Day 3: Sacred Valley – As a group, we‚ll tour the Sacred Valley. Visit the impressive Qorichancha Sun Temple, whose interior walls were once covered in gold leaf and studded with emeralds and turquoise. Comfortable hike to the massive fortress of Ollantaytambo, built to protect the Sacred Valley. Meals: (B)

Day 4: Free day to explore Cuzco and surrounding area. Suggested tours:

a. Visit San Blas where folk artists live and enjoy the many Cuzco handicraft markets.

b. Raft the Urubamba River through the “Sacred Valley” ($25 pp).

c. Visit the Chinchero market, famous for offering the best of the Andean handicrafts. Then hike to the ancient agricultural terraces of Moray and the saltpans of Salinas ($30 pp). Meals: (B)

Day 5: Train to Aguas Caliente & Machu Picchu. We depart in the morning by train (four hours) to the small village of Aguas Calientes (meaning “ Hot Water”), famous for its natural thermal baths. The train journey alone is incredible as the switchback train makes its way up the steep mountainside surrounding Cuzco. Free afternoon to enjoy the markets of Aguas Calientes. Meals: (B)