Your adventure begins at 1:00 pm with a friendly pick-up from your hotel in Cusco. Accompanied by your local guide, you’ll explore the most fascinating historical and spiritual sites in and around the city.

We start at the Cusco Cathedral, located in the heart of the Plaza de Armas. Inside, you'll admire incredible wood carvings, gold-leaf altars, and impressive paintings from the Cusqueña School of Art, a blend of Spanish and Andean styles that tells a powerful story of colonial times.

Next, we visit Qoricancha, once the most important temple in the Inca Empire dedicated to the Sun God. This sacred site was covered in gold during Inca times and still displays perfectly carved stonework that shows the advanced engineering of the Inca civilization.

From there, we head up the hill by private transport to explore four majestic Inca sites. First is Sacsayhuamán, a massive fortress with giant stone walls offering panoramic views of the city. Its cyclopean blocks fit together so precisely, they remain a mystery to this day.

We then explore Qenqo, a spiritual site believed to be used for rituals and mummification, filled with carved rock passages and ceremonial altars.

Next is Puka Pukara, meaning “Red Fortress,” likely used as a military checkpoint and resting place for travelers and Inca nobility.

Finally, we visit Tambomachay, a peaceful site with ceremonial fountains that still flow today—believed to be a temple dedicated to water and fertility.

We finish the tour around 5:30 to 6:00 pm, returning you to your hotel filled with stories, views, and a deeper appreciation of Cusco’s incredible past.

We begin your Sacred Valley adventure with a 7:30 am hotel pick-up in Cusco. Our first stop is a charming Alpaca Farm, where you'll meet alpacas, llamas, and vicuñas, South America’s native camelids. Learn about their importance in Inca times, traditional weaving techniques, and how alpaca wool is used in Andean textiles today.

Next, we visit the Pisac archaeological site, perched high on a mountain with sweeping valley views. Your guide will explain its impressive agricultural terraces, temples, and spiritual significance in Inca culture.

We continue driving through the Sacred Valley, passing by picturesque villages and farms before stopping in Urubamba for a delicious buffet lunch featuring local flavors.

In the afternoon, explore Moray, a fascinating site of circular agricultural terraces believed to be an ancient Inca crop laboratory. Then we visit the stunning Maras Salt Mines, where thousands of salt pools cascade down a mountainside, still harvested by local families using traditional methods.

Our final stop is Ollantaytambo, one of the most beautiful and well-preserved Inca towns. You’ll explore its massive stone fortress, ancient streets, and spiritual structures before settling in for the night at a cozy hotel. Ollantaytambo is a magical place to spend the evening, surrounded by history and mountain views.

Today is the big day! We pick you up from your hotel in Ollantaytambo at 5:45 am and head to the train station to catch the 6:00 am train. After a scenic ride through the Sacred Valley, we arrive at KM 104, the official starting point of the Short Inca Trail. Here, we check in with your original passport and begin our hike along the legendary Royal Inca Trail.

The hike starts with a gentle uphill climb of about 3.5 hours, surrounded by lush cloud forest, vibrant orchids, and ancient stone paths. Along the way, we visit Chachabamba, a small but beautiful Inca site once used as a religious checkpoint. Further up, we encounter the iconic orchid Wiñay Wayna ("Forever Young"), which blooms most of the year and shares its name with the next major Inca site.

We reach Wiñay Wayna, often called a "mini Machu Picchu" for its breathtaking terraces and sacred water channels. Your guide will lead a fascinating tour, and you'll have time to explore and take photos. Afterward, enjoy a delicious lunch prepared by our chef at a scenic campsite, an unforgettable meal with a view.

The final leg of the hike is about 1 hour to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku), the original entrance to Machu Picchu. From here, you’ll catch your first magical glimpse of the Machu Picchu citadel, framed perfectly in the mountains, one of the most iconic views in Peru.

From the Sun Gate, it's another hour of gradual downhill walking to reach the site itself. Take your time to enjoy the postcard-perfect view before we take the shuttle bus to Aguas Calientes, check into your hotel, freshen up, and enjoy a well-earned dinner at a local restaurant.

After an early breakfast at your hotel, we take one of the first shuttle buses up to Machu Picchu, arriving in the quiet morning hours for the best experience. As a Short Inca Trail hiker, you'll explore the citadel via Circuit 3, in accordance with current Machu Picchu regulations. This route includes the central part of the site, offering close-up views of temples, plazas, and terraces.

Your guide will lead a deeply informative 2.5-hour tour, sharing stories, history, and spiritual insights about this sacred wonder of the world. After the tour, if you've booked a Huayna Picchu permit (must be reserved in advance, $75 USD extra), you can hike this steep but rewarding trail for panoramic views over the citadel. The round trip takes about 2 hours.

Following your visit, take the shuttle bus back down to Aguas Calientes, where you'll have time to enjoy lunch (not included). In the afternoon, board your return train to Ollantaytambo, where our driver will be waiting to transfer you back to your hotel in Cusco, arriving around 7:30 pm. A full day of awe and accomplishment!

We begin the day early with a 4:30 am pick-up from your hotel in Cusco. After a 2-hour drive, we arrive in Mollepata for a hearty breakfast to fuel the adventure ahead. From there, we continue by road for another hour to Soraypampa (3,800m / 12,467 ft), the starting point of the Humantay Lake hike.

The weather here is cold, so be sure to bring warm layers, a sunhat, sunscreen, and good hiking boots. The trail begins gradually, then becomes steeper as we ascend. The hike takes around 2 hours uphill, with stunning views of snowcapped peaks all around. You’ll walk in the shadows of the mighty Salkantay Mountain, the second-highest peak in the Cusco region, and the glacial face of Humantay, both revered as sacred Apus by local communities.

At the top, you’ll be rewarded with the breathtaking sight of Humantay Lake, famous for its turquoise waters set beneath towering glaciers. Enjoy time to explore, take photos, and soak in the natural beauty and serenity of this magical spot.

Afterward, we hike back down the same trail to Soraypampa, where our transport will be waiting. We return to Mollepata for lunch, then continue by car for another 2 hours to Cusco, arriving at your hotel around 6:00 pm.

Today is one of the most unique experiences of your journey. We’ll start early with a pick-up from your hotel between 4:00 and 4:30 am, followed by a 2-hour drive southeast of Cusco to the village of Cusipata, where you'll enjoy a fresh, local breakfast.

Afterward, we continue for about 1 more hour to the trailhead at over 4,600 meters (15,000 ft). The hike begins with a gradual 2-hour ascent through stunning high-altitude landscapes, leading to the summit of Vinicunca (Rainbow Mountain) at 5,100 meters (16,732 ft). At the top, take your time to admire the natural rainbow-like mineral stripes that make this mountain so famous.

But the adventure doesn’t end there. After enjoying the view and snapping your postcard photos, we continue for another 45 minutes to the incredible Red Valley, known for its surreal Martian-like scenery and fewer crowds, a peaceful contrast to Rainbow Mountain.

Once we’ve explored both, we return by the same path to the trailhead, where our driver awaits. From there, we head back to Cusipata for lunch, then drive approximately 2 hours back to Cusco, arriving at your hotel around 5:00 pm.

Today marks the end of your unforgettable journey through the Andes. Depending on your flight time, we’ll pick you up from your hotel and provide a comfortable transfer to the Cusco airport, approximately 2 hours before departure. Take with you amazing memories of Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain, and the many wonders you've explored.

Thank you for traveling with us, we hope to welcome you back to Peru someday. Safe travels and hasta pronto!