Machu Picchu Adventure: 8-Day Historical & Cultural Experience in Peru

Machu Picchu Adventure: 8-Day Historical & Cultural Experience in Peru 8 Days

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Machu Picchu Adventure: 8-Day Historical & Cultural Experience in Peru
Machu Picchu Adventure: 8-Day Historical & Cultural Experience in Peru
Machu Picchu Adventure: 8-Day Historical & Cultural Experience in Peru
Machu Picchu Adventure: 8-Day Historical & Cultural Experience in Peru
Machu Picchu Adventure: 8-Day Historical & Cultural Experience in Peru
Machu Picchu Adventure: 8-Day Historical & Cultural Experience in Peru
Machu Picchu Adventure: 8-Day Historical & Cultural Experience in Peru
Machu Picchu Adventure: 8-Day Historical & Cultural Experience in Peru
Machu Picchu Adventure: 8-Day Historical & Cultural Experience in Peru
Machu Picchu Adventure: 8-Day Historical & Cultural Experience in Peru
Machu Picchu Adventure: 8-Day Historical & Cultural Experience in Peru
Machu Picchu Adventure: 8-Day Historical & Cultural Experience in Peru
Machu Picchu Adventure: 8-Day Historical & Cultural Experience in Peru

Overview
Itinerary
Nuts & Bolts
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Overview

Highlights

Duration: 8 Days
Comfort: Moderate%
Language: English
Rating: 0%
Trip ID: 126974
Start Location: Monserrate, Peru
End Location: Monserrate, Peru

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Primary Activities: Local Culture & Cuisine, History
Other Activities: Hiking, Rafting, Historical Sites, museum, sightseeing, train, church, ancient ruins, Machu Picchu
Activity Level: Intermediate

Get acquainted with the wonders of the Incas in this exhilarating introduction to Peru. Embrace cultures past and present in the hills surrounding Cuzco and delight in the amazing views of the Sacred Valley as you travel by rail to Machu Picchu. Taking the train will allow you lots of time to explore ruins, museums and markets. With years of experience, we employ the best local guides, so that you’re free to enjoy the beauty of the region.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Lima: Arrive in Lima at any time. As your fellow travellers are arriving at various times throughout the day, there are no planned activities other than a group dinner and info session. Check into our hotel and enjoy the city. Look in the hotel lobby for notices on when and where the group meeting will occur.

Peru is frequently referred to as the 'Land of the Incas'. It is true that the Incas formed the greatest empire on the continent and left mysterious cities such as Machu Picchu. However, it is important to remember that the Incas were the only the last in a long series of Peruvian civilizations spanning several thousand years and the ruins of many of these earlier civilizations can also be visited. Peru is made up of three main geographical areas: the Andes, the Amazon and the desert coastal area. On this trip we concentrate on the Andes region of south-central Peru, and the ancient Inca capital of Cuzco.

Known as the City of Kings, Peru’s capital city Lima was founded by Francisco Pizarro on the Day of the Three Kings (Epiphany) in 1535. The Plaza de Armas is the heart of old Lima, and it is here you find the Cathedral, Government Palace and Archbishop’s Palace. The Cathedral dates back to the 1700s and houses the remains of the conquistador Pizarro. To get a feel for colonial Lima, take a cab to the Plaza de Armas and watch the changing of the Palace Guard in the afternoon. Walk the streets surrounding the Jirón de la Unión for great examples of Spanish-colonial architecture and to get a taste for life in a large South American city. An optional city tour visits many of the city’s highlights.

There are many fine museums in and around the city, including the Museo Rafael Larco Herrera, which houses an equally impressive collection of pottery, mummies and textiles from the Paracas and Nazca cultures. The more affluent districts of Miraflores, Barranco and San Isidro, which are on the coast, offer good nightlife and cafés all within walking distance. Limeños (Lima’s residents) are friendly, and the city is filled with excellent restaurants; seafood lovers in particular should be sure to try a ceviche, for which Lima is well known.
Day 2: Cuzco: Fly to Cuzco and start exploring the capital of the Inca empire.

Cuzco is the continent’s oldest continuously inhabited city, and the hub of the South American travel network. The city attracts travellers who come not just to visit a unique destination but also to experience an age-old culture very different from their 20th century way of life; one could easily spend a week just in and around the area. Inca-built stone walls line most of the central streets and you don't have to go far to see other major Inca ruins. It is a city steeped in history, tradition and legend.

Every year Cuzco attracts thousands of travellers who come to delve into its noble but tragic past. It is the perfect base for optional explorations around the city and area as well as a range of outdoor activities. Relax and explore this fascinating city, and take time to acclimatize to the high altitude.

Cuzco’s numerous colonial churches are one of the city’s most common sights. The Cathedral was started in 1559 and took 100 years to build; it is also one of the city’s greatest repositories of colonial art. Immediately in front of the entrance is a vault containing the remains of the famous Inca historian, Garcilaso de la Vega. Also worth visiting are the churches of La Compañía, La Merced and San Francisco.

While most ruins are just outside of the city, the main ruin within is that of the Coricancha, once the Inca Empire's richest temple. Today the ruin forms the base of the colonial church of Santo Domingo. During Inca times this temple was literally covered with gold, but within months of the arrival of the first conquistadors this incredible wealth had all been melted down. It is left to the individual imagination to envision the magnificence of the original structure.

There are several good museums in Cuzco, including the Archaeological Museum, which also houses a small art museum, the Regional History Museum and the Religious Art Museum. Our best advice for exploring Cuzco is to wear a comfortable pair of shoes, arm yourself with a city map and set off to explore!

Approximate Distance: 572km
Estimated Travel Time: 2.20 hours
Day 3: Sacred Valley / Ollantaytambo: Travel with our local guide through the Sacred Valley of the Incas. An important source of food for the Inca, the Sacred Valley is a lush agricultural region that continues to supply the city of Cuzco with much of its produce. Visit the impressive Pisac ruins and the colourful artisan market (market days only). The day trip finishes in the picturesque village of Ollantaytambo, site of another large Inca ruin. Here we catch our breath and prepare for the hike ahead.

Ollantaytambo is one of the best examples of an Inca town. The town and fortress of Ollantaytambo are strategically situated overlooking the beautiful Urubamba River Valley. This major ruin site is known as the best surviving example of Inca urban planning and engineering. It is admired for its huge steep terraces guarding the Inca Fortress and for being one of the few places where the Spanish lost a major battle during the conquest.

Approximate Distance: 95km
Estimated Travel Time: 2.30 hours
Day 4-5: Aguas Calientes / Machu Picchu / Cuzco: Board a morning train that winds through the spectacular Urubamba Valley to the end of the line: the village of Aguas Calientes, a frontier town nestled in the hills beneath Machu Picchu. Enjoy the rest of the day taking advantage of the hikes and hot springs in the area.

Early wakeup on Day 5 to take the bus up to the historic spiritual centre of the Incas, the "Lost City" of Machu Picchu. Tour the ruins with our expert guide, explore on your own or hike up spectacular Wayna Picchu to get away from the crowds. In the evening return by train to Ollantaytambo or Poroy and will then be transferred by van to Cusco.

Machu Picchu is both the best and the least known of the Inca ruins. It is not mentioned in any of the chronicles of the Spanish conquistadors and archaeologists today can do no more than speculate on its function. The local Quechua farmers in the area knew of Machu Picchu for centuries, but it was not until an 11-year-old boy led the American historian Hiram Bingham (who was in search of Vilcabamba) to the site on July 24, 1911, that the rest of the world became aware of its existence. At that time the site was covered in thick vegetation, and Bingham and his team returned in 1912 and 1915 to clear the growth. Over the years, much work has been done on excavating and studying the site. Despite these efforts, many unanswered questions remain.

Ollantaytambo to Aguas Callientes
Approximate Distance: 30km
Estimated Travel Time: 4.15 hours

Aguas Callientes to Cuzco
Approximate Distance: 118km
Estimated Travel Time: 3.15 hours
Day 6: Cuzco: Enjoy a free day in Cuzco to explore the many sights, museums and restaurants that the city has to offer. Active options include rafting, biking or simply relax and enjoy the city.

Note: If you have pre-booked the Peru Culinary Theme Pack, your Cuzco cooking class will be today and the Lima cooking class will be on day 8 (departure day). As this pack does not include extra on-trip time in Lima, it is necessary to bundle it with a pre- or post-trip stay.
Day 7 Cuzco / Lima: Transfer to the airport and fly back to Lima for a free final evening on the town.
Day 8: Lima: Depart from Lima.

Nuts & Bolts

Trip Includes

Guided tour of Sacred Valley, Guided tour of Machu Picchu.
Hotels (7 nts).
Public bus, boat, train, plane
Chief Experience Officer (CEO) in Lima, local guide in Cuzco and at Machu Picchu.

Trip Excludes

Visas
Tipping
Travel insurance
Fees for Optional Activities
Personal expenses
No meals included. (Allow USD180-280 for meals not included.)

Trip ID#: 126974

CANCELLATIONS: 20% cancellation fee applied if cancelled 60 days prior to departure. Cancellations within 60 days are 100% non-cancelable

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