Itinerary
Day 1: Explore Cusco
Your tour starts with the pick up from the airport to your hotel. The Cusco city tour will start at 13:00 p.m., visiting important places such as Koricancha, an ancient Inca palace and center of worship to the sun god. In addition, you will visit the main square and its different streets of the most popular neighborhoods, visiting the most important cathedrals of Cusco, then continue visiting the famous ruins of Sacsayhuaman an important military center of amazing Inca architecture and culminating the view with Qenko a labyrinth considered sacred where they worshiped the sun god, finally return to your hotel at 6 pm.
Meals: not included
Hotel: Included, Selected 3-star hotels ( One nigth in Cusco)
Entrance Tickets: Included
Day 2: Sacred Valley – Pisaq – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes
The tour will start at 7:40 A,M. The AltitudeXperience guide will pick you up with the van from your hotel to start the journey to the Sacred Valley, during the trip you will have stops authorized by your guide to enjoy the most popular viewpoints of the Sacred Valley where you will have incredible views.
Continuing with the trip you will arrive to the town of Pisaq, a picturesque and colourful town full of culture, you will visit the local handicraft center and the archaeological centerof Pisaq where you will be enchanted and amazed by the essence of the town of Pisaq. We will continue our journey to Moray, a center of Inca agricultural experiment platforms. We will visit the salt mine of Maras, a place where salt was extracted in Inca times and is still in operation today.
We will continue our adventure to Ollantaytambo where we will stop for lunch at a selected local restaurant, where you will have the opportunity to enjoy the local peruviam gastronomy with local organic products included in the service. Finally we will visit the most important archaeological center of Cusco, Ollantaytambo, better known as the living Inca city, for its countless archaeological remains that still remain in the same city and its surroundings keeping mysteries still undiscovered, here you will discover the living culture among its inhabitants.
Our day will culminate in this beautiful city, taking you to your hotel assigned by AltitudeXperience to rest and recharge your energies for our Machupicchu adventure.
Meals: Included (at a local house in Ollantaytambo)
Hotel: Selected 3 star hotels ( Sol Natura, Ollantaytambo)
Entrance Tickets: Included
Day 3: Explore Machu Picchu – Return to Cusco
Your adventure to Machupicchu will start with the pick up from your hotel or hut at altitudeXperience 6:10 a.m. heading to the train station where you will board your train at 6:40 a.m. enjoying a mystical journey through the Andes of Peru. Upon arrival at Machupicchu village, your guide will give you all the indications to take the bus that will transfer you to the citadel of Machupicchu, the journey will be 30 minutes by bus, the visit will begin around 9:50 a.m. and will last approximately 2 hours. Our altitudeXperience guide will tell you all the history and events that happened in this beautiful Inca city during the tour, where you will have time to capture the best photos and views of Machu Picchu to get the most out of this unforgettable experience. Once you have finished and enjoyed the tour in Machupicchu, we will start with the return to Machupicchu town at 12 p.m. where you will have free time for lunch before taking the train back to Ollantaytambo. Finally, at 2:50 p.m. you will board the train to ollantaytambo, then you will be transferred in our altitudexperience van to Cusco leaving you at your hotel, you will be around 6:50 p.m. in the city of Cusco to rest and recharge your energies for our next adventure 7 Colors Mountain.
Meals: Included
Hotel: Included, Selected 3-star hotels ( One nigth in Cusco)
Entrance Tickets: Included
Day 4: Rainbow Mountain Tour
This beautiful adventure starts very early in the morning, our altitudeXperience van will pick you up from your hotel in the early morning, giving you the start of our adventure in the direction of the southern valley of Cusco. The trip will take approximately 2 hours to reach the village of Cusipata where you will have a delicious breakfast made with local products and from there we will continue the journey for another 1 hour to reach the checkpoint where you will begin the hike that will take approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes bordering beautiful mountains reaching the top to surprise you with the best views (5,020 mts / 16466ft) of the mountain of 7 colours. After the visit, it is time to return along the same trail for approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes until we reach Cusipata where a delicious lunch awaits us. Finally, we will return to Cusco in the afternoon.
Elevation: 5,200 mts
Weather: cold and sunny
Walking distance: 5 km
Meals: Included
Entrance Tickets: Included
Hotel: Included, Selected 3-star hotels ( One nigth in Cusco)
Day 5: Airport transfer
This day will be your last day so we recommend you take it easy, enjoy and shop in Cusco, visit the main square of Cusco, and get ready for your return journey. We recommend you to have your flights in the afternoon so that you can make the most of the rest of the day. Our AltitudeXperience van will pick you up and transfer you to the airport.
Included/Not Included
Included
Professional guides: Highly trained guides for high mountain terrain and Inca history
Transportation: Transportation is included in the entire journey, both bus and train, from the point of departure to the point of return. If you have any suggestions or preference for a train service, please let us know. Additionally, your round trip bus ticket from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu will be included.
Train tickets: The train tickets are in regular expeditions tourist class round trip, if you are interested in upgranding to the vistadome train, it will be $75 one way and $125 round trip.
Hotel: This tour includes a three-night 2-star hotel in Cusco, one-night in Ollantaytambo. We have a selection of hotels, great service and accommodation (if you have any suggestions let us know). Our price is based on rooming two people per room.
Food: During the Sacred Valley tour, we will stop for lunch at a local house and dinner will be at a restaurant in Ollantaytambo. Breakfast will be available at your hotel. All meals are included in your tour.
Entrance tickets: One day tourist ticket for City tour and Sacred Valley and entrance to Machu Picchu is all included on this tour.
First aid: Our team is trained in first aid. In case of emergency we follow an emergency plan to provide the fastest possible attention
Extras: We believe that personalized attention is a plus for us, so small details are very important. We are committed to creating the most authentic experience towards Machu Picchu.
Transfers: Free roundtrip airport transportation.
Not Included
Huayna Picchu: The mountain that is next to Machu Picchu. This trek has a duration of about 50 minutes and is quite the walk. It has a cost of 75 USD, and for us to be able to get permission for this mountain, you must let us know a month in advance due to its popularity.
Tips: Tips are always welcome, and should be based on your travel satisfaction (not mandatory).
Travel insurance: Travel insurance is recommended, but not mandatory. Normally many people get sick with altitude sickness, so we recommend adapting 1 day or 2 days before starting a trek.
Day Backpacks: the agency does not provide backpacks, so you must bring your own. Note; Machu Picchu does not allow backpacks over 25 lb.
Important Information
1. Getting to Cusco
All international passengers by plane must disembark in Lima and pass through Customs because the airport in Cusco is currently only for local flights. You must pick up your luggage in Lima and then check them back in, even if your trip from there to Cusco is on the same day and with the same airline.
The best way to go to Cusco is by plane, and there are many airlines to choose from. Although LAN generally offers the most options and flights, it is also the most expensive. Be prepared for flight delays or cancellations.
2. Weather
Of course, the weather is erratic. In Cusco, the dry season typically lasts from April through October, but be prepared because it can rain in June or get sunny in December.
Please make sure you have rain gear, including a waterproof jacket, pants, poncho, and waterproof gloves, no matter what month you are taking the journey.
Consider the four seasons as well. You should be prepared for all four seasons as many of the climbs over the Andes entail numerous microclimates.
Always wear layers since they make it simple to adapt to changing temperatures. Please be ready with a heavy, winter-weight jacket because evenings will always be chilly.
3. Luggage Storage
Your luggage allowance is still restricted owing to railway regulations even if this is an overnight train vacation. To be transported to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu), all bags must fit in a carry-on.
While you trek, you can leave any additional luggage in Cusco at your hotel or with us at the AltitudExperience deposit. On the morning of your tour, we will collect from you and return after you have reached Cusco. Make sure your baggage are identified in some way so they can be found easily.
4. Altitude in Cusco
People begin to worry about altitude sickness as soon as they reserve their trip to Peru, specifically Cusco. Because there is less oxygen in the air at high altitudes than there is at sea level, your body must work harder to get the oxygen it needs. Your body becomes accustomed to the lower oxygen content of the air over a period of days at a high altitude.
You could initially experience the illness or a hangover when suffering from altitude sickness. You can get headaches, exhaustion, a loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, dizziness, difficulty sleeping, and difficulty breathing while exercising. Please get in touch with our office if any of these side effects worsen, and we’ll assist you find a doctor.
These symptoms will typically be slight. Always ease into action gradually to give your body time to acclimate. Drink a lot of liquids, such as coca tea or water. Since ancient times, coca tea has been used to help avoid altitude sickness.
The coca plant’s leaves contain alkaloids that assist your body absorb oxygen and ward off the effects of altitude sickness. A lot of alcohol and caffeine should be avoided.
They will make you urinate more frequently and dehydrate you. Don’t smoke. Your body has a harder time getting oxygen when you smoke. Don’t use sleeping medicines. Your body may have a harder time absorbing oxygen when you sleep as a result of their potential for shallow breathing at night.
To assist prevent altitude sickness, your doctor may recommend medications like acetazolamide and dexamethasone. Two days before you travel to a high altitude, begin taking the medication. While you are at a high altitude, keep taking it.
6. First Aid
AltitudExperience guide has completed a physician-led first aid course. Every February, we hold a training session that is required for all ALTITUDE guides. When guiding you, they’ll have oxygen and a first aid pack for common medical emergencies including traveler’s diarrhea and cuts and scrapes.
In the event that anything unforeseen occurs and you feel you are unable to finish the walk, they will plan the fastest and safest route off the trail to a clinic. You won’t ever be on your own; a team member will accompany you at all times until you reach a doctor in a safe location. We’ll make sure you still have the opportunity to see Machu Picchu and get back in touch with your group when you’re feeling up to it.
7. Environmental Impact
AltitudExperience carries all of our trash back to Cusco and uses biodegradable soap. Our staff are taught to maintain the trail and collect any trash left by other groups. Additionally, we employ chemical portable restrooms that allow us to pack trash out. Leaving no trace is something we highly support.
