Mild Adventure

Sample Itinerary:    7 days Mild Adventure

 

Days: 7

Type of trip: Mild Adventure

Highlights:  This itinerary is how we would recommend spending seven days in Peru. It includes the usual, highly recommended excursions (a visit to Machu Picchu, the fortress of Ollantaytambo, city tour in Cusco, etc) but also includes time for two or three  adventure activities like mountain biking, trekking, horseback riding, or rafting.

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Day 1  

Cuzco Peru
Arrive Cusco (let us know when and we’ll have a known and trusted driver there waiting) and then take the beautiful 2 hour drive through the Sacred Valley to Ollantaytambo. The drive is one of the most scenic you will ever experience, and is hopefully all you ever imagined Peru would be. You definitely will see local people living their farming lifestyle as they have for centuries; you will see very large mountains and if it is not raining you will see the glaciers above them. Arrive to Ollantaytambo and check into your comfortable room at one of our hotels and perhaps a hot shower to refresh yourself, or even a nap. Spend the afternoon just relaxing and wandering this ancient Incan town – there is always something to see !

 

 

 

 

 

Peru

 

Day 2  

Wake up and smell the coffee (or tea if you prefer – try the coca tea) and after breakfast make an early visit to the famous Ollantaytambo fortress. This incredible structure was still being built when the Spanish conquest arrived, and is the location of the only significant battle that the Incas ever won against the Spaniards. (Hurray Ollantaytambo !)  It’s centerpiece is the un-finished Temple of the Sun, made of huge monoliths of pink granite carried from a nearby mountain side.  It features some of the best Incan stonework in all of Peru, not to mention great views of town and the surrounding mountains. Get a guide at the front entrance (price varies, but is reasonable and negociable) in order to really see all the hidden secrets of this Inca site, which is one of the most important in all of Peru. It is best seen in the morning when there are no crowds, this visit takes between 2 to 3 hours.

 

Inca stonework

* Inside tip: when descending the Incan staircase down to the valley floor and site exit after your visit, be sure to go left at the bottom of the steps (away from the exit).  In just a few minutes, you will arrive at some of the best Incan stonework to be found anywhere in the world, including Machu Picchu. There are unique and finely shaped stones of all sizes laying everywhere, and there is a section of vertical cliff where perfect cubes of solid granite were extracted from the cliff face using a method that it is still not known (picture on the right). Entrance to the fortress is not included with the package, the cost is reasonable at about $29.

 

In the afternoon, you could either relax and have a beer, or take a walk about town, or if you prefer something more active you could take one of a number of free, short side hikes from the hotel. As always, remember by 5pm year round it is beginning to arrive at dusk so the days are a bit short.

 

Day 3  

Moray, Peru

After a leisurely morning and breakfast, head to the fantastic Incan sites of Salt Mines of Maras and the circular ruins of Moray. This trip is one that we recommend over almost any other, as it has a little bit of everything: breathtaking scenery, local people living their agricultural lifestyle virtually unaffected by tourism in any way. You will also see these 2 Incan sites that are different than any other and are really a must to see.

They can be seen via hiking, mountain biking, or taxi, but as this is a more adventurous itinerary we will recommend going via mountain bike, which is the best way for those with some off-road experience. In other words, with this package you can go by either taxi, mountain biking, or a combination of some taxi riding and some hiking. Ask us for details.

 

Las Salineras

It takes about 4 hours to see both sites using a taxi, this includes one hour at each site.The views of the Andes mountains on the way to, and between, the Salt Mines and Moray are some of the best in the valley! 

For a more productive (rushed?) schedule, in the afternoon after returning from the Salt Mines and Moray you could do a half day hike around Ollantaytambo, such as Pumamarca.  Or you could allow yourself a more relaxed morning and more time at the Salt Mines and Moray, and just come back to Ollantaytambo in mid afternoon after the tour and relax or do some of the short hikes around town.

 

 

Day 4  

Today we highly recommend visiting Abra Malaga !  One of the most scenic drives in South America and perhaps the world, this has it all – Huge glaciers, waterfalls, great views, herds of llamas, and lots of ancient, local culture. This amazing valley will likely soon be a protected national park, but currently it is unrestricted. It can be enjoyed by either just doing the drive in a taxi or van, or it is possible to get dropped off up the valley and then walk back down to the valley floor and back to Ollantaytambo.

The most recommended way is via one of our famous mountain bike rides down the newly paved, 50 kilometer winding road from the high pass of Abra Malaga at 4316 meters (14,160 feet above sea level )  The ride takes about 4 hours total and is by far the most popular trip we do – everyone absolutely loves it !  See the 1 day mountain biking section of our webpage for more information.

 

 

After returning to the hotel and having lunch, there is the option of either spending another night in Ollantaytambo (which of course we recommend !) or else spending the night in Aguas Calientes. The main thing is to decide whether you plan to get up very early to see Machu Picchu. (be warned it is most crowded in the mornings).   If so, you should go to Aguas Calientes tonight. Otherwise, there is an early train that will get you to Machu Picchu as early as 7.20am. Since Huayna Picchu tickets are no longer sold onsite but rather online in advance, some people no longer feel the need to go at 6am. Others hope to go early and see the sunrise (keep in mind that due to the steep mountains, sunrise is relatively late in the morning and not always visible due to common fog. If spending the night in Ollantaytambo, there is the rest of this late afternoon and evening to have a good meal and relax and just take an early train tomorrow, Day 5.

 

Day 5  

Time to go to Machu Picchu !

 

First, get your Machu Picchu entrance ticket at www.MachuPicchu.gob.pe For more information on this process see www.MachuPicchuInformation.com After you have your MP ticket, get your train ticket at www.PeruRail.com or www.IncaRail.com.

If you purchase this 7 day package from us (as opposed to just using it as a guide to plan your own trip) we will do all of this ticket hassles for you, and it is included in the price !

 

 

Day 5  

Visit Machu Picchu one of the 7 Wonders of the World! Enjoy, and if you are spending the night in Aguas Calientes take your time. Bring a box lunch and snack (prohibited in the ruins but with discretion and neatness probably not a problem) and stay as late as you can. Machu Picchu gets magically empty in the hour before closing, when nearly all the travelers have headed down the mountain to Aguas Calientes. (or you can return to Ollantaytambo on the evening train. Our package includes your entrance ticket, and also your train ticket roundtrip from Ollantaytambo.  If you wish to climb Huayna Picchu, you will need to book with us typically 2 to 3 months in advance or they sell out. if they do sell out, Machu Picchu Mountain is a better option in our opinion anyway. Either Huayna or Machu Pichu Mountain tickets are $15 extra per person. The shuttle bus that runs from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu costs $20 roundtrip, no reserved seats are needed or even possible, it is strictly first come first served. They sell the tickets right where the buses leave from – basically the very center of town, on the only street – and they run from 5.30am until 6pm.

 

Lower buildings at Pumamarca

Day 6  

Today would be a great day, after returning from Machu Picchu, to relax as you likely will be tired from the day before. Sleep in, and take a late breakfast up on our terrace, drinking coffee and watching the sun rays hit the Incan fortress of Ollantaytambo.  After breakfast, you could either just wander around town for the rest of the day, or if you are up for more exploring there are several options:

–  a half day hike to the little visited, ,spectacular pre-Incan site of Pumamarca;

– a much shorter hike to the outskirts of town and the Incan site of Quelloraccay;

– a cultural activity such as woodcarving, ceramics, or Incan textile weaving classes

Today is on your own without a guide but we will help you arrange whatever activities you prefer (any cost would be extra and on your own also). Your hotel and breakfast is included today, however.

 

Day 7  

After breakfast, depart for Cusco. Have the moring in Cusco for more wandering around. Try to book a flight around 1 or 2 pm so that you have the morning to relax here. We recommend, however, not booking the last flight or two out of the day. Always better to leave a few flights in case you have a problem with yours, particularily if you have a connecting flight that same evening in Lima. Be sure to ask for a seat on the right side of the plane when checking in- the mountain views are incredible !

 

The cost of this package is $1499 per person, two people minimum, double occupancy required.

INCLUDED:  Hotel in Ollantaytambo:  All nights of Day 1 through morning of Day 7 (six nights in total); Breakfast Day 2 through Day 7; English speaking guide everyday from breakfast until dusk, from airport pickup through the return of your train from Aguas Calientes the evening of Day 5; Private transportation from Cusco airport to Ollantaytambo Day 1;  Private transportation from Ollantaytambo to Cusco Day 7; Entrance ticket Machu Picchu;  Roundtrip train ticket Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes on Day 5 (can also be split to go on evening of Day 4, and/or return on morning of Day 6); all taxes

 

NOT INCLUDED:  entrance fees to Ollantaytambo fortress ($29) or Salt Mines and Moray ($10 total the two sites), lunches or dinners; activities day 6.