Independent Machu Picchu & Cusco Getaway with Lima

Welcome to Lima. Heralded as the “City of Kings” by Spanish conquistadors, Lima retains vestiges of its opulent past with its colonial buildings and world-class museums.

Transfer to the airport and fly to Cusco where you will be met by your Local Host (Please arrive no later than 2:00 pm). Together, embark on a private tour into the Urubamba Valley and the Sacred Valley of the Incas for lunch. Visit the market town of Pisaq, where you can buy handmade rugs, alpaca sweaters, and jewelry at bargain prices. At the other end of the valley, visit Ollantaytambo to see some of the finest examples of Inca masonry. Continue to your hotel in the Sacred Valley for a free evening. (B,L)

This morning, transfer to the Ollanta train station where you will board the Vistadome Train. Embark on a short journey through the lush Urubamba Valley to Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of the mountain where Machu Picchu, the “Lost City of the Incas,” is located. Upon arrival, transfer to a motorcoach for the ascent to the legendary ruins high above the steep valley overlaid with dense tropical jungle. On a guided tour, explore this intact fortress with its temple remains, holy houses, and mile-long aqueduct. Your Local Guide will bring you closer to the lives and mysteries still hidden in these amazing structures built by the Pre-Columbian masters of this sacred land. Later this afternoon, return by train to Cusco, the ancient capital of the Incas. (B,L)

Enjoy a full free day to explore the city of Cusco. (B) INSIDER PICKS Perhaps take an optional walking tour to learn more about the Incas and their struggle against invading Spaniards. Visits include the imposing Cathedral and the Inca Temple of the Sun, Koricancha, which became the Spaniards’ Santo Domingo Monastery.