Itinerary Expand all Cuzco to Cuzco Day 1 Get to know Cuzco on a walking tour You arrive smack-bang into the epicentre of archaeological America: Cuzco, the gateway to Machu Picchu. To get your bearings, there’s a walking tour to explore the cobblestone passages and see the collision of ancient-meets-modern life. Then you’ll return to the Xima Cuzco Hotel, opposite the handicraft market. Tonight, there’s a meeting, but definitely not your average workday kind. You’ll gather with your group for a briefing about the adventures ahead (and no, there’s no need for minute-taking). Day 2 Devour Peruvian cuisine at San Pedro market and take a cooking class It’s all about Peruvian food today, starting with a visit to the San Pedro market. It’s lively, vibrant place with rows and rows of stalls. You’ll chat with the locals, try some fruits, chuta bread, and perhaps even a serving of frog soup. In the afternoon you’ll learn about the different plants and herbs used in Peruvian cooking and more about traditional food and drink. Then feast on your self-prepared food. Meals included: Breakfast Dinner Day 3 Cycle the Sacred Valley You’ll leave the city clamour behind today, venturing north to the Sacred Valley - a corner of the Andes known for its remote villages, markets and Inca citadels. You’ll be cycling through this scenic wonderland today, first stopping at Moray. This archaeological site is characterised with deep amphitheatre-style terraces. It was once thought to be an Incan agricultural research centre, where crop experiments were carried out at different heights. Your cycle ride continues 6km to Salineras de Maras, a dreamlike site of thousands of salt pans created from a hot spring at the top of the valley. Tonight, you’ll stay at the 17th century San Agustin Monasterio La Recoleta. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Day 4 Visit a rural community, then discover the ruins at Pisac There’s a visit to Agritourism association of Chichubamba today, a rural community. Here, you’ll work alongside the locals preparing pachamanca, a traditional dish that’s baked over hot stones and covered with stones and earth for an hour or two. While it’s cooking, you’ll visit some homes and see the local produce of pottery, chocolate and coffee. Then it’s back to uncover the pachamanca for lunch. In the afternoon, you’ll visit the Pisac Ruins, a sweeping (and lesser-explored) Inca fortress for a guided tour. You’ll then hike downhill for 90 minutes to Pisac Market in the bustling village. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Day 5 Join the inimitable Inca Trail You’ll take the train to the village of Ollantaytambo today. You’ll descend a 2km Inca stone staircase, with mountains as a backdrop and the Urubamba River below. After a stop at the ruins of Wiñay Wayna, you’ll walk through cloud forest high above the river to Inti Punku, the Sun Gate. From here you’ll get your first full sight of Machu Picchu, with Huayna Picchu rising behind. Then you’ll descend to Aguas Calientes, a town below the ruins, for a well-earned rest. You’ll stay at Hatun Inti Classic for the next two nights. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Day 6 Epic Day Klaxon: tour Machu Picchu To beat the day-trippers arriving from Cuzco, you’ll set off early for Machu Picchu. Hidden and forgotten until it was rediscovered in 1911, Machu Picchu is an archaeological masterpiece. Commanding a spectacular location, this ancient city is a sight that will be seared in your memory for life. New regulations mean that visitors have four hours on-site and follow a set route with a guide. The afternoon is yours. Later, you’ll take a Pisco Sour cocktail class in Aguas Calientes. Because frankly, you can’t return home from Peru without becoming an expert in this iconic drink. Meals included: Breakfast Day 7 A citadel and chocolate day You’ll make your way back to Cuzco today, by taking the train to Ollantaytambo and then the bus on to the city. You’ll have time for a breather before joining your group for an uphill walk to Sacsayhuaman Archaeological Park for a tour of this Inca fortress. Afterwards, you’ll walk to San Blas for a chocolate-making workshop. You’ll learn to make chocolate from the cacao bean and prepare chocolate-based drinks that the Mayas and Conquistadores enjoyed. Meals included: Breakfast Day 8 Climb the remarkable Rainbow Mountain Set an early alarm – you’ll be collected at 5.30 am to board a bus bound for Phulawasipata. It’s a three-hour journey with the last hour on a bumpy, unpaved road, taking you (literally) off the beaten track. From here, you'll trek up Vinicunca, or Rainbow Mountain as it's more famously known. This mountain has become an undisputed Instagram star thanks to its multicoloured mineral stripes, and its popularity has surged. To get the best views of the rainbow effect, you’ll have to hope the weather is kind. You'll hike for 90 minutes, starting at 4,600m and climbing to reach a lofty 5,000m. Don't forget to stop to appreciate the views and the snow-capped peak of Ausangante in the distance, before returning downhill for another 90 minutes to the bus that'll drive you back to Cuzco (with a well-earned lunch stop en route). It's a long and physically demanding day at these heights, but you whould be well acclimatised at this stage in the trip. For anyone unsure, there's an option to opt out and spend further time in Cuzco today instead. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Day 9 Return to the airport A final breakfast, before you part with your group and return home. Meals included: Breakfast
Peru Visas are not required by UK citizens, Western European nationals, Americans, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders, South Africans and most other nationalities. If you are in any doubt please contact the nearest Peruvian Embassy.
Peru There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Polio, Tetanus, Typhoid, Hepatitis A. Zika fever is a mosquito‐borne viral disease and a known risk in places visited on this trip. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available, we therefore strongly recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites. If you are travelling to the Tambopata reserve in the Amazon rainforest, the risk of malaria is slight, but you may wish to consult your GP or travel health clinic for further advice. We also strongly recommend that you obtain a Yellow Fever vaccination. Dengue fever and/or Chikungunya are known risks in the Amazon region. Both are tropical viral diseases spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for either, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites: always apply insect repellent and wear long-sleeved shirts and trousers while in the rainforest to avoid being bitten.
Hotels San Agustin Monasterio La Recoleta A former Catholic monastery built in the 17th century, this boutique hotel is located in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Rooms are spacious yet cosy and well-equipped with TV and free Wi-Fi. Xima Hotel Xima Hotel is a short walk from Cuzco's main square and just in front of Cuzco's largest craft market. Rooms are modern with cable TV and free wired internet. Hatun Inti Classic A well-located hotel for Machu Picchu, Hatun Inti Classic has traditional style accommodation and free Wi-Fi in public areas.
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