Heart of the Empire Exploration

Upon arrival at Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport in Cusco, your guide will meet you and escort you to your transport. We will transfer you to your hotel in the Sacred Valley, stopping en route at the Inkariy Museum near Pisac. Here, you will explore a chronological display of Perus pre-Columbian cultures, including the Inca Empire and earlier civilisations such as the Caral, Chavn, Paracas, Moche, Nasca, Wari, Lambayeque and Chim. After checking in at your hotel, you will have some free time to relax and familiarise yourself with the surroundings, preparing for the days ahead. Please note that domestic flights from Lima to Cusco should arrive no later than 10:30 to ensure timely transfer. Overnight in the Sacred Valley.

After breakfast at the hotel, we visit the high-altitude town of Chinchero, known for its stunning valley views and vibrant local traditions. Here, we explore archaeological remains and a seventeenth-century churchone of Perus earliest Catholic buildings. Next, we transfer to the Yucay Museum of Living Culture, where you can observe artisans crafting textiles, adobe pottery and silverware using techniques dating back to Inca times. This centre also offers the chance to feed llamas, sheep and alpacas, providing a hands-on experience of Andean life. We then enjoy a lunch of local cuisine in a cosy restaurant in Ollantaytambo. After lunch, we explore the streets of Ollantaytambo, a town continuously inhabited since Inca times, and climb the iconic fortress built into the mountainside. At the end of the day, we return to the hotel in the Sacred Valley to rest and reflect on the days discoveries. On Sundays, you may also wish to visit the local market.

After breakfast, we transfer you to Ollanta station to begin the scenic two-hour train journey to Aguas Calientes, also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo. This town is the gateway to Machu Picchu, the most significant archaeological site in Peru. Believed to have been built around 1450 as a retreat for the Inca emperor Pachactec, the citadel was abandoned just over a century later, likely due to the Spanish Conquest. Remarkably, it remained hidden beneath dense jungle until its rediscovery in 1911. Your guided tour will explore the origins of this extraordinary site and take you through some of its most iconic monuments. After the tour, return to Aguas Calientes for lunch and enjoy free time in the afternoon. Overnight in Aguas Calientes.

After breakfast, enjoy a leisurely morning in Aguas Calientes. You can explore the towns restaurants, bars, shops and craft market at your own pace, or choose to return to Machu Picchu for a deeper look at this extraordinary ancient site. In the afternoon, board the train back to Ollanta station, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Cusco for your overnight stay.

After breakfast, enjoy a free morning in Cusco to relax at the hotel or explore the citys charming cobblestone streets and browse local handicrafts. In the afternoon, join a guided tour of the former capital of the Inca Empire. Begin at the Santo Domingo Convent, built atop Coricanchaan important Inca temple dedicated to sun worship, once adorned with gold leaf and intricate nature motifs. Next, visit the impressive cathedral in the Plaza de Armas before heading to the surrounding hills to explore the fortress of Sacsayhuamn, offering panoramic views of Cusco. Continue to Qenqo, an archaeological site believed to have been used for religious ceremonies, and finish at Puka Pukara, an ancient military complex featuring rooms, courtyards, baths, aqueducts and towers. After the tour, we will transfer you back to your hotel for an overnight stay in Cusco.

After breakfast at the hotel, you will check out and transfer to Cusco airport for your onward journey. Although this marks the end of your trip, we hope the rich culture and history you have experienced here will remain with you for years to come. Breakfast is included.