Upon arrival in Cusco, you will be transferred to your hotel and will have the rest of the morning free to acclimate.   In the afternoon, a combined city and nearby ruins tour will educate you on the history of this astonishing town, while visiting its Incan and Colonial monuments.  All meals on your own. Overnight in Cusco hotel.

Half Day Bike in Cusco heights

Pick up from your hotel for a 15 minutes ride to the starting point of this short  biking adventure. The Yuncaypata trail starts high above Cusco and drops more than one thousand feet down to the spectacular capital of the Incan Empire.  We will ride across native forests and archaeological remains with great views of Cusco city. After enjoying a nutritious snack, and plenty of drinking water, we will head back to Cusco.  Rest of the afternoon free.  Overnight in Cusco hotel.  Lunch and Dinner on your own.  B/SK

Moray & Maras

Pick up from your hotel in a private vehicle to be driven to the village of Chinchero, where we start our cross country bike ride. Passing the lagoon of Huaypo we´ll arrive at the Archaeological Park of Moray, a pre-Columbian agricultural laboratory, were we will appreciate a perfect union between archaeology and nature. This part of the ride is very attractive because of its permanent ups and downs. Continuing our trip, we arrive at Maras where a tasty picnic will be waiting for us.  After lunch, we continue riding to the salt pans below Maras and then head downhill  for approximately 40 minutes to the Sacred Valley (Pichingoto, Tarabamba), where we end our exuberating day ride. Our transport will take us to our hotel in the Sacred Valley.  Breakfast, lunch & dinner included. B/L/D

Lares Mountain Pass and Calca

After breakfast, we travel for about an hour and a half to the pass leading to the valley of Lares, where we will start our bike ride heading east, in the direction of the cloud forest. Mostly downhill, we will bike along a clear dirt road and its shortcuts, which will take us to the village of Lares. We will enjoy an amazing descent, with a view of Mt. Pitusiray through a large pine forest, as we follow the meandering stream of Acchahuata. Picnic lunch on route and eventual arrival to our campsite, in the middle of a narrow and misty Valley, were we will enjoy of the medicinal and relaxing Hot Springs as well as of a nutritious dinner. B/L

After packing up our camp and taking an additional dip in the hot springs, the bus will take us back to the pass to start a moderate but exiting downhill bike ride back to the Sacred Valley. The route goes through the remains of an ancient Inca trail as well as through narrow shepherd tracks. Start discovering potato farms in the high altitude, and continue along the steep “Rio Ccocho”, crossing bush forests and adobe brick house settlements, before arriving to Calca. The approximate duration of the bike ride is four hours.  Transfer to your hotel in the Sacred Valley. Breakfast & lunch included.  B/L

Transfer from your hotel to the Ollanta train station to board an early train. The train rides downstream along the Sacred Valley.  As the Valley becomes a canyon the cloud forest begins to appear with a marked vegetation change as you get into the Machu Picchu Sanctuary.  We will get off the train at km 104 and cross the Urubamba River through a hanging bridge to reach the archeological site of Chachabamba, where we begin a three hour ascent trek to the ruins of Wiñay-Wayna, an important spiritual site. Along the way we will find local flora and fauna, like bromeliads, orchids, humming birds and other native species. After visiting Wiñay Wayna, we will enjoy our boxed lunch and then start walking again until the Inca Trail cuts across the ridge above Machu Picchu to finally reach Intipunku, the sun gate, from where the trail winds downhill.  The view of the lost citadel located right above the Urubamba River will be a unique experience; it is the most exquisite way to see Machu Picchu for the first time. After arriving we will take the bus down to Machu Picchu pueblo, formerly known as Aguas Calientes for dinner (on your own) and a night´s rest in a Hotel.  B/L

After an early breakfast, we return on  a half hour bus ride up to Machu Picchu for a guided visit through different sectors of the hill-top citadel, with astonishing views, listening to stories that will take you back in time.

You have the opportunity for an in depth tour of this world renowned site before returning to Cusco, giving you a chance to experience the spectacular views without other tourists in your pictures.  Optional hike up to the top of Wayna Picchu (Young Mountain) has to be previously booked at an extra cost.  Lunch included.  Return by train to Cusco.  Dinner on your own.  B/L

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Lima or to continue with an extension program. Assistance can be provided.  B