6 Day Short Adventure Trail to Machu Picchu and Sacred Valley

With this short schedule, you can see the most important sights in Peru's Sacred Valley. Begin your journey with two days in Cusco, where you'll visit the famous textile markets and Inca sites. Then, take a guided tour of the Sacred Valley's most important sites, followed by a one-day hike up the Inca Trail to Aguas Calientes.

Day 1: Fly to Cusco

Arrive at the Lima airport for your Cusco transfer flight. This historic city served as the capital of the Inca empire, which ruled from the 13th to the 16th centuries after capturing the Killke village on the same site.

Keep in mind that you'll be 11,000 feet (3,000 meters) above sea level, so take it easy and drink plenty of water. Start your investigation of the small stone alleyways on foot, as the Incas created Cusco to be a strolling city. Take a walk across the plaza – if the weather is nice, it's a great location to sit on a balcony and acclimate to the height while sipping coca tea.

Day 2: Cusco City Tour

The tour will begin at the San Pedro Market in the neighbourhood. Locals shop at this market every day to stock up on vegetables and goods, making it the most real market experience in Peru.

From the market, you'll travel to the Sun Temple, also known as Qoricancha, the Inca Empire's most important temple. You can witness detailed and undamaged architecture here, and smaller temples dedicated to the moon, rainbow, stars, lightning, and thunder, among other things, may be found within the temple.

You will trek from Qoricancha to Sacsayhuaman, a significant holy monument with enormous stones.

Day 3: Sacred Valley Tour

Today you will depart from your Cusco hotel for a tour to Chinchero, which the Incas believed to be the birthplace of the rainbow. Before seeing Chinchero's famous textile industry and weaving crafts, you'll see extensive Inca terraces and several modest colonial-era churches.

Continue to Moray, a collection of spectacular Inca stone amphitheatres. The Inca, regarded as one of the world's most innovative and architecturally accomplished cultures, is said to have employed these stone complexes for experimental agriculture in microclimates.

Walk (or take a bus) from Moray to the Salineras, or Maras Salt Flats, an intricate network of stone pools created by the Inca to gather salt by evaporation. Spend the night in the Sacred Valley's quaint historic hamlet of Ollantaytambo.

Day 4: Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

We'll take the railway from Ollantaytambo to Kilometer 104, where the short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu begins. On our way to Machu Picchu, we notice how the valley transforms into a canyon, and the panorama begins to change as the cloud forests appear. Finally, we'll get off the train at Km 104 and start our journey up a steep uphill road.

Begin your journey to Chachabamba, your first archaeological site. From here, climb for three hours to the remains of Way Wayna (2732 m / 8964 ft), an old rest stop for Inca path travelers. The trail subsequently gets easier, leading to Intipunku (Sun Gate), where you'll get your first panoramic views of Machu Picchu.

Day 5: Machu Picchu Excursion

To avoid the crowds and obtain the best views of the ancient ruins, wake up early. Then, it's a quick 25-minute bus ride from Aguas Calientes to the Machu Picchu ruins. Take the bus back to Aguas Calientes for lunch before boarding the train to Ollantaytambo after the trip. Meet your driver for your return to Cusco when you arrive in Ollantaytambo.

Day 6: Fly from Cusco to Lima, Depart Peru

It's your last day in Peru today! You will be picked up from your accommodation for a transfer to Cusco Airport, where you will board your aircraft back to Lima and then be transferred to your international departure.

Highlights

• In the imperial Inca capital of Cusco, learn about indigenous culture.
• Explore the Sacred Valley and short Inca trail to learn about its beauty and culture.
• Explore Machu Picchu's magnificent fortress.

Finally, a full day of exploring in the Machu Picchu citadel complex is the ideal way to round off your trip.

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Created on Feb 17th 2022 07:03. Viewed 221 times.

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