Machu Picchu Express

Travel Just 4U's representative in Peru will meet you at the airport upon arrival. They will be holding a sign with your name after you leave the secure area with your bags. 

They will escort you to your private transfer, assist you on check-in at your hotel and present you with a detailed itinerary for your experiences in Peru. This is your chance to run through specific pick up times and logistics for your tours in the country. 

If you have any questions regarding your itinerary, ask them now. 

Featuring an excellent location only a 5-minute walk from Larcomar Shopping Centre, Hotel Ariosto offers accommodations in Lima. Free Wi-Fi access is available and guests are served daily buffet breakfast.

Rooms here are all well-equipped with a flat-screen TV with cable channels, a minibar, a private bathroom and a city view. Hotel Ariosto has on-site restaurant, a 24-hour front desk, a communal terrace and a bar. 

This modern eclectic property is located in a tranquil area of the Miraflores with coastal walks, parks and gourmet food.

You will be picked up from your hotel for a shared small group tour. 

The tour will begin visiting the modern suburbs of San Isidro and Miraflores which are home to the capital's financial sector, the beautiful San Isidro Golf Course and Olive Grove Park. You will see the Huaca Pucllana, a pre-inca pyramid shape temple, that has survived the expansion of modern civilisation. Then you will stop at Parque del Amor (Love Park) and enjoy a nice view of the Pacific Ocean, as we drive down the Miraflores Malecon, a road along the cliffs overlooking the ocean.

From Miraflores the group will visit downtown Lima`s historical centre (Colonial Lima), designated by UNESCO as Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 1991. This impressive site was once was the centre of the 16th century Spanish colony. Visit the Plaza Mayor, Presidential Palace, Cathedral, Archbishop`s Palace, City Hall and the Desamparados Train Station. The visit will also take you to Plaza San Martin, a large park surrounded by old colonial buildings still displaying beautiful carved wood balconies and other landmarks.

OPTIONAL: Not included in starting price

You will be picked up from your hotel for a shared small group tour. 

The tour will begin visiting the modern suburbs of San Isidro and Miraflores which are home to the capital's financial sector, the beautiful San Isidro Golf Course and Olive Grove Park. You will see the Huaca Pucllana, a pre-inca pyramid shape temple, that has survived the expansion of modern civilisation. Then you will stop at Parque del Amor (Love Park) and enjoy a nice view of the Pacific Ocean, as we drive down the Miraflores Malecon, a road along the cliffs overlooking the ocean.

From Miraflores the group will visit downtown Lima`s historical centre (Colonial Lima), designated by UNESCO as Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 1991. This impressive site was once was the centre of the 16th century Spanish colony. Visit the Plaza Mayor, Presidential Palace, Cathedral, Archbishop`s Palace, City Hall and the Desamparados Train Station. The visit will also take you to Plaza San Martin, a large park surrounded by old colonial buildings still displaying beautiful carved wood balconies and other landmarks.

After the city tour, you will visit one of Lima's best museums - Museo Larco.

We recommend exploring the neighborhood of Miraflores and nearby Barranco and should consider the following areas or activities:

Parks & Sights:

• Óvalo de Miraflores 
• Kennedy Park
• Malecon de Miraflores 
• Parque del Amor
• Puente de los Suspiros

Shopping & Eating:

• Mercado 28 - a small market with modern food stalls and a lovely atmosphere 
• Mercado Indio Miraflores Market - traditional souvenir market 
• Dédalo - modern shop in Barranco with higher end, unique Peruvian crafts
• Larcomar Shopping Center - modern, shopping center with international brands

To allow your body to adapt to altitude, we will transfer you directly from arrival at the Cuzco airport (3,400 m.a.s.l) to the Sacred Valley (2,800 m.a.s.l.) This is much lower than Cuzco, but still higher than Machu Picchu which is 2,400 m.a.s.l. 

We recommend you spend this afternoon staying hydrated, relaxing and eating very light food. Altitude can slow digestion and dehydration can occur.

Please do avoid being overly active this afternoon as it is likely you will feel the effects of altitude.

The name “Parakitampu”derives from the Quechua words “pakari”, which means “dawn” and “tampu” which means “home”. Pakaritampu Hotel is in the heart of the Sacred Valley, located in the village of Ollantaytambo. It is a short walk to the train station with direct connection to Machu Picchu, and one hour and a half drive from the city of Cuzco.

The town of Ollantaytambo is the starting point of the Inca Trail, a beautiful place that offers various tourist attractions.

Rooms here will provide you with a private bathroom with hot water and toiletries, a digital safety-deposit box, a TV with cable channels, amenities, WiFi access, a phone, and a garden and mountain view. A heater can be requested.

At Hotel Pakaritampu you will find a 24-hour front desk and a garden. Other facilities offered include luggage storage and a laundry service.

After breakfast you will be picked up at your hotel to start the tour.

First you will visit Pisac, a picturesque town located 32km northeast of Cuzco. Its colourful markets take place every day. Here merchants sell all sorts of handicrafts, the most important of which are the textiles and ceramic goods such as ceremonial goblets called "Q'eros", plates, ashtrays, necklace and replicas of pre-Hispanic pottery.

Lunch will be included at a local restaurant. In the afternoon you will visit the remarkable fortress of Ollantaytambo, built by the Incas. A very steep stone staircase leads into the fortress. Across an esplanade there is a temple with 10 niches, and beside it a block of partially unworked stones. Beyond another esplanade, six huge rectangular monoliths (estimated weight: 50 tons) form the Temple of the Sun. Vestiges of rooms are seen on top of the fortress, and on the other side of the hill a four storey building, believed to be either a military school or prison.

After the tour you will be transferred to your hotel.

OPTIONAL: Not included in starting price

Visit Maras & Moray on your All Terrain Bike (ATB). Drive through the remote villages and agricultural fields with beautiful landscapes, looking for a alternative experience to visit the historical Inca legacy.

The ATB tour starts with a driving lesson to teach you how to ride your quad bike  After that, you will visit the village of Maras and continue the adventure for a visit  to the archaeological complex of Moray.

You will visit the salt mines before returning to the base at Pata Cruz from where you will be transferred back the hotel in Ollantaytambo village.

*Duration: 5 hours 13:30 - 18:30 pm
*Difficulty: Moderate
*Bring With You: Sunglasses and waterproof sunscreen

Please prepare a small bag with essentials for tonight. Your luggage will be picked up at your Sacred Valley Hotel and transferred to your hotel in Cuzco. 

Only a small day bag is allowed on the train to Aguas Calientes.

Ollantaytambo is a village in the Sacred Valley of south Peru, set on the Urubamba River amid snow-capped mountains. It's known for the Ollantaytambo ruins, a massive Inca fortress with large stone terraces on a hillside. Major sites within the complex include the huge Sun Temple and the Princess Baths fountain. The village's old town is an Inca-era grid of cobblestoned streets and adobe buildings.

Top things to do in Ollantaytambo:

• Visit The Ollantaytambo Ruins and Terraces (from 7 a.m. - 5.30 p.m)
• Explore the old town streets
• Browse the souvenir Market 
• Stop by Mercado San Pedro
• Visit The Depositos de Pinkuylluna

After breakfast and the morning at leisure, you will go to Aguas Calientes via train from Ollantaytambo town.

Additional details of your train time and logistics will be provided to you by our ground partner upon arrival in Peru. If you have any questions, be sure to discuss with your assistance guide in Aguas Calientes. 

Spend the time at leisure in Aguas Calientes exploring the small town. There is a craft market here, however, many similar items can be found at a better price in Cuzco. You can also visit the 'hot waters' (hot springs) that gave the town its name.

Step into the smart, contemporary and cozy confines of El MaPi, amidst the picturesque Machu Picchu Pueblo. Discover an efficient, lively and friendly atmosphere, welcoming guests expecting an unfussy, down-to-earth break. The flowing lobby creates a sense of vitality. Lofty ceilings, panoramic windows and an open café allow natural light to filter between tall eucalyptus dried branches, creating an ambiance of order and well being.

Relax in a pleasant and wholesome ambiance after your enlightening visit to Peru’s most famous destination: the Machu Picchu Archaeological site.

Note: Dinner in the restaurant at the hotel is included in your stay.

OPTIONAL: Not included in starting price

Today you will climb Huayna Picchu Montain and have a guided tour of the Machu Picchu citadel. Full logistical details will be provided upon your arrival to Aguas Calientes.

Well known as ‘The Lost City of the Incas’, Machu Picchu was built around 1450, but abandoned 100 years later at the time of the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire. In 1911 Hiram Bingham, an American historian discovered its existence with its classic Inca style. The main buildings of Intihuatana, the Temple of the Sun, and the Room of the Three Windows, are located in the Sacred District of Machu Picchu.

Huayna Picchu is the towering mountain behind the actual site of Machu Picchu. From a distance the mountain looks impossible to climb without the necessary tools but even though a strenuous climb with some parts where you will actually will need both hands and feet, the climb is quite possible for all averagely fit visitors. For many people climbing Huayna Picchu is one of the highlights when visiting Machu Picchu. The climb itself is interesting as you will see how the Inca did cut out some steps out of the rocks and as you wind around the side of a mountain will see Machu Picchu from different angles.

• Only 400 people allowed daily: 2 groups – first departing at 7:00am (200), second at 10:00 am (200)
• The climb takes about 2 to 3 hours return

After breakfast you will meet the Travel Just 4U Representative at the hotel who will explain the logistics in detail of your day.

Next you will be transferred by bus to the gates of Machu Picchu where you will have a private guided tour of Machu Picchu. You will then have free time to explore the site at your own leisure. Well known as ‘The Lost City of the Incas’, Machu Picchu was built around 1450, but abandoned 100 years later at the time of the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire. 

In 1911 Hiram Bingham, an American historian discovered its existence with its classic Inca style. The main buildings of Intihuatana, the Temple of the Sun, and the Room of the Three Windows, are located in the Sacred District of Machu Picchu.

After you explore the citadel, you will take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes to catch the train back to Cuzco

*Reminder: Only overnight bags or small carry on suitcases are allowed on the train. Your full luggage will be transferred to your Cuzco hotel.

You will return via train from Aguas Calientes to your Cuzco hotel via train and transfer. Depending on when you travel, the logistics are as follows. 

May to December Return Logistics:
From May to December, the train runs from Aguas Calientes station all the way to Poroy Station just 25 mins outside of Cuzco. Your private transfer will be waiting for you at the Poroy Station to take you to your Cuzco hotel.

January to April Return Logistics:
From January to April, the train runs only from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo Station. From there, everyone on the train boards shared coaches for the drive from Ollantaytambo Station to Wanchaq Station (just 5 minutes from the centre of Cuzco). This shared coach is operated by Peru Rail.

Your private transfer will be waiting for you at the Wanchaq Station to take you to your Cuzco hotel.

Additional details of your train time and logistics will be provided to you by our ground partner upon arrival in Peru. If you have any questions, be sure to discuss with your assistance guide in Aguas Calientes. 

Ramada by Wyndham Costa del Sol Cusco is a converted 17th-century mansion located in Cuzco’s centre, a few steps away from Cuzco Main Square and La Merced Church. It offers colonial-style accommodation and free WiFi. 

Ramada by Wyndham Costa del Sol Cuzco ’s Paprika Cuzco Restaurant serves breakfast buffet and international dishes with a blend of traditional Peruvian cuisine for lunch and dinner. Walak bar serves drinks and snacks.

San Pedro Train Station is nearby and other close by attractions include the Central Market, Cathedral of Cuzco, and Inka Museum.

You will be picked up at your hotel for this shared half day tour of Cuzco and nearby ruins. 

Together with small group of other passengers, your guide will bring you to visit the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, a colossal structure of enormous stones, carved and fitted together with incredible precision; Qenqo, the religious center; we will enjoy a panoramic view of Puca-Pucara, the red fortress and then we will visit Tambomachay with their water fountains. Afterwards, our tour continues in the Imperial City, we will stroll through the Main Square, where we will discover the Cathedral and admire its exquisite vestibules and priceless paintings from the Cusco School of the 17th and 18th centuries. We will continue with a visit to one of the most impressive buildings of Incan Cusco: the Qoricancha (the Golden Temple) - a temple dedicated to the worship of the Sun God, whose interior walls were said to have been covered in gold.

After the tour, you will free to choose one of the many restaurants in the vicinity that will let you sample delicious Peruvian cuisine.

OPTIONAL ADD ON: Not included in starting price

Palcoyo is just 20kms away from the more famous Vinincunca mountain but they are two sides of the same coin. While the unique mountain of colours of Vinincunca has thousands of visitors every day, Palcoyo offers not one but three mountains of varied colours without the vast number of visitors. 

Additionally, there is a unique rock forest located in the highest complex for you to explore.

7:30 - 7:40 Pick up from Hotel
7:40 - 11:15 Drive Cuzco to Palcoyo
11:15 - 13:00 Sightseeing, walking and photography at Palcoyo
13:00 - 13:30 Drive from Palcoyo to Picnic are
13:30 - 14:00 Simple picnic lunch
14:00 - 17:00 Return dive to Cuzco

Recommended Gear: Trekking shoes and clothes, windbreaker, hat gloves, sunglasses, sunscreen and camera.

Notes: Be sure to eat breakfast at your hotel before pick up.

OPTIONAL ADD ON: Not included in starting price

You will be picked up from your hotel in Cuzco between 5:00 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. (this depends on the location of your hotel). The group will then drive to Mollepata where you will have breakfast in Casa Salkantay restaurant. After breakfast the trip continues with a 1 hour and 30 minute drive, arriving at Soraypampa place.  Here you will begin the walk to the Humantay Lagoon, depending on your fitness level it will be approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.  After arriving to Humantay Lagoon, you will have around 40 minutes to explore, take photos and appreciate the beauty of the lagoon with your guide. You will then walk back to Soraypampa where you will have lunch and enjoy some time to relax before getting back on the bus to return to Cuzco. You will arrive back to Cuzco at approximately 5:00 pm in the afternoon.

Walking time: Approx. 4 hours (with buffet lunch)
Level of trek: Moderate Difficulty 

We recommend visiting the San Pedro Markets for souvenirs and local snacks, walking around the main square and exploring the many shops and restaurants in the Cuzco.  

Top things to do in Cusco: 

1. Visit Plaza de Armas
2. Explore San Pedro Market
3. Visit Cusco Cathedral
4. Visit Qurikancha Museum
5. Explore San Blas neighborhood
6. Go to Museums and art Galleries
7. Try Peruvian food & tradicional drinks