The Inca Trip 9 days: Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley and the Tambopata National Reserve

Lime

Welcome to the city of Lima!, also known as the cultural capital of Peru! Upon arrival at the Lima airport we will wait for you with a sign with the name of the main traveler, we will take you to your hotel to register, leave your luggage and freshen up. You'll have some time to rest before finding a place for lunch or dinner.

After lunch, and once you are ready, you will choose whether to rest or take an optional city tour.

Peruvian cooking classes (optional)

The Lima Cooking Class is highly recommended for families with children very interested in cooking and learning more about local cuisine and ingredients. Please note that the pisco sour offered during the cooking class is for adults only.

City tour Lima (optional)

We can prepare this tour starting at 1:00 pm, visit The Love Park in Miraflores, panoramic view of the Huaca Pucllana , olive grove forest, Paseo de los Heroes, Plaza San Martin, Plaza de Armas de Lima and its main monuments , convent and Cantacombs of San Fransico .

Lime

At the time indicated on your plane ticket, we will take you to the Lima airport to board your flight to Cusco

Cusco

Welcome to the imperial Inca capital of Cusco, also known as the cultural capital of Peru! Upon arrival at Cusco airport, our team will be waiting for you with a sign with the name of the main traveler. We will transfer you to your hotel so you can check in, drop off your luggage and freshen up. You will enjoy some time to rest before heading to a restaurant for lunch. After eating, and once you are ready, you will have the option to rest or participate in an optional city tour.

(Optional Walking tour)

14:00 PM We usually meet in the lobby of your hotel in Cusco. Once we are all together and ready to begin, it will be time to embark on our exciting tour of Cusco.

This historical tour will take us to the San Pedro Market, it is one of the oldest in the entire city and probably the most famous. Together with your guide you will walk through the rows of bright fruits, colorful clothing, artisanal pieces and food stalls. Your guide will tell you about the history and current functioning of the market. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to interact with local merchants at their stalls. Then we will walk through the beautiful streets until we reach the Coricancha sun temple.

This site means Temple of the Sun in Spanish, so it was and is the most important Inca construction in the city of Cusco. Inside you will find very well preserved pieces of Inca architecture that are truly amazing, especially when you see how well the stones fit together. The main function of Coricancha was for astronomical and religious reasons.

Later, we will take a walking tour of the San Blas neighborhood. This is a very traditional part of the city where the nobles lived during the Inca Empire. Today, it is a very artistic neighborhood. You can find many museums or exhibitions, you will also see people selling their handmade crafts. We will continue climbing and we will reach the main viewpoint of Cusco.

Once the tour is over, we will ask you if you want to stay at a recommended restaurant or we will simply return to your hotel where our tour will end.

Cusco

07:45 AM. We will begin with pickup in the lobby of your hotel after breakfast, our transportation with our guide will take us from Cusco to the Sacred Valley of the Incas passing through Sacsayhuaman , Qenqo and Pucapucara . (Make an optional stop at Cusco's main viewpoint, Cristo Blanco)

Taray Viewpoint

08:40 AM. Here we will stop for about 10 minutes to obtain classic photographs of the Sacred Valley, we will be able to appreciate glaciers, Inca terraces, and a spectacular view of the Sacred Valley.

Pisac Archaeological Park

09:30 AM. At this Inca site in Pisac we can enjoy impressive views of this valley. Here you will see immense Inca agricultural terraces, residences, altars, water channels and tombs and we will learn all about Inca agricultural methods shared by our professional guide.

Potato Park | Local community Pisac

11:00 AM. Continue exploring the Sacred Valley with a visit to Parque de la Papa, or Potato Park, supported by FLY CUSCO PERU Travel Agency, a rural Andean community working to preserve hundreds of native potato varieties. During this exclusive experience, you will walk through the park with a local guide to learn about potato growing, traditional weaving, and the importance of both practices to Andean culture.

Urubamba – Colonial style Don Angel Restaurant

1:00 PM. Enjoy an extraordinary buffet lunch (with vegetarian options available) at one of the best restaurants in the Sacred Valley. You have the option of trying more than 50 Peruvian dishes including salads, soup, main dishes, and Peruvian desserts.

Yanahuara | Preparation of chicha

And now to chicha! Inca corn beer. Your guide will explain the importance of this beer to the Inca Empire and explain the brewing process in a local house.

Ollantaytambo Archaeological Park

15:00 PM. Our last discovery of that day: The terraces and ruins of Ollantaytambo. This place was highly protected since it was the entrance to the road to Machu Picchu. Therefore, many things happened here during the Spanish invasion. Then we will take you to your hotel to take a shower after a beautiful day.

Ollantaytambo

All aboard! Hop on the morning train and sit back to enjoy the stunning views of the valley along the Urubamba River.

Aguas Calientes

You will arrive in Aguas Calientes (town of Machu Picchu) at the exit door of the train station we will be waiting to take you to your hotel where you will spend the night. Get settled in your hotel. After check -in, you have the day free at your own expense.

Head on your own to the butterfly garden in Aguas Calientes, or also take a dip in the hot springs in the same town, very good for your joints and bones. Or you can just stay at the hotel.

Inca trail (optional)

For the hikers among us who have pre-booked the 1-day Inca Trail option, you will get off the train early at km 104 to hike to Puerta del Sol with a local guide and see Machu Picchu in the afternoon before meeting everyone from new at night. The rest of us will arrive in town before dinner and have the rest of the day to explore, shop, see a nearby waterfall, or soak in the local hot springs. But don't stay up late tonight, tomorrow is the big day!

Historic sanctuary of Machu Picchu

07:00 AM. After having our breakfast at the hotel, we will transfer with our guide to the bus station. This bus will take us to the main door of the Historical Sanctuary of Machu Picchu where we will begin our unforgettable experience. Your expert guide will accompany you through the main streets of these incredible ruins. Stroll through the city squares and climb the delicately carved stone stairs. Esoteric wisdom supports Machu Picchu as the new spiritual center of the world. There will be time to be alone and fully embrace this magnificent wonder of the world, letting this once-in-a-lifetime experience take hold. After finishing the visit, we will take the bus back to Aguas Calientes where you will have time for lunch (not included).

14:00pm at the time indicated on your ticket, let's board the train that will not take you to the Ollantaytambo train station.

Ollantaytambo

Upon arrival at the train station in Ollantaytambo, our transportation will be waiting to take you back to your hotel in Cusco. Estimated arrival time 18:30pm

Cusco

Free day in Cusco, yes please!

For those who haven't had enough hiking and food-worthy moments, you can take the full-day hike to Rainbow Mountain. Otherwise, there are plenty of other things to keep you busy, such as mountain biking or exploring the city's museums, markets and shops, or perhaps you just want to relax at the hotel with friends. It's pretty much a win-win no matter what.

Cusco

At the time indicated on your plane ticket, we will take you to the Cusco airport to board your flight to Puerto Maldonado.

Puerto Maldonado

We arrive at Puerto Maldonado and continue by motorized canoe to the comfortable, intimate and exclusive. Enjoy guided excursions led by expert naturalists to observe wildlife in nearby lakes and treetop towers.

Fly from Lima to Puerto Maldonado, deep in the lowlands of the Amazon rainforest. Travel by motorized canoe to our lodge in the Tambopata rainforest area, which holds the world record for bird sightings in one area.

Explore the jungle with local guides before flying to Cusco, located high in the Andes. Depending on flight arrival times, enjoy a packed lunch on board the ship or lunch upon arrival at the lodge. Rubber boots are provided at the hostel.

During the trip, take the opportunity to observe bird species typical of the river or the edge of the forest, such as black skimmers, lapwings, great gray herons , jabiru storks, roadside falcons and several species of kingfishers, swallows and flycatchers.

Tambopata

Enjoy visits to lakes to learn about the jungle and its inhabitants. Learn about the area's rich flora and fauna from expert naturalist guides, who can teach you extensive uses of medicinal plant and other forest plant resources through traditional techniques. Be prepared to go early in the morning or at night to avoid the midday heat. Enjoy a leisurely pace – the trip requires some walking, but nothing too strenuous.

Tambopata

Transfer by boat to Puerto Maldonado to take a flight back home or another destination. Explore the many squares, ruins, shops and markets during your free time. Until your flight departure.

We recommend that the flight be in the afternoon.