Upon arrival, you will be met by a Yampu guide who will assist you with the check in at the airport hotel.

At the appropriate time, you will walk back to the airport to check in for your flight to Cusco.

Domestic Flight from Lima to Cusco

Upon arrival to Cusco, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel.
The elevation in Cusco is approximately 3400 meters (11200 feet), so we highly recommend resting as soon as you arrive for a few hours, and avoiding alcohol, caffeine, or heavy meals. Please consult with your physician for additional details.
Cusco is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the Americas and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The ruins of the old Inca city became the foundation for the Spanish architecture you see today, and many of the stone walls that line the streets were built by the Incas.

Note: Check in to the hotel is at 3 pm. Early check in may be available directly at the hotel subject to availability. You may store your luggage at the hotel until you are able to check in.
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San Blas quarter was originally used as dwellings for the Inca nobles, which built impressive stone constructions at a short distance of what used to be Huacaypata and it is the current place of the Main Square. Today the quarter is a conglomerate of charming small cobblestone streets that are very popular among craftspeople, who sell their works on the street. Among its top attractions is the San Blas Church, a temple that houses a pulpit that is a priceless work of art, a wood carving performed by a masterly indigenous woodcarver.

The second tour will begin at Sacsayhuaman fortress, one of the emblematic Inca constructions, built by Inca Pachacutec in the 15th century. This huge fortress is made of very large stones, and the manner in which they were transported and cut is still a mystery. The Inti Raymi Festival, which worships the Sun, is reenacted here on June 24 of each year during the winter solstice. Head on to Qenqo, located four kilometers away from Cusco city, which is a mainly religious archaeological complex where it is believed that propitiatory agricultural rituals were carried out. Continue to Puka Pukara, located seven kilometers away from Cusco. Puka Pukara, which means "red fortress", was an architectural complex presumably used for military purposes; it has many rooms, squares, bathrooms, aqueducts, walls and towers, and it is believed that the Inca's entourage used it while he rested at Tambomachay. Next, explore the fountains of Tambomachay, a construction that has fine stone finishing and high command of hydraulic engineering, with aqueducts that continue supplying clear water. Also known as the "Inca Bath", Tambomachay was probably the leisure place for the Inca and his entourage.

Note: For more adventurous travelers, Yampu suggests an optional sunset horseback riding tour near the Sacsahuaman Ruins. Please ask a Yampu Travel Consultant for more information.
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The town square is often the center of activity throughout this region, but so too is the town market, and none is more alive than the famous market at Pisaq. A morning visit to check out its unique array of products will inspire you with a small taste of the rich culture yet to be explored on your journey. Travelers seeking inspiration in nature can opt for an invigorating morning hike surrounded by amazing views of the Andes Mountains that guard this magnificent valley. Later, enjoy exclusive access to the isolated community of Viacha, where you will learn about its artisanal potato farming practices and enjoy a traditional "Pachamanca" meal, cooked under hot stones.

After lunch you will visit the archaeological complex at Pisaq, an afternoon excursion that offers a unique opportunity to explore the complex free of crowds, with the sun setting behind the peaks. Activity Menu (morning to noon): - Cultural activity: Visit Awanakancha (an Andean camelid exhibition and traditional textile center), the town of Pisaq and local market, and experience an encounter with members of the local community of Viacha. OR - Hike: From the local community of Amaru to the local community of Viacha / Duration 2.5-3 hrs. / Moderate / Mountain pass at an elevation of 14,200/ - 4,328m. Group Activity: Group lunch at the local community of Viacha. In the afternoon, the whole group visits the Pisaq archeological site together, before heading to the lodge. ...read less

Now that you have gotten a glimpse of the rich Andean tapestry, today you will have the opportunity to go even deeper with an exploration into the heart of the Lares Valley. A scenic drive into the mountains, along the celebrated "Inca Weaver's Trail", allows you to visit the unique and uncrowded archeological site of Ancasmarca along the hub-town of Lares.

After lunch, you can choose between visiting the traditional and ancient weavers' village of Choquecancha, or opt for hiking amidst turquoise blue lakes and towering peaks to the remote village of Huacahuasi, where we all meet to spend the night. is lodge, which is run in joint venture with the local community and aims to protect the cultural heritage and the environment, provides an interesting insight into the evolving role of the original Andean people in both the culture and commerce of modern-day Cusco. ...read less

Spend some time in the morning learning more about the heritage and day-to-day activities of the Huacahuasi community. Then, you can choose to embark on a spectacular hike through varied terrain and over a high pass, to the adjacent valley leading to the ancient town of Ollantaytambo, the oldest living city in Latin America. If you prefer to see more of the Sacred Valley, you can drive back for a visit to an ethnographic museum featuring the history of Peru's rich civilization of the past or choose to explore the valley on mountain bike, Afterwards, enjoy lunch in the Urubamba River countryside on your way to Ollantaytambo, where you can spend time meandering through its charming maze-like streets. ...read less

From its beginnings as the royal estate of Inca-Emperor Pachacutec, to a stronghold against the Spanish conquistadors for Manco Inca Yupanqui, the temple at Ollantaytambo was regarded by the Incas as one of their most important ceremonial centers. On this day, enjoy a short, early morning hike to Inca storage structures high above Ollantaytambo which give a magnificent view of the town as well as of the main archaeological site across the valley. Afterwards, as the guide leads through a morning tour of the temple and explains its strategic architectural planning, one will also get a sense of its mystical history-a perfect introduction to the wonder of Machu Picchu. Around noon, embark on a scenic train ride along the famous Urubamba River to Aguas Calientes, the town below Machu Picchu, whose charm lies in a history that began as a small railway stop and evolved into a bustling town still bisected by the train tracks. ...read less

At dawn, you begin your journey to Machu Picchu with a short and rollicking uphill bus ride. As you enter the "Sanctuary" (as locals refer to it), the morning sun rises over the iconic Sun Gate and washes the structures and terraces with resplendent light. Prepare to be awed by the imposing and skillful architecture of the Watchtower, the Temple of the Sun, and the royal Inca residences, among many others. Take a moment to quietly sit and listen to the wind or to meditate and absorb the mystical energy that envelops you.

Your imagination will soar as you contemplate the history of Machu Picchu and its mysterious origins. Some may even choose a hike to Huayna Picchu, the iconic towering mountain often seen in photographs, for dramatic views that stretch from the Urubamba River valley to the edge of the Amazon Jungle. Either way, you will be touched by a feeling of peace and rejuvenation which will linger even as you journey back to the city lights, and hustle and bustle of Cusco. ...read less

At the appropriate time, be met at the hotel and transferred to the airport for the flight home.