DAY 1

Your epic Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu tour kicks off with an early morning transfer from your cozy hotel in Cusco. We’ll embark on a scenic 45-minute drive to the picturesque Chinchero, nestled in the breathtaking Sacred Valley of the Incas.

Chinchero:

Home to renowned Andean textile weavers, we’ll begin our adventure with a short stop at a local weaving center. You’ll witness the fascinating process of extracting wool from Llamas and Alpacas, and then observe the skilled artisans as they meticulously transform that raw material into their renowned handicrafts.

After this captivating experience, our knowledgeable guide will take you on a tour of the Inca site, where a whitewashed church now stands. During the Inca civilization, Pachacutec, the mighty Inca emperor, built his summer palace here, only to be torn down during the Spanish conquest. The church you’ll see today was erected on the remains of that once-grand structure.

Among all the sites in the Sacred Valley, Chinchero boasts the most fertile soil. Here, you’ll gain insight into the innovative farming methods employed by the ingenious Incas.

Moray:

Our next stop on this unforgettable tour will be the nearby village of Moray, home to the intriguing circular farming terraces dug deep into the earth. These terraces feature different levels, each with its own unique temperature.

The Incas ingeniously used this as an agricultural laboratory to determine the optimal weather conditions needed to grow various crops.

Maras Salt Mines:

Continuing our Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu tour, we’ll visit the renowned and most photographed Salt Mines. These geometric pools, built on the slope of a hill, have been in existence since the Pre-Inca times.

Salt farmers here continue the traditional Solar Evaporation method, allowing natural spring water from nearby hot springs to flow into these pools. They then wait patiently for the water to evaporate, leaving behind crystals of salt that are manually harvested.

The salt here boasts a distinct pinkish hue and a unique taste.

Urubamba:

Once you’ve had your fill of these alluring sites, we’ll drive to Urubamba. Here, we’ll stop at a local restaurant to savor a delightful buffet lunch. These restaurants are owned and managed by local farmers, ensuring you’ll relish a farm-fresh meal.

Ollantaytambo:

After lunch, we’ll whisk you away to Ollantaytambo, the former administrative capital of the Incas. This beautiful town is snugly tucked between two hills, each home to an Inca ruin. We’ll visit the temple of the Incas here.

This architecturally stunning place was sacred to the Incas. We’ll explore the remains of the main plaza and some ceremonial sites. This was the very site of the infamous battle of Ollantaytambo, where Manco Inca and Hernando Pizarro, the Spanish conquistador, clashed in 1531.

Although the Incas emerged victorious, fearing a stronger attack, they abandoned this place and sought asylum in Vilcabamba, deep in the Peruvian jungle.

Aguas Calientes:

After our Sacred Valley tour, we’ll drive you to the Ollantaytambo train station, where you’ll board the tourist train bound for Aguas Calientes.

The one-and-a-half-hour ride offers breathtaking views of snow-capped peaks as the train winds its way through remote villages, descending into the Amazon basin where Aguas Calientes lies.

Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, our friendly representative will greet you and escort you to your comfortable en-suite hotel room for the night.