Lost City & Jungle Adventure

The Inca ruins of Tambomachay.

Our team will pick you up from your hotel at 12:45 p.m. to begin your half-day tour of the city of Cusco.

Known as the archaeological capital of the Americas, Cusco is the oldest city in the Western Hemisphere and was the heart of the Incan empire during the 14th and 15th centuries. Today, Cusco is a blended city, with a mix of ancient pre-Inca & Inca architecture and Spanish/Colonial influences. Today we will have the chance to visit a number of fascinating sites which will allow you to appreciate the city’s extraordinary history and culture:

Cusco Cathedral

The Cusco Cathedral is the main temple of the city of Cusco and is located in the northeast sector of the current Plaza de Armas (main square). Here you will have the chance to admire the cathedral’s architecture and see some famous works of art belonging to the “Cusco School” tradition.

Qoricancha & Santo Domingo Convent

The Qoricancha temple was the primary temple dedicated to Inti, the sun god, and the most important temple in the Inca Empire. The baroque Santo Domingo Convent was later built on top of the Incan temple, but much of the majestic original stonework still remains.

Sacsayhuaman

Sacsayhuaman is an Inca ceremonial fortress located two kilometers north of the city of Cusco. Built with massive megalithic stone walls, Saqsaywaman is considered by many to be the greatest architectural work accomplished by the Inca Empire during its heyday. You will also be able to enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the city of Cusco from the nearby Cristo Blanco lookout point.

Q’enqo

Located about 4 km (15 minutes) northeast of the city of Cusco, this mysterious site is one of the largest huacas (pre-Columbian places of worship) in Cusco and features a number of intricate underground passageways.

Puca Pucara

Puca Pucara, whose name means “Red Fortress” in Quechua, is a fortress composed of large walls, terraces and stairways which shows us an excellent example of Inca military architecture.

Tambomachay

This stunning Inca site consists of a series of aqueducts, canals and several waterfalls running through natural rock formations. This site serves as one of the most impressive examples of the Incas’ ability to manipulate water. Though its exact purpose is unknown, it may have been a place of devotion for a local water cult.

After visiting all of these sites, you will return to your hotel and have the rest of the day free.

Agricultural terraces at the ruins of Pisac in the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

We will depart at 7:00 a.m. to begin your full-day tour of the Sacred Valley.

The Sacred Valley of the Incas was the center of the vast Incan Empire. This fertile land features an excellent climate and has been a major agricultural region for thousands of years. The extensive ruins stretch from the villages of Pisac to Ollantaytambo before you eventually arrive at the citadel of Machu Picchu.

Today we will have the opportunity to visit the following incredible sites:

Pisac

This site functioned as the Southern Gateway to the Sacred Valley, and is known for its military, ceremonial and agricultural purposes. Here you can admire numerous agricultural terraces lining the mountainside, the most of any site in the Sacred Valley. After visiting the ruins we will walk through the local town of the same name and explore its colorful artisan market before heading to the town of Urubamba for lunch (cost of meal not included in tour).

Ollantaytambo

Our second stop will take us to the Inca Fortress and Citadel of Ollantaytambo, built to guard the Northern entrance of the Valley. It was designed to protect it from possible invasion from the various lower jungle tribes. As you walk through the quaint streets of the town and make your way up the steps of the fortress, you will start to realize what an important strategic Military, Religious, and Agricultural Center it was during the reign of the Inca Empire. This is also the place where the Inca had their last stand against the Spanish before retreating to seek refuge at Vilcabamba.

Chinchero

Next we will stop off at the picturesque Andean Village of Chinchero to visit the Royal Hacienda Ruins of Tupac Inca Yupanqui. We will admire a well-preserved Inca Wall in the Main Square and visit the beautiful Colonial temple built on Inca foundations, featuring a series of mysterious fresco paintings.

After the tour you will head to your hotel in the Sacred Valley to rest for the evening.

The Inca ruins of Machu Picchu, considered one of the new 7 wonders of the world.

One of the Seven Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu deserves all the attention that it gets for being an engineering and architectural masterpiece. Visitors will be impressed by the many plazas, temples, houses, storage facilities, sun dials, and stairs that still maintain their structure more than 500 years later despite constant exposure to intense weather and earthquakes. The natural surroundings only add to an already stunning view and no trip to Peru is complete without a visit to this sanctuary.

We will pick you up early in the morning in order to start the tour. You will be transferred to the train station in Ollantaytambo in order to catch the train to Aguas Calientes. From here you will take a short 30 minute bus ride to the gates of Machu Picchu. A professional guide will lead you through the magnificent citadel and share the secrets of Inca architecture and their way of life.

During a tour through this magnificent site, your bilingual guide will explain all about the historical sanctuary of Machu Picchu and visit all the major sites within the lost city. The guided tour will take around 2 hours.

After the tour we will descend to Aguas Calientes, the town named for its hot springs. Here you will have time to eat lunch and shop for some souvenirs before catching the train back to Cusco. You will arrive back at your hotel sometime in the evening depending on your chosen time of departure.

The emblematic Cock of the Rock, Peru’s national bird.

We will collect you from your hotel early in the morning, between 5:30 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., in a comfortable and private bus. During the journey, we will visit the Chullpas de Ninamarca, which are funerary towers located 3750 meters above sea level, and briefly stop at Paucartambo, a colonial town with a rich folkloric tradition and a historic bridge.

Afterwards, we will ascend to the Acjanaco sector in the upper area of Paucartambo, located at an altitude of 4000 meters above sea level, which is the entry point to the Manu National Park. We will then descend through the enchanting cloud forest, home to an extensive variety of flora and fauna, including beautiful orchids, heliconias, and primitive ferns.

During a walk, you will have the opportunity to observe the Cock of the Rock, a Peruvian bird that performs a ritual mating dance. Additionally, there is a chance to witness other bird species such as Trogones, Quetzales, and with some luck, even the Spectacled Bear.

In the afternoon, we will arrive at Pilcopata, a village located 550 meters above sea level. There, we will stay at a typical lodge situated outside the town, which has private bathrooms and showers.

A howler monkey in the Peruvian Amazon.

After enjoying a delectable breakfast, we will resume our journey by bus to Atalaya, which will take about 45 minutes. Atalaya is located at an altitude of 490 meters above sea level. From there, we will board a boat for a 30-minute ride to the Paititi lodge, where we will spend the night in a typical lodge with private bathrooms and showers. During the boat ride, we will have the opportunity to observe a variety of animals.

After a delightful lunch, in the afternoon, we will head to the Cocha Machuwasi and ride a typical catamaran to observe various birds, such as the Shansho (Ophisthocomus hoazín), monkeys, reptiles, dwarf alligators, insects, and possibly some ronsocos (Hydrochaerus hydrochaeris).

Later, we will have the option to participate in a night trekking program. You will spend the night in the hostel, where private bathrooms and showers are available.

A green parrot in the Amazon Rainforest.

We will depart very early in the morning by boat for a 45-minute ride to the parrot lick, a wall of clay rich in minerals. Here, we will witness three to four species of green parrots gathering in large numbers to feed on the mineral-rich clay. Afterward, we will enjoy a delectable breakfast before continuing our journey.

We will disembark from the boat at Atalaya and continue our tour by bus, passing through Pilcopata (located 550 meters above sea level), Patria, and Chontachaca. We will once again pass through the mysterious cloud forest en route to the Imperial City. We will revisit the cloud forest before arriving in the city of Cusco, which is expected to be between 6:30 to 7:00 p.m.

You will then be dropped off at your hotel in Cusco and will have the rest of the evening free.

One of our representatives will escort you from your hotel to the airport for your flight home.