Peru Mysteries offers you the assortment of visiting Cusco and its surroundings areas such as the thaditional Machu Picchu and the Mysterious Jungle, which means that you will not lose anything of this magical place in your visit. come and enjoy this magical place with us.

 

The tour package visits are: Cusco city tour, Cusco Sacred Valley, Tour in Machu Picchu and 4 days in Manu National Park.

 

CUSCO AND JUNGLE MANU NATIONAL PARK (CULTURAL ZONE) 07 DAYS	CUSCO (TRADITIONAL AND MACHU PICCHU) 3 DAYS	CITY TOUR IN CUSCO	DAY 01
		SACRED VALLEY OF THE INKAS	DAY 02
		MACHU PICCHU TOUR	DAY 03
	MANU NATIONAL PARK CULTURAL ZONE 04 DAYS	CUSCO - CLOUD FOREST – PILCOPATA	DAY 04
		PILCOPATA - ATALAYA – ERIKA	DAY 05
		ERIKA - MACHUWASI LAKE – ERIKA	DAY 06
		ERIKA - PARROTS CLAY LICK - ATALAYA – CUSCO	DAY 07
YOU CAN TAKE FREE DAYS BETWEEN VISITS AND THE ORDER OF THESE MAY ALSO VARY. COORDINATE WITH THE AGENCY.
END OF OUR SERVICES...

 

CUSCO TRADITIONAL (03 DAYS)

 

ITINERARY DESCRIPTION:

 

DAY 01 - CITY TOUR IN CUSCO:

 

CIRCUIT DESCRIPTION - From 13:30 to 18:30 hours - Cusco tour and surrounding areas

The City Tour circuit begins in the majestic Plaza de Armas of Cusco, where the ancient grandeur of the Andean culture still survives. We will visit the Basilica Cathedral of Cusco (in honor of the Virgin of the Assumption). Then, we will walk through a narrow stone street towards the largest Inca shrine, the Qoricancha temple.

 

After having delighted us with these extraordinary and impressive ensembles of Inca and colonial architecture. We will board our tourist bus and go to the surroundings of the imperial city of Cusco, where we will visit 04 imposing archaeological sites: Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay.

 

• The Cathedral of Cusco, majestic symbol of Andean religious syncretism (Inca - European).
• The Qoricancha, the lavish Inca Temple; also known as the Temple of the Sun.
• The Great Ceremonial Fortress of Sacsayhuamán, with its impressive cyclopean rock platforms.
• The Amphitheater of Qenqo, enigmatic rock headlands and labyrinthine paths.
• The Military Fortress of Puca Pucara, large terraces, stone walls and stairways.
• The Water Temple of Tambomachay, mysterious platforms and ceremonial fountains.

 

THE SERVICE INCLUDES:

1. Private transport
2. Specialized and bilingual tour guide
3. First aid kit

 

THE SERVICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:

1. Tourist Ticket of Cusco (Peruvian: 40 soles; Foreigner: 70 soles). Visits: Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay.
2. Entrance ticket to the Cathedral of Cusco 25 soles.
3. Entrance ticket to the Qoricancha Temple 15 soles
4. Drinks such as: water, sodas, wine or beer
5. Tips and souvenirs

 

THINGS TO BRING:

1. Passport
2. Camera
3. Warm clothes (in case of cold fronts)
4. Rain gear or raincoat (long poncho)
5. Wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and sunscreen for sunny days
6. Medications and / or personal supplies
7. Small backpack
8. Drinking water

 

NOTE: We only visit the Cathedral of Cusco in a private service; in shared service, we do not visit the cathedral of Cusco; but we do visit the other 5 attractions.

DAY 02 - SACRED VALLEY OF THE INKAS - AGUAS CALIENTES:

 

CIRCUIT DESCRIPTION - From 7:00 to 19:00 hours

We pick you up from your hotel in our private transport (7:00 hrs.), And then start with our guided visit to the Sacred Valley of the Incas; We will spend most of our tour around the Vilcanota River and enjoying the panoramic view of this magical place. The places to visit are:

 

• Chinchero, it will be the first archaeological center to visit, it is located northwest of the city of Cusco, over 3762 meters above sea level. Chinchero, the most typical population of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, is a distinctly Inca town that the ambitious conquerors wanted to civilize in order to implant their culture, but never fully achieved it. Its inhabitants inhabit almost intact Inca constructions, in the same place where their ancestors lived and formed the largest and most prosperous civilization in America. Chinchero has a rich monumental and cultural heritage. It is one of the few places that conserves the Inca urban layout in a visible way. The remains of the Inca palace, the colonial church built on a stone base, its impeccable terraces and a colorful Sunday fair are its main attractions.
• Moray, at first glance it looks like a kind of amphitheater. Moray is a concentric platform system, built in three gigantic holes located at different levels. The largest hole contains 12 circular terraces with varying diameters. At the bottom of these holes there is a drainage system that prevents the storage of rainwater. What is striking is the mean annual temperature difference between the top and bottom of the depressions, which reaches approximately 15 ° C (59 ° F) in the main depression about 30 meters deep. For scholars, Moray was possibly an Inca agricultural experimentation center, where cultivation experiments were carried out at different heights (seed production). Moray could have served as a model for the calculation of agricultural production not only in the Urubamba Valley but also in different parts of the Tahuantinsuyo (domestication of wild plants).
• Salineras of Maras (Salt Mines), they consist of approximately 3000 wells with an area of about 5 m² on average, built on the slope of the "Qaqawiñay" mountain. During the dry season they are filled or irrigated every 3 days with salty water that emanates from a natural spring located in the upper part of the wells so that when the water evaporates, the salt contained in it gradually solidifies. This process will continue for about a month until a considerable volume of solid salt is obtained, about 10 cm. high from the ground, which is subsequently beaten and thus grainy; the salt will then be packaged by category and sent to the markets of the region; Today that salt is being iodized so its consumption is not harmful. The salt mines of Maras look like a white patch between the multicolored green of the Sacred Valley and the Urubamba mountain range. Then we will arrive in Urubamba where we will have time to enjoy a delicious Lunch.
• Ollantaytambo, it will be the last archaeological center to visit for the day, located at an altitude of 2,700 meters above sea level. Ollantaytambo is a compound Quechua word that derives from: "Ollanta" personal name of an Inca Captain whose story was kept as an oral and written tradition and as a drama by Antonio Valdez, priest of Urubamba, in the middle of the 18th century it was adapted for a play in 1780; and "Tambo" Spanish form of "Tanpu" city that offers lodging, food and comfort for travelers. Ollantaytambo was a very important fortified city, built as a "tanpu" to enable roads to the "Antisuyo" (La Selva). According to many historians also to allow the protection of the great capital of the Inca from the attacks of the "Antis" who were his worst enemies. Today its name as "fortress" is common but inappropriate because it did not have a war duty, it was rather a complex city with a large urban sector and religious temples.

 

After the visit to Ollantaytambo, we will go to the Ollantaytambo train station (5 min.). We will take the train for 1:40 hrs towards the town of Aguas Calientes where we will spend the night. Aguas Calientes (2000 masl), is a small town located 30 minutes (by bus) from the citadel of Machupicchu.

 

DAY 03 - (AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHUPICCHU – AGUAS CALIENTES – OLLANTAYTAMBO - CUSCO):

For this trip, we will pick you up from your hotel in Aguas Calientes, then we will take one of the buses to ascend 400 m. in 30 minutes along a zigzag path until you reach the wonder of the world "The citadel of Machupicchu", which is inside the "Historic Sanctuary of Machupicchu". The guided tour in Machupicchu takes approximately 2 hours. You will begin to visit the main sectors of the citadel: the sacred square, the Temple of the Sun, the Intihuatana, the Royal Enclosures, the Temple of the Three Windows and the cemetery. At the end of the tour you will have free time to explore the citadel on your own. After this visit, you must return to the town of Aguas Calientes and enjoy your lunch in one of the local restaurants; Then you will take the train back; the return will follow the same pattern as the outward journey. When you arrive at the train station in Ollantaytambo, we will be waiting for you with our bus to take you back to the city of Cusco.

 

THE SERVICE INCLUDES (DAY 2 & 3):

1. Sacred Valley Circuit
2. Train: Ollantaytambo - Aguas Calientes (1:40 hrs.)
3. Lodging in Aguas Calientes
4. Bus: Aguas Calientes - Machupicchu (30 min.)
5. Entrance to Machupicchu
6. Guided tour in Machupicchu (approximately 02 hrs.)
7. Bus: Machupicchu - Aguas Calientes (30 min.)
8. Train: Aguas Calientes - Ollantaytambo (01:40 hrs.)
9. Bus: Ollantaytambo - Cusco. (01:50 hrs.)

 

THE SERVICE DOES NOT INCLUDE (DAY 2 & 3):

1. CuscoTourist Ticket (Peruvian: 40 soles; Foreigner: 70 soles). Visits: Chinchero, Moray, Ollantaytambo and Pisaq
2. Entrance to Salineras (10 soles)
3. Meals - Drinks
4. Regards
5. Tips

 

WE RECOMMEND TO BRING (DAY 2 & 3):

1. Passport
2. Camera
3. Long-sleeved shirt and pants
4. Swimsuit
5. Warm clothes (in case of cold)
6. Raincoats (long poncho)
7. Hat and sunglasses
8. Insect repellent 50% DEET
9. Sunscreen
10. Hiking shoes
11. Medications and personal supplies
12. Handbag
13. Water

 

MANU NATIONAL PARK (04 DAYS)

 

ITINERARY DESCRIPTION:

 

DAY 04 (CUSCO - CLOUD FOREST – PILCOPATA):

An early morning meeting and star our trip from Cusco in one of our private vehicles. In the way we are going to visit the interesting site of Ninamarca (burial towers, commonly known as “Chullpas”). Continuing we are going to visit Paucartambo, an interesting picturesque colonial town (full of folklore). Then we continue to the Acjanacu pass (3600 masl.), which marks the beginning of the trip into Manu National park (spectacular view), then we descent through the Cloud Forest, The humidity of the area provides an ideal habitat for plants such as Orchids, ferns (oldest living plants) and bromeliads (epiphytic), mosses and lichens. In the fascinating Cloud Forest we can observe the Cock of the Rock, Quetzal and the Spectacled Bear. Many plants are endemic from this area. We have lunch on the way, then we arrive to our first and homely lodge “paraiso” near the town of Pilcopata (800 masl.).

 

Day 05 (PILCOPATA - ATALAYA – ERIKA):

After a delicious breakfast we continue our trip for another hour in our private vehicle, making stops to observe the interesting life of the area, then we are going to arrive to the village of Atalaya (Port), here we board our covered motor boat in the Alto Madre de Dios river, going up river we will have the chance to do some swimming, then we go down the Alto Madre de Dios river for approximately 40 minutes to our private and comfortable lodge “Erika” where we will hike through the interesting trail system that “Peru Mysteries” offer to you, trying to find some types of monkeys, medicinal plants etc.

 

DAY 06 (ERIKA - MACHUWASI LAKE – ERIKA):

The area of our lodge is a transition area between high and low jungle (500 to 1150 masl.), After sustainable breakfast you will feel and see the different habitats, altitude range and the high diversity of wildlife found around this area, walking around the tail system and near the riverbanks, we will learn about insects, medicinal plants, trees, reptiles, mammals, etc. After lunch and a little siesta, we board our boat, for ten minutes, then we walk for one hour approximately though a very nice trail to observe and talk about the interesting flora and fauna of the area until we arrive to “Machuwasi Lake” where with the help of all our equipment (binocular telescope and books), we will observe a diversity of life such as great egrets, Keskadees, toucans, carpenters, cardinals, etc. Night walk in order to feel the sounds and to observe wildlife, such as American bullfrogs, tree frogs, horned frogs and an incredible variety of insects.

 

DAY 07 (ERIKA - PARROTS CLAY LICK - ATALAYA – CUSCO):

We will get up very early to board our boat for thirty minutes around down river to visit a Parrots clay Lick (clay wall in the riverbank knowing as “Collpa”) on the riverbanks, where many species of parakeets, parrots and macaws such as the white-eyed parakeet, blue headed parrot, chestnut fronted macaw, etc. goes to eat the clay that is rich in minerals and salts that those birds use as supplements of their diet of seeds and fruits. After this activity we return to our lodge and enjoy our breakfast for then board our boat to Atalaya Port and then our private vehicle drive us back to Cusco, We have lunch on the way, arriving Cusco around dinner time.

 

OPTINAL ACTIVITIES:

River Rafting (class I and II): In the Pilcopata town and river we will have the chance to realice a 1½ hours river rafting (class I and II) trip down the Pilcopata River where having the opportunity for a dip and of course enjoy the spectacular view of the area.

 

Canopy Zip Down Line: In our Lodge area, we will have the traverse from tree to tree and platform to platform using pulleys on horizontal traverse cables, enjoying and feeling the view and adrenaline, of the treetops of the tropical rainforest canopy.

 

THE SERVICE INCLUDES:

1. Specialized and bilingual guide
2. Private land and river transports
3. First aid kit
4. 01 night in Paraiso Lodge, 02 nights in Erika Lodge
5. Meals (vegetarian option available)
6. Captain and river rafting equipment
7. Specialized guide for the Canopy Zip-line and required equipment

 

THE SERVICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:

1. First day: breakfast and mineral water
2. Last day dinner
3. Drinks such as sodas, wine or beers
4. Tips and souvenirs

 

THINGS YOU SHOULD BRING:

1. Camera
2. Binoculars
3. Long sleeve shirts and long pants, swimming suit
4. Warm clothes (in case of cold front)
5. Waterproof rain gear (long poncho)
6. Wide brim hat and sun glasses for sunny days
7. A 50% DEET Insect repellent (at least)
8. Sunscreen lotion
9. Hiking shoes and sandals
10. Flashlight, enough batteries
11. Towel for all the tour
12. Personal medication and/or supplies
13. Back pack or duffel bag plus a day pack
14. One bottle of water for the first day, plastic bags

End of our services...

---

MAPS - CUSCO AND THE JUNGLE - PERU MYSTERIES