Peru: Machu Picchu & the Sacred Valley​

Depart from the U.S. and travel to Peru. The particulars of your arrival overseas are detailed with your flight itinerary and airline tickets.

VBT No-Air Package guests: Meet your VBT Trip Leader at the first inn at 12 noon. The contact information for the first inn will be confirmed with your final documents. Please contact your first inn to advise them of any travel delays or changes so the staff can pass the message on to your VBT Trip Leaders.

VBT Air Package guests: You will arrive in Peru via Lima's Jorge Chavez International Airport early this morning. You will need to clear Peruvian and customs before you transfer to your connecting flight to Cusco. Upon arrival at Cusco airport, claim your luggage and look in the arrivals hall for your VBT representative, who will be holding a VBT sign. Make certain that your VBT luggage tags are affixed to your bag so your VBT representative can identify you. Your representative will make arrangements for the transfer to your hotel in the Sacred Valley, approximately a 1-hour and 30-minute drive.

VBT Pre-Trip Extension guests: This morning, transfer from your hotel to Lima's Jorge Chaves International Airport for your flight to Cusco. Please be waiting in the hotel reception area 15 minutes prior to your transfer time; you will have received this time from your VBT representative on your first day in Lima. Once you have arrived at the airport in Lima please check in and proceed to the departure lounge. Upon arrival at Cusco airport, claim your luggage and look in the arrivals hall for your VBT representative, who will be holding a VBT sign. Make certain that your VBT luggage tags are affixed to your bag so your VBT representative can identify you. Your representative will make arrangements for the transfer to your hotel in the Sacred Valley, approximately a 1-hour and 30-minute drive.

Once you arrive in the Sacred Valley (7,841-foot elevation), it will prove very helpful to rest and avoid strenuous activity as your body acclimates to the altitude. Also, beware of dehydration and drink plenty of water to help avoid altitude sickness. A couple of hours' rest now will go a long way in making you more comfortable later.

In the mid-afternoon, join your fellow travelers and VBT Trip Leaders for a short drive and visit Ollantaytambo. Called just “Ollanta” for short, it is best known for its fortress perched above the village, the site of an Incan victory over the Spanish. The village is one of the few in Peru that still maintains the Inca system of urban planning. You'll feel as though you've stepped back in time as you wander the cobblestoned streets. Homes and streets here have not changed dramatically since Incan times.

We have a chance to relax in our comfortable accommodations, built around a former monastery, before we celebrate our visit to the Sacred Valley over a special welcome reception and dinner.

NOTE:  Due to the logistics of getting to Machu Picchu, there are restrictions on what luggage can travel with you. Please be sure to pack a lightweight, expandable bag that can be packed within your luggage. You will need to transfer only what you need for these two overnights from your large suitcase. Your large luggage will remain in secure storage during your stay in Machu Picchu. In addition to this duffel, you are able to carry your day pack with you. 

We start the day with a visit to a local Peruvian market where we have a chance to view the diverse fruits and vegetables, including some of the more than 4000 different types of potatoes grown in Peru, as well as interact with the vendors as they barter their wares. If you didn't pack a smaller bag take with you to Machu Picchu, this is a wonderful place to pick up a bag to use.

Later, we shuttle to the start of our morning walk where we will have the opportunity to experience local life as it unfolds in the peaceful Andean Highlands. We begin our walk along the ancient farming paths in this primarily agricultural community. We will make various stops along our walk today to learn about local farming, religious ceremonies and textile production in this region.

After breakfast, we visit the mountaintop site of Pisac. Despite the excellent condition of many of the structures, little is conclusively known about the site's actual purpose. It appears to have been part city, part ceremonial center and part military complex.

We then transfer to explore the ancient terraces at Moray. Started before the time of the Inca, these enormous concentric circle terraces are thought to have been part of an experimental agricultural complex that was improved and enlarged upon by the Inca. We stop and picnic here, before shuttling to the outskirts of Maras village.

We walk scenic footpaths downhill to Maras village and the Maras salt mines. The terraced Inca salt pans of Salineras are still mined for salt using methods unchanged over centuries. These mines are fed by underground saltwater springs. From here, we continue to walk downhill to the Urubamba River, where we meet our shuttle. On our way to our hotel in Yanahuara (9,373 feet), we stop at a typical Andean chicheria for an opportunity to sample some of the region's more unusual (but commonly consumed) food and drink, including chicha (corn beer).

Dinner is on your own tonight.

We shuttle early this morning to Ollantaytambo to catch the narrow-gauge Vistadome train. Our train ride is down the narrowing valley, which offers breathtaking views of the river and surrounding peaks.

Those who have elected to hike the Inca Trail will disembark at the “Km 104” marker (7,183 feet) to start one of the world's most iconic walks. The walk offers spectacular views of the surrounding mountains, cloud forests and an unforgettable entry into the Machu Picchu Sanctuary. Expect to be on the legendary trail for five hours with a mostly continuous ascent. An elevation gain and loss of about 2,000 feet and some steep stair climbing will keep you on your toes. Note that a minibus support van will not be available on the Inca Trail. You will be required to walk the entire 8 miles. A picnic break is well deserved.

All your effort is rewarded when you arrive at Intipunku, the Sun Gate (8,954 feet), the most spectacular approach to Machu Picchu from above. This was the original entrance to the “Lost City.” Take some time to take it all in! Then, continue down to our hotel located below Machu Picchu. You'll have all of tomorrow to discover the wonder of Machu Picchu, both with your Trip Leaders and independently.

For those looking for a less strenuous option – and for those unable to obtain a permit for the Inca Trail – you'll stay on the train past Km 104, arriving in Aguas Calientes in the late morning. Check into the inn and have lunch. You may wish to take advantage of the spa services, or walk the incredible orchid gardens at the inn. You may also take the bus up to the main entrance of Machu Picchu and hike in to meet the rest of the group, or just walk the site at your own pace. 

Today is yours to explore at your own pace. Early morning options include birding on the hotel grounds and taking the shuttle up to explore Machu Picchu as the sun rises – and before the day trippers arrive from Cusco. Shuttle buses operate on a regular schedule from our hotel to the ruins and back. Trip Leaders will be leading a number of guided walks around Machu Picchu, as well as in the surrounding area, including a round trip walk to Inca Bridge (1.8 miles) and to Mandor Waterfalls (4.3 miles). 

Enjoy lunch at your leisure at the café near the entry gate, in one of the restaurants in Aguas Calientes or at your hotel. 

Return to the hotel whenever you like. You may wish to continue your exploration until dusk, or return to the hotel by shuttle bus or on foot (2,000-foot decent). Enjoy recounting the day over an included dinner tonight.

Enjoy a relaxing breakfast.  Several walking trails begin right at the hotel or you may wish to visit the tea plantation located within the hotel grounds.  Later this morning we return to Cusco through the Sacred Valley by Vistadome train.

Upon our arrival in Cusco this afternoon, we will put on our walking shoes and discover this ancient Inca capitol with a walking tour. Evidence of both the original Inca city and the Spanish colonial city established in 1533 will be pointed out as we explore Koricancha (“Temple of the Sun”), Cusco Cathedral and the San Blas district.  In Incan times, San Blas was a settlement for ancient craftsmen who saw “yachay” – Quechua for “teach and learn” – as their special calling. Today, the area is famous for the unusual Baroque-style pulpit in the San Blas Church and for its artists and artisans.

Cusco and its many dining options are at your doorstep tonight.

After breakfast, we transfer six miles (25 minutes) north of Cusco to begin our day. We'll trace our way on foot back in the direction of the city, visiting the most important Incan monuments. This is a spectacular area for our walks, with Andean mountain views, colorful villages and impressive remains of the Inca Empire.

First we visit Tambomachay (the highest elevation of the day at 12,500 feet), which may have fulfilled an important religious function linked to water and the regeneration of the land. Walking down a gentle slope, we'll later stop to explore the complexes of Puka Pukara, Qenqo and Laqo. Our Trip Leaders can explain more about historic religious ceremonies held here.

We find a comfortable meadow overlook to enjoy a picnic lunch, and learn about the survival of some pre-Hispanic rituals and their impact on Andean life, too.

After lunch, saving the most impressive for last, we visit Sacsayhuaman. Though only a fraction of its original size and scope, the stonework of this fortress will astound and baffle. We take a moment to look back over the orange tile rooftops of Cusco before our short transfer into the city.

There is time to soak in some last bits of Andean culture in the colorful plazas of Cusco. Tonight, we're out on the town for a festive dinner.

VBT No-Air Package guests: Our tour finishes in the hotel after breakfast this morning. The hotel will help you book a taxi at your own expense to the Cusco airport.

VBT Air Package: There will be a mid-morning transfer to the airport in Cusco for the flight to Lima. Upon arrival, check in to comfortable rooms for day use. Tonight, dinner is at your leisure before returning to the airport for flights departing in the late evening.

VBT Post-Trip Extension guests: You will catch a mid-morning flight from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado. A VBT representative meets you when you land. Register at the Butterfly House and transfer to the boarding wharf. After a 45-minute boat ride, arrive at Reserva Amazonica. Lunch is included today, and you'll have time to enjoy the extensive trail system with an interpretive guide this afternoon. This evening, join an included “River by Night” excursion, or catch a nature presentation in the Eco Center. Dinner is in the lodge dining room tonight. Note: Due to the logistics of getting to Reserva Amazonica Lodge, there are restrictions on what luggage can travel with you. Please use the small bag you brought for Machu Picchu to transfer only what you need for these two overnights from your large suitcase. Your large luggage will remain in secure storage in Puerto Maldonado.

Please note: VBT transfer times and departure points are finalized in advance and cannot be modified for individual guests. If you extend your stay beyond the scheduled program dates, return transportation to the airport will be at your own expense.

Flights arrive in the United States this morning, depending on connections.