Andean Living Culture

This morning, your guide and driver will meet you at the Cusco airport before continuing down into the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the region’s fertile agricultural heartland. 

Continue to the mountain village of Pisac, where you’ll have time to wander through the colorful market and enjoy lunch before driving up to the impressive ruins set high above town. From this vantage point, you’ll take in sweeping views across the Sacred Valley below.

In the afternoon, continue onward to your hotel.

This morning, set out to visit two of the Sacred Valley’s most iconic sites. Begin at Moray, where a series of striking circular terraces are believed to have served as an Inca agricultural laboratory, used to experiment with crops and microclimates. From there, continue to Maras, where thousands of salt pans cascade across the hillside and are still harvested by local families today. 

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Enjoy a picnic lunch surrounded by the valley’s dramatic scenery,  before continuing to the picturesque Inca village of Ollantaytambo. Here, you’ll stroll through narrow cobblestone streets and climb the terraces of the great fortress, taking in sweeping views over the village and surrounding mountains. At the end of the day, return to your hotel for the evening.

This morning, depart early from your hotel and transfer to the Ollantaytambo train station, where you’ll board the Vistadome train to Aguas Calientes, the gateway town to Machu Picchu. Along the way, enjoy striking views as the landscape gradually shifts from the high Andes to the lush, green cloud forest.

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This afternoon, travel by bus with your guide to the entrance of Machu Picchu for your first visit to the Inca citadel. As you explore the site, you’ll learn about its history, construction, and the many theories surrounding its purpose, all while taking in the dramatic mountain scenery that makes this place so unforgettable.

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In the evening, return to town for dinner and an early night in preparation for tomorrow’s morning visit to the site.

Rise before the sun this morning and return to Machu Picchu for a second visit, experiencing the citadel in a quieter and completely different light. With your guide, continue exploring the site and take in the surrounding peaks as the morning unfolds.

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You also have the option to hike Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, two additional routes that climb above the citadel and offer spectacular views from higher vantage points.

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In the afternoon, return by train to Ollantaytambo, where your driver will be waiting to take you back to your hotel for the evening.

Spend time in the Parque de la Papa, a community-led conservation area where Quechua families continue to protect traditional crops, agricultural knowledge, and Andean ways of life. During your stay, you’ll be welcomed by a local family and gain firsthand insight into the farming practices that have sustained Indigenous communities in the Andes for generations.

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Depending on the season, join local farmers in planting, harvesting, or learning about native crops such as potatoes, quinoa, and maize, using traditional techniques passed down through families. You’ll also share a home-cooked, farm-to-table meal prepared with fresh local ingredients, offering a meaningful look at the connection between land, food, and community in the high Andes.

Before continuing to Cusco, spend the day immersed in the living traditions of the Quechua communities of the high Andes. Alongside local artisans, farmers, and gastronomy experts, you’ll learn about traditional weaving and natural dyeing, medicinal plants, seasonal crops, and the role of food in Andean daily life.​

This morning, set out to explore Cusco, one of South America’s most beautiful and culturally rich cities. Begin on foot in the historic center, visiting its main squares and the Koricancha, the Inca Temple of the Sun, later incorporated into the colonial Church of Santo Domingo.

You’ll then continue to San Pedro Market, where colorful produce, fresh juices, produce, local breads, flowers, and everyday food stalls offer a lively look at daily life in Cusco.

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After lunch, head into the hills above the city to visit Sacsayhuaman, the immense Inca ceremonial complex known for its massive stone walls and sweeping views over Cusco. From here, walk back down toward the city through the artistic neighborhood of San Blas, passing colonial aqueducts and other notable sites along the way.

The evening is yours to enjoy at leisure, with plenty of excellent restaurants to choose from in the historic center.

This morning you'll head up in elevation to scenic Piuray Lake to spend some time on the water with paddleboarding or kayaking, or take a refreshing plunge into the cold lake if you’re feeling brave. Afterwards, you'll enjoy a lakeside pachamanca feast surrounded by open skies and mountain views.

Afterwards, you'll esperience a textile weaving demonstration by one of the local communities and visit the town of Chincheros before returning to Cusco city.

Enjoy your last day in Cusco before heading back to the airport at the appropriate time for your flight.