Cusco, Machu Picchu, and Inca Mysteries
Trip Type: Small Group Adventure
Territory: South America
Region: Peru
Trip Price: From $6,395
Single Supplement: $1,350
On-Trip Airfare: $495
Duration: 9 days/8 nights
Trip Begins/Ends: Lima, Peru / Lima, Peru
Minimum Travelers: 4 travelers
Maximum Travelers: 16 travelers
Pricing detailed for this Small Group Adventure is based upon double occupancy. Additional charges for single travelers and any on-trip airfare required for the trip apply. A booking deposit is required to reserve your space. Small Group Adventure pricing includes all lodging, meals (unless otherwise noted), activities, baggage handling, transportation, and guide service. Not included are travel costs to/from gateway cities, guide gratuities, and personal incidentals including, but not limited to, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, alcoholic beverages, and laundry service. 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 for this trip is “No Sweat”, with “Nice & Active” elements, at elevations ranging from sea level to 12,315 feet. Activities include hiking 1 to 3 miles per day, with elevation gain/loss not typically more than 300 feet. Optional 2.4-mile hike with roughly 2,000 feet in elevation gain. Travelers who can hike the minimum end of this range are a good fit for this trip.
Most all of our Small Group Adventures can be made private to just your traveling troupe. Just give us a call at (800) 445-2995 and tell us that you would like to “make it private”!
Generally, there are two ways to make a small group adventure private. First, you could capture one of our published departure dates for just your group. In order to achieve this, we have to have sufficient space available to create a separate private trip. Second, we could take the details of this itinerary and fashion it for just your group on dates of your choosing. For this, too, we just need to review your interest, group size, and preferred timing in order to create the trip.
In all cases, the process begins with a phone call so give us a ring at (800) 445-2995 and after just a few minutes gathering information, we can set to the task of making your trip a reality!
Transfer from the Jorge Chávez International Airport and settle in for two nights in Lima’s Miraflores district.
Today, you’ll meet up with your guide and fellow travelers for a trip orientation. Then, it’s time to explore this vibrant city. We’ll visit colorful plazas, colonial buildings, and historic neighborhoods. After our city explorations, we’ll dive into the impressive archeological collection at the Larco Museum. Tonight, we enjoy a delicious welcome dinner.
After this morning’s flight from Lima to Cusco, you’ll depart for the Sacred Valley. Your first sightings of Andean camels, vicunas, alpacas, llamas and guanacos, will be at a small farm and textile workshop where you’ll learn all about these friendly creatures. Then, we’ll explore a colonial town known for its lively handicrafts market and hilltop Inca citadel. Settle in for a two-night stay in a lovely family-run hacienda-style hotel.
Our first stop today will be the archaeological Inca site and historical village of Ollantaytambo where you’ll enjoy scenic walking with your OBP guide. Then, we’ll explore Maras – known for its Inca salt mine with thousands of individual salt pools dug into the hillside – and Moray – famous for its visually stunning circular agricultural terraces. Our next stop is a visit to a rural community to witness how old, traditional ways live on today. For lunch, we’ll stop in a native community for a farm-to-table feast. Now it's time to rest up because tomorrow is our first visit to Machu Picchu!
This morning, we’ll board the train for the phenomenal 90-minute journey to Machu Picchu Pueblo – one of the most scenic train rides in the world! Your first glimpse of Machu Picchu will take your breath away, then curiosity will kick in. With your guide leading the way, you’ll explore Inca streets, temples, and plazas while you contemplate the fabulous geography surrounding this significant site. Tonight, we settle into our fabulous hotel, set on 12 acres of terraced hills, waterfalls, and stone pathways. We’ll meet up tonight for a fabulous dinner.
Today, we’ll take in Machu Picchu from a totally different perspective with a guided hike up Machu Picchu Mountain where you'll take in spectacular views of the Peruvian Andes and Machu Picchu laid out below you. After lunch, we’ll take the train back through the Sacred Valley and then board a private bus to Cusco - with its storied cobblestone streets, bustling markets, and intriguing history. This afternoon, settle in and explore around your centrally located home for the next three nights.
Today, we’ll be focusing on the highlights of this UNESCO World Heritage city and significant surrounding sites. You'll walk through a massive Inca archeological site and then discover the city’s Inca Palaces, beautifully blending old Inca architecture with the Roman and Moorish architecture brought by the Spaniards. Then, there's time to independently explore before gathering for a delicious dinner.
You’ll get off the beaten path this morning with a guided tour of Cusco’s South Valley, on the Andean Baroque Route. We’ll visit an impressive pre-Inca site and a charming village that's home to the Sistine Chapel of the Americas. After your return to Cusco, we recommend an exploration of lively San Blas, the bohemian artisanal neighborhood surrounding the hotel.
This morning, we’ll follow our guide through Cusco’s vibrant San Pedro Market. After a flight from Cusco to Lima, it's time for a fantastic farewell dinner in the city. Our memorable Peruvian journey ends as we return to the Lima airport to connect with homebound flights.
Perfectly located in the upscale Miraflores neighborhood within walking distance of the famous Larcomar and other inviting public spaces in Lima, the new AC Marriott makes for an ideal stay while exploring this historic and yet modern city. Offering spacious guest rooms, eye-catching architecture and design, and impeccable service, this is easily one of the top hotels in Miraflores.
Steeped in history, the Casona de Yucay was built in 1810. Still owned by the original family that built the mansion, this home was converted into a beautiful historical hotel that offers you the chance to connect with the nature that surrounds the property. Nestled into the mountains, this property is the perfect place relax and feel the magic of the Sacred Valley.
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!
Antigua Casona San Blas is located in the historic district of San Blas, the oldest continuously inhabited neighborhood of Cusco. The cobblestone streets surrounding the hotel will lead you to some of Cusco's most iconic sites. The building in which the hotel resides was built between 1750-1800, and underwent a renovation and expansion in 2016, boasting the perfect blend of modern comforts historic architecture. Each room features locally crafted furnishings and luxurious amenities.
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