After a morning flight to Cuzco (changing planes in Lima), we’ll spend the rest of the day relaxing and getting acclimated. We’ll spend the next two evenings at the historic Plaza de Armas Hotel on the central plaza.

We’ll travel by bus to the Sacred Valley, stopping to visit the impressive Inca sites of Tambomachay and the baths at Puka Pukara along the way. At Pisac we’ll visit the extensive Inca fortress high on the mountain with its impressive temples and terraces, then visit the notable Pisac Market. We’ll spend the next two evenings at the Sonesta Yucay Hotel in the Sacred Valley.

In the morning we will travel to a remote mountain village virtually unchanged since Inca times. We will then visit Ollantaytambo, an impressive Inca ruin and modern Inca village. 

We’ll take the vistadome train to Machu Picchu, a site unknown to the outside world for centuries, and spend the afternoon touring its ruins. We’ll have dinner and spend the night at the elegant new Inkaterra Hotel.

We’ll visit Machu Picchu in the morning where there is an option for hiking to nearby Inca sites. In the afternoon we’ll take the train back to Cuzco and the Plaza de Armas Hotel.

We’ll visit Qorikancha, an Inca temple whose walls were once covered with gold. In the afternoon we’ll take a walking tour of Cuzco and visit the Inca museum. We’ll have time to visit Cuzco’s famous silver and alpaca shops.

We’ll tour sites near Cuzco, including Sacsayhuaman with its colossal stone walls; Pikillacta, a pre-Inca Wari ceremonial center; and Tipón, an Inca agricultural center with impressive water works.

We’ll take a morning flight from Cuzco to Lima and have a farewell lunch at La Rosa Nautica on the Pacific Ocean. Day rooms have been reserved at the Estelar Hotel so that we can rest before boarding evening flights to the United States. Transportation to the airport will be provided.