6 Day Cusco Tour Machu Picchu Sacred Valley and Humantay Lagoon

Overview

Day by day itinerary

1. 1Arrival in Cusco and City Tour⌄

   It will be a pleasure to welcome you to the imperial city of Cusco (3,399 m / 11,151 ft). This day we will be attentive to your arrival at the airport or bus terminal, ready to assist you in your transfer to your hotel. The city of Cusco, located in the heart of the Andes, requires adequate acclimatization before starting any adventure. Therefore, we will dedicate this first day to enjoy the city while your body adapts to the altitude.

   In the afternoon, after your accommodation in the hotel, we will start the tour of the Cusco City Tour visiting the Qoricancha (3,390 m / 11,122 ft), considered in times of the Inca Empire as one of the holiest places dedicated to the god Inti, the Sun. Its walls and passageways tell stories of a glorious past that still lives on its walls.

   We will continue to Sacsayhuaman (3,700 m / 12,139 ft), an archaeological site that, for its monumental architecture, was considered a ceremonial fortress. Its huge stone walls, perfectly fitted, are a clear example of the talent and precision of the Inca builders.

   Then we will visit Qenqo, a rock-cut ceremonial center where important religious rituals are believed to have been performed. Its mysterious passageways and carved sculptures bear witness to the profound symbolism of Inca culture.

   Later we will reach Tambomachay (3,812 m / 12,507 ft), a place known as “Baños del Inca”. Here, water was worshipped through canals, fountains and aqueducts that continue to function after centuries, reflecting the deep respect of the Incas for this vital element.

   Finally, we will explore Pucapucara, a construction that fulfilled defensive and administrative functions. Its strategic location allowed to monitor and control access to the Inca capital, while its reddish walls stand out among the Andean landscape.

2. 2Visit to the Sacred Valley + Chinchero⌄

   Our Sacred Valley Cusco Tour begins with pick-up from your hotel to head towards the Taray Viewpoint. Here we will make a short stop to rest and take pictures of the breathtaking view of the Sacred Valley, a landscape that combines mountains, rivers and farm fields.

   Our next stop will be Pisac, an Inca city located on the highest part of the area. This archaeological site stands out for having the largest agricultural platform system in the Empire, even larger than that of Machu Picchu, and an Inca cemetery on a mountainside, evidence of the great architectural mastery of the Incas. After exploring the complex, we will descend to the village to tour its famous craft market, where you can find textiles, ceramics and pieces of goldsmiths, especially in silver, made with techniques transmitted by generations.

   At the end of the visit to Pisac, we will head to the city of Urubamba to enjoy a buffet lunch. We will have about an hour to taste the local cuisine before continuing our tour.

   We will continue to Ollantaytambo, known as the “Living Inca City” for preserving its original urban layout and ancestral constructions. We will visit its archaeological complex, famous for the agricultural terraces, water channels and the imposing Temple of the Sun. This place had great strategic and military importance for the control of access to Machu Picchu. Note: From Ollantaytambo trains depart to Machu Picchu; if you wish to continue there, you can coordinate with our agents.

   Our last destination will be Chinchero, a picturesque town that houses an important archaeological site and a ceremonial platform. We will also visit its craft center, where a demonstration of ancient textile techniques, the use of natural pigments and traditional tools is made. Note: At the end, you will be able to purchase the garments you want before returning to the city of Cusco.

   Meals: Lunch

3. 3Visit to Machu Picchu Citadel⌄

   The Machu Picchu Tour starts with pick-up in Cusco (4 : 00–4 : 15 am) to travel 2.5 h to Ollantaytambo (2,792 m) and take the train to Aguas Calientes (2,040 m, 1.5 h). There, our staff will meet you (8 :00–8 : 30 am) and you can have breakfast before boarding a bus at the entrance of the Llaqta Machu Picchu. The guided tour of the traditional circuit lasts 2 h, touring the Lower Platform, viewpoint of the Temple of the Sun, Eastern Qolqas, Sacred Rock and Set Water Mirrors. Optionally, you can ascend to Huayna Picchu or Huchuy Picchu with reserved entrance. After the visit, return by bus to Aguas Calientes, with time for lunch, and then by train to Ollantaytambo, from where you return by transport to Cusco, ending near the historic center.

4. 4Visit to the Salineras de Maras and the archaeological center of Moray⌄

   We will start with pickup from your hotel to head on an approximately hour-long journey to Moray, an impressive archaeological complex considered an Inca agricultural laboratory. Its circular terraces, built with great precision, served for the cultivation and experimentation of various products, taking advantage of the variations in temperature in each level. This site is a sample of the advanced agricultural knowledge developed by the Incas.

   Afterwards, we will move to Maras (Villa San Francisco de Asís de Maras), the main salt producer in the region. Here you will learn about the ingenious extraction system inherited from the Incas, which has given fame to this mineral as the “white gold of the Andes”. In Inca and colonial times, this district was a strategic stopover for muleteers transporting tropical products and coca leaves from the high forest to Cusco (Qosqo), a historic role that still resonates with its cultural identity.

5. 5Visit to the Humantay Lagoon⌄

   Very early we will leave Cusco for Mollepata (2,803 m), where we will enjoy breakfast before continuing to Soraypampa (3,880 m), starting point of the hike to the Humantay Lagoon (4,200 m). During the ascent, we will admire the biodiversity and landscapes next to the snowy Salkantay (6,271 m). Upon arrival, we will be impressed with the intense turquoise color of the lagoon, framed by the snowy Humantay. Then we will return by the same route, have lunch at the designated place and return to Cusco.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch

6. 6Transfer to the airport⌄

   Depending on your flight or bus itinerary, you will have the morning off in Cusco to relax, tour the city on your own or take an optional tour. We will be attentive to your flight schedule to transfer you to the airport on time and finish our services. Thanks for choosing us!