This was a fantastic trip that lived up fully to its billing, as we saw many spectacular and varied landscapes and we sampled many gorgeous wines. The guide Lucia was very knowledgeable and helpful throughout. My only observation is that it was a hard trip in terms of several very long days travelling of 8 or more hours - over 12 hours on one day - which meant we rarely had the chance to relax and/or enjoy the hotel facilities (e.g. pools in most hotels).
The Trip Notes highlighted this but even so, after more than a dozen Explore trips previously which we thought prepared us for a lot of time on the road , we were still surprised. Essentially the trip was 12 full days and we thought it could have been stretched to 14 to cover the same itinerary - maybe an extra day in Cafayate and in Cachi?
Why for example, did we travel from Mendoza to Aconcagua (a brilliant trip) but then back to Mendoza (3 hours each way) on one day, only to retrace our steps almost all the way back to Aconcagua on the next day, on the way to the next stop? This retracing of the same route wasted 6 hours, or almost a full day? Why did we not go from Aconcagua directly to the next stop, instead of back to Mendoza?
In summary, this is a great tour, but we recommend you review the itinerary and through better planning and some extra time make it a more relaxing tour spread over over one or two more days.
The Hiram Bingham train service is the most luxurious way to travel to Machu Picchu. For most tourists, visiting Machu Picchu is a unique experience that they will only have once in their lives, and the Hiram Bingham will ensure then a magical and unforgettable journey. Travel by luxury train, with an exquisite Peruvian food, a good selection of wines and show of music on board. Come and visit one of the Seven Wonders of the World: Machu Picchu, and complete the tour with a delicious tea time before going back to the city of Cusco
Although of a rather short duration, this five-hour, group tour nonetheless covers much of the important sights in and around the city of Cusco. Book with us to discover the highlights of the city that was once the capital of the mighty Inca Empire. Our representative will pick you up from your accommodation in Cusco at 1:00 pm. Hop into the shared transport and head for the famous Cusco Cathedral, built on the foundations of the Incan temple of Kiswarkancha in the sixteenth century.
See its magnificent chapels and altars before walking up to the temple of Qorikancha. Dedicated to Inti, the sun god in the Inca pantheon, this temple was the most important temple in the Inca Empire and was constructed with great care and craftsmanship.
Next, you will drive out of Cusco in a bus to see four incredible archaeological sites. First on the list is Sacsayhuaman, a fortified complex perched atop a steep hill built with rocks that weigh more than 100 tons each. Learn more about the history, culture, meaning and significance of this beautiful place from your tour guide.
Just five minutes away from Sacsayhuaman is Qenqo. See its sacrificial altar before heading out to the archaeological sites of Puka Pukara (a fort) and Tambomachay, the latter consisting of a series of aqueducts and canals that channel water from the nearby natural springs.
This tour comes to an end with a drop-off at the city centre (Cusco's main square) at around 6:00 pm.
Join us on this 6-day tour and get the chance to enjoy both the stunning natural beauty and incredible cultural heritage of Peru. We will pick you up upon arrival at the airport in Cusco and drive you to your accommodation in the city. Go out on a guided sightseeing tour of this imperial city in the afternoon.
Travel to Aguas Calientes on the second day of the trip and discover Machu Picchu with your guide on the third day. To make sure that you get your fill of this famous Inca citadel, the itinerary provides you with some free time as well. The second last day of the tour involves a trip to Rainbow Mountain. Enjoy the beauty of this unique natural heritage before travelling back to your hotel.
The itinerary also includes trips to Maras, known for its archaeological ruins, and the salt pits of Moray that have been used to produce salt for centuries now. We will drive you to the airport after the trip is over. For more details, please go through the itinerary below.
Book your place in this guided, 5-day tour and conquer the trail that is a popular alternative to the crowded, classic Inca Trail. The Salkantay Trek offers more distance, more sceneries and a wider variety of landscapes to enjoy and takes you past one of the highest mountain passes in the country.
Start your trek on the very first day of this trip. Conclude your journey with a visit to the iconic monument of Machu Picchu, which you will also get to glimpse on the fourth day of the tour. Avoid the regulations that have been imposed on the Inca Trail. We have designed this itinerary in such a way that it includes many of the highlights of the popular routes in the Salkantay Trek but avoids most of the areas that are fast becoming crowded with tourists.
Join us on this 6-day tour of some of Peru's most famous heritage sites and discover the cultural riches of the country known as much for its cultural antiquity as for its diversity. Start this trip by acclimatizing your body to the change in altitude in Cusco.
Travel to the Sacred Valley next. Tour some of the most important landmarks of the valley and stay there overnight. Take the Vistadome train to Machu Picchu and explore its ruins for a full day. See the impressive salt pans of Maras that have been used to extract salt for at least 5 centuries. Also travel to Queswachacha, the last Inca bridge.
End this tour in Cusco and enjoy our drop off service to the airport.
Discover the mysterious Nazca Lines, and enjoy stunning panoramic views flying over them. These huge drawings belong to the Nazca culture, and the only way to see them, is flying over the pampas. Do not miss this opportunity, and live a adventure with our tour Overflight of the Nazca Lines
Discover the wonders of Puno visiting the mysterious funerary towers, or also known as Chullpas of Sillustani. Surrounded by funerary towers and a beautiful lake, Sillustani is the most important pre-Inca cemetery in Peru, where they buried more than 4 thousand people
Machu Picchu means “Old Mountain” and is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. This place is considered one of the best touristic destinations of the world, for its amazing history and spectacular landscapes surrounded by green mountains and beautiful views.
This tour is a must if you are visiting Peru, so you can’t miss this incredible adventure, and learn about the Incan Empire.
Travel to Machu Picchu from Cusco is an amazing experience
Join us on this ten-hour group tour and discover the highlights of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Our representative will pick you up from your hotel at 8:00 am and drive you through the mountains on the way to Pisac. We will stop along the way at a viewpoint from which you can enjoy great views of the valley.
Once in Pisac, you can wander through its famous artisan market as well as its archaeological centre before it is time to continue to the town of Urubamba, where we will stop for an amazing buffet lunch in a nice tourist restaurant.
Next on the itinerary is the famous archaeological site of Ollantaytambo, known for its ruins of a massive Inca fortress. Learn more about the history of this place from your tour guide before we return back to Cusco with a stopover at Chinchero, a town known for its weavers as well as Inca ruins.
Your trip comes to an end at Cusco city centre (the main square) where we will drop you off. Travelers who want hotel drop-off can also book this trip as a private tour. Please let us know if you are interested in this option and we will provide you with a quote.
There is more about the Incas than just Machu Picchu. Join us on this guided day trip to see Queshuachaca, the last operational Inca bridge. We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at 6:45 am. Your first destination is the four lagoons, where you will reach after almost two hours on the road.
The Pomacanchi Lagoon is the largest and most important of the four. The other three are the Acopia Lagoon, Laguna Asnaqocha and the Pampamarca Lagoon. After enjoying some quiet moments near the lagoons, it is time to head for the Apurímac River where lies the impressive Inca bridge.
This hanging Inca bridge is made of vegetable fiber (ichu) and is located in the district of Quehue. The renovation and maintenance of this bridge is done once every year by members of the four communities living in nearby villages that use this bridge.
Cross the bridge twice before heading back to Cusco. Stop by to see the colonial bridge of Checacupe and learn more about the difference between the two. You will reach the city by 7:00 pm.
This traditional "tanguería" declared a Site of Cultural Interest in 1982, is located in San Telmo neighborhood which represents the cultural essence of tango. El Viejo Almacen has a stunning show with professional dancers and a live band and it is the best way to watch a spectacular show in one of the most historic and internationally renowned tanguerías in the world.
Visiting this traditional place is a must!
Travel by train from Cusco to Machu Picchu and explore the Lost Citadel of the Incas. Spend a night by your own in Aguas Calientes village at the foot of Machu Picchu, and enjoy the quietness of Machu Picchu early morning before heading back to Cusco. Our Machu Picchu 2 day-tour in Cusco will take you to discover this amazing place declared as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1983