Low-Altitude Machu Picchu 4-Day Tour
Fascinating adventure tour through heartland of Peru's ancient Inca Empire.
Condensed highlights of the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu & Cusco, including Pisac Ruins.
Minimized effects of high altitude, with nights spent below 2,800m (9,200 ft).
Overview
Peru's High Andes have that name for a reason - they are high!
Nonetheless, upon arrival at Cusco airport, we take you to the lower-altitude Sacred Valley, where your accommodation is located, for a smoother acclimatisation, and easier logistics for getting to and from Machu Picchu - meaning less time travelling, packing and unpacking.
We then have a full day to enjoy the highlights of the Sacred Valley, which serves as a mouth-watering appetiser for the next-day visit by train to the world-famous ruins of Machu Picchu.
Before departing from Cusco, we have the chance to enjoy the Colonial architecture, ancient archaeological sites, and unique Andean atmosphere of Peru's famed Inca capital city.
The sights and sounds of Cusco, Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley are sure to leave you with an abundance of lasting memories.
Low-Altitude Machu Picchu 4-Day Itinerary Outline:
Day 1: Arrival in Cusco; Private Transfer To Sacred Valley. Overnight in Ollantaytambo.
Day 2: Half-Day Tour to Ollantaytambo Fortress, Pisac ruins & market. Free Afternoon. Overnight in Ollantaytambo.
Day 3: Train/bus to Machu Picchu; Guided tour of ruins; Bus/train to Ollanta. Overnight in Ollantaytambo.
Day 4: Transfer to Cusco; Cusco City Tour; Transfer To Cusco Airport.
Note: This tour can be organised either before or after your Northern Peru tour … or on its own. Departs any day.
Prices
Prices below are per person, based on double occupancy.
| Itinerary | Length | Prices From |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Days | £693 / $884 | |
Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu | 4 Days | £841 / $1,074 |
Itinerary
detailed Itinerary:
NB. The below itinerary is the Deluxe Low-Altitude Machu Picchu version, using Superior rooms, private tours and the Vistadome train service. The Comfort version uses Standard rooms, the Expedition train and shared excursions.
Day 1: Cusco to the Sacred Valley
On arrival at Cusco airport, we welcome you and drive you in a private vehicle to Ollantaytambo at the western end of the Sacred Valley.
The town of Ollantaytambo is full of Inca remains.
The town has been built on top of original Inca foundations and is the best surviving example of Inca town planning.
The town is divided into canchas (blocks) which are almost entirely intact.
Each cancha has only one entrance (usually a huge, stone doorway) which leads into a central courtyard, surrounded by houses.
Once settled into your hotel, you have a chance to acclimatise and enjoy the wonderful Andean scenery and Inca architecture at an elevation nearly 1,000m lower than Cusco.
Overnight at Hotel Pakaritampu, in a Superior Room, or similar.
Day 2: Sacred Valley Tour: Pisac & Ollantaytambo
As you will have seen on the journey from Cusco, the Sacred Valley of the Incas is a stunning area, replete with history. So, today we take you on a thoughtful guided tour of some of the many highlights.
Ollantaytambo Fortress.
We begin with a visit to Ollantaytambo Fortress, a stone's throw from your hotel, which protected the strategic entrance to the lower Urubamba Valley.
The temple area is at the top of steep terracing, which helped to provide excellent defences.
Stone used for these buildings was brought from a quarry high up on the opposite side of the Urubamba River – an incredible feat, involving the efforts of thousands of workers.
The complex was still under construction at the time of the Spanish Conquest and was never fully completed.
The ruins of Pisac citadel on mountain overlooking The Sacred Valley.
After a guided tour of the site, we drive up the valley, passing the towns of Calca and Urubamba, on the way to Pisac, where a vital Inca road once snaked its way up the canyon that enters the Urubamba Valley.
The citadel, at the entrance to this gorge, now in ruins, controlled a route which connected the Inca Empire with Paucartambo, on the border of the eastern jungle.
Set high above a valley floor with a stunning patch-work of fields and terracing, the stonework and panoramas at Pisac's Inca citadel are magnificent. Terraces, water ducts and steps have been cut out of solid rock, and in the upper sector of the ruins, the main Sun Temple is on a par with anything at Machu Picchu.
Above the temple lie still more ruins, mostly unexcavated; and among the higher crevices and rocky overhangs several ancient burial sites are hidden
Grocery stalls at Pisac Market.
Once back in the valley floor, Pisac Market is a great place to buy local artisan goods, if you are in the shopping mood. If not, just feel free to wander about and people-watch.
Often you will see the locals from the surrounding hills selling or bartering their goods, both to tourists and other locals.
The side streets are even more interesting, as you can often see inside houses and patios, and witness people going about their daily chores.
Enjoy a delicious lunch while taking in the incredible mountain scenery.
After your tour, you will be dropped back at your Sacred Valley hotel, to rest up for your trip to Machu Picchu tomorrow.
Overnight at Hotel Pakaritampu, in a Superior Room, or similar.
Included Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Day 3: Machu Picchu
Typical Inca doorway at Machu Picchu.
It is a short walk to Ollanta train station to catch the Vistadome train for the scenic ride through lush Andean vegetation towards Machu Picchu.
Upon arrival, our private guide will lead you to the bus to begin the climb to the ruins. With the guide's assistance, we explore the astonishing ruins at a comfortable pace.
After our tour, we have free time to continue exploring the ruins on our own.
Lunch is included at the Sanctuary Lodge, that is conveniently located just outside the entrance to the ruins, giving us the maximum time to enjoy Machu Picchu, before returning down the valley by bus in order to catch the Vistadome train back to Ollantaytambo for the evening.
Overnight at Hotel Pakaritampu, in a Superior Room, or similar.
Included Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
NB. If you wish to spend the night in Machu Picchu town, and return to the ruins for a second visit (to climb Wayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, for example), we can certainly arrange this.
Day 4: Sacred Valley to Cusco: Exploring Cusco's Rich History
This morning, we collect you from your hotel for the two-hour drive back to Cusco, where we have a tour the principal sites in Cusco city centre with those Inca sites located nearby, accompanied by a qualified English-speaking guide and driver.
You will start the tour at Puca Pucara (Quechua for 'red fortress'), an Inca archaeological site located at the top of a hill. Its strategic position has led to theories that it had a military and administrative role, controlling the route to Calca that led to the Antisuyo (Jungle Country of the Inca).
We then proceed to Q'enko (Quechua for 'zigzag' or 'labyrinth') an Inca ceremonial site built around a naturally-occurring rock formation.
The name may derive from the small - yet intricate - network of underground passageways at the site; or from the mysterious zigzag channels carved into the rock.
A large natural cavity is thought to have been used as an altar, for the performance of rituals and sacrifices.
Huge stones at Sacsayhuaman.
We then move on to one of the most important Inca sites in South America, the enormous fortress of Sacsayhuaman that overlooks the city.
Its Quechua name means 'satisfied falcon', as it was the falcon that guarded the capital of the empire.
Cusco was designed in the shape of a lying puma with Sacsayhuaman as its head; while Coricancha (‘Sun Temple’) corresponded to the feline's genitalia.
It was the most important temple in the Inca Empire, dedicated primarily to Inti, the Sun God.
Construction took more than seven decades and required the work of approximately 20,000 men, for the transportation of materials, carving and stone setting. Some of its external walls exceed 9 m (30 ft) in height and 350 tons in weight.
Church of the Company of Jesus overlooking Cusco’s Plaza de Armas.
The Church of Santo Domingo was built on the site of Coricancha, using the ruined foundations of the temple that was flattened by the Spanish in the 17th Century.
It is a fine example of Inca stonework being incorporated into the structure of a Colonial building.
Next we visit Cusco Cathedral which is one of the finest examples of Colonial ecclesiastical architecture in the Americas. Building started in 1560 and was completed in 1664.
NB. The order of visits may vary.
After the tour, we transfer you to Cusco airport for your flight to Lima and beyond. Alternatively, if you wish to spend longer in Cusco, we can certainly help arrange this.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Inclusions
INCLUDED IN Low-Altitude machu picchu 4-day Price:
English-speaking tour guide.
Three nights’ accommodation in Sacred Valley.
Meals as stated. (B=Breakfast; L=Lunch; D=Dinner)
Private transfers between Cusco & Sacred Valley.
Vistadome Train to/from Machu Picchu.
Excursions as stated.
All entrance fees.
NOT INCLUDED IN Low-Altitude machu picchu 4-day Price:
Expenses of a personal nature.
Alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages during meals.
Meals not stated in the programme.
Airport departure taxes.
Tips for driver & guide.
Additional optional visits.
Reviews
What our clients say about the Low-Altitude Machu Picchu itinerary:
“All very good ...
We enjoyed the museum outside of Cusco [Inkariy] - highly recommend and the [Ensifera] hummingbird sanctuary - lovely. My nephews loved it. ”
“Also, our trip has been just terrific so far. You’ve done an amazing job.
Our guides have been wonderful and the accommodations [Pakaritampu & El Mapi by Inkaterra] are perfect for us!
Thank you so much for everything!!”
“We enjoyed walking through the villages and markets in sacred valley. ”
“Fantastic trip overall.
... Machu Picchu was the highlight, the lowlight was probably the alpaca weaving demonstration where we felt a lot pressure to purchase something-which we did, but otherwise could have done without.
The guides and drivers were all excellent and felt like they got us to areas before the busloads of tourists descended.
The restaurants and lodging were all excellent, I think the hotel in Ollantaytambo [Pakaritampu] was the favorite as it was a hidden oasis in an otherwise very busy area.
... we found the food everywhere to be excellent and of good quality were we generally tried all of the “locals’ foods, except. the guinea pigs! Tunupa Sagrado was the favorite with a nice quiet setting and grounds along the River and an excellent buffet.
All of the transportation was in modern and clean vans much larger than our needs and the drivers all safe and courteous.
The hiking was pretty moderate, I think we covered about 500 ft of elevation change and 15K steps a day and we were never really exhausted, but nicely tired.
Overall, it was a great way to see all of the sites we had time for, beautiful scenery, a taste of the local foods and culture, and memories to last a lifetime. ”
“We cannot remember the name of our guide for the four days (Juan Carlos?) - we didn’t keep a written diary - but he was absolutely brilliant.
Everything was great, including the Macchu-Picchu-specific guide (again, we have forgotten his name too!).
It was a memorable trip.”
“Ever was the most amazing guide for the Sacred Valley. We listened to other guides and none had the experience Ever shared with us.”
“Machu Picchu was fantastic. Great weather. Our guide Vidal was really great. The group loved him.
We really liked Ollantaytambo and the sacred valley as well. ”
“First Cusco and the Sacred Valley. The arrangements; the transport, hotels, bus and train went off without a hitch.
You even arranged for someone to walk us on the short distance to the train in Ollantaytambo for our day at Machu Picchu.
I want to specifically mention our guide, Caesar and driver, Wilbur were fantastic.
... Being from Cusco, Caesar provided a great deal of insight into local life.
I loved Ollantaytambo.
Of course, Machu Picchu is unforgettable. Our guide at Machu Picchu was also very knowledgeable, but I’m afraid I forgot his name.
The hikes were very manageable and good for us.
I think we both lost a few pounds during this time even though we had many good meals.”
“Hotel Pakaritampu in Ollantaytambo was probably our favourite - a real oasis in the town, short walk to both the town center and the train station”
“The co-op at Sulca (perfect orientation and only place felt the acclimation) and the drive from Cusco through sacred valley to the first ruins and town [Pisac] were excellent.
Pakaritampu Hotel, setting and proximity to town at Ollantaytambo was spectacular and my favorite for sure for 100 reasons.
SO Much fun being in Ollaytatambo on Pentecost (40 days after easter) – you should definitely add to your recommendations. Bonus that was my bday.
Guide at Machu Picchu was excellent.”
“You can’t top Machu Picchu for cultural destination.
We arrived on the first bus to to the Waynu Picchu hike and if felt like we had the whole place to ourselves as we walked through the citadel on a beautiful sunny morning!
The vista from the top of Waynu Picchu is well worth the hike and it is no where near as trechorous as people make it seem. ”
“All the guides and everything have been great!”
“Everything went great for the Cusco tour and we got a beautiful sunny day at macchu picchu!”
“Today was a full day tour of the Sacred Valley. And it was wonderful!
We visited Moray, a huge archeological site that contains unusual Inca ruins which consist of several circular terraced depressions ... Quite amazing!
We stopped at a farm for a local lunch. It was delicious!
After a full day of touring, we end the day in Ollantaytambo. Our accommodations for the night are at The Pakaritampu Hotel. It is gorgeous, flowers and greenery everywhere - and just a short walk from the train station.
Another excellent day!”
“I thank you for your help regarding our trip to Peru. Everything has been working great.
The guide at Machu Picchu was ... magnificent!”
“My aunt and I loved it. The Cusco hotel and setting was great, lovely place.
The Sacred Valley tour was good. The guide was very chatty.
Machu Picchu was very good: it was a bit rainy, but that made it look mysterious.”
“Thank you very much for you help with organising the trip for my parents’ visit to Cusco and the sacred valley. It was amazing and everything went perfectly.
Everything was organised down to the last detail and they really enjoyed it.
All of the tours and tour guides we had were excellent.
Also the hotels we stayed at were very nice and the staff all bilingual and very helpful.”
“Sacred Valley tour ... was great, our guide was very knowledgeable and his English was fantastic which made the whole tour very enjoyable. ”