Day 3: LIMA / CUSCO – OPTIONAL EXCURSION: CUSCO WALKING TOUR OR PLANETARIUM VISIT (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. At the appropriate time, transfer to the airport to board the flight to the city of Cusco. Upon arrival, our staff will be waiting for you at the airport to transfer you to the selected hotel. For this day, you may choose between two options: a walking tour of the city or a visit to the famous Cusco Planetarium. Overnight in Cusco.
WALKING TOUR
At 15:00 hrs, we will pick you up from the hotel to take you to the Temple of the Sun, also known as Qoricancha, which in the Quechua language means “Golden Enclosure.” Its splendor can still be felt among those walls that were once completely covered in gold. Qoricancha was a sacred place where the Inca god, the Inti or Sun god, was worshipped. After the visit, we will continue our walking tour towards the Main Square, making a brief stop at the archaeological complex of Kusicancha, which reveals foundations of eight Inca canchas (architectural complexes) in different states of preservation. It is believed that in this place, where twelve tombs with intact funerary offerings were also found, ritual objects (ceramics and textiles), drinks, and food were prepared for the ceremonies of the main Inca temple. We will continue our walk until we reach the Main Square, where we will admire the imposing Cusco Cathedral, known for its Renaissance colonial architecture and built on the Inca foundations of what was once known as “Suntur Wasi” or the Palace of Inca Wiracocha. Inside the cathedral, highlights include paintings from the Cusco School and beautiful carvings covered in gold leaf. After the tour, you will have free time for personal activities. We suggest a short walk through the beautiful cobblestone streets of the city, visiting the famous artisan district of San Blas, the Hilario Mendívil Gallery, and Hatun Rumiyoc Street, where the famous Twelve-Angled Stone is located. At sunset, if you walk a few meters uphill beside the Cathedral, you can enjoy a beautiful illuminated view of Cusco that will surely be unforgettable. In the surrounding streets of the Historic Center, you will find excellent options to enjoy a delicious homemade dessert, good coffee, coca tea, or hot chocolate. You will also find a wide variety of bars and restaurants to satisfy your cravings. Return to the hotel on your own.
CUSCO PLANETARIUM VISIT
At 17:15 hrs, we will pick you up from the hotel and transfer you to Regocijo Square, from where we will head to what is possibly the most original planetarium in the world. The Cusco Planetarium is an interesting cultural interpretation center about Andean astronomy and worldview, an observatory of the southern skies, and a beautiful place surrounded by nature. During this approximately two-hour experience, we will have a short talk about the Andean worldview in the interpretation rooms, where we will also learn to recognize the constellations of the Southern Hemisphere. We will learn about Inca constellations, different from Western ones, and about the relationship between Andean people and the cosmos. Finally, if weather conditions allow, we will observe planets, stars, and nebulae using the planetarium’s telescopes from the heights of the Sacsayhuamán area. At 19:40 hrs we will return to Regocijo Square. Return to the hotel on your own.
Day 4: VISIT TO THE SACRED CITY OF MACHU PICCHU / CUSCO (B L)
Breakfast at the hotel. At the indicated time, transfer to the train station to begin the excursion to the Sacred City of Machu Picchu, recognized as one of the wonders of the world and declared a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. The train takes us to the town of Aguas Calientes, from where we will ascend by bus to the Archaeological Center and begin the guided tour, which lasts approximately 2 hours. During the visit, you can see temples, plazas, terraces, houses, granaries, as well as the great biodiversity that exists in the surroundings. It is worth highlighting that the beauty of Machu Picchu is enhanced by the extraordinary setting in which it is located. Around the citadel, a National Reserve has been formed with an area of 32,500 hectares, which includes a constellation of archaeological monuments that, in our opinion, were built as part of the Machu Picchu complex and not in isolation. At the indicated time, we will return to the town of Aguas Calientes, where lunch is included, and we will board the train back to the city of Cusco. Upon arrival, our staff will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel.
Day 5: CUSCO (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. Free day to enjoy the beautiful city of Cusco. Overnight in Cusco.
Day 6: CUSCO (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. At the indicated time, transfer to the airport to continue with your itinerary.
