Cusco Adventure Tour Machu Picchu: 6 Days of Active Travel

Welcome to the ancient capital of the Inca Empire. The programme begins with a transfer to your hotel in Cusco. We will coordinate the pickup time with you and then travel by private transportation to the outskirts of Cusco, visiting the archaeological site of Qenqo first. After leaving the site, we will meet our horses and muleteers, who, together with the official guide, will accompany us during the horseback riding activity.

We will then head toward the impressive Inca archaeological sites of Puka Pukara, Tambomachay and finally Sacsayhuamán.

Along the way, we will enjoy panoramic views of Cusco and the surrounding communities. The typical adobe-and-tile houses of the different communities and their small farmlands will be the highlights of our horseback ride.

Finally, we will take our private transportation back to the hotel after an enjoyable horseback riding activity.

We will pick you up from your hotel in the morning and then travel to the community of Cruzpata on a paved road. The journey takes about 45 minutes to the ATV operations center. Here, the ATV (All-Terrain Vehicle) instructor will give us the necessary instructions for the excursion and provide the equipment needed for the activity.

We will then begin the route along a dirt trail passing through different potato, barley and other crops. During the ride, we will enjoy views of the Vilcanota mountain range and the Sacred Valley. We will stop in nearby villages to learn about the culture and customs of the local communities, as well as the flora and fauna of the area.

The route will take us from the community of Cruzpata to our first destination, the Moray archaeological agricultural experimentation site. Moray is considered one of the region’s most distinctive archaeological sites because of its circular terraces in four of its structures and its elevation of 3,400 meters above sea level.

We will then continue to the town of Maras, where we can find colonial mansions dating from the 1600s, many of which preserve family coats of arms and Catholic devotional symbols of the local families. After a short break, we will continue to the salt pools, where we will observe the production and collection of pink Andean salt. At the end of our activities in the afternoon, we will return to the city of Cusco for your overnight stay at the hotel.

Approximate ATV route distance: 50 kilometers (31 miles).

Approximate ATV tour duration: 3 hours.

After breakfast at the hotel, we will pick you up to continue our journey through the Sacred Valley of the Incas. One of the first stops will be Pisac (2,972 m a.s.l.), a small traditional town about 45 minutes by car from Cusco that preserves part of Inca history in its archaeological complex. Here, you will have a guided tour of its structures and terraces.

We will then travel alongside the Urubamba River to the town of the same name, located 39.2 kilometers from Pisac, a journey of approximately 50 minutes. Here, you will enjoy a buffet lunch at a tourist restaurant offering local, Peruvian and international dishes.

After lunch, we will take you to Ollantaytambo, where we will carry out two activities. First, you will have a guided tour of the Ollantaytambo fortress, which once belonged to Inca Pachacutec and whose lands were worked by his servants to sustain its population.

The second activity is to go to the train station, located a few minutes from the fortress, where you will board the train to the town of Machu Picchu, also known as Aguas Calientes, on a journey of approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. During the ride, we will see the changing landscape as we enter the cloud forest and enjoy views of the Urubamba River and its whitewater throughout the journey.

Upon arrival, our staff will take you to your hotel to check in and settle into your room. This will also be the right time to explain the activities planned for the following day and your visit to the Machu Picchu Citadel.

You will then have the rest of the day free. You can visit the town, walk through its streets, shop in stores and the artisan market, or visit the thermal pools known as Aguas Calientes. In the evening, you will have free time to have dinner at one of the many restaurants around the town. At the end of the day, you will spend the night in Machu Picchu Pueblo.

Our official guide in Machu Picchu will be waiting for you in the hotel lobby in the morning to accompany you to the bus stop. Before leaving, we recommend checking out of the hotel and arranging in advance for your luggage to be collected. Our tour begins with an approximately 30-minute bus ride to the main entrance of the Machu Picchu Citadel.

Upon arriving at Machu Picchu, we will begin with a short visit to the citadel before heading to the checkpoint to start the ascent to Huayna Picchu Mountain. During this hike, you will be accompanied by our official guide, who will assist you throughout the route and share important information along the way.

The ascent to Huayna Picchu takes approximately one and a half hours. It is a short hike that requires a moderate level of fitness. At the summit, we will have time to enjoy the impressive view, rest and appreciate the landscape before beginning the descent.

After visiting Huayna Picchu, we will continue our tour through the Machu Picchu Citadel. You will have time to take photos and enjoy views of the site from different points while learning more about its history, architecture, customs and traditions.
Before continuing the visit, you can use the restrooms and have some food or a drink in the area near the main entrance. We will then continue the Machu Picchu tour, reaching the highest part of the citadel to capture the classic photograph and enjoy a new perspective of the historic sanctuary.

Our official tourism guide will provide all the necessary information and will be available to answer your questions and concerns during the visit. Finally, we will head to the bus stop to return to the town of Aguas Calientes.

In the afternoon, we will take the return train according to the assigned schedule to the Ollantaytambo station, where our private transportation will be waiting to take you back to your hotel in Cusco.

Overnight stay in Cusco.

In the morning, we will pick you up from your hotel and head to the upper part of Cusco. After approximately 20 minutes of travel, we will reach the starting point, where we will prepare the bicycle equipment before beginning our route. We will start with a gentle descent toward the Yuncaypata community, located in an area where part of the ancient Inca road known as Qhapaq Ñan is preserved.

During the route, we will pass through the community and enjoy views of the agricultural fields, where we can observe the daily life and customs of the Andean residents. After a series of climbs and descents, we will continue toward the northeastern part of the city, stopping at the Rumi Wasi archaeological complex, known for its system of terraces and Inca canals used to collect rainwater and for agricultural activities.

Finally, we will pass through a eucalyptus forest and return to the city of Cusco, where our vehicle will be waiting to collect us and transport our equipment. We will then return to the hotel, where you will have the rest of the day free to explore Cusco, walk through its historic streets or take part in another activity.

You can also enjoy a meal at one of the many local restaurants in the historic center of Cusco, where you will find local, national and international cuisine. Our local guide can recommend other places to visit, or you can ask our sales agent about additional services.

Overnight stay in Cusco.

At the agreed time, we will transfer you from your hotel to the airport for your departure flight. We recommend arriving at least 2 hours before a domestic flight. This marks the end of the tour.