Machu Picchu and Cusco

Fly to Cusco. When you arrive you’ll be met for your drive to the Sacred Valley. Visit Awanakancha en route, a farm of South American camelids before you continue to Pisac, a town shaped as a partridge, which is known for the craft market established between colonial buildings.

You’ll continue to Ollantaytambo which is a typical example of the way the Incas planned their towns, its residents still live in accordance with their old traditions. Explore the Ollantaytambo Fortress, a huge archaeological complex, which has large terraces on a hillside.

Today is the day you get to explore the incredible Machu Picchu, which means Old Mountain. You’ll start with a two-hour train ride through some stunning scenery before reaching Aguas Calientes, a small town near the site. Then it’s a half an hour bus ride to reach the citadel of Machu Picchu, a masterpiece of engineering and architecture that was built in the 15th century.

Its former use remains a mystery – but it’s that mystery that makes it all that more magical.

You have the option this morning to return to Machu Picchu and see any parts that you missed yesterday such as the Intipunku, the Ince Bridge or climb the Huayna Picchu.

In the afternoon you’ll head to Aguas Calientes train station for your train back to Poroy before then reaching Cusco.

Once you’re back in Cusco, you’ll discover the Qoricancha, also known as the ‘Temple of the Sun’.

This is where the sun was worshipped during the Inca Empire. Visit the Cathedral, one of the most splendid Spanish colonial churches in America, which is shaped as a Latin Cross and houses about 400 colonial paintings from the Cusco art school. Also, discover the Sacsayhuamán fortress. This complex was built with megalithic stone blocks, of which transportation and construction continue to be a mystery.