Best tour for acclimatization

CUZCO - MARAS & MORAY - AGUAS CALIENTES - MACHU PICCHU - CUZCO 3 days - 2 nights

Go lower and acclimatise. Head straight to the lower altitude of the Sacred Valley or Machu Picchu. Believe it or not, Cusco is at an altitude of 3 999 m (11,154ft) so heading to Pisac or Urubamba at 2 900m (9,514ft) (Sacred Valley) or Machu Picchu at 2 400 m (7,874ft), Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo) at 2 040 m (6,692ft) can make a huge difference. After a few days you can then make your way back up to Cusco and will feel a lot better. (The general rule of thumb is “walk high, sleep low” so if you are at over 3,000m (9,842ft) sleep at no more than 300m (984ft) higher at the end of each day.)

Day 1: Cusco - Salt mines of Maras - Circular terraces of Moray -Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo)

07:30 AM Arrival to Alejando Velasco Astete Cusco, reception.

Then you will transfer to Sacred Valley with guide in a private vehicle.

Excursion Maras & Moray or Excursion Sacred Valley

Salt mines of Maras: Las Salineras de Maras has an impressive saline exploitation complex, located in the area called Qoripujio, at an approximate distance of 4 km from the town of Maras. It has salt mines, which were already exploited since the Incas (time of the Incas) as a means of economic exchange and values. From Maras you can get to visit the salt mines by a bridle path; for the place it is very usual to find animals that carry the sacks of salt extracted from the natural salt pans.

The circular terraces of Moray: Moray is a center of gigantic natural depressions or holes which were used to build (in its contours) terraces or agricultural platforms with their respective irrigation channels. The most important thing is the average annual temperature difference between the top and the bottom of the depressions that difference reaches up to 15 ° C. The biggest hole has a depth of 150 m. and the average height of the platforms is 1.80 m. among them.

Not included: entrances and lunch.

Transfer to the train station. Train to Aguas Calientes (without guide).

Arrival, check-in and overnight in the selected hotel.

Day 2: Machu Picchu - Cusco

You will take bus up to Machu Picchu Citadel and have your excursion.

Machu Picchu: considered the most powerful energy center of South America. Machu Picchu is the most mysterious of archaeological found of the twentieth century.

Upon arrival, you will participate in a guided tour of the Citadel, visiting the Main Plaza, the Circular Tower, the Sacred Sun Dial (the most important preserved Intiwatana), the Royal Quarters, the Temple of the Three Windows, houses, warehouses, a large central square; and all connected by narrow roads and steps that are surrounded by terraces cut into the mountain side.

Included: 01 entrance and lunch in Aguas Calientes, ticket train.

Not included: Round trip bus ticket Aguascalientes - Machu Picchu – Aguascalientes (USD$26)

In the afternoon you will take your train back to Cusco (without guide), transfer to the selected hotel in Cusco

Day 3: Cusco

City Tour and four ruins. Half day

A warren of narrow streets lined by impressive Inca stone walls, Cuzco has a unique atmosphere, redolent of ancient days. This afternoon enjoy a half-day tour of the city, including the Cathedral on the Plaza de Armas and the Koricancha complex. You will also visit the impressive fortress of Sacsayhuaman; the amphitheatre and religious site of Kenko; and the Inca baths and water temple of Tambomachay and its red fortress, Puca-Pucara.

Cathedral of Cusco: It was built between 1560 and 1664 out of large slabs of red granite taken from the Inca construction of Sacsayhuaman. It houses important collections of gold and silver work of the colonial period, elaborately engraved wooden altars and a beautiful collection of oil on canvas paintings from the Escuela Cusqueña.

Koricancha and the Convent of Santo Domingo.- The convent was built on the spectacular Coricancha ‘site of gold’. This was the most important temple dedicated to the worship of the Sun and whose walls were lined with solid sheets of gold. All that remains now is the fine stonework, the conquistadors took the rest. Coricancha was also an observatory, where priests kept track of major celestial events. Today it houses an impressive collection of canvas paintings from the Escuela Cusqueña.

Sacsayhuaman: (which means ‘satisfied falcon’) it is one of the most impressive sites built by the Incas. It is generally referred to as a fortress; however it is not certain what its main function was. Current research suggests that it was more likely to be used as a temple, as Inca tombs have been discovered in the area.

The site is a marvelous archaeological feat, even now after it was destroyed; one can only imagine its greatness when it stood in full glory. The stones in the wall are incredible and the largest weighs in at over 300 tonnes.

The Incas envisioned Cusco as having a puma shape – Sacsayhuaman was the head. The magnificent zigzag walls are the major attraction. The grounds surrounding Sacsayhuaman are still used today for the colorful festival of Inti Raymi which is held on the 24th June every year.

Q’enqo: (meaning ‘zigzag’ or ‘labyrinth’) it contains the most impressive carved rocks in the Cusco area. There are carvings everywhere, although some are a little indistinct: a llama, a condor and snakes have been identified. There are many zigzag channels on top of the rock, probably used for pouring sacrificial chicha (a local wine made from maize). Inside the rock there are a number of caves and passageways and an alter which was used for the sacrifices of llamas.

Puca Pucara: ‘the red fortress’. This is a small site and although the name suggests that it was a fortress, it does not appear to have any defensive purpose.

Tambomachay. This site was thought to have been used as a Temple to the Water. There are some very impressive aqueducts, canals and cascades carved in stone, designed to channel water flowing from a nearby stream.

Not included: entrances

In the afternoon you will be transferred to airport

Only Private services

Price per person USD 550 Minimum 4 persons

Included: