Cusco 3 day Itinerary
Day 1: Humantay Lake
This tour starts very early at around 4:50 a.m. Our van will pass by your hotel in the early morning, giving you the start of this incredible adventure where you will pass through Andean communities and traditional localities of Cusco. The bus ride is about 4 hours arriving at the village of Soraypampa where you will have a delicious Andean breakfast to recharge your batteries. After breakfast, we will start our hike up to the Humantay mountain, the hike lasts about 2 hours passing through rivers, impressive trails and majestic mountains, arriving at the Humantay lagoon where you will be amazed by so much natural beauty and majestic mountains, where you can renew your energy and have enough time to take many photographs worthy of portraits. After the visit we will return by the same trail to Soraypampa where you will have a delicious lunch in a local restaurant and then return by transport to the city of Cusco, arriving around 5 p.m. finally, leaving you at your hotel.
Meals: Included
Entrance Tickets: Included
Day 2: Sacred Valley – Ollantaytambo
This day will start with the pick-up from your hotel at approximately 7:40 a.m. by the altitudeXperience guide, giving you the start of this incredible adventure through the Sacred Valley, during the tour you will have stops authorized by our driver where you will have the opportunity to see panoramic views of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Our first official stop will be the town of Pisaq, a picturesque and colorful place, full of much Inca tradition and cultural exchange, you will certainly be enchanted with this beautiful place, continuing with our trip, you will visit the archaeological center of Pisaq, a very important archaeological center for the Incas, here you will have impressive views of the sacred valley and you will be able to capture photos worthy of portraits. Finishing our visit, we will head to Ollantaytambo where we will have a stop at a selected local restaurant, here you can enjoy the local and national gastronomy of Peru, elaborated with organic and native products of the locality. After a delicious lunch we will continue with our visit to the archaeological center of Ollantaytambo, a strategic place in Inca times, you will be amazed by the huge rocks that still remain in place and terraces built to perfection.
Finally, you will have an afternoon of experiences, an exchange of teachings, we will visit different houses where they elaborate the chicha de jora (drink made of corn) an Inca drink that has a very peculiar style of preparing and elaborating this drink. These are ancestral practices that are still passed down from generation to generation, as it is considered a drink exclusively for Andean festivals. Our adventure will culminate in this beautiful village leaving you in your hotel or cabin assigned by altitudexperience to rest and recharge your energies for our next adventure which is Machu Picchu.
Accommodations: Selected 3-star hotels (Sol natura, Ollantaytambo)
Meals: Included (at a local house in Ollantaytambo)
Entrance Tickets: Included
Day 3: Explore Machu Picchu
Your adventure in Machu Picchu begins around 6 a.m. heading to the train station to board the train that leaves at 6:40 a.m. towards the village of Machu Picchu. When you arrive to Machu Picchu village your altitudexperience guide will give you a brief information before visiting Machupicchu, once there; you will go to the bus station to start your ascent to the citadel of Machu Picchu which lasts about 30 minutes. In Machu Picchu you will have approximately 2 hours of sightseeing with our specialized guide where he will tell you in detail every story or event that took place in this incredible lost city of the Incas, you will be enchanted by its beauty and imposing mountains. Finally, you will return to the town of Aguas Calientes where you will have free time to enjoy a delicious lunch in a local restaurant and then return to Ollantaytambo, leaving your train at 2:50 p.m. hours from the town of Machu Picchu to Ollantaytambo arriving at 5 p.m. and then be transferred to your hotel in our altitudeXperience van.
Meals: Breakfast only
Entrance Tickets: Included
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: Included in this tour is 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.
Entrance tickets: One day tourist ticket, 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
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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
Price
Price Group tour
As long as we meet our minimum of 2 people, our train tours can leave any day of the week.
- Required pre-payment: $ 200 per person
- Balance in Cusco: commonly pay in cusco after the briefing
Student discount
The student discount applies only to people who present their valid UNIVERSITY CARD. Children under 17 years of age or younger. To grant the discount we need you to send us a copy of the university card. For children 17 and under, we need a passport copy for booking.
- Discount: $ 30 off per person
Additional Items
- Huayna Picchu: $ 75 per person
- Vistadome Train (one way): $ 75 per person
- Vistadome Train (round trip): $ 115 per person
