Machu Picchu & the Sacred Valley. The magic of Peru.
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the local ladies
Ollantaytambo
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At the market
Machu Picchu
King of the Incas
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October 12 - 21, 2018.
Only $2199 including air, hotels and transfers Cusco, Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu. We loved this trip so much we're going again!! Discover the magic of Peru. With this full 8-day itinerary you will experience the World Heritage sites of Cusco and Machu Picchu as well as the Sacred Valley of the Incas in Urubamba. Cusco is the city that seamlessly melds three periods, ancient, colonial and modern, to create a colorful and vibrant experience that fills the senses. While Machu Picchu has long been the top visitor attraction in Peru, in recent years it is increasingly considered one of the top landmark attractions in the world. It was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007 and most recently, in 2013, voted the Traveler’s Choice #1 landmark attraction in the world by Trip Advisor. You will spend one night in the city of Aguas Calientes at the base of Machu Picchu. October is a great time to visit Machu Picchu as the rainy season hasn’t yet begun and the huge summertime crowds have all departed leaving the place mostly to us. The food is an amazing fusion of the native food blended with Spanish cuisine with an Asian influence. Truly unique and delicious. And they have 50 microbreweries!!! Who knew? No worries if you prefer wine... Chile and Argentina are close by. The tour includes round trip airfare to Cusco, all hotels, eight meals, all transportation in Peru, all activities listed in the itinerary below, all entrance fees and professional English speaking tour guides and a pre-departure meeting in Easton to meet your fellow travelers and go over trip logistics. All rates are double occupancy and include all taxes and fees. Single supplement $329. Reserve your space. No money due now.
Itinerary
Day 0 - Friday October 12 - Depart JFK on our 11:35pm LATAM Airlines flight 531 to Lima. Then on to Cusco. Transportation from Easton to JFK is available for an additional cost. Day 1 – Saturday October 13 - Cusco arrival, day to rest, acclimate and experience the town of Ollantaytambo. We will arrive at Cusco airport 11:45 am October 13. After your welcoming reception at the Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport in Cusco, you will be transferred to your hotel. You will have the day free enjoy the town of Ollantaytambo and acclimatize to the altitude high Andean altitude of 9,000 ft. Overnight: Hotel Tunapa Lodge Ollantaytambo Day 2 - Sunday October 14 - Full-day tour of the Sacred Valley of Urubamba After breakfast we will meet our guide and walk to the archeological site of Ollantaytambo. Ollantaytambo was the personal estate of the Inca Pachacuti, who conquered the region and built the town and ceremonial structures. Here you will climb to the top of this imposing fortress and enjoy its breathtaking wonders and views. From there we will board our private coach and head to the city of Pisac and its traditional market. You have the chance to browse through row after row of traditional Andean textiles, handicrafts and even dry goods and vegetables. We will enjoy a group buffet style lunch and have plenty of free time to experience the town. Afterwards we will visit a traditional Chicheria where local corn beer is made and served, then on to the Sacred Valley Brewing Company, one of many excellent microbreweries popping up all over Peru. Meals: Breakfast, Buffet lunch Overnight: Hotel Tunapa Lodge Ollantaytambo Day 3 – Monday October 15 - Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes After a morning hike from our hotel to the Pinkullyuna Granary ruins overlooking town, spend a leisurely afternoon around Ollantaytambo. )A longer optional hike to an Inca quarry and Sun Gate is also possible.) We will board the 4:36 Inca Rail train for the scenic 2-hour ride to the city of Aguas Calientes. Aguas Calientes, also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo, sits at the base of Machu Picchu, a short bus ride to the citadel. Your guide will greet you at the train station to escort you to your hotel for your briefing in preparation for the following day. After the briefing, you will have time to stroll and dine in this very colorful tourist town. Meals: Breakfast Overnight: Andina Luxury Hotel Aguas Calientes Day 4 - Tuesday October 16 - Machu Picchu Early in the morning you will board the bus that will take you on your last leg of the journey to the gates of Machu Picchu. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate, and you will arrive early enough to catch a very spectacular sunrise. The experience will not only take your breath away but will fill you with a wave of emotion and awe that you will experience few times in your life. You will begin a walking tour of the terraced agricultural area and the legendary stonework of the living and working areas. There is still a lot of mystery as to the purpose of the citadel and why the Incas suddenly abandoned it. Your local guide will explain not only the functional history of the site, but also share legends and rituals surrounding the Incan beliefs and their deep reverence for the mother earth. After the tour, you will have the option of enjoying a buffet lunch at the Sanctuary Lodge or down in Aguas Calientes. Optional: Early morning hike to the summit of Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, Buffet lunch at the Sanctuary Lodge or in Aguas Calientes Meals: Breakfast Overnight: Andina Luxury Hotel Aguas Calientes Day 5 – Wednesday October 17 - Aguas Calientes to Cusco After your long day touring and hiking Machu Picchu you will have a day to relax, shop, dine and maybe enjoy the hot springs that give Aguas Calientes its name. Our train departs at 4:12 for another scenic train ride back to Cusco, where we will spend the next three nights. Optional: Head up to Machu Picchu again and wander the ruins by yourself, it’s a truly spiritual place offering a great opportunity for some quiet time to reflect. Buffet lunch at the Sanctuary Meals: Breakfast Overnight:Los Andes de America hotel Cusco Day 6 – Thursday October 18 - Cusco – San Pedro Market and half-day tour of Cusco and its surrounding ruins After a good night’s rest in the thin Andean air, you will have the morning free to relax and explore the city. We recommend a walk through the famous San Pedro Market where the locals shop everything from food to housewares. Here you will experience Cusco as it has existed since the Incan times. In the afternoon, you will be picked up from your hotel for a tour of the highlights of the city and its surrounding ruins. You will start in the central Plaza de Armas or ¨Warrior Square¨. The Plaza was the ceremonial center of life in the time of the Incas and continues to be the center of life in Cusco today. The Plaza sits in the shadows of the Cathedral of the Company of Jesus. It´s impressive stonework blends late Gothic and Baroque styles with its colonial gold work and carved wood alters. Our next stop is Koricancha or the temple of the sun. While the Plaza was the ceremonial and civic center of the city, Koricancha was the spiritual center. Built in honor of the Incan deity, it once housed over 4,000 priests and their attendants. Next, you will begin a tour to visit the nearby ruins of the amazing fortress of Sacsayhuaman, a massive complex that once protected the city and today offers a spectacular view of the city. Optional: Evening Pisco Sour and cooking class and dinner overlooking the Plaza de Armas square. Meals: Breakfast Overnight:Los Andes de America hotel Cusco Day 7 – Friday October 19 - Free day in Cusco Cusco is the city that seamlessly blends three distinct eras, Incan, Colonial and modern in an experience like none other in the world. There are shops, museums, churches and ancient ruins within walking distance of your hotel. You have the day free to continue to explore this wonderful city. There are several optional day tours available including the salt mines of Maras and Moray or a visit to the chapel of San Pedro de Andahuaylillas. The chapel is often referred to as the Sistine Chapel of Latin America. Meals: Breakfast Overnight: Los Andes de America hotel Cusco Day 8 – Saturday October 20 Free day in Cusco and 4pm October 20 departure. Since our flight departs in the evening, you will have most of the day to relax in Cusco or visit one of the many museums or historical sites in the city before being transferred to the airport for your international flight home. We will arrive home Sunday October 21 at 5:30am and should be back at the Park n Ride in Easton by 9am. Meals: Breakfast Day 9 – Sunday October 21 - Arrive home Our flight LA530 arrives at JFK at 8:50 AM on Sunday Morning. We should be back in Easton by noon. Reserve your space. No money due now.
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