into account. However, changing the order of some tours or routes might be necessary in some cases. Although these changes occur in few instances, the itinerary details should be taken as a basic guide.
AIR TICKETS
If Colourful Peru oversees buying and issuing local-flight tickets, their prices may vary until the date of the flight’s booking and payment. Furthermore, the airline might change the flight number as well as its departure hour.
Once the flight reservation and payment are made, the latter will not be reimbursable. Changes regarding name, flight, route, trip’s date or cancellations are not allowed.
Hotel reservations that are not part of an organized trip
Cancellations and Reimbursements
Booked trips
Cancellations and Reimbursements
(*) Note: some suppliers consider stricter cancellation conditions, consequently, they reserve the right to charge additional fees for other penalties in such cases.
Regarding the Inca Trail: the reserve is subject to its payment and there will not be reimbursements in case of cancellations, moreover, neither name nor date changes are allowed.
During peak season, the company reserves the right to change the cancellation regulations in case the suppliers apply other penalties or make the aforementioned changes.
LIABILITY
Live Corporation carries out your trip’s arrangements, books transfer services, hotel rooms or other travel services required on your behalf, consequently, the company takes no responsibility for the loss of items, flight or tours delays due to events of force majeure, accidents or other events.
Important!
Live Corporation disclaims any liability for medical conditions, pregnancy, mental or physical limitations that might put at risk the health or integrity of the passenger or third parties during the operation of the booked tours or that might jeopardize the trip’s progress. Therefore, the company will not be obliged to any refunds or to address claims regarding the aforementioned reasons, even when there are not noticeable problems in normal circumstances.
Given this, it is important for the passengers to inform the company whether there is any of the aforementioned impediments, so we can offer and suggest suitable services according to the existing limitations.
CLIMATE
The climate in Peru can be divided by zones: the western Andes that has a dry and cold climate in winter and its very rainy during the summer. The rainforest that has a hot, wet and rainy climate and the desert coast with a warm climate without regular rainfall.
Cusco has a mild climate with temperatures that go from 14 ºC to 16ºC with warm days and cold nights. The rainy season is from December to March.
Machu Picchu has a semi-tropical climate with warm days and cold nights. The rainy season is from November to April.
TIME ZONE
Peru Time Zone according to Greenwich Mean Time is -5 (GMT -5), same as Bogotá and Mexico throughout the year and same as New York during summer. When it is midday in Peru the hour in the most important cities is:
| São Paulo | 14:00 |
| Frankfurt | 19:00 |
| Nueva York | 13:00 |
| Londres | 18:00 |
| Hong Kong | 01:00 + 1day |
| Singapur | 01:00 + 1day |
ALTITUDE
In Cusco: 3,360 meters above sea level
In Machu Picchu: 2,400 meters above sea level
In the Sacred Valley: 2,850 meters above sea level
WE RECOMMEND
HEALTH
The Peruvian Andes are at high altitudes, so it is necessary to take precautions to avoid altitude sickness or “soroche”. It is important to rest a few hours, to walk slowly and to eat light before beginning any tour. We also recommend drinking coca tea that helps with acclimatization. Even though water is potable in most cities, it is advisable to drink bottled water to avoid any problems.
VISA
To know if you need a visa to enter Peru, please go to the closest consulate since the requirement may vary at any moment. For more information, please go to:
Visa types to enter Peru
LANGUAGE
Peru’s official language is Spanish, which is spoken by 80% of the population. However, there is a large portion of the population that speaks Quechua and Aymara (especially in the Peruvian Andes). Moreover, we can find 55 dialects in the Amazonian rainforest.
ELECTRICAL CURRENT
Electricity in Peru is 220 Volts and 60 Hertz. In some hotels, you may find dual voltage outlets, however, we suggest checking your appliances’ voltage and take precautions by having a power adapter or converter.
PERUVIAN GASTRONOMY
During the last years, the Peruvian gastronomy has become famous because of its variety and exquisiteness. Among the most known dishes you can find the ceviche, a dish made of fish and seafood marinated in lemon juice.
There is a new gastronomy trend in Cusco called “novoandina”. The novoandina cuisine is based on the creation of new dishes using local ingredients such as quinoa, quiwicha, potato, alpaca and trout. This way, we have dishes such as alpaca tenderloin with “quinotto” (risotto made of quinoa instead of rice) or grilled trout with sautéed vegetables and native potatoes.
Restaurants during your trip:
Cusco: international, local and vegetarian food restaurants.
Aguas Calientes: international and local food restaurants.
IMPORTANT
Colourful Peru reserves the right to make any changes without prior notice due to weather conditions, river levels, transport departures or arrivals, etc., to assure a better development of your trip’s operation.
5 Days of History and Andean Wonders
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