ARRIVE LIMA
Fly to Lima. Assistance to your hotel, right inside Lima’s airport.

LIMA/CUSCO/SACRED VALLEY
Meet your GTC transfer after an early morning welcome breakfast. After a one-hour flight to Cusco, we head straight to the Sacred Valley of the Incas to visit spectacular historical sites like Ollantaytambo and Pisac Market while your private guide reveals the history of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. (B,L,D)

WILLIQ/CHINCHERO/CULTURAL CONNECTIONS/ANCESTRAL KNOWLEDGE
In the morning visit Willoq, a non-turistic destination, where we will have the chance to share precious time with the direct descendants of the Incas. We’ll visit their homes and learn about their daily lives and enjoy a cultural exchange. We will have lunch in an Andean house family in Chinchero, a weavers’ community, and see the process of traditional dyeing and weaving techniques. (B,L,D)

MACHU PICCHU - THE LOST CITY
This morning, we transfer to the rail station in Ollanta to board the Vistadome Valley train to Machu Picchu. The journey is a highlight of any trip to the Andes. The scenery is simply spectacular. The 1½ hour journey takes you through a changing landscape, passing lush, green fields and colorful villages in the foothills of the Andes. From here on, there are wonderful vistas of the mountains and, deep in its dramatic canyon, the beautiful Urubamba River running through the Sacred Valley. For optimum views of the Andes, windows have been installed into the carriage ceilings. And what a destination awaits you! Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas, is one of the New Wonders of the Americas. On arrival in Machu Picchu, transfer by small buses to the entrance of the ruins to commence your tour. Machu Picchu rises to an altitude of 7,900 ft. above sea level between the Huayna Picchu (young peak) and Machu Picchu (old peak). It lies within the spectacular framework provided by the exuberant vegetation of nearby jungle and the rugged landscape. The ruins are situated on the eastern slope of Machu Picchu in two different areas: the agricultural and the urban. The latter includes the civil sector (dwellings, canalizations), and the sacred sector (temples, mausoleums, squares, royal houses). Although constructions show different levels of architecture, religious buildings exhibit a high degree of perfection. The construction was generally stone, and the roofs were built of tree trunks and thatched with ichu straw. The walls were made with an inward inclination for protection against earthquakes. A private guide explains the latest theories about this mysterious citadel and then some free time allows you to explore the ruins on your own. Kids can explore the nearby jungles and caves of Machu Picchu in search of mummy tombs. (B,L,D)

MACHU PICCHU/CUSCO
This morning explore the Machu Picchu area. Feel free to enjoy the hotel’s orchid and hummingbird gardens. For those that wish to return to the ruins, you are welcome to at no extra cost. Experiencing the ruins at sunrise is always recommended, as long as weather cooperates. For a truly mystical experience, we advise those early risers to also hike to Huayna Picchu peak, situated opposite Machu Picchu, where there is a prodigious panoramic view of the imposing mass of ruins and the Urubamba valley. The breathtaking views from this mountain-top citadel and its well-preserved ruins are a photographer dream. In the afternoon, you shall take the train back to Ollanta and then transfer to your hotel in Cusco. (B,L)

CUSCO-NAVEL OF THE WORLD
In the morning we visit the ancient capital of the Inca Empire and see some famous sights like Saqsayhuaman, Qenqo, San Blas (artisans’ neighborhood), San Pedro market and colonial and Inca streets. We have lunch in a Cusco family house and in the afternoon we visit poor areas and witness social programs activities. This evening is Time Together - Time Apart. Adults can listen to traditional Peruvian flute music, while kids enjoy a private art class at the artisans’ neighborhood. (B,L,D)

CUSCO/TIPON/ANCIENT RITUALS
A short coach ride will take you to the little-known Incan ruins of Tipon. We participate on an offering to Pacha Mama (Mother Earth) with a Quechuan priest. After lunch at the unique Bustamante’s farmhouse return to Cusco in the afternoon. At night visit Saqsayhuaman (Temple of Lightning) when lit up and then enjoy a farewell dinner. (B,L,D)

CUSCO/LIMA/HOME
Take a midday flight back to Lima and explore Peru’s capital city. Adios y gracias for sharing The Soul of the Andes with us. (B)