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Cusco Machu Picchu Tour

Cusco Machu Picchu Tour

A mystical sacred city is considered the capital of the Tahuantinsuyo Empire with a great historical and architectural legacy. Surrounded by green valleys with imposing tourist attractions, culture, tradition, and faith are still dormant. Known as the navel of the world for being the political and territorial center of the Inca Empire, the department of Cusco shows a striking geographical variety from natural mountain ranges and reliefs, to rivers like the Urubamba.

The city of Cusco, located in the Andes mountain range at 3 399 m.a.s.l, was declared the Historical Capital of Peru, being an impressive sample of high Inca engineering whose main tool was stone. As well as places like Choquequirao, Sacsayhuaman, Qenko, Tambomachay, Ollantaytambo and especially Machu Picchu, architectural jewels built with the wisdom of the ancient Incas that served as the political, religious and administrative center of the time.

The Machu Picchu Inca citadel, located in the middle of the tropical rainforest, at about 2,430 meters above sea level, was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1981 and a new wonder of the modern world in 2007, it is a fantastic architectural complex built in the time of the Inca Pachacutec in the middle of a great variety of flora and fauna.

The department of Cusco also has several tourist attractions such as the Sacred Valley, considered the center of production of the best grain of corn; the Neighborhood of San Blas, called the Artisans' Quarter because it houses renowned popular artists of the city; Maras, a place that has salt mines that were used since the Incas; Paucartambo, a town that still maintains its ancestral Andean culture.

Cusco Machu Picchu Tour Overview

Sustainable Tourism: At Salkantay Trek Machu, we are happy to promote and practice sustainable tourism and support local communities.

Difficulty Hike: 2 Moderate.

Age Requirements: 2+ (All travelers under the age of 18 years must be accompanied by an adult!).

Crew: Salkantay Trek Machu representative in Cusco and a professional tour guide in Cusco and Machu Picchu.

Accommodation: Hotel*** (3 nights),.

Meals: 2x breakfast, 1x buffet lunch 

Transportation: Tourist transportation and train.

 

Cusco Machu Picchu Itinerary

Day 01: Cusco City Tour

Day 02: Sacred Valley of the Incas / Machu Picchu

Day 03: Machu Picchu

Day 04: Departure Day

 

Cusco is famous for:

The words are not enough to describe Cusco, just visit it and let yourself be trapped by the telluric air that is impregnated in streets and houses combined with history and modernity.

 

Cusco, living city and of continuous settlement in time.

  • Cusco is the ancient capital of one of the most important cultures of Humanity, the Tahuantinsuyo, and today, according to the Political Constitution of the State, is the Historical Capital of Peru. As Angel Avendaño Farfán said in "History of Qosqo Literature": "The Qosqo has the fate of great human forges like Athens, Baghdad, Cairo, Rome, Mexico, Tenochtitlan, Chichicastenango, where a corner is turned you hear the hierarchies of history ... ", adding that Cusco is one of the few heritage cities in the world, where human settlement has been continuous and permanent over time.

Cradle of intellectuals and brave men and women

  • Cusco is the cradle and trainer of personalities that marked a milestone in national history, such as José Gabriel Condorcanqui; Túpac Amaru II, who after completing studies at the San Borja school, initiated the revolutionary feat with repercussions in South America. In this city was also born the Inca Garcilaso de la Vega Chimpu Ocllo, intellectual, famous for his Royal Commentaries, Florida del Inca. Cusco was also the birthplace of María Trinidad Enríquez, the first woman to attend university studies in Peru and South America and the first jurist woman in Peru, also in Cusco, the first worker deputy of Peru, Francisco Gonzales, promoter of the Society of Artisans of Cusco, who left his political life to go to war with Chile, like Ladislao Espinar. They wrote pages of history and important contributions, illustrious sons that if we mentioned them and their works, they would not reach the pages of hundreds of books.

Main monuments of Cusco breathe history and resistance

  • The Cathedral of Cusco that rises majestically in the Main Square as the emblem of Catholicism in Cusco, was the scene of the Manco Inca uprising, between 1536 and 1572, during which the rebels besieged not only the Imperial City, also Lima and Trujillo . Behind this temple is the Major School for children of Inca chieftains, "San Borja", where Tupac Amaru II studied. Also in the main square, is the temple of the Company of Jesus, one of the few Catholic world with three doors and Cathedral level, was the scene of the torture of the great rebel Jose Gabriel Condorcanqui, after his revolution was defeated in May 1781. Seven years before independence, in Cusco, the taking of the city took place almost half a year, between August 1814 and March 1815 by the Angulo brothers and Mateo Pumacahua, who in open rebellion to Spanish power sent expeditions to Arequipa, La Paz and Huamanga, seeking their expulsion. Another place, the University Hall of the National University of San Antonio Abad, a three-hundred-year-old house of studies, was the scene of the first University Reform of America, in 1909, nine years ahead of the reform of the University of San Antonio.

Faith and tradition with intangible heritage come together in Cusco

  • Cusco, also shows catholic temples of fine factory such as San Blas, where the famous pulpit is located, made by indigenous sculptors, in a single piece of cedar, in the baroque style with more than a thousand details; the temple of San Cristobal is the old palace of Manco Capac and is half an hour from the historic center; the temple of La Merced, where not only a beautiful cloister is observed but also houses the famous "Custodia de la Merced", a jewel made of 24 carat gold and inlaid with 1518 diamonds, 615 stones (rubies, topazes and emeralds) and a great pearl in the shape of a mermaid, considered the second largest in the world. Cusco, is a good example of the architectural miscegenation where on Inca construction palaces with gigantic rocks weighing five or more tons each, there are palaces, temples and mansions, one of them is the Palace and Religious Museum built on the Palace of the Inca Roca, in one of its walls there is the Stone of Twelve Angles, in the emblematic Hatun Rumiyoq street; It is also located on Sol avenue. Santo Domingo or the famous Qoricancha, where the Inti Qancha was the principal Temple in the Incas time, one of the most important temples of the Cusco Valley

SUGGESTED TOURS:

Day 01: Cusco City Tour
Detail

Our awaited City Tour in Cusco begins with the pick-up of our passengers from their hotels and then we head to the first place to visit. The Cathedral of the city of Cusco has in its walls artistic treasures of incalculable value, you will be impressed.Then we will visit the temple of Qoricancha (temple of the Sun) the maximum expression of Inca architecture and engineering, nowadays it is also the Santo Domingo convent. We continue with our guided tour to the archaeological center of Sacsayhuaman which means "hawk satisfied" this place highlights the construction with huge blocks of rocks in addition we will have an impressive view of the entire city of Cusco. Now it is time to visit Qenqo, which means a labyrinth or zigzag, where an amphitheater is found in the semicircular part. We continue our tour to Puka Pucara "red fort" which is built with stones of that color tone. Finally, we will visit the Tambomachay archaeological site that was destined to the cult to the water this place is considered also bath of the Inca. Our tour ends at approximately 6:30 p.m.

Day 2: Cusco, Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu tour
Detail

We begin this long-awaited day by picking you up from your respective hotels to start our travel at 7:20 a.m to the Sacred valley, where we will visit the taray viewpoint from where we will have an unparalleled view of the entire Sacred Valley of the Incas, after We will arrive in Pisac where we will visit the artisanal center of said town as well as the archaeological zone, Therefore we will arrive to Urubamba where we will have a well-deserved buffet lunch after having enjoyed the delicious lunch we will go to Ollantaytambo where we will visit the ruins and finally, you will have to board your train to be driven to Aguas Calientes, where our transfer will be waiting to take you to the hotel in Machupicchu. Spend a night.

 

Day 3: Machu Picchu Tour
Detail

Early morning we will board the bus that will take you to the lost city of the Incas. Arrive at inca city and we will start the Machu Picchu tour, you will have a guided tour of 2 hours through the main parts such as the temple of the sun, the three windows, the urban area, etc. At the end of the Machu Picchu tour, you will have time to climb up to Huayna Picchu mountain (at extra cost) or you will have to get off in the bus from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes to enjoy an exquisite lunch (not included). In the afternoon you will take your train to return to Ollantaytambo and our transfer will be waiting for you upon your arrival in Ollantaytambo to bring you to the city of Cusco.

Day 04: Departure day
Detail

Transfer from your hotel to the airport in Cusco.

What is included in this tour to Cusco?
Detail

  • Welcome by our Representative upon arrival;
  • Private transfer from/to Cusco´s airport at arrival and departure;
  • Accommodation: Hotel*** (2 nights) and Hotel in Machu Picchu (1 night);
  • All entrance fees are according to the itinerary;
  • Entrance fee to Machu Picchu;
  • Professional bilingual tour guides; 
  • Meals: 3x breakfast, 1x buffet lunch (during the Sacred Valley Tour); 
  • Tourist transportation during the Cusco Machu Picchu tours and local transfers;
  • A tourist train round trip to Machu Picchu; 
  • A shuttle bus to Machu Picchu (Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Aguas Calientes);
  • Private transportation from Ollantaytambo to Cusco;

 

No Included:
Detail

What to bring?
Detail

Clothes and accessories 

Suggested clothing may vary according to the weather on the day of your trip; we recommend you check the weather forecast; however, know that in Cusco you can go from a clear sky to a heavy rain, in just minutes. We suggest you to carry: 

  • Medium backpack (you can not enter Machu Picchu with a big backpack)
  • Hiking shoes
  • Sunglasses 
  • Hat , to protect from the sun 
  • Detachable pants 
  • Light clothing (Cotton polo shirts, shorts) 
  • Warm clothes (nights are usually cold, especially in the dry season) 
  • Waterproof cover for the backpack. 
  • Waterproof clothing (jacket, water poncho, windbreaker, gloves) 
  • Warm clothes (coat) 
  • Long-sleeve garments (sweaters or sweatshirts)

Basic Accessories 

These elements are quite useful to enjoy your visit. 

  • Enough water to stay hydrated
  • Insect repellent 
  • Protection for the lips 
  • Sunblock with high protection factor 

Electronic Accessories 

We know you will not forget your cell phone, so we will not include it in the list. 

  • Photographic camera 
  • Extra batteries
  • Additional storage memory 
  • Power adapter

Personal Hygiene Accessories

Most of these things can be purchased in Cusco  but you may want to bring your own for your convenience. 

  • Comb brush 
  • Shampoo, shower gel, soap, towel 
  • Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss 
  • Deodorant Lotions, creams 
  • Lip balm Wipes 
  • Shaving cream 
  • Other articles of personal hygiene

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From $ 550.00
per person
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