Days
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Travel through the lush Sacred Valley to the ancient Incan city of Machu Picchu
The purpose behind Machu Picchu may always be a mystery, since no historical records of the complex exist. In fact, none were made in the first place, since the Incas had no written language. Some historians have argued it was a place of spiritual worship; others, a military stronghold, and some even think it was a prison. Most archaeologists, however, believe it to be the 15th-century headquarters of ‘he who shook the earth’, Emperor Pachacuti.
Independent Experiences
Independent travel, without the stress. Peregrine’s Independent Experiences are a range of short ‘mini tours’ that you can add to other Experiences or as an extension to a longer tour, to craft your perfect holiday itinerary. Independent Experiences are for 1-3 travellers, come accompanied by a local Peregrine guide and depart daily. /experiences
- Start
- Cuzco, Peru
- Finish
- Cuzco, Peru
- Destination
- Peru
- Style
- Independent Experiences
- Code
- PSMPX
- Physical rating
- Traveller’s rating
- 2 reviews
- Ages
- Min 15
- Group size
- Min 1, Max 4
Why you'll love this trip
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Explore the beautiful Spanish colonial architecture of Cusco and the ancient ruins that surround this former Incan capital
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Walk through the breathtaking hills of the Sacred Valley
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Explore an array of Incan marvels in these hills, from Pisac and Ollantaytambo to the iconic Machu Picchu
Is this trip right for you?
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This trip visits places that are at high altitude, and as a result some people can suffer from altitude sickness, regardless of age or physical health. Please see the ‘Medical and Health’ section of the trip notes for more important information on this.
Gallery




Itinerary
Your trip starts today in Cusco with an airport arrival transfer. Your local guide will welcome you this evening at approximately 7 pm at your hotel and explain the next few days' activities.
Cusco is a favourite destination of many visitors to Peru. Its main sites radiate outwards from the Plaza de Armas, which is dominated by the 17th century Baroque cathedral. It was in this very plaza that the Spanish conquistadors put to death the last Inca king, Tupac Amaru I. As you wander the streets and side alleys of the city you will witness the perfect tapering Inca stonework that provided the foundations for many of Cusco’s colonial and modern buildings.The city itself is the continent's oldest continuously inhabited city and was the home of the Inca Empire for two centuries before the Spanish built their first capital here. Today Cusco is a fascinating combination of both cultures. Inca-built walls line the central streets and many of the elegant colonial buildings are built on or around Inca foundations. This is a city steeped in history, tradition and legend and is a perfect base for explorations into the Inca world or to enjoy a range of outdoor activities.
Take the time to acclimatise to the city's 3450-metre high (11,150 ft) altitude and explore the many Baroque churches and ancient temples that dot the city.
Accommodation
- San Agustin Plaza Hotel or similar (1 night)
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Special Information
Full Boleto Turistico PassIncluded in your trip price is a “Full Boleto Turistico Pass”, which gives you access to 16 archaeological sites in and around Cusco. The ticket is valid for 10 days, so if you wish to make use of the ticket prior to the tour start date please contact us to reschedule the tour first meeting (usually held on day one) to an earlier date
The walking tour will start in the morning with a pick-up from your hotel at approximately 8 am or 9 am, depending on what you decide with your guide the evening before.
During the walking tour we visit multiple sites. The order in which we do this is quite flexible and also will depend on which hotel you’re staying at. The duration of the tour is approximately 4 hours.
We visit Koricancha which was once the richest temple in the Inca Empire, but all that remains today is the masterful stonework. In Inca times, Koricancha (Quechua for ‘Golden Courtyard’) was literally covered with gold. The temple walls were lined with some 700 solid-gold sheets, each weighing about 2 kilograms.
Visit the cathedral, which took almost a century to build! It houses an impressive collection of art, and boasts a silver-coloured neoclassical altar.
Stroll down the plaza to see the Stone of Twelve Angles – a marvel of Incan masonry.
Explore the San Pedro Market where you will find vegetables, meats, local cheeses (which you should certainly try), local chocolates, herbal medicines and many local handicrafts. It’s a great place to purchase some souvenirs. The market is also a place where many locals go to eat ‘mystery soups’. Some may be just chicken; however, the most popular amongst the locals are usually the more unusual ones like frog soups or soups that contains nose to tail of various animals.
Your city tour comes to an end just in time for lunch. Tonight perhaps head to the main square and enjoy the breathtaking views of the city whilst lit up at night. It’s truly beautiful! Have dinner at one of the many restaurants in the square or surrounding, you won’t be short on choice!
Accommodation
- San Agustin Plaza Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Cusco - Full Boleto Turistico Pass, which gives you access to 16 archaeological sites in/around Cusco (Transport & guides are not included)
- Cusco - Coricancha Temple entrance fee
- Cusco - Cathedral Entrance Fee
- Cusco - Orientation Walk
Meals Included
- Breakfast
The Sacred Valley, located between the towns of Pisac and Ollantaytambo, was greatly treasured because of its climate, fertile land and the presence of the Urubamba (Sacred) River. On your full day tour of the Sacred Valley, you will see evidence of the Incas' engineering skills in the ruins of ancient aqueducts, irrigation canals, dams on the Urubamba River, imposing sets of terraces and centres of worship dedicated to Pachamama (Mother Earth).
At the Sacred Valley you will visit the stone fortress of Sacsayhuaman where massive stone blocks that form the walls of this site give you an awesome picture of how highly developed Inca engineering was. Looking over the city from its hilltop position, the fortress is built out of massive stone blocks and is the ultimate example of the Inca's military strength.
You will visit a local community here, to gain a greater insight into the local lifestyle. If it happens to be market day, you will be able to wander the stalls and hunt down beautiful hand painted beads and ponchos. You will enjoy lunch with the local community.
Next you will head to the town of Ollantaytambo. Built over an ancient Inca town, which is a magnificent example of Inca urban planning, this is one of the few places where the Incas defeated the Spanish. Ollantaytambo's archaeological site is located to the east of the Plaza de Armas and the upper terraces of this site offer great photo opportunities of the squared grid town below.
Later you will take a train to Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of Machu Picchu.
Accommodation
- Santuario Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Sacred Valley - Local community visit and lunch
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
Built around 1450, the city was deserted less than a century later following the Spanish invasion and ‘lost’ for hundreds of years before it was rediscovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911. The architecture of Machu Picchu is quite extraordinary, with the mortar-free design particularly earthquake resistant and the stones so precisely cut that to this day not even a knife fits between them.
You will have a guided visit (approximately 1.5 to 2 hours) with plenty of free time afterwards. After taking advantage of the seemingly endless photo opportunities, it's time to return to Cusco for a well-deserved shower and a pisco sour.
You will have the rest of today free to further explore Cusco.
Accommodation
- San Agustin Plaza Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Machu Picchu - Entrance and Guided Tour
Meals Included
- Breakfast
You will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight. Please ensure we are advised of your flight details booking your Machu Picchu Experience.
At Peregrine we are always looking for ways to improve our trips and your feedback is invaluable to us and to our tour guides. It tells us what we're doing right, what you believe could be done better and what improvements you feel could help future travellers choose and enjoy Peregrine. At the end of your trip we ask that you to take a few minutes of your time to complete our on-line feedback form. Just go to http://www.peregrineadventures.com/tour-feedback for our easy to fill out questionnaire. We’d love to hear what you have to say!
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Meals
5 breakfasts, 1 lunchTransport
Bus, Private Vehcile, TrainAccommodation
Comfortable hotelIncluded Activities
- Cusco - Full Boleto Turistico Pass, which gives you access to 16 archaeological sites in/around Cusco (Transport & guides are not included)
- Cusco - Coricancha Temple entrance fee
- Cusco - Cathedral Entrance Fee
- Cusco - Orientation Walk
- Sacred Valley - Local community visit and lunch
- Machu Picchu - Entrance and Guided Tour
Reviews
Our Machu Picchu Experience - Independent trips score an average of 4.5 out of 5 based on 2 reviews in the last year.
Machu Picchu Experience - Independent, February 2017
Pamela Munro
Macho Picchu was amazing. It needs to be experienced to be fully appreciated. Difficult to convey this in photos or brochures. Loved exploring Cusco and other nearby places also - learning about the culture, history and cosmology. Very sad to have to leave and go home.
Review submitted 13 Mar 2017
Machu Picchu Experience - Independent, May 2016
Muchael Weir
Visit Macchu Pichu early in the tourist season. Tourist numbers late May were high enough to ccause long queues for buses to the site and on the site
Review submitted 04 Jun 2016
Dates & availability
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Important notes
PASSPORT DETAILS REQUIRED
Full passport details are required at the time of booking in order to purchase Entrance fees to important sites such as Machu Picchu. Delays to provide this information may result in booking fees or changes to your itinerary.