Peru w/ Giulia Fusconi

Arrive in Lima - Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM)

Transfer from airport to hotel

Breakfast at hotel

Pick up from hotel and morning flight to Cusco (Arriving at 9:00)

Transfer to the Sacred Valley - Visit Pisac market on route

This morning, we will continue the trip toward the Sacred Valley, a few miles farther along, we will reach Pisac, a beautiful place where Incan and Colonial influences have reached a perfect balance and created the unique way of life of the local inhabitants. We will get a chance to explore this quaint town, famous for its artisan markets where we can find extraordinarily fine jewelry and ceramic and textile craftwork. 

Welcome lunch at Hacienda Sarapampa (with impressive views of the corn fields)

Sunset at Yucay Terraces

Visit Urubamba cemetery where you will visit an archeological place; after walking through a path that goes along a brook of crystal clear water flowing down from the snow of Pumahuanca. This area is always green and it is an ecosystem favorable to an abundance of birds and native flowers. Both the landscape and the archeological places will make your hike an amazing adventure.  Before you arrive at the highest point you will find a small archeological complex, the Incan Racaqniyoc, which used to house former Incan settlers.  

Breakfast at hotel

Full day- Ollantaytambo Town & Fortress + Moray Terraces & Maras Salt Mines

We will visit one of the last remaining Incan towns, Ollantaytambo, which was once fiercely guarded by a massive fortress. We will discover the large archaeological complex of what used to serve as a wayside inn for royal delegations on long journeys. Surviving structures here include multiple walls and towers that were used to protect the citadel from possible invasions.

The journey will continue on until we reach the archaeological site of Moray. Used as an agricultural testing ground, the site's system of circular terraces descends 490 feet (150m) from where we will stand, serving as a perfect testament to the level of advancement achieved by the Incas, who excelled at building masterful constructions in harmony with nature. 

Continue to Maras the sight of this still-operating salt mine, in use since Incan times, will amaze us the stark white of the steeply descending salt pans juxtaposed against the green of the surrounding mountain slopes.

Lunch at Tunupa Restaurant

Breakfast at hotel

Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

Transfer to Ollantaytambo train station to board the train that will take us to Km 104. At this point we will descend from the train and begin our walk towards the Machu Picchu citadel, crossing the Urubamba River through a bridge that offers a spectacular view of the mountains. During the trip we will visit the Inca ruins known as Chachabamba, a beautiful palace with fine stone carved walls. We will continue our hike and begin to climb a mountain covered with vegetation until we reach Wiñaywayna (2700 m.a.s.l.). The ruins of Wiñaywayna are a perfect example of the agriculture in the time of the Incas, since along its slopes lie many terraces, where the Incas, cultivated different agricultural products, including coca leaf plantations. After we have explored these wonderful ruins, we will have lunch very close to the area. Later we will continue our walk until we reach the Inti Punku or Sun Gate. At this point we will have a privileged view of the beautiful citadel of Machu Picchu. Then, we will descend in the direction of Machu Picchu and we will go to the town where we will spend the night.

• Maximum altitude: 2,700 m (8,858 ft)
• Minimum altitude: 2,400 m (7,872 ft)
• Total distance: 13 km (8.08 miles)
• Approximate walking time: 6-7 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Meals: Box lunch

Dinner at hotel

Breakfast at hotel

Shuttle bus to the Machu Picchu citadel

Early AM - Sunrise at the Machu Picchu Citadel

The ruins of Machu Picchu, rediscovered in 1911 by Hiram Bingham, are one of the most beautiful and enigmatic ancient sites in the world. While the Inca people certainly used the Andean mountaintop, erecting many hundreds of stone structures from the early 1400's, legends and myths indicate that Machu Picchu was revered as a sacred place from a far earlier time. 

*On this day you will appreciate the sunrise in Machu Picchu and due to the early time enjoy the citadel with less crowds.

Free time to enjoy hotel activities (applies for the Inkaterra only)

16:43 Vistadome train to Cusco

20:23 Arrival and transfer to hotel

Breakfast at hotel

Cusco City Tour

You will begin your tour as you enjoy the best view of the city of Cusco from atop Cerro Pukamoqo (Red Peak), a natural scenic overlook from which the outstretched arms of Cristo Blanco, a massive white statue of Christ, embrace the city in a benevolent gesture. You will then visit nearby Fortress of Sacsayhuamán, a colossal structure of enormous stones, carved and fitted together with incredible precision.  

As you return to the lower part of the city, you will discover one of the most impressive buildings of Incan Cusco: the Korikancha (the Golden Temple)—a temple dedicated to the worship of the Sun God, whose interior walls were said to have been covered in gold. You will continue with a stroll through the Plaza de Armas (Main Square), where you will visit the Cathedral and admire its exquisite vestibules and priceless paintings from the Cusco School of the 17th and 18th centuries. You will complete the day by visiting the bohemian neighborhood of San Blas, home to famous artists.

PM at leisure

Breakfast at hotel

Full Day - Humantay Lake

Very early we will start our adventure heading to Soraypampa, the starting point of our hike. Throughout the four-hour road trip, we will pass through the town of Limatambo (2100 m.a.s.l), an important point of access to the city of Cusco during the Inca Empire time, where the archaeological remains of Tarawasi are located. The road continues along the right bank of the Apurimac River crossing the town of Mollepata (2800 m.a.s.l) and the small community of Cruzpata (2750 m.a.s.l), finally we will reach Soraypampa (3800 m.a.s.l). We will rest briefly before start hiking for approximately 2 hours towards the beautiful Humantay lagoon located at 4200 m.s.n.m. We will enjoy an impressive landscape of the glaciers and snowy peaks of the Vilcabamba mountain range with the south face of Salcantay mountain. Also, if we are very lucky, we can observe local fauna in their natural habitat such as chinchillas and condors. At dusk we will begin the descent path towards Soraypampa, where we will take our transport back to Cusco city.

Farewell Dinner at Incanto Restaurant

Breakfast at hotel

AM at leisure

PM - Transfer to Alejandro Velasco Astete Cusco International Airport (CUZ) to catch your flight back to Lima

Arrival in Lima and international connecting flight