Essential Machu Picchu

A short but concentrated tour of the splendours of Cuzco and the Sacred Valley, with a day trip by train to the majesty and mystery of Machu Picchu.

Day 1: Arrive in Lima - Cuzco
Upon arrival into Cuzco airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Later that day you will be taken on a city tour to explore the magical capital of the Incas on a tour including a visit to Plaza Regocijo, Plaza de Armas, the Cathedral and the Santo Domingo Convent Monastery. The Santo Domingo monastery was built over the Koricancha temple, one of the most important temples devoted to worship of the sun. According to the chronicles, it was covered in gold sheet and filled with golden representations of nature. Then walk around the old town with its very narrow streets. After seeing the most interesting sites of the city, you will drive to the countryside outside Cusco to visit some of the remarkable inca ruins in the area: the cult centre of Sacsayhuaman, the temple and amphitheatre of Kenko and the Red Fortress of Puca Pucara. Breakfast.

Day 2: Sacred Valley of the Incas
Drive to the "Sacred Valley of the Incas", a succession of picturesque towns, agricultural terraces, and many archaeological sites, as well as the world´s most famous corn, combine with an exceptional climate to visit Ollantaytambo, the Inca fortress, which guarded the entry of this part of the valley and protected it from possible invasion from the lower jungles. The fortress consists of a series of superimposed terraces of carved stones accessed by long staircases. An opportunity to walk through the quaint streets of the nearby town, the design and foundations of the majority of its buildings date from the Inca era, when it was a strategic military, religious, and agricultural center. Lunch at a nearby inn. Visit Pisac, a lively and colorful Indian market where locals sell or exchange their products, as the ancestors did hundreds years ago. Overnight in the Sacred Valley. Breakfast & lunch

Day 3: Machu Picchu - Ollanta
Transfer to Ollanta train station to board the Orient Express rail coach for a 1 ½ hour train ride to Machu Picchu, discovered in 1911 by the American explorer Hiram Bingham. Then make the 25-minute motor coach ascent to "The Lost City of the Incas." This citadel is considered one of the most extraordinary examples of landscape architecture in the world. It straddles a mountain ridge surrounded by lush tropical forest. The guided tour of this fascinating place is an awe-inspiring experience. Visit the Main Square, the Royal Quarters, the Temple of the Three Windows, the Circular Towers, the Sacred Sun Dial and Burial Grounds. Afternoon rail coach transportation to Cusco. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel. Breakfast & lunch

Day 4: Cuzco - Fly out from Lima
Transfer to Cuzco airport, assistance on departure flight. Breakfast.