Travel Detail

This charming half-day tour of Cusco offers history, living culture and art. You will be able to appreciate how the Andean and Spanish cultures, as well as the past and the present, coexist in harmony in the Imperial City. Begin the day exploring the halls of the San Pedro Market, the oldest in the city. Designed in 1925 by Gustave Eiffel, today it brings together hundreds of merchants selling local products. You will also visit the Koricancha Temple, which during the Inca empire was a center of worship of the Sun, and upon which the Santo Domingo Convent was later built as part of the evangelization process. Its baroque style façade built on solid Inca walls perfectly summarizes the syncretism of cultures in the city of Cusco. To appreciate the greatness of the Incas, ascend to the monumental fortress of Sacsayhuaman, which - with its enormous carved stone walls - constitutes one of the best examples of Inca military architecture. Later, you will tour the archaeological center of Kenko, a ceremonial place where the sun, the moon and the stars were worshiped. The final stop of the day is one of the most impressive; the Cathedral, widely considered the most important temple in the city. It was built by the Spanish on top of the palace of the Inca Huiracoha. Its interior houses a wonderful collection of colonial art composed of goldsmith pieces and representative canvases of the Cusco School of Art.

Meal Plan: Buffet Breakfast

Novotel Cusco is the ideal place to go for a long weekend or to spend your vacation. The hotel is situated in the heart of the historic center, near the Plaza de Armas main square, the cathedral, and 10 minutes from the airport. Novotel Cusco is a starting point for discovering the Inca civilization. This 4-star hotel offers 99 rooms, including 16 superior rooms, all housed in a 16th-century building, and 38 non-smoking rooms.

Depart Cusco early (approx. 600AM) and drive to the village of Mollepata, an Indian Village situated in a citrus growing area at a subtropical region at 2800mts / 9185ft. On route you will visit the archaeological site of Tarawasi, one of the better preserved buildings in the region. The site was used as a ceremonial center, as well as a resting place for the Inca chasquis (Inca runners who delivered messages over long distances). Then onto Mollepata.

From Mollepata, continue driving on a dirt road until arriving at Challacancha, the start point of the trek where you also meet your horse handlers, horses and all your supplied camping gear. The climb begins towards Salcantaypampa, where you have lunch before continuing to Soroycocha at 4,200mts / 13780ft, which is the first campsite. From this height you have magnificent views of Apu Salcantay in the distance - a snow capped peak of 6271mts / 20575ft called, Guardian, Lord of Cusco.

After an early healthy breakfast, with a long day of trekking ahead, you will depart around 6:30 am, toward Collpapampa, but the first stage is downhill to the Salcantay Mountain pass at 4525mts / 14845ft. Offering wonderful views of the surrounding glaciers and the snow-capped mountains of the Vilcabamba Range, you come face to face with the south face of Salkantay towering above you.

Lunch is at the little village of Huayracmachay and then a further descent into a more tropical climate of the cloud forest. Along the route, you will see an original Inca Trail before coming joining the Salkantay River, arriving at the second camp at Qollpapampa (2890mts / 9480ft) with some natural hot springs to relax your tired muscles in.

After breakfast, descend a narrow path toward the banks of the Cachora or Santa Teresa River. Today will offer a warmer and more humid climate, with this altitude also marking a noticeable change in the flora and fauna: becoming more verdant and lush as you pass through wild plantations such as passion fruit and coffee. You then pass the waterfalls of Coripacchi for a quick swim and then onto the village of Winaypoko, where you will enjoy a delicious Lunch. In the afternoon you will continue close to the banks of the river and pass Sahuayaco, a small village of 20 families. Late afternoon you arrive at your campsite at Lucmabamba.

After breakfast, you head toward La Playa village and cross the river before starting a 2 hour uphill climb where you arrive at the El Mirador (lookout) of Abra Q'elloqasa at 2860mts / 9383ft. From here you have an exceptional, and rare view, from a direction most never get the opportunity to enjoy, of the Lost City of the Incas, the legendary Machu Picchu. After the last trek based lunch, at the lookout point of Llaqtapata (2650mts / 9315ft) from where you can view both Machu Picchu and the Salkantay Mountain range you head into the Urubamba Valley.

The 2 hour descent towards the Urubamba River, crosses lush bamboo forests, orchards and coffee plantations and brings you to the hydroelectric plant of Machu Picchu from where you board a train that takes you to Puente Ruinas (a short, scenic 30-minutes ride), and Aguas Calientes. You are transferred to your hotel in Aguas Calientes. Enjoy the towns many restaurants, bars, shopping opportunities as well as the famous hot springs where you can rest and soak some tired bones in anticipation of your visit to Machu Picchu the following day. Overnight in Aguas Calientes.

El Mapi by Inkaterra is located right at the foot of the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu and just across from the train station for Cusco/Machu Picchu train. This is a very reasonably priced hotel for Machu Picchu with full amenities. While the ruins may be ancient this hotel has all the modern comforts.