7-Day Peru Inca Tour from Cusco with Machu Picchu and Palcoyo

7 Days Duration

Experiences

About This Tour

Journey through Cusco and the Sacred Valley as you explore ancient Inca streets, vibrant local markets, and remarkable archaeological sites such as Tambomachay,...

Duration: 7 Days · Tour type: Private · Activity level: Moderate · Accommodation: Included · Standard · Transport: Included · Wheelchair access: Not applicable · Cities: Cusco, Lima, Machu Picchu, Ausangate, Urubamba, Písac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, Moray · Languages: English, Spanish

Know before you go: Recommendations for the weather.; Seasons below the equator are the reverse of those in the north. Summer in the lower part of South America runs from November to April, and winter from May to October. Nevertheless, the weather in the highlands is like the Northern Hemisphere, which means that in Cusco City, Puno, and Puerto Maldonado (Amazon), the dry season runs from May to October.; The tourist season in Peru runs from May through October, which corresponds to the dry season in the Sierra and jungle.; In the Sierra, expect rain between November and April, especially from January through March. During the rest of the year, the weather is dry, and temperatures are changeable.; The sun can be hot, but it is refreshingly cool in the shade. Nights are chilly, and the temperature may drop to freezing. Temperatures during Cusco's dry months average 0°C (32°F) / 22°C (71°F).; Drinking lots of water helps control altitude issues.

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What's Included

All private transportation for all tours, including trains, buses, and private cars
Entrance tickets for 11 places: Sacsayhuaman, Q'enqo, Tambomachay, Puka Pukara, Qorikancha, Pisaq, Ollantaytambo, salt mines, Moray, Machupicchu, and Rainbow Mountain
Hotels for 6 nights
Meals: 6 breakfasts and 3 lunches
English-speaking local guides

Not Included

Domestic flights
International flights
Services not mentioned in the itinerary
Early check-in or late check-out at hotels
Tips for guides, crew staff, and drivers
Expenditure of a personal nature
Personal insurance
Optional activities

Itinerary

1

Day 01

Arrival in Cusco and Walking Tour

Your guide will pick you up from the airport and take you to your hotel in Cusco. You will arrive in the morning or afternoon in Cusco City, at 3,450 m (11,320 ft). Your first day is an excellent opportunity to explore the town, where history is alive. You will enjoy a relaxing walking tour and visit Cusco's central square, the main square of the Inca Empire, known as "Haukaypata." Then, you will walk through Inca streets that showcase masterful Inca masonry. You will enter the local market of San Pedro, where your five senses can enjoy the variety of local aromas. After this experience, you will return to your hotel. Overnight in Cusco. Check-in at the hotel - 14:00
2

Day 02

Cusco Inca Sites Tour

You will start this tour at 8:00 am and visit four Inca remains. You will be picked up from your hotel and driven for 15 minutes from Cusco City to Tambomachay. There, you will see a temple devoted to water, where the Inkas showed their gratitude to this vital element of life. Then you will continue to Puka Pukara, a checkpoint used to control all the people arriving in Qosqo (Cusco) from the Sacred Valley. Afterwards, you will drive to Qenqo, a natural rocky outcrop where the Inkas found a tunnel and used it for ceremonies and the mummification process. Your next stop will be Sacsayhuaman, the most significant Inca construction site. This vast complex was built for more than 20,000 people by order of the Inka Pachakuteq. You will spend more time walking through its three levels before driving back to Cusco City. After the tour, you will have a free afternoon to explore and enjoy the beauty of this wonderful city. Overnight in Cusco.
3

Day 03

Sacred Valley to Aguas Calientes

You will be picked up from your hotel and driven to Pisaq town in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Along the Rio Urubamba, the Sacred Valley begins at Pisaq, about 30 km (18 mi) northeast of Cusco, and ends 60 km (36 mi) northwest of Pisaq at Ollantaytambo. The Urubamba begins its abrupt descent toward the Amazon basin. On the way to the Sacred Valley, you will have two main stops. The first stop will be at the Sacred Valley lookout point, where you will pause for photos and a short explanation. Then you will continue to the Inca site of Pisaq, where you will explore an Inka city. Afterwards, you will return to your private car and drive to the Chichubamba community in Urubamba town, where you will visit a local house and have lunch. After your local lunch, you will visit Ollantaytambo Inka and enjoy a beautiful view. Then, you will go to the train station and take the train to Aguas Calientes town, where you will spend the night. Overnight in Aguas Calientes.
4

Day 04

Machu Picchu Exploration

You will visit Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. This Inka city has survived for more than 500 years. For two hours, you will walk through this wonderful city, visiting its most important temples and discovering the secrets of its construction. After your visit, you will take the bus back to Aguas Calientes, where you will have time for lunch at a local restaurant. You will then go to the train station to take your tourist train to Ollantaytambo and walk to your hotel in Ollantaytambo town. Overnight in Ollantaytambo.
5

Day 05

Moray, Salt Mines, and Chinchero

You will visit the other side of the Sacred Valley. You will be picked up from your hotel and driven for 30 minutes to your first Inka site, Moray. Here, you will learn about Inka agriculture and enjoy a wonderful view. You will drive for another 30 minutes to visit the salt mines, where you will see more than 4,000 salt ponds on the mountainside and admire the beautiful landscape. After your photos and explanation, you will drive to Chinchero and visit the community of Ocutuan. Here, local people will teach you the Inka technique they still use to dye alpaca and llama wool, and you will enjoy lunch cooked with products from the community. You will then take your private car back to Cusco. Overnight in Cusco.
6

Day 06

Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain Adventure

At 05:30, you will be picked up from your hotel in Cusco City (3,400 m). You will drive for 1.5 hours to Cusipata Town, where you will make your first stop and have time to use the toilet. You will drive for another 1.5 hours to reach the Palcoyo community, the highlight of the hike. When the god Viracocha built the Andes Mountains, he did not forget that they were part of nature's beauty and gave them colour. Peru's rainbow mountains of Palcoyo offer some of the world's most wonderful and unique scenery. You will drive through villages, see farmland with potatoes and corn, spot alpacas, and enjoy views of the Red River. Once you arrive at Palcoyo Community, where your adventure begins, you will walk for 1 hour to the lookout point at 4,900 m. From here, you will appreciate three rainbow mountains, panoramic views of the Red Valley, and Ausangate snow mountain, the highest mountain in Cusco. Then, you will walk for 20 minutes to the "Bosque de Piedras" Stone Forest. After enjoying all this beautiful scenery, you will walk back to your private car, go to a local restaurant for lunch, and then head back to Cusco City. Overnight in Cusco.
7

Day 07

Departure from Cusco

Your adventure in the land of the Inkas comes to an end, and you will have your transfer to the airport for your flight back to Lima. If you want to explore and enjoy more of Cusco City, we recommend booking your flight after 4:00 pm so you can enjoy more of this beautiful city.