Complete Andean Adventure – Machu Picchu & the Magical Andes (7D/6N)

Your adventure begins with your arrival at the Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport. Our assistance team will be waiting in the arrivals area with a personalized sign to welcome you to the historic capital of Peru.

We will immediately provide your private transfer to the selected hotel. During this ride, our staff will provide essential recommendations about acclimatization in Cusco, the Andean climate, and the best places to enjoy a light lunch, ensuring your body adapts perfectly to the altitude (11,152 ft / 3,400 m.a.s.l.).

In the afternoon, we will begin the Cusco City Tour, a deep immersion into Inca and colonial history. We start with pickup from the hotel between 12:30 and 12:40 PM. Our first stop will be Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun), the most important religious precinct of the Tahuantinsuyo. Here you can admire the perfection of Inca architecture in harmony with the colonial Santo Domingo temple.

We will continue the tour toward the outskirts of the city to visit the most imposing monuments in the area:

• Sacsayhuaman: A megalithic fortress with colossal walls representing the ultimate expression of Inca engineering.
• Q’enqo: Ceremonial center and carved rock labyrinth where sacred rites and mummifications were performed.
• Puca Pucara: A reddish-toned military construction that served as a checkpoint along the ancient Inca roads.
• Tambomachay: Known as the “Inca’s Bath,” an archaeological site dedicated to the cult of water with fountains that flow with precision to this day.

We conclude our day by returning to the historic center of Cusco, dropping you off at Plaza Regocijo, a strategic point near the best restaurants and the main plaza.

Our day begins at 6:30 AM with pickup from your hotel or lodging. Once gathered with our professional guide and aboard our transport, we will begin the journey to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, a tour designed for those seeking to discover the most impressive and less conventional treasures of the region.

The first stop will be the picturesque town of Chinchero, where we will visit its archaeological zone and historic colonial church. We will enjoy a cultural tourism experience participating in an ancestral textile workshop, where we will learn the natural process of washing, dyeing, and weaving alpaca wool, just as it was done centuries ago.

We will continue to the Terraces of Moray, an advanced Inca agricultural experimentation center composed of circular terraces that create various microclimates. Then, we will explore the famous Maras Salt Mines, a spectacular complex of over 3,000 white salt pools that have been worked since time immemorial and offer a unique view in the world.

After enjoying a regional buffet lunch in Urubamba, we will head to the imposing Fortress of Ollantaytambo, the last living Inca town. After touring its temples and stone terraces, we will transfer to the Ollantaytambo train station to board the train to Aguas Calientes. This journey will allow you to rest and enjoy the changing landscape toward the cloud forest, arriving at the town of Machu Picchu, where our staff will be waiting. Once gathered, they will take you to your accommodation to spend the night and prepare for the great visit the following day.

Today we will experience the pinnacle of your trip to Peru. After a revitalizing breakfast at your hotel in Aguas Calientes, we will prepare for the ascent. Thanks to having spent the night at the foot of the mountain, you can head to the station to board the Consettur bus, which will take you on a 25-minute ride along the Hiram Bingham route to the main entrance of the sanctuary. By arriving at your assigned entry time, you will enjoy a smoother experience with the best daylight for your photographs.

At the entrance to Machu Picchu, our expert guide will be waiting to begin a tour through the most fascinating areas. We will explore key points such as: the Temple of the Sun and the Temple of the Condor, the Agricultural Zone with its endless terraces, and the Royal Residences and Main Plaza.

During the visit, you will discover the secrets of Inca engineering and the mysticism that surrounds this Modern World Wonder. Having rested in the town, you will have the energy needed to explore every corner of this jewel of pre-Columbian architecture.

At the end of the guided circuit, we will take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo). Here you will have free time to enjoy the local gastronomy at its varied restaurants and explore the colorful artisan market.

In the afternoon, you will head to the train station to board the return train to Ollantaytambo. Upon your arrival at the station, our staff will be waiting in the exit area to accompany you to our transport and provide the final transfer to your hotel in Cusco, thus concluding an epic expedition to the heart of the empire.

After the intensity of the previous days, today you will enjoy a free day in Cusco, ideal for relaxing and immersing yourself in the magical atmosphere of the city at your own pace. Cusco is a living museum, and walking through its cobblestone streets is the best way to discover hidden treasures not always seen on traditional tours.

Recommendations for your day in Cusco:

• Culture: Explore the picturesque San Blas neighborhood, famous for its artisans and cobblestone streets.
• Gastronomy: Visit the San Pedro Market for an authentic local experience and regional product tastings.
• Photography: Walk to the 12-Angle Stone or enjoy a coffee with a view of the Plaza de Armas.
• Shopping: Perfect time to purchase alpaca textiles and high-quality silver jewelry.

Our adventure day begins with pickup directly from your hotel in Cusco between 4:00 and 5:00 AM. We will travel approximately two hours south to Cusipata, where we will stop to enjoy a complete Buffet Breakfast that will provide the energy needed for the altitude. At this point, our bilingual guide will give you detailed instructions on ATV use and safety rules for the route.

After breakfast, we will continue in our transport for two more hours to the Anta area, the starting point of the adventure. Here, each traveler will receive a Honda ATV and protective equipment. The first thing we will do is a driving practice so you feel completely comfortable with the machine. Once ready, we will start engines to drive for 25 minutes along an impressive trail that will take us directly to the Red Valley Viewpoint. This part is key, as the ATV allows us to quickly reach this landscape of terracotta-colored mountains that seems straight out of Mars, saving us hours of exhausting hiking.

Upon reaching the Red Valley area, we will park the ATVs to begin the final stretch on foot. It is a walk of only 30 minutes on a gentle ascent to the summit of the Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca). Being an alternative route started by ATV, you will reach 16,519 ft / 5,036 m.a.s.l. with much less fatigue than the average tourist, allowing you to fully enjoy the view of the Ausangate Glacier.

After taking the necessary time for photos and the guide’s explanation, we will walk back (about 25 minutes) to where we left the ATVs to drive back to the transport. We will conclude the expedition by returning to the restaurant for a well-deserved Buffet Lunch with typical regional dishes. The return to the city of Cusco will be between 4:00 PM and 6:30 PM,

dropping you off at a central point near your hotels for your convenience.

Your experience toward the most sacred mountain of Cusco begins at 4:00 AM with pickup at your hotel or lodging. We will travel to the Cusipata district, where we will make a strategic stop to enjoy a complete Andean Buffet Breakfast, ideal for getting the necessary calories before ascending the high mountain. After this brief rest, we will continue the journey to the Ausangate Estate, the checkpoint where our professional guide will provide trekking poles and deliver the safety briefing, explaining the route in detail to ensure your wellbeing.

Once ready, we will begin a gentle and progressive walk that takes between 40 minutes and one hour. Unlike other long circuits, this trail allows a quick and comfortable approach to the base of the Ausangate Glacier. During this trek, you will be able to observe local wildlife, such as alpacas and vicuñas, surrounded by the impressive contrast of earth-colored mountains and snow-capped peaks. The main destination is the natural viewpoint, from where you will have a privileged view of the Turquoise Lagoons, such as the enigmatic Pucaqocha, whose waters often reflect reddish tones due to the mineral composition of the soil.

For those seeking a deeper connection with the mountain, the tour offers the possibility of continuing an additional ascent to reach the very edge of the glacier. Here, you will have the unique opportunity to touch the ancient ice of Ausangate, an experience that very few travelers get to experience during their visit to the Andes. After enjoying enough time for photographs and the guide’s mystical explanation about the Apus, we will begin the descent to our transport.

To close this expedition day, we return to the restaurant to enjoy a Buffet Lunch with fresh regional products. Finally, we will begin the return trip to the city of Cusco, arriving at the historic center in the afternoon, between 4:00 PM and 4:30 PM, with the satisfaction of having conquered one of the most imposing summits of the Vilcanota mountain range.

After an unforgettable week exploring the treasures of the Inca Empire and the majestic glaciers of the Andes, today your adventure in the imperial city concludes. You will have the morning free, depending on your flight schedule, to enjoy a last Andean breakfast at your hotel, walk through the plazas of the historic center, or make those last-minute purchases of alpaca textiles and local handicrafts.

In strict coordination with your departure flight schedule, our private transport will pick you up at your hotel for the transfer to the Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport. We will ensure you arrive with the necessary advance time for a smooth and hassle-free boarding process.

We say goodbye with the joy of having provided you an authentic and safe experience in the heart of Peru. We hope to see you again soon for a new adventure in the Andes!