Machu Picchu is duly famed as one of the world's wonders. Perched atop a high granite ridge in the cloud forest of the Andes of South America, its ancient stones lay buried in the jungle for centuries, a hidden testament to Incan ingenuity until Yale historian Hiram Bingham discovered the legendary "Lost City" in 1911 with the help of a Quechua guide. Today its labyrinthine ruins beckon contemporary explorers, intrigued by its mysteries and awed by the spectacle of its setting. More Incan engineering marvels beckon in the Sacred Valley of the Urubamba River and the imperial capital of Cusco, ours to discover anew. Join us on this amazing expedition to Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley as we explore the "Lost City of the Incas."
Itinerary
Day 1: Lima, Peru
Transfer to our hotel near the airport.
Day 2: Cusco
Fly this morning to Cusco, heart of the once-grand Inca Empire. Its name, from the indigenous Quechua word “qosq’o,” means “navel of the earth.” Set in a high Andean valley, gilded Cusco thrived until Spanish conquistadors destroyed the Inca civilization in their 16th-century colonial quest. Our accommodations at the ornate Hotel Libertador, a restored colonial palace, evoke the material splendor of that era. We take a walking tour of the city this afternoon.
Day 3: Cusco
On the outskirts of Cusco we visit the ruins at Sacsayhuaman, where we see the most impressive example of Inca walls in the region, marveling at how such huge granite stones fit together so tightly that a piece of paper will not fit between them. This afternoon we visit a vibrant local market.
Day 4: Sacred Valley of the Incas
The treasures of the Sacred Valley unfold today as we travel along the Urubamba River past farms, villages and Incan architectural ruins. At Pisac, we visit the famous market where the local Quechua Indians dressed in vivid attire sell their handcrafts. Bright embroidery and woolen garments are favorite purchases. We see llamas and alpacas at Purikuq, a local weavers cooperative set up to support three local communities, and watch a weaving demonstration at Chinchero. We overnight at Sol y Luna Hotel, a collection of tile-roofed adobe bungalows set among colorful gardens and shady eucalyptus trees.
Day 5: Moras & Moray
Visit the salt mines of Moras today, 3,000 small pools mined by the Incas centuries ago and still worked by locals today. We’ll also visit Moray, an Inca site more than 500 years old where giant natural sinkholes have been converted into terraced farming areas. Some archaeologists believe these served as an agricultural experiment where Inca cultivators took advantage of microclimates provided by different elevations.
Days 6 & 7: Machu Picchu
This morning we board the train at Ollantaytambo for a 1-1/2-hour journey along the Urubamba River to Aguas Calientes. Here we disembark and continue a short distance by bus to Machu Picchu. The ruins rise like a mystical city in the sky, surrounded by green ramparts draped in jungle. Our Peruvian Expedition Leader interprets all we see as we explore the labyrinth of granite houses, temples, walls and cisterns. Llamas wander among terraced steps that once grew maize and potatoes for some 1,200 inhabitants. Archaeologists believe Machu Picchu may have been a royal estate and religious retreat, based on its sacred geography and astronomical orientation. Important ceremonies were conducted here, including a winter solstice rite at which a priest would “tie the sun” to a hitching post stone to prevent it from disappearing altogether. We have two full days to immerse ourselves in the lore and legend of one of the world’s most astounding archaeological sites, a place, in Hiram Bingham’s words, that “appears to have been expressly designed by nature as a sanctuary for the oppressed.” We overnight in private casitas at Inkaterra Machu Picchu Hotel, a luxury retreat on the river where 300 species of native orchids bloom.
Day 8: Machu Picchu & Cusco
This morning is free to return to the ruins, explore the trails and gardens around the hotel, or soak in the hot springs. This afternoon we return to Cusco for a farewell dinner.
Day 9: Cusco to Lima/Home
Fly back to Lima where you may enjoy an optional city or museum tour, if flight schedules permit, before transferring to the airport for a late evening flight home.
Group Size Limit: Approximately 13 Travelers
A very important feature of our Machu Picchu and Sacred Valley trip is the limited group size as nature travel expeditions are best experienced with smaller sized groups of travelers.
Included
Accommodations, breakfast on Day 2 through dinner on Day 9, internal R/T flight Lima-Cusco, entrance fees, expert English-speaking, Peruvian NHA Expedition Leader upon arrival in Cusco until departure from Cusco, local representative in Lima, train fare.
Not Included
R/T travel between your home city and Peru, airport taxes, personal items, gratuities, beverages, travel insurance.
Physical Requirements
Easy / Moderate
Although the walking involved in this program can be adjusted to accommodate a range of interests, this extension does take place at altitudes between 8,000 and 11,000 feet and includes walking up stone stairs and terraces within the ruins
