The Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu
Trip Type: Custom-Made Travel
Territory: South America
Region: Peru
Trip Price: $5,995
Duration: 9 days/8 nights
Trip Begins/Ends: Lima, Peru / Lima, Peru
National Parklands:
All custom travel is tailored to the desires and interests of our traveling clients (see How Custom Travel Works tab). Trip pricing detailed is an estimate of the per person pricing for the sample itinerary detailed and includes all of the lodging, activities, and guided experiences described. Actual pricing for the trip designed expressly for you and others traveling with you will depend on the features and elements developed during the trip planning process. Travel with Off the Beaten Path requires agreement to our standard Terms & Conditions.
No Sweat - 1-2 miles of walking or hiking per day, plus easy activities
Nice & Active – 3-6 miles of hiking or walking per day, plus physically active exploration
High Five! – 5-10 miles of hiking per day, plus possible peak bagging or other action-oriented fun
The Energy Index detailed above relates to the level of exertion associated with the sample trip detailed. This would be modified to fit the style and ability of your group as a part of the custom trip planning process
We’ve been tailoring custom journeys for clients since our very inception in the mid-1980s! The process is all about connecting the interests of the travelers with the best that a given destination has to offer. To achieve this, we rely upon good ol’ fashioned conversation! Our geographically focused travel designer love to meet new people and learn about their interests for travel. Understanding your goals informs the process immensely and serves as the foundation for the development of a bespoke travel experience for you and yours.
The trip detailed on this web page is a sample of something we’ve done for other clients over the years. In order to start the process of designing your own custom travel experience, just call us at (800) 445-2995 and ask to speak with one of our Travel Advisors. After a bit of time on the phone, you will then have the opportunity to connect with one of our travel designers.
The entire planning process is very personalized and works in an iterative fashion until a final, perfect trip has been created. We then secure all of the lodging, activities, and guided experiences associated with your trip and send along abundant trip materials capturing these details – and much more about your travels!
Arrive in Lima! With most flights arriving in the evening, and a morning flight to Cusco tomorrow, you’ll stay near the airport.
Catch a morning flight to Cusco, the heart of the ancient Inca Empire. From Cusco, you’ll travel down to the Sacred Valley, with fascinating stops en route.
Your first day of Sacred Valley explorations will be on the trail, on graceful Peruvian Paso horses. You’ll ride to the ancient agricultural terraces of Moray. From here, ride on to Maras, a small Andean community in the Sacred Valley, known for its impressive terraces of 3000+ salt ponds. The next day you’ll hike to the Pumamarca ruins site to explore its terraces, water canals, and traditional Inca stone architecture. From there, you’ll hike down to Ollantaytambo – both a town and impressive archeological site.
Immerse deeper into the Sacred Valley on a whitewater rafting trip on the Urubamba River today – floating past archaeological ruins, small villages, and farms. After lunch in a small village, you’ll climb by way of Via Ferrata to your home for the night, a transparent luxury capsule made of aerospace aluminum and polycarbonate.
It’s finally time to witness the Lost City of the Incas, high above the cloud forest. Board the train for the gorgeous ride to Machu Picchu Pueblo. After a transfer up from town, take in your first views of the mystical archaeological site of Machu Picchu, surrounded by the dramatic Andes.
Rise early to return to the breathtaking ruins at Machu Picchu. This is your second opportunity to explore this impressive site, and get a bird’s-eye view of the ancient citadel on a guided hike to the top of Huayna Picchu. Then you’ll return by scenic train ride to Ollantaytambo, and continue on to Cusco.
This morning, your guide and driver will take you to the magnificent Inca-built ruins of Sacsayhuaman and Qenqo. Back in Cusco, explore the 450-year-old cathedral, the Coricancha: Temple of the Sun, and see beautiful Inca-built streets, walls, and structures still in use today. Wander through the lively San Blas, a bohemian artisanal neighborhood, before enjoying a farewell dinner.
Enjoy a final stroll through the cobblestone streets of Cusco, then you’ll fly to Lima, arriving in time to connect with an evening flight home.
The Wyndham Costa del Sol at Jorge Chavez Lima International Airport is a comfortable 130-room property located inside the airport, offering an extremely convenient place for a quick overnight. Each guestroom features complimentary wireless internet access, TV with cable, marble bathroom with tub and shower, individual climate control, mini-bar, in-room safe and hairdryer. Breakfast is included in your stay.
Sol y Luna sits in a red-walled courtyard, surrounded by eucalyptus trees and mountains in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Sol y Luna opened in 2000, offering guests 43 warm and inviting private casita houses, called Muyus, all built of local stone, surrounded by gardens, and individually decorated.
Located in the Sacred Valley of Cuzco, Peru, the exclusive Skylodge Adventure Suites offers you the chance to sleep within a completely transparent hanging bedroom, that allows you to appreciate the impressive view of this magic and mystic valley. To access Skylodge, people must climb 400 meters of Via Ferrata or hike an intrepid trail through ziplines. Your dreams are about to come true!
Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel is located in the town below Machu Picchu and blends in quite seamlessly to its surroundings. It consists of cozy, whitewashed guest cottages, all built with local materials and connected by stone pathways - making you feel as if you yourself are in an ancient Inca village!
Inkaterra La Casona is a colonial manor house —perhaps the first Spanish construction in Cusco— centrally located on an Incan settlement near Cusco’s present-day main square, later occupied by the conquistadores of Peru and their descendants. Eleven suites surround a sumptuous courtyard, where the patina of time is tastefully preserved. Contemporary amenities create the ambience of comfort and exclusivity enjoyed by residents in centuries past. This boutique hotel is certainly one of the very best in Cusco, and indeed in all of Peru!
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