Machu Picchu and Sacred Valley

This spectacular tour begins with a pick-up your hotel at 8:00 a.m. followed by an immediate departure for the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Our first stop is 25 minutes away at Aguana Pampa (known for its fabrics and textiles) where we’ll be able to see the four members of the South American camelid family: llama, alpaca, vicuña, and huanaco. There will be a demonstration of the methods, handed down from generation to generation, used to process the wool of these animals and produce such vibrant colors in the textiles. We then head towards Pisac, a town which will provide us with our first awe-inspiring view of the entire Sacred Valley. We’ll visit Pisac’s archaeological center, where you’ll be amazed by the abundance of structures, including temples, housing and terraces used for agriculture. We’ll also visit Pisac’s picturesque town center and artisanal market, full of magic and color. After a lunch of typical regional food in a restaurant, we head to Ollantaytambo, known today as the only continuously-inhabited Incan city. With its narrow streets and cobbled-stone paths, it hosts one of the signature monumental complexes of the Incan Empire. After our visit to Ollantaytambo, depending on the schedule of the trains, we’ll board the tourist train to Aguas Calientes. When we arrive, a transfer will be waiting to take us to our hotel. There will then be free time to explore the city or take a dip in the hot springs. Later that night, our guide will come to your hotel to provide all the necessary details for the following day’s tour of Machu Picchu.

You will begin the journey on the most important day of the tour early in the morning. This can be organised with your guide depending on your preference. If you choose to leave around 5:00am, the early arrival to the gates of the site gives you the opportunity to watch the glorious sunrise over one of the great Wonders Of The World. Depending on what time you decide you will take a licensed bus to the main gates, where your 2-hour tour will begin. Your guide will provide information on the most important structures and temples of Machu Picchu. This is followed by a period of free time to explore on your own and engage with the mystery that shrouds these ancient ruins. Once it is time to return home, you will take the train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo and onwards to Cusco by bus.