CUSCO, THE NAVEL OF THE WORLD

Morning departure by private vehicle with your English-speaking guide. A short drive of just a few kilometers will take you to the heights above Cusco.

You will begin your tour with the visit of Tambomachay, a complex dedicated to Unu, the deity of water. The site is made up of small waterfalls and channels through which the waters of youth and fertility are said to flow.

You will then visit Puka Pukara, an important military control center guarding access to the city of Cusco. Its name means “red fortress”.

From there, you will continue your journey on foot, descending towards Cusco through a small valley surrounded by fields. You will reach the site of Q’enqo, whose name means “labyrinth” or “zigzag labyrinth”. This temple was once dedicated to Pachamama, Mother Earth.

Your tour will end with the visit of the impressive remains of Saqsaywaman. This imposing construction of megalithic stones was once the main temple of Hanan Qosqo, the “Upper Cusco”, translated into Spanish as “the head of the puma”. In the 16th century, Cusco was indeed laid out in the shape of a puma, and Saqsaywaman stood at the level of its head.

Your walk will finish at Cusco’s Plaza de Armas.

Free afternoon to explore the imperial city at your own pace. You may visit the Cathedral, the Qoricancha Temple or the colorful San Pedro Market, an excellent way to fully immerse yourself in Cusco’s vibrant culture.

In the morning, departure by private transport towards the high plateau of Chinchero. Along the way, you will enjoy beautiful landscapes made up of cultivated fields and traditional Andean villages. Visit Chinchero and discover the Inca town, its districts, terraces and sacred temples, as well as the Spanish colonial church built on the foundations of an ancient Inca temple.

After this visit, you will continue to Moray, which at first sight resembles an amphitheatre made up of several terraces arranged in concentric circles. In reality, it was an Inca agricultural research centre, designed to reproduce a series of microclimates imitating different ecosystems and ecological zones.

You will then continue by vehicle to the Maras salt mines, hundreds of salt ponds worked by hand since pre-Columbian times. These ponds are fed by two springs with a very high concentration of sodium chloride. From the viewpoint, you will be able to admire this unique spectacle, a remarkable example of human ingenuity: an open-air salt extraction site located at more than 3,000 metres above sea level.

In the afternoon, you will take the train from Ollantaytambo station to Machu Picchu Pueblo, also known as Aguas Calientes, without your guide.

Upon arrival in Machu Picchu Pueblo, transfer to your hotel and check-in.

Lunch included in the Sacred Valley. Dinner at leisure.

Your guide will accompany you as far as Ollantaytambo. The visit to Machu Picchu the following day will be led by a local resident guide.

Visit of Machu Picchu, the “Lost City of the Incas”, with a private French-speaking guide / Train to Ollantaytambo without a guide

“Machu Picchu is a journey towards the serenity of the soul, towards eternal fusion with the cosmos. There, we feel our own fragility. It is one of the greatest wonders of South America. A haven of butterflies at the epicentre of the great circle of life. One more miracle.”
Pablo Neruda

Early in the morning, at the time agreed with your guide, you will take the bus up to the site of Machu Picchu, which overlooks the valley from a height of 400 metres. The landscapes here are completely different from those you will have seen before, and the setting in which this ancient urban centre was built is truly extraordinary. The mist and the light of sunrise make the place even more impressive.

Archaeology and colonial chronicles have taught us a great deal, but many discoveries still remain to be made. Your guide will help you gain a deeper understanding of what this mysterious city may have been like during the Inca period. Two and a half hours are dedicated to the visit of the site.

You will enjoy every moment at Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983.

You will then return to Machu Picchu Pueblo, either on foot or by bus, depending on your pace.

In the afternoon or early evening, depending on the train schedule confirmed at the time of booking, you will take the train to Ollantaytambo without a guide.

Upon arrival in Ollantaytambo, you will make your own way to the hotel, located on the avenue leading from the train station.

Meals at leisure.

Optional ascent of Machu Picchu Mountain or Huayna Picchu. Please let us know in advance, as these entrance tickets are subject to strict quotas set by the Ministry of Culture. Not recommended for travellers who suffer from vertigo.

Departure with your guide at the agreed time.

You will visit the ruins of Ollantaytambo, home to some of the finest Inca constructions, with gigantic stone blocks brought from a distant hillside more than 15 kilometres away. This archaeological site was one of the major urban centres built to ensure political, social and economic control over the fertile Urubamba Valley, better known as the Sacred Valley.

You will then leave Ollantaytambo and continue to Pisaq, where you will visit the ruins and the handicraft market. You will discover the extraordinary agricultural complex of the area, facing east in order to provide the crops with maximum sunlight.

After lunch, the tour continues towards the Awana Kancha centre, a specially designed complex where you will find many camelids, including llamas, alpacas and vicuñas. This will be a great opportunity to get close to these Andean animals.

Return to Cusco in the middle of the afternoon. The rest of the day will be free for you to enjoy Cusco at your own pace.