Peru: The Soul of Cusco & Machu Picchu by Train

  • thumbnail image_peruthesoulofcuscomachupicchubytrain
  • thumbnail map_peruthesoulofcuscomachupicchubytrain

Duration: 9 days

Begins: Cusco

Ends: Cusco

Trip Code: SPZG

From

£2,649 per person

Angebot anfordern

or Call 01273 099433

    Dive headfirst into the magic of Peru on this nine-day adventure packed with stunning landscapes, rich culture, and mouthwatering food. Go beyond the ordinary in the Sacred Valley, where extra time means extra discoveries — explore iconic Inca ruins like Pisaq and Ollantaytambo, visit a world-class ceramic studio, and even hike to a hidden waterfall. Then, hop aboard a scenic train ride to the legendary Machu Picchu for an unforgettable day of exploration, capped off with a delicious meal at Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge. From ancient wonders to cultural gems, this journey is Peru at its absolute best.
    Is this tour for me?
    Travel Style
    The Geluxe Collection
    With perfectly paced itineraries, one-of-a-kind accommodations, and comfort at their very core, these premium active trips are adventure at its finest.
    Service Level
    Upgraded
    Quality accommodations and more inclusions than on other G Adventures tours, like meals, private transport, and activities.
    Physical Rating
    3 - Average
    Some tours may include light hiking, biking, rafting, or kayaking in addition to walking.
    Trip Type
    Small Group
    Small Group experience; Max 16, avg 12
    Age requirement
    12+
    All travellers under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
    What's Included
    • Your G for Good Moment: Cuyo Chico Visit & Empanada Making Demonstration, Valle Sagrado
    • Your G for Good Moment: Parwa Community Restaurant the Sacred Valley, Lamay
    • Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
    • Your Foodie Moment: Traditional Pachamanca Dinner, Yanahuara
    • Your OMG Day: Hike to Perilnilloq Waterfall or Via Ferrata, Valle Sagrado
    • Complimentary arrival transfer
    • Welcome dinner
    • Explore the ruins of Pisaq in the Sacred Valley with a local guide
    • Visit the Maras salt pans and ruins of Moray
    • Guided tour of Machu Picchu
    • Lunch at Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge
    • Farewell dinner
    • All tips included for activities and meals, except for CEO and porterage
    • All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
    Accommodations

    Hotels (8nts).

    Meals

    8 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 5 dinners

    Allow USD135-175 for meals not included.

    Transportation

    Public bus, private van, train, walking.

    Staff & experts

    CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides.

    Day 1 : Cusco: The Land of the Incas

    The air is a bit thinner when you step off of the plane and you can immediately sense the magic of Cusco as you make your way to the city centre along the cobblestone streets past grand buildings and ancient Inca stonework. We welcome you to Peru, a diverse land of natural beauty and traditional cultures and we invite you to open yourself to curiosity and wonder as you embark on this adventure up in the Andes.

    Arrive to Cusco at any time and transfer to the hotel. Meet your fellow group members at the welcome meeting in the evening and get all the important information about the adventure ahead. Afterwards, head to a nearby restaurant for a delicious welcome dinner with new friends.

    Arrival Transfer

    Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport - Cusco 0h15m 8km

    You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel to start your adventure.

    Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group

    1h Evening

    Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

    Meals Included:

    Dinner

    Day 2 : The Sacred Valley: Pisaq Ruins and Cultural Traditions

    The Sacred Valley is aptly named for its importance to the people who have lived there and it is also stunningly beautiful with mountain scenery and colourful farmland along the Urubamba River. You'll see the massive ruins of Pisaq perched up above the town as you approach and you'll get to spend time with a local community on the way up to the site. Lunch is an experience unto itself at a community-run restaurant, using locally-grown ingredients for a delicious and traditional meal. Back at the hotel for dinner, feast on a traditional pachamanca meal consisting of various types of meat, potatoes and vegetables cooked for hours in the ground under hot stones.

    Travel from Cusco into the Sacred Valley. Visit the Cuyo Chico community for a snack and to learn about their traditional ceramics and adobe before taking a guided tour of Pisaq archaeological site. Continue to the hotel after lunch. In the evening enjoy a pachamanca dinner.

    Private Vehicle

    Cusco - Valle Sagrado 2h - 2h30m

    Sit back and scan the scenery from the comfort of your private vehicle with stops along the way to Cuyo Chico, Pisaq, and Parwa.

    Cuyo Chico Visit & Empanada Making Demonstration

    Valle Sagrado

    In the rural village of Cuyo Chico in the Sacred Valley, a group of families joined together to create a small business based on their traditional adobe ceramic crafts. Visit this community learn about the ceramics process and partake in an empanada making demonstration.

    Pisac Ruins Guided Tour

    Pisac

    Tour the fascinating hilltop citadel of Pisac, an Incan ruin with plunging gorges, a ceremonial centre, and winding agriculture terracing that's still in use today. Be captivated by this truly amazing site sitting amid sweeping green valleys and mountain peaks. Explore the back of the site to see a pocketed cliff across Kitamayo Gorge, which once contained hundreds of Inca tombs.

    Parwa Community Restaurant the Sacred Valley

    Lamay - Ollantaytambo

    Contribute to sustainable tourism in Huchuy Qosqo, a small village of 65 families in the Sacred Valley, by eating at the Parwa Community Restaurant. Learn how the resident-run restaurant was kickstarted by G Adventures and the Multilateral Investment Fund, to become a successful farm-to-table program that boosts the local economy and several spin-off microenterprises.

    Traditional Pachamanca Dinner

    Yanahuara

    The thousand year-old tradition of Pachamanca involves baking an assortment of meat and vegetables in an oven of hot stones, earth, and grass. Meat is usually seasoned with local spices and wrapped in a banana leaf before it’s placed on the hot stones and can include lamb, pork, chicken or guinea pig. Savour this traditional meal prepared by an experienced chef.

    Meals Included:

    Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

    Day 3 : The Sacred Valley: Your OMG Day

    Sitting at a slightly lower altitude than Cusco, spending time in the Sacred Valley helps to get you used the altitude in these parts. Choose from a scenic acclimatization hike to a waterfall or get the adrenaline flowing by scaling a via ferrata network of rungs and ladders for lunch with a view.

    Choice of activity in the morning, both options including lunch.

    Hike to Perilnilloq Waterfall or Via Ferrata

    Valle Sagrado 4h

    Option 1: Start the day with an acclimatization hike to Perilnilloq waterfall. Follow a meandering trail through the mountains to the gorgeous waterfall, and to the Inca ruins of Raqaypata that lie just beyond. Option 2: Get the adrenaline flowing and scale a via ferrata for epic views. Test your fear of heights as you climb the rungs and ladders and enjoy lunch with a view.

    Free time:

    Valle Sagrado Half day

    Enjoy free time back at the hotel this afternoon and evening before your group dinner.

    Meals Included:

    Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

    Day 4 : The Sacred Valley: Living Traditions

    Beyond the natural beauty of the Sacred Valley lies a long history of cultural practices that endure throughout the region. You'll marvel at Inca stonework at Ollantaytambo and also see living traditions like ceramic-making that embody both the local spirit as well as be an expression of those that lived here in the past. You'll get the chance to appreciate the old and the new as well as eat some delicious local food along the way.

    Take a morning tour of Ollantaytambo ruins before heading to Urubamba for a visit of Pablo Seminario's ceramic workshop where, if lucky, you may get the chance to meet him. Have lunch at the beautiful Hacienda Huayoccari before returning to the hotel for a free evening to relax.

    Ollantaytambo Ruins Visit

    Ollantaytambo 1h - 1h30m

    Explore this ancient site right in the heart of Ollantaytambo city. Learn about the principles of Incan architecture and get a first taste of climbing around a massive ruins site.

    Cerámicas Seminario Workshop Visit

    Ollantaytambo

    Visit Pablo Seminario's ceramic workshop in Urubamba and learn about ceramic-making that embodies the local spirit and is a tribute to generations past.

    Lunch at Hacienda Huayroccari

    Valle Sagrado

    Enjoy a delicious and traditional lunch at the historic estate of Hacienda Huayroccari, surrounded by art and the breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains of the Sacred Valley.

    Meals Included:

    Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

    Day 5 : Cusco: Maras and Moray

    Evidence of the Inca in these parts is astounding as ancient ruins and archaeological sites are scattered all over the landscape. Driving along the Sacred Valley you may catch a glint of white up in the mountains before you ascend, as the salt pans of Maras shine in the sunlight with Moray lying just beyond.

    Drive up out of the Sacred Valley with stops to visit the salt pans of Maras and the Moray archaeological site. Continue to the town of Chinchero and explore the ruins on the way back to Cusco for a free evening to choose from one of the many great restaurants near the main plaza.

    Private Vehicle

    Ollantaytambo - Moray 1h 20km

    Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

    Maras Salt Mines and Moray Visit

    Maras - Moray

    Drive a little more than an hour to get to the Moray archaeological site. Tour these unique Inca ruins, consisting of circular terraces and a sophisticated irrigation system located at 3500m (11483 ft). Learn about the history and study of this fascinating site – speculation has it that it was an Inca agriculture experiment station. Visit the impressive Maras Salt Mines, after Moray. See thousands of individual ancient salt pools spilling over a hillside. Learn about the different varieties of salt, and try the renowned pink salt, famous worldwide.

    Scenic Andean Drive and lunch near Maras

    Moray - Maras 1h - 1h30m

    Set out on a scenic drive above the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Stop along the way to look out over small farms carved into the hills and small villages dotted along the landscape. Enjoy the views and have lunch near Maras, opt to relax, explore the surroundings.

    Private Vehicle

    Maras - Chincheros 0h30m 23km

    Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

    Chincheros Ruins Visit

    Chincheros 0h45m - 1h

    Chincheros is known to the Incas as the birthplace of the rainbow. This typical Andean village has Inca ruins, a colonial church, and sweeping mountain views. Explore the ruins and check out the impressive architecture of this ancient place.

    Private Vehicle

    Chincheros - Cusco 0h45m - 1h 28km

    Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

    Meals Included:

    Breakfast | Lunch

    Day 6 : Cusco: The Ancient Capital

    Cusco is an incredible city to discover on foot with its beautiful architecture, cobblestone streets and picturesque plazas. You'll explore the city with an expert guide to show you the way, passing by some of the "must-see" historical and cultural highlights as well as some hidden gems and great panoramic views.

    Set off on a walking tour of Cusco before a delicious lunch at a restaurant near the main plaza. In the afternoon, enjoy free time for individual exploration, shopping or relaxing near the plaza to watch the world go by.

    Cusco Colonial Side Walking Tour

    Cusco 6h

    Spend time on a group walking tour of the colonial areas in Cusco. Start in Cusco City and finish with a visit to the Sapantiana waterfalls before having a delicious lunch at a restaurant near the main plaza.

    Free time:

    Cusco

    Spend more time getting to know this fascinating city and surrounding area. Free time is yours to explore any way you want.

    Optional Activities - Day 6

    Inka Museum

    Cusco

    Get ready to explore the artifacts from the Inca Empire, including mummies, jewelry, skulls, and ceramics at this museum of archaeology.

    Meals Included:

    Breakfast | Lunch

    Day 7 : Aguas Calientes: Scenic Train

    Watching the mountains go by from a train is the perfect build-up of what's to come, as you follow the Urubamba River along the valley. You'll feel the anticipation building as you get closer and closer to your goal and you'll see the vegetation start to get lusher as the train descends in elevation. Only one more sleep until the big day.

    Drive back to the Sacred Valley and catch the train to Aguas Calientes, at the foot of Machu Picchu. Enjoy a free evening with an optional visit to the local hot springs.

    Private Vehicle

    Cusco - Ollantaytambo 1h45m 94km

    Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

    Train

    Ollantaytambo - Aguas Calientes

    Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.

    Aguas Calientes Orientation Walk

    Aguas Calientes 0h30m - 0h45m

    The group will arrive at Aguas Calientes with their assistant guide or CEO and they will have an orientation walk through the town of Aguas Calientes. Your CEO can then help you coordinate any optional activities you may want to try during your time here.

    Meals Included:

    Breakfast

    Day 8 : Cusco: Discover Machu Picchu

    Exploring the mountaintop Inca citadel of Machu Picchu is a magical experience, no matter how many pictures you may have seen of it. The history of the ancient Inca that you've heard in the days leading up to this moment seem to all come together as you wander the site's temples and terraces. Relive the memories and take in the views as you return by train on the way back to Cusco.

    Take an early bus up to Machu Picchu for a guided tour of the ruins followed by lunch at Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge. Return by train and bus to Cusco and enjoy a farewell dinner in the evening.

    Private Vehicle

    Ollantaytambo - Cusco 1h30m - 1h45m 60km

    Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

    Train

    Aguas Calientes - Ollantaytambo 1h30m - 1h45m 31km

    Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.

    Machu Picchu Guided Tour

    Aguas Calientes

    Rise and shine – the best time to see the Lost City of the Incas is in the early morning light. Follow the local guide to Machu Picchu to learn about its history at a leisurely pace. Gain local insight into the Inti Mach’ay cave, Inti Watana, the Temple of the Sun, the Temple of the Water, the Temple of the Condor, and the Room of the Three Windows. Take time to sit and feel the energy of this 15th-century site, now both a UNESCO World Heritage site and voted one of the new Seven Wonders of the World (in a worldwide Internet poll). Transport to and from Aguas Calientes is provided with the tour.

    Local Bus

    Aguas Calientes

    Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.

    Meals Included:

    Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

    Day 9 : Cusco

    Your adventure comes to an end, and you can depart at any time.

    Depart at any time.

    Departure Day

    Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.

    Meals Included:

    Breakfast

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