Day 1 in Machu Picchu

Welcome to Cuzco! Upon arrival, you will go through customs and immigration. Should you opt to purchase a transfer to your hotel; a representative will be waiting for you as you exit immigration. Arrive at your hotel, check in and do not give in to jet lag! There are many exciting things to explore in Cuzco and Machu Picchu.

Depart Cuzco for Ollantaytambo and take a scenic train ride (about $111 from perurail.com) to Machu Picchu (about $70 for adults, $41 for students https://ticketmachupicchu.com). Tickets can be purchased in advance - plan ahead as tickets sell out fast. Upon arriving at the Machu Picchu Station in Aguas Calientes, an advisor will escort you to your hotel. Visit the Mariposario de Machupicchu (Butterflies of Machu Picchu Museum) or stroll through Aguas Calientes enjoying dinner and shopping.

Day 2 in Machu Picchu

Explore Machu Picchu! After a hearty breakfast, your advisor will accompany you to the bus that leads to Machu Picchu. Buses run every 15 minutes and operate in shuttle mode. The 20-minute bus ride takes you up a hill on a zigzag road with impressive views of the mountain junctions and the Urubamba River. The Machu Picchu Citadel is located on the top of the mountain.

The lush terraces and stone staircases of Machu Picchu entice you to explore and view the royal and sacred areas, including the Temple of the Sun and the Intihuatana - the most important shrine of the ancient site. Courageous hikers come early in the morning to climb Huayna Picchu and the Temple of the Moon, the huge mountain that overshadows Machu Picchu. Please note that ticket to Huayna Picchu must be purchased in advance. Another hiking option is to follow the Inca Trail from the Caretaker`s Hut to the high pass where the Sun Gate stands.

Day 3 in Machu Picchu

Rest in Aguas Calientes, enjoy breakfast and then take the train to Ollantaytambo. Visit the small Inca town or continue on to Cuzco by Taxi (about S/20). Take a relaxing walk in Plaza de Armas. There are several sites surrounding the plaza including Cuzco Cathedral and La Compania. There is also shopping and dining along the plaza, many with balcony views. Return to the hotel for the evening.

Additional Days in Machu Picchu

Enjoy the wonders of this captivating area. There are several tours of which you could choose from. The Pisac Market and Ollantaytambo is a full-day tour, which is also offered as an half-day tour. Pisac is a Peruvian village in the Sacred Valley of the Urubamba River. The area is known for its Inca Ruins on top of a hill at the entrance of the valley. The village is also well known for its market open every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Ollantaytambo is another quaint village and an Incan archaeological site known as the Royal estate and Ceremonial Center during the Inca Empire. The Ruins of Ollantaytambo are largely of religious significance, they doubled as the last and largest defensive structures near the plains below where the Incas defeated the Spaniards in battle. This is where the Incas retreated after the Spanish took Cuzco. Much of the town is laid out in the same way as it was in Inca times.

On the last day in Machu Picchu

Depart from your hotel to the airport for your return flight home. We recommend that you purchase a private transfer to the airport, if so the representative will meet you at your hotel with plenty of time to get you to the airport for your flight out.