06 Day Essential Cusco "The Andean Jewels"

• Start your adventure with a hotel pickup between 8:00 and 8:30 AM. Your first stop is Chinchero, a charming Andean town known for its impressive Inca walls and a historic colonial church. Here, you’ll experience a live demonstration of traditional Andean textile weaving, where local artisans will reveal their ancestral techniques.
• Next, head to Moray, a fascinating Inca site featuring circular agricultural terraces once used for crop experimentation at different altitudes. From there, continue to the picturesque salt mines of Maras, where over 3,000 salt pools cascade down the hillside, creating a stunning visual spectacle.
• In the late afternoon, travel to Ollantaytambo to board a scenic train to Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu. Spend the evening resting and preparing for the following day’s highlight.

Accommodation: Golden Sunrise Hotel or similar.

• The day begins early with breakfast before boarding one of the morning buses to Machu Picchu (2,430 meters or 7,972 feet). Upon entering the Inca citadel, your guide will lead you on an in-depth tour, sharing the captivating history of this iconic site and explaining its most remarkable features, such as temples, ceremonial areas, terraces, and storage structures.
• If you’ve secured an additional ticket in advance, you’ll also have the opportunity to explore either Huayna Picchu (2,720 meters or 8,924 feet) or Machu Picchu Mountain (3,082 meters or 10,111 feet) for a breathtaking perspective of the surroundings.
• After the guided tour, the group will return to Aguas Calientes for a brief rest and lunch. In the afternoon, you’ll board a train back to Ollantaytambo, where a private van will be waiting to take you to Cusco.

Accommodation: Ayni Cusco Hotel or similar.

• Rise early for a 4:00–5:00 AM hotel pickup and travel to the village of Mollepata, where you’ll enjoy a hearty breakfast. Continue by vehicle to Soraypampa, the trailhead for your hike to Humantay Lake.
• Begin a moderate 2-hour uphill trek, surrounded by stunning landscapes, including towering snow-capped peaks and diverse flora and fauna. Once at the lake, marvel at its vibrant turquoise waters set against the dramatic backdrop of the Salkantay glacier. Spend 30–40 minutes taking in the views, relaxing, and capturing incredible photos.
• After descending the same trail, return to Mollepata for lunch before heading back to Cusco in the late afternoon.

Accommodation: Ayni Cusco Hotel or similar.

• Begin your day with a hotel pickup between 4:00 and 4:30 AM. Travel through the stunning countryside, passing rivers, villages, and valleys, to reach Cusipata, where you’ll enjoy breakfast. From there, continue to Pulawasipata, the starting point of your hike.
• Embark on a 2-hour trek to Rainbow Mountain, surrounded by breathtaking views of glaciers, canyons, and herds of llamas and alpacas. Upon reaching the summit, take in the vibrant colors of this natural wonder and admire the nearby Ausangate Mountain, the highest peak in the region.
• After enjoying the scenery, return along the same path to Cusipata for a buffet lunch. Arrive back in Cusco in the afternoon.

Accommodation: Ayni Cusco Hotel or similar.

• On your final day, depending on your flight schedule, you’ll be transferred to Cusco Airport for your departure to Lima or your next destination.