Cusco Cathedral

Day Trips

The adventure begins at 1:00 PM with pick up from your Cusco hotel. Discover the Cathedral of Cusco, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, filled with various paintings, carvings, and sculptures, before exploring the Qoricancha Museum, originally an Inca-era temple built to worship the Sun.   An air-conditioned coach will then take the group 2 km from the city center to Sacsayhuaman, a vast complex comprised of 33 archeological sites believed to have been built for military purposes. Next, stop at Qenqo, or “labyrinth”, considered to be a sacred place in which ceremonies were performed in honor of the Sun, the Moon, and the stars.   Traveling 7 km from the city center we find Puca Pucara, a complex of halls, inner plazas, aqueducts, watchtowers, and paths believed to be a military complex and a place for food storage.  After a visit to Tambomachay and its fresh water spring, the tour concludes with a visit to a craft center, where a local guide will tell the story of ancient Incan crafts and how to identify traditional garments made from vicuña wool.  At approximately 7:30 PM, the coach will return to Santa Catalina Street, close to the main square in Cusco.

Day 1: Cusco City Tour   Following a pickup from your hotel between 1:10 PM and 1:25 PM, visit the Cusco Cathedral followed by the the most important temple in the Inca Empire, Qorikancha. Then, board the transport and discover ancient ruins at Saqsayhuaman, Qenko, Puka Pukara, and Tambomachay, enjoying stories and explanations at each point. Return to Cusco around 7:30 PM and make your own way back to your accommodation. Day 2: Maras and Salineras Depart with a pickup from your hotel between 8:25 AM and 8:55 AM and then be on your way to Maras in the Sacred Valley of southeastern Peru, famous for its salt mines and marshes. Situated an hour from Cusco, enjoy an explanation of the town before going to a salt marsh where you'll also have views of the snowy and sacred mountains. Return to Cusco around 3 PM when you will be dropped off at or nearby your hotel. Day 3: Machupicchu All Day On this day you will be picked in the early morning around 3:30 AM from your hotel and transfer to Ollantaytambo where you will board a 6:10 AM train. After a journey of 1.5 hours, you’ll arrive around 8 AM when your guide will be waiting for you and you’ll have some time for breakfast.   Next, with the help of your guide, get on the bus to travel to Machu Picchu where you’ll have time to take pictures and appreciate the wondrous nature and the Inca City. Then, return to Aguas Calientes in your own where you should have time for lunch, taking into account that your train back to Ollantaytambo leaves 6:20 PM. Upon arrival the shared tourist transport will be waiting to take you back to Cusco arriving 10 PM. A car or taxi will then be waiting to take you back to your hotel.

Immerse yourself in ancient Inca culture on this guided tour of Cusco and its surrounding archeological sites. Starting at the impressive Colonial Cathedral, admire over 400 paintings from the Cusqueña old School. Next, head to Qoricancha, the main temple of the Incas, where you can gain an understanding of Inca culture and see how it has fused with Christian culture in Peru. After your tour of the city, head to the Sacsayhuaman archaeological site where you will be amazed by the rocks used for construction, some of which weigh more than 30 tons. Continue your tour with a visit to the underground temple of Qenqo, where you can stroll through a labyrinth of impressive rock carvings and tunnels carved into solid rock. Finally, head to the Tambomachay water temple. Here, admire the architecture of this divine temple dedicated to water, fertility and eternal youth before beginning the journey back to Cusco.