Adventure Magical tour at Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu

Depart Cusco this morning and head to the Urubamba Valley, known as the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

Explore the ancient ruins of Pisac, perched on a hill high above the valley and featuring some of the finest Inca stonework in existence, as well as beautiful, sweeping terraces that perfectly highlight the contours of the mountain terrain. Hike down through the ruins and then along a network of stairs, tunnels, and walkways down to the town of Pisac. Enjoy lunch at Hacienda Huayoccari, a gorgeous gem hidden in the lush fields of the Sacred Valley, then drive the short distance to the hotel to check-in. Dinner this evening is at the hotel.

Accommodation: Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba, Sacred Valley
Meals: Breakfast , Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, depart for the ultimate foodie experience in Chinchero!
Agricultural Engineer Manuel Choqque researches and experiments with native potatoes and tubers to improve their nutritional composition and produces a wide variety of colors, flavors, and textures that grab the culinary world's attention. He welcomes you privately for a fascinating presentation about his work, as well as a chance to taste traditional uchucuta sauce made out of Peruvian hot peppers and his surprisingly delicious Andean tuber and potato wines. Also, learn how traditional Andean textiles are made during a special demonstration and stroll through Chinchero's lively weekly market. We continue to the ancient site of Moray to see its impressive circular terraces that the Incas used as a botanical laboratory. Stop for a memorable lunch prepared by top chefs at UNU.
Visit the salt pans of Maras, where one of the finest salts in the world is extracted. The patchwork effect of hundreds of salt pans in varying shades of white, pink, and beige is wonderfully photogenic—hike from Maras down to Pichingoto, at the bottom of the Sacred Valley.
Return to the hotel in the late afternoon and enjoy the grounds of this contemporary hacienda-style property surrounded by flowers, mountains, and trees.

Accommodation: Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba, Sacred Valley

Meals: Breakfast , Lunch, Dinner

Depart after breakfast and explore the well-preserved ruins of the monumental fortress at Ollantaytambo, one of the few places where the Inca Empire won a significant battle against the Spanish. Also, explore the town, a former Incan settlement that retains fascinating vestiges of Incan town planning. On the way home, stop to see an award-winning ceramicist who uses ancient techniques to create unique pieces of art and sculpture. Enjoy an excellent lunch in Wayra accompanied by a horse show that will be the ideal moment to relax.

Accommodation: Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba, Sacred Valley
Meals: Breakfast , Lunch, Dinner

Ride a classic Vistadome train up the narrowing gorge of the Urubamba River, disembarking at kilometer 104.
Then, begin your half-day hike along the Inca Trail to the lost citadel of Machu Picchu. Stop first to visit the small Incan site of Chachabamba, then start to climb upwards, emerging into a lovely cloud forest and past a waterfall to the ruins of Wiñay Wayna. Continue ascending ancient stone steps and the narrow trail up Intipunku, the original entrance to Machu Picchu. Pause to absorb the incredible view, then follow the trail to Machu Picchu, arriving mid-afternoon. Continue by shuttle bus to Aguas Calientes and relax at the hotel for the rest of your day.
(One-Day Inca Trail passes have been secured for all of you, but if you change your mind, let your guide know a day or two prior if you prefer to skip the hike, continue by train, and explore Aguas Calientes on your own in the afternoon).

Accommodation: Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, Aguas Calientes
Meals: Breakfast , Lunch, Dinner

Enter the awe-inspiring ruins of Machu Picchu by morning light. First, take a challenging climb up Machu Picchu Mountain (confirmed for 8:00 am start time) and be rewarded by breathtaking views of the citadel and the surrounding mountains. We return to the citadel and take a highly informative tour of the site's main structures and learn about their importance in the lives of the Incas. Enjoy lunch, then return to the hotel to relax, join an excursion, or stroll the lush gardens, including the world's most extensive native orchid collection with 372 species.

Accommodation: Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, Aguas Calientes

Meals: Breakfast , Lunch, Dinner

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast, with time for a short local hike or relaxing at the hotel. Mid-morning, catch the Vistadome train back to Ollantaytambo, arriving around noon. Enjoy a traditional Pachamanca lunch of poultry, potatoes, and vegetables cooked underground with hot stones according to a technique that has lived on since the Incan Empire. You are in for a unique experience! After lunch, continue back to Cusco and check in to the hotel. In the evening, explore Cusco before a festive farewell dinner at one of the city's best restaurants.

Accommodation: Casa Cartagena, Cusco

Meals: Breakfast , Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast at the hotel and a leisurely morning, depart on homeward-bound flights.

Meals: Breakfast