Cusco Discovery Experience

Upon arrival at Cusco Airport, we provide a comfortable transfer to your chosen hotel. A representative will be with you throughout, offering helpful information about the city’s main attractions and assisting with any immediate needs. You may choose to rest and recover from your journey or explore the vibrant streets of Cusco at your leisure. Alternatively, you can join our optional Half-Day South Valley Tour, departing at 13:00. This private tour visits key sites between Cusco and Puno, including the impressive Inca irrigation system at Tipón, the well-preserved pre-Inca city of Pikillaqta, and the Church of Andahuaylillas, known as the ‘Sistine Chapel of America’, featuring an original Wari pipe organ. The tour lasts approximately 4.5 hours and includes pick-up and drop-off, a bilingual guide, and admission fees. Overnight accommodation is in Cusco.

After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a free morning to explore Cusco at your own pace. In the afternoon, we begin our tour at Coricancha, known as the ‘Temple of the Sun’, originally built by Inca ruler Pachacuti and later incorporated into the Santo Domingo Convent by the Spanish. Next, we visit the Cathedral, the most prominent building on the Main Square. We then head to Sacsayhuaman, a vast Inca fortress constructed in the 15th century with massive stones fitted together so precisely that their assembly remains a mystery. Our tour continues to Qenqo, an archaeological site used for religious and agricultural rituals. Finally, we visit Puka Pukara, or ‘Red Fort’, located seven kilometres from the city. This complex likely served a military purpose and includes plazas, baths, aqueducts and towers, believed to have supported the Inca ruler’s entourage while he rested at nearby Tambomachay. After the tour, we return to your hotel in Cusco for the night.

After breakfast, we collect you from your hotel in Cusco for a visit to Chinchero, a traditional town perched high above the valley with stunning views. The local community preserves Inca artisan traditions, visible in their clothing and customs. Here, you’ll also explore archaeological remains and a seventeenth-century church, one of Peru’s earliest Catholic buildings. Next, we transfer you from Ollantaytambo to the Living Museum of Yucay, where you’ll see demonstrations of traditional Andean crafts such as textile weaving, adobe construction, pottery, and silverwork, all recreated using ancient techniques. The museum is home to llamas, sheep, and alpacas, which you can feed. Upon arrival in Ollantaytambo, you’ll visit the town, continuously inhabited since Inca times, and ascend the iconic fortress built against the mountainside. Lunch is served in Ollantaytambo at a restaurant offering an authentic Andean culinary experience in a warm, welcoming setting. On Sundays, you’ll also have the chance to visit the local market. After the day’s activities, we return you to your hotel in the Sacred Valley for overnight.

After breakfast at the hotel, we transfer you to Ollanta train station for your journey to Aguas Calientes, which takes around two hours. Known as Machu Picchu Pueblo, this town is the final stop before visiting Peru’s most significant archaeological site. Here, you’ll find a craft market, a variety of restaurants and hotels for those wishing to stay overnight at the mountain’s base and start early the next day. From Aguas Calientes, a short bus ride takes you to Machu Picchu – an extraordinary example of Inca engineering and architecture, built as a sanctuary and retreat for the ruler Pachacuti. Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu offers a remarkable glimpse into Inca civilisation. After exploring, we return to Aguas Calientes for lunch at Café Inkaterra before travelling back to Cusco for your overnight stay.

After breakfast, we provide a comfortable transfer from your hotel to Cusco Airport for your onward flight. This concludes your journey, allowing you to depart at your leisure with ample time for check-in and boarding.