Tours in Cusco: Culture and Adventure in Peru

Personalized wait by Franpisco Adventure at Jorge Chavez Airport – Lima Peru. Then we transfer you to the 3-star hotel in the best city district of Miraflores.

3 hours before your flight, we transfer you from the hotel to the airport bound for the imperial city of Cusco hotel. We wait at the Cusco airport and transfer you to the 3-star hotel.

Our tour begins at 12:30 pm, picking you up from your hotel and led by our guide to start the tour of the imperial city, a living city that combines Inca temples and palaces, a perfect combination of Andean and Spanish culture. The first will be the Temple of the Sun or Qoricancha, upon which the Santo Domingo Convent (Dominican Order) was built. Then we leave the city to appreciate the great Inca portent of Sacsayhuaman, considered the greatest architectural work whose Inca walls have no equivalent in the world. Afterwards, we move a little further from the city to see the sacred sites of Qenqo, Pukapukara, and Tambomachay. Our guide will continue providing information on Inca stories and legends. The native Quechua name is Qosqo, meaning 'Center of the Universe, Navel of the World,' considered the capital of the Inca empire called Tawantinsuyo. UNESCO, since 1982, gave it the title of Cultural Heritage of Humanity and in South America, it is considered the Archaeological Capital of America. Undoubtedly, the Imperial city of Cusco is the most important tourist destination in Peru, having the most important icon, Machu Picchu. The Historic Center is considered an open museum for all our visitors; its streets combine Inca walls and colonial houses, settings that invite you to discover the deepest roots of our history, with a millennial past full of ancestral traditions and customs shared from generation to generation, which enrich the country's history. The Cusco valley is very special because it encompasses archaeology and traditions of pre-Inca cultures like the Chanapata, Marcavalle, Killke, and Qotakalli cultures, skillfully included into Inca thought and philosophy. This tour is the perfect introduction to discovering Cusco at its best, covering all Inca and colonial sites of great interest in the historic center, highlighting the Cusco Cathedral, the Qoricancha Temple of the Sun, plus the Sacsayhuaman archaeological park, the Q’enko temple of sacrifices, the Puka Pukara control pass, and finally the Ceremonial fountains of Tambomachay. Enjoying this great destination is living the best of experiences in the Cradle of Inca Civilization. At the end of the tour, return to the city – hotel.

On the tour day, we stop by your hotel at 06:30 am to board the transport and begin the journey visiting the town of Chincheros, a colonial town and archaeological center since Inca times. Then we head to the Maras Salt Mines, consisting of more than 3,000 small pools of approximately 5 square meters (53.8 ft²) in size. Every three days during the dry season, workers fill the pools with saltwater coming from a natural thermal spring. Then we head to the agricultural center of Moray (3,450 masl) (11,318 ft) where we find the circular terraces of Moray with their complex irrigation system and terraces of different levels carved into a huge bowl. Once this visit is finished, we head to the valley of the Incas to enjoy our buffet lunch and after lunch, we head to Ollantaytambo, the living Inca city. Here we stay to board the tourist train to the town of Machupicchu and the hotel.

To visit one of the 7 wonders. Machupicchu, we will wake up one hour before our bus departure to have breakfast at the hotel, then head accompanied by our guide to the bus station for the transfer to the Machu Picchu entrance control. Entry with our guide for a 2.5-hour guided visit and cultural exchange of the history of Machu Picchu. Then you will be given free time to explore, take photos, and videos. Afterward, we return to Aguas Calientes where we will have time for lunch (lunch not included in the package) and take the afternoon train at 14:55 or 15:20 with the Expedition train to Ollantaytambo, where the van awaits us for the transfer to the city of Cusco. On the return train, we will enjoy the layers of handcrafted terraces of the Incas, the snowy mountains, and the subtropical jungle near the Amazon until Ollantaytambo. The sacred Vilcanota River accompanies us to Ollantaytambo. Here transport awaits us for the return to Cusco – Hotel. EXPEDITION TRAIN SERVICES; it is designed for traveler comfort, as you can share your experience with four passenger seats located facing each other. A luggage rack is offered above for backpacks. Andean music is played throughout the journey, panoramic windows, air conditioning, and heating. The expedition service departs from Ollantaytambo, located 2 hours from Cusco. This is a travel experience with all the comfort. -Please note to advise in advance to climb Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain with this schedule.

This day we have a free day to rest and take advantage of the gastronomy of the Cusco region. We can also take the opportunity to buy souvenirs.

The tour starts with a pickup from your hotel at 4:00 am, in tourist transport for about 02 hours to Mollepata where we will have our breakfast, and then for one more hour in transport, we reach the start of the trek, Sorayapampa, located in the lush valley of the Apurimac River. We walk along a path called 'Camino Real'; as we go up, we will have spectacular views of beautiful mountain landscapes. The walk takes about 1.5 hours, ascending 1,200 feet in just 2 miles along a steep path. The trail is surrounded by the Salkantay mountains, one of the most sacred mountains in Peru, rising 20,600 feet with a steep and snowy face, as well as the imposing Humantay Peak, rising 19,412 feet. Finally, we will arrive to see the beautiful turquoise-colored Humantay lake; we will have enough time to take some photos and videos. Humantay Lake is surrounded by steep peaks and an impressive glacier. Andean healers and other natives developed and still develop healing sessions when they reach the crystalline waters of the lake. It is recommended to bring snacks for the walk and enjoy at its shores; subsequently, we thank Pachamama (Mother Earth) for giving us these fascinating landscapes. When you are ready to walk back, we descend to Sorayapampa where transport awaits us for the return to Mollepata where we will have lunch. After this, we return to Cusco – hotel. We will arrive in Cusco around 5 or 6 in the afternoon.

At 5:00 am we pass by your hotel to board the transport and then head to the town of Cusipata-Paucarpata. During the trip, we will pass through different towns and enjoy the incredible views of the Peruvian Andes; the trip is approximately 2 hours to the first stop to enjoy a delicious breakfast and stock up on some necessary things for the 7 Colors Mountain Vinicunca tour. After this short stop, the journey continues to Vinicunca for about an hour to start enjoying the landscapes, mysterious mountains, and deep valleys. We will arrive at the town of Phullawasipata at 3,700 masl. From here the uphill walk begins for 1 hour and 30 minutes until reaching the 7-colored mountains. 'The climb to the mountain is also possible to do by horse by making an extra payment of 100 soles which is not included in the tour.' Upon reaching the top of the mountain at 5,100 masl, you will enjoy impressive views of the Andes and Andean fauna. All the colored mountains surrounding this area are red, and there are magnificent views of the valleys and the mysterious 7-colored mountain, where we will have enough time to take photos and videos. Then we will begin to descend, this time taking a detour to the Red Valley; the name is due to the special pigmentation of the earth which has an intense reddish color due to the abundant amount of minerals. This path will be more special because we might be one of the only groups on this route. The downhill path will last between 1 hour and 30 minutes until reaching Phullawasipata, where our transport awaits us to take us to enjoy a delicious lunch. After lunch, you can visit a local family home where you can see the lifestyle that still practices the ancient traditions of the Incas. Subsequently, we will return to Cusco, arriving in the city at approximately 5:00 pm to then drop you off at your hotel.

Our tour starts with the hotel pickup at 5:00 am, then we head to the town of Checacupe for approx. 2 hours. Passing through the small and picturesque village, we will have free time to use the toilets, buy hydrating drinks and snacks. Then we will continue our trip for 1 hour to the breakfast place and then continue the trip to the starting point of the walk to the community of Palcoyo (4,200 masl). The adventure begins with an imposing view of the Stone Forest and in turn some colorful mountains that will indicate we are very close to the Mountain Range of Colors. After an introduction from our guide, we will start our walk. The ascent will be pleasant and will last approximately 30 minutes. During the journey, we will observe a great variety of South American camelids, and reaching the top, we can appreciate the Imposing Apu Ausangate (approx. 6380). This place is also unique and magical as nature capriciously formed this landscape; it is there where we have the respective explanation of the place, then the offering ceremony to Pachamama. We will have free time for photographs, to enjoy and explore the Mountain Range of Colors and the Stone Forest. After enjoying a quiet moment in contact with nature and the Apus (Mountain spirits), we will start our return to the town of Cusipata where we will have lunch. Subsequently, we will return to the city of Cusco, finishing our tour at approx. 5:00 pm.

The seven lakes tour starts very early with the pickup at your hotel at 4:00 am. On the way, we will pass through the entire southern valley of Cusco until reaching the community of Pacchanta at an altitude of 4,300 meters. In this place, we will have breakfast and it is where we start walking. The route is a gravel path with many slopes; after half an hour of walking, the first lake will appear, the Ausangate Lake. We continue with the walk to visit the lakes of Azulcocha, Otorongo, Pucacocha, Alqacocha, and Q’omercocha. Throughout the journey, we will see birds, alpacas, llamas, and if we are lucky, we can appreciate Andean condors. After the tour, we will return to Pacchanta to enjoy the hot springs. We will spend the day in the relaxing Pacchanta hot springs, ideal for relaxing body muscles. After the bath, we will have a traditional lunch and finally back to the city of Cusco - hotel.

3 hours before the flight, we transfer you from the hotel to the airport bound for Lima. At the Lima airport, we wait for you for the transfer to the hotel in the city district of Miraflores.

4 hours before your flight, we transfer you to the airport bound for your country of origin. End of our services.