Peru's Machu Picchu and Beyond (Small Group)
Overview
Itinerary
Welcome to Peru, where your adventure kicks off high in the Andes. Fly into Cusco Airport, then stop by the Costsaver Welcome Desk at San Agustin Urubamba between 2pm and 4pm. At 4pm, join your group transfer to the Sacred Valley as city streets give way to mountain peaks, patchwork fields and Andean villages. Arrive in Urubamba and enjoy the evening your way.
After breakfast, head to Tambococha for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience in the heart of the Sacred Valley. Welcomed with traditional music and an herbal infusion, you'll meet the locals and discover daily village life through hands-on activities. Learn about seasonal agriculture, native medicinal plants, adobe brick making and pick up a few Quechua phrases still used across the valley today.
Sit down to a traditional Pachamanca lunch, an Andean feast slow-cooked underground with hot stones. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. This afternoon, choose an optional visit to Maras and Moray or enjoy your evening at leisure. Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Start the day with a scenic drive to Ollantaytambo, an old Inca town with cobbled streets, local stalls and mountain views. Enjoy free time to explore your way or opt to visit the town's impressive ruins. Then hop aboard the PeruRail Expedition Train and roll through the Sacred Valley to Aguas Calientes, the launchpad for mighty Machu Picchu. From here, ride up to this bucket-list Inca citadel for your included visit. Big views, ancient stories and serious pinch-me moments await. Later, return to Aguas Calientes for a free evening.
All aboard this morning as you hop on the train back to Ollantaytambo, with time to grab a lunch of your choice. Then stretch your legs on a gentle walk from Urco to Calca, following peaceful valley paths past farms, eucalyptus groves and Quechua villages. Big Andean views? Absolutely. Local life? You'll see that too.
Later, stop at Vicuñita, an environmental project bringing traditional Cusco plants and trees back to life. Meet llamas, vicuñas, guanacos and alpacas, then get the lowdown on local weaving before rolling into Cusco for an evening at leisure.
Get set to explore Cusco on foot, where Inca history and Spanish colonial style share the spotlight. Visit the lively Plaza de Armas, step inside Cusco Cathedral and discover Korikancha, once the Inca Empire's dazzling Temple of the Sun.
This afternoon do Cusco your way. Choose an optional tour to nearby Inca sites and colourful San Blas or join a fun evening bar tour with local cocktails and cooking and Cusco's atmospheric streets as your backdrop.
Cusco is all yours today, so choose your own adventure in this high-altitude city packed with colour, culture and Inca history. Take it slow with a wander through cobbled streets, shop for local crafts or find a cafe and soak up the buzz of the city. Want to add more? Join a Choice Experience to Rainbow Mountain for big views and bold colours, visit the Choco Museum to sample the famous Peruvian sweet treat, go on an Off The Beaten Track tour, or dig into the local cuisine on a Flavours of Peru experience. Tonight, you're free to enjoy your final night in the city your way.
Your Peru adventure wraps up after breakfast. Depart with big Andean memories, Cusco stories and maybe a few new favourite dishes. Transfers are not included, so plan your onward journey to suit you.
Trip Inclusions
- Visit Plaza de Armas, Cusco Cathedral and Korikancha
- Visit Tambococha village for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, learn about Quechua traditions and local farming, ride the PeruRail Expedition Train to Aguas Calientes, visit the iconic Lost City of Machu Picchu, journey through the scenic Sacred Valley to Urubamba, hike from Urco to Calca, visit the Vicuñita conservation project, see llamas, alpacas, vicuñas and guanacos
- You'll be welcomed with traditional music and a herbal infusion before joining local hosts to learn about medicinal plants, adobe brick making and a few Quechua phrases. Then gather for a Pachamanca lunch, with local ingredients cooked underground among hot stones using a centuries-old Andean technique.
- Machu Picchu: Wander among Machu Picchu's stone terraces, stairways and sacred spaces, with the Urubamba Valley dropping away below and forested Andean peaks beyond. Notice the precision of Inca construction and the way water channels, temples and agricultural terraces were carefully integrated into this extraordinary mountain setting.
- Cusco: At Vicuñita, you'll encounter llamas, alpacas and vicuñas while learning how the project protects native High Andean plants and supports camelid conservation. See how fibres connect these animals to Cusco's textile traditions, with local weaving techniques offering another thread in the region's living craft.
- In Cusco's historic centre, centuries of Inca engineering and Spanish influence sit side by side. Notice the precision of ancient masonry, carved wooden details and gilded interiors as you take in the city's layered architecture, with each stop offering a different perspective on its past.
- All internal air included in trip cost
- An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
- Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
- Many meals included
- Audio Headsets provided throughout your holiday to enhance your included sightseeing experiences
- Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries
- City orientation tours
- Extensive variety of Choice Experiences (Additional Cost)
- On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilised.
- 6 Breakfasts (B)
- 1 Lunch (L)
- Itinerary and inclusions are subject to change
- Price is for land, cruise and internal flights as specified. Flights not specified are not included
You’ll enjoy the icons and hidden gems with a Local Specialist by your side. Read more
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Trafalgar The Americas (2027-28)
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A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you Enquire. Additional savings may apply. T&C’s apply.
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Trafalgar. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from the cruise-line and should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
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