Cusco 4 Day Tours : Sacred Valley, Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu & Rainbow Mountain

Day 1: Pisaq – Maras – Moray – Ollantaytambo.

After your breakfast. We will pick you up from your Hotel at 7:15 am to drive towards the Sacred Valley. We make a short stop at “El mirador de Taray”, you will learn about the agriculture in the Sacred Valley, the we head to Pisaq. You will start your guided tour visiting the archeological sited above. At the archeological center, there are Andean terraces, religious buildings, ceremonial sites and an interesting cementery with more than 2000 tombs. There, we can admire the carefully engineered farming terraces carved into the mountain, explore the Inca tunnel and the religious area of this important citadel. We will have enough time to explore the Inca city. Then, we head down to the colorful market of Pisac, and we keed driving to Urubamba for our Lunch.

Our next stop is the fascinating site of Moray also known as “the womb of the mother earth” a deep basin of architectural wonder. Levels of terraces are carved into a huge bowl, which was carefully engineered by the Incas. The terraces have varied microclimates depending on how deep into the bowl they are placed.  Archeologists believe that they were used by the Incas to discover the optimal growing conditions for their crops and experiment in hybridization.

Continuing on our journey to the colonial town of Maras, we look down onto the pre-Inca salt “mines,” called salineras in Spanish. Thousands of salt pans have been passed down through countless generations and used for salt extraction since before Inca times. A hot spring at the top of the valley discharges a small stream of heavily salt laden water, which is diverted into salt pans and evaporated to produce salt. This is one of the few places in the world where you can find naturally pink salt!

Finally, we drive to Ollantaytambo, taking the time to explore the Inca village that has remained intact since Inca times and the massive Inca Ruins, with a tour provided by our guide. Visit the great architecture of the Sun Temple at the top of the formidable terraces and learn about the importance of this site for the Inca during the beginning of the Spanish conquest. Here you spend the night at your hotel in Ollantaytambo, ready to start the Inca Trail the next day

• Accomodation:

2*: Tunupa Lodge or similar
3*: Pakaritampu hotel or similar

• Meals:

Lunch

Day 2: OLLANTAYTAMBO – KM 104 – SUN GATE – AGUAS CALIENTES.

Pick up at 5:30 am from your hotel in Ollantaytambo. Our train leave at 6:10 am. You will be given your respective box lunch. We will get off the train at km104, we will start our hike from this point. We pass through the Archaelogical site of Chachabamba (located at 2250 m.s.n.m.) likewise you will be guided around the complex.

Our hike turns to be up hill till we reach Wiñay Wayna agricultural center and the most impressive complex before Machu Picchu. While the trip you will be able to appreciate the beautiful views of the Urubamba River as well as the different types of orchids. Then we will take a short break to take our box lunch. Then will be a gradual up and down by 1½ hour to Inti Punku (Sungate).

Afterwards, we descend to Machu Picchu, we will amaze this wonderful Inca Site from the watchtower “Guardhouse” and get a charming postcard picture. Afterwards we take the bus down to Aguas Calientes. We will leave you at the hotel take a nap, then enjoy a delicious Peruvian dinner.

• Accomodation:

3*: Tara Hotel, Gringo Bills or Ferre
4*: Hatun Inti Boutique, Tierra Viva Machupicchu or El Mapi

• Meals:

Breakfast (Hotel), Box Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: MACHU PICCHU “The lost city of the Incas” – CUSCO.

We wake up really early around 5 am to catch one of the first buses to Machu Picchu. An early breakfast will be supplied by your hotel (breakfast box) let them know the day before. The bus ride up to Machu Picchu lasts about 25 minutes. Please remember to have your passport with you, you will need it to enter Machu Picchu. The sanctuary opens at 6:00 am, allowing us time to see the wonderful sunrise over the Inca Citadel. You guided tour will last approximately 2 hours visiting the main sites such as: the enclosures, the main plaza, Sacred Fountains, the Condor and Royal Temples, the agricultural, and urban sector, where the important Incas lived. Hear the legends and stories of the ancient times and the life of the people who inhabited Machu Picchu. Feel the Inca spirit as you pass through the site, discover the mystery of the Sacred Stone. Take in the surroundings as the Andes hug the sight in all their majestic beauty.

After exploring you can climb either the Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (tickets must be purchased in advance). When you are ready take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes and have lunch. Later take the train through the valley to Ollantaytambo. Trains are in afternoon at 2:55 pm, 4:22 or 4:43 pm. Outside the train station our driver will be holding a sign so look for your name or the Wayna Trekkers logo. The drive back to Cusco will take around 2 hours, the perfect time to rest or enjoy the scenery.

• Accomodation:

3*: Hacienda Cusco Plaza, Rumi Punku or Maytaq Wasin
4*: Wyndham Costa del Sol, Novotel or Casa Andina Premium

• Meals:

Breakfast (Hotel)

DAY 4: RAINBOW MOUNTAIN & RED VALLEY.

And early start with your trip beginning around 4:00 AM from your hotel reception. Drive 3½ hours through the Andes to the trailhead. Stop along the way for a wonderful filling hearty breakfast before arriving at Llaqto our trailhead, located at 4600m/14300ft.

Make sure you are dressed warmly for the cold morning weather, which is colder than Cusco. Start the hike with a 1½ hour walk to reach the highest point. There will be the opportunity to rent horses if you want to make your journey easier. While hiking, you see the spectacular surrounding environment, pass South American Camelids, and other species in their natural habitat.

Upon arrival, be mesmerized by the outstanding views. We will give you a bit of time to explore on your own, walk around and capture those treasured photos. From the top of Rainbow Mountain, enjoy gorgeous views of the highest mountain in Cusco, Ausangate. With your guide discuss highlights of Inca history. The quietness of being next to the highest mountain in Cusco Ausangate is simply magical.

After marveling at the views, we’ll hike down for 1 hour and then drive back to Cusco for around 3 1/2 hours, we expect to arrive by 5:00 pm.

• Meals:

Breakfast, Lunch