Home ::: Amazon & Andes ::: Andean Inca Exploration Andean Inca Exploration © Itinerary - Trip Extensions Explores the scenic Sacred Valley of the Inca, including an overnight at magnificent Machu Picchu! Overnights in the ancient Inca capital of co and visits to incredible archaeological sites provide an outstanding cultural experience. The 8-day adventure offers a great introduction to the colorful Andean peoples, their environment, history and art. (This educational exploration of one of the world's best travel destinations may also be combined with our Amazon Explorations.) Itinerary Day 1, Saturday: For those continuing from an Amazon Adventure, you and newly met travelers will overnight in Lima. Upon midday arrival in Lima from Iquitos, you are met at the airport and transferred into the suburb of Miraflores to the Hotel La Castellaña, or similar. (B) (Those participating in this Andean Inca Exploration only, will arrive in Lima from the USA this Saturday night.) After reception at the airport, you will be transferred to the same hotel as the Amazon explorer's. Day 2, Sunday: A morning flight over the jungle to the Andes Mountains and the city of Cuzco transports you to a dramatically different environment. Upon seeing the beauty of Cusco, situated in a scenic valley at 11,000 feet, it is much easier to understand what may have prompted the Inca to call this area the "navel of the world". After a welcome cup of coca tea, you are encouraged to relax at your hotel and get acclimated to the altitude. After lunch, a walking city tour and orientation lecture introduces you to your surroundings in this historical city. The Inca founded Cuzco as the capital center of their empire and it is still considered the archaeological capital of the Americas. Cuzco is the oldest, continuously inhabited city in the western hemisphere and evidence of its long history surrounds you. Massive Inca-built stone walls serve as foundations for the red tile-roofed colonial buildings. Here you can visit some of the oldest and grandest cathedrals in the New World. The feeling of history comes alive in the faces and language of the local Quechua-speaking descendents of the Incas. The variety and craftsmanship of their weavings and handicrafts are sure to impress all. Tonight and tomorrow you will stay in a centrally located colonial-style hotel, usually the Hotel Los Andes, or similar. (B/L) Day 3, Monday: Begin the day visiting spectacular Inca ruins and historic colonial architecture. Explore the immense Inca fortress-temple of Sacsayhuaman, strategically built overlooking Cuzco. The scale of the construction, with the use of stones larger than cars, is sure to astound. You also visit the Inca shrines of Kenko, an outdoor amphitheater and Tambomachay, where a natural spring still feeds the ancient Inca baths. Later, visit and learn about Coricancha, its Temple of the Sun, and the new discoveries from recent archeological excavations. Built in the heart of their ancient capital city, the Sun Temple was the most holy of places to the ancient Inca and contains some of their finest examples of stonework. (B/L) Day 4, Tuesday: Your day begins with an enchanting ride through the countryside of the Sacred Valley to the archaeological site and Indian village of Pisac. The ruins are strategically located on a ridgetop overlooking two scenic valleys that are etched with extensive Inca agricultural terraces. Covering an area four times larger than Machu Picchu, the central complex of temples in this ancient citadel was protected on all sides by high walls and gateways. In the valley at the colorful Pisac village market, you can examine (and buy) local goods such as; fruits, vegetables, coca leaves, mineral dyes, weavings, stone carvings and a great variety of handicrafts. Later, youcontinue through the Urubamba Valley with its spectacular mountain scenery that includes quaint villages, terraced valleys and towering snow-capped peaks, all overlooking the white-waters of the Río Urubamba. Much of the pristine scenery looks like it was created just yesterday! After lunch is a tour of Ollantaytambo, an ancient Inca fortress and city. Ollantaytambo is an excellent example of city planning and architecture. It is also an excellent example of living history, as today's townspeople still live in structures that housed the Incas of the 14th century. The ancient Inca city plan is evidenced by the remaining (and still utilized) roadways, pools, canals and enormous stonework. The original water canals of the Inca irrigationsystem still function as important parts of the communities' life. Overnight is in the village of Urubamba, at the Hotel Valle Sagrado de los Inkas, a converted hacienda with lovely landscaped grounds and colonial architecture, or similar. (B/L) Day 5, Wednesday: A short morning drive takes you to the train station for travel further up the Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu. The rails run along side the Urubamba River, past towering mountains and through lush forests. Upon arrival at the Machu Picchu train station, a 20 minute bus ride takes you 2,000 feet up to the site's entrance. After an introductory walking tour, the remainder of the day is free for self-exploration and discovery of this magnificent site, which was built on a mountaintop and surrounded on three sides by the Urubamba River. By staying overnight here (at the Ruinas Sanctuary Lodge), you can experience the two most spectacular times at Machu Picchu, sunset and sunrise! Night excursions into the site can also usually be arranged. (B/L) Day 6, Thursday: Dawn is an incredibly beautiful sight at mystical Machu Picchu. The play of light and shadow from the sun and clouds paints a photogenic and ever-changing landscape as the day continues. This is a day for personal exploration and contemplation. Time to wander the ruins, enjoy the surrounding verdant cloudforest, climb overlooking Huanya Picchu and/or hike up the Inca trail to Intipunka (Gate of the Sun). The unrivalled scenery will provide lasting memories and quickly empty a camera of film. The late afternoon train returns you to Cuzco for overnights at the Hotel Los Andes. (B/L) Day 7, Friday: This is a free day in Cuzco for personal exploration and relaxation to allow you the maximum amount of choice on activities. Cuzco is one of the world's top travel destinations and a myriad of options are available. If desired, you can arrange a day of white-water rafting, mountain biking, horseback riding, hiking, or explorations of surrounding remote Inca ruins. The city of Cuzco also offers wonderful art and history museums, countless shops with a great variety of handicrafts, a wide variety of restaurants, pubs & peñas, numerous churches, cathedrals and other outstanding historic architecture line the cobble stone streets. Cuzco is safe to explore on your own and taxis are convenient. You can also hire a guide for the day if desired. Out-of-town day trips, private guides, and sport activities can be arranged directly with the local personnel in Cuzco. (B/L) Day 8, Saturday: Departure is a morning flight to Lima, with airport reception and transfer to a hotel in the Miraflores suburb where a day room is available for your use. From there you can explore the neighborhood and check out the many nearby shops and restaurants and/or visit some of the world class museums, colonial architecture, Pachacamac archaeology ruins or other sites that the capital offers (with optional excursions arranged either independently by taxi or guided by the local company in Lima). That evening, you are transferred back to the Lima airport for the night flight back to Miami and connections home early on Sunday morning. For an additional $75/pp you may choose to overnight in Lima and fly out the next morning or night. (B) (Note that lunch is not included on this day to allow you the most options.) NOTE: It is easy to extend your stay in Peru to allow visits to Lima's great world-class museums, an extension to Lake Titikaka, explorations of Peru's Pacific Coast, including overflights of the Nazca Lines and more! Back to top Explorations Inc. is licensed and registered with the State of Florida as a Seller of Travel. The phone number for the Florida Department of Commerce is 904-488-2221 and our SOT registration number is 15176. We are also registered in California as Seller of Travel #2021110-40. We are also an TSI Member of IATAN (International Airlines Travel Agent Network). An escrow account for trip payments is available - call for details and account number. Additional professional and client references are available upon request. Click here to contact us. Click here to go to our Photo Gallery. Explorations Inc. 27655 Kent Rd Bonita Springs, FL 34135 Phone: 1-239-992-9660 or toll free 1-800-446-9660 (in USA, Canada, P.R.) Call anytime to receive detailed trip brochures or more information! Also available are custom itineraries for small groups AND for the angler, our Amazon Fishing Adventures features Peacock Bass and other exotic species! Back to top