Mayfair Travel private National Geographic Journey with G Adventures - This eight-day adventure into Peru’s culture and history offers an ideal  introduction to Machu Picchu, one of the world’s most spectacular  archaeological sites. Take a scenic train to the famous citadel and enjoy free time to explore its many corners. Roam the Sacred Valley,  taking in incredible views of the Andes. Travelling with knowledgeable guides who know this region best, we’ll leave no stone unturned.

Full Tour Details here:  https://www.gadventures.com/trips/explore-machu-picchu/8230/details/

Travel insurance is optional but highly recommended. An opportunity to obtain insurance quotes and/or purchase a policy is offered to you at the completion of the registration process. To obtain a quote and view policy options ahead of time, visit Travel Guard here:

https://partners.travelguard.com/buy?pcode=&ta_arc=347749&agencyemail=info@mayfairtravel.com&ta_initials=Website_Link

Arrive Lima any time.  Meet your fellow travel companions and your G Adventures CEO (Chief Experience Officer) at tonight's welcome orientation.

Get ready for a very busy tour exploring the best of Peru in a week. We  recommend booking a pre-night in Lima (in particular if your flight  arrives into Lima in the evening) to recover from international flights  and rest up before the excitement.

Hotel Antigua Miraflores or similar

Board an early flight to Cusco then head to the scenic Sacred Valley.  Explore the pre-Inca salt pans of Las Salineras and tour the Maras and  Moray ruins. Enjoy a traditional pachamanca-style meal of local  specialties.

Traditional Pachamanca Dinner                       

The  thousand year-old tradition of pachamanca involves baking an assortment  of meat and vegetables in an oven of hot stones, earth, and grass. Meat  is usually seasoned with local spices and wrapped in a banana leaf  before it’s placed on the hot stones and can include lamb, pork, chicken  or guinea pig. Savour this traditional meal prepared by an experienced  chef.

Hotel Mabey Urubamba (or similar)

Continue exploring the Sacred Valley with a visit to the G  Adventures–supported Parque de la Papa, or Potato Park, a rural Andean  community working to preserve hundreds of varieties of native potato.  During this exclusive experience, you'll walk through the park with a  local guide to learn about potato cultivation, traditional weaving, and  the importance of both these practices to Andean culture. We’ll also  tour the fascinating Inca ruins of Ollantaytambo and Pisac and enjoy a  meal at the G Adventures–supported Parwa Community Restaurant in Huchuy  Qosqo.

Hotel Mabey Urubamba (or similar)

Catch an early transfer to the Ollantaytambo station and board a train  to Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu. Ride through lush  Andean scenery, enjoying breathtaking views of ancient ruins and  everyday life. Settle into your hotel in Aguas Calientes, and choose  from a variety of optional activities: take a relaxing soak in the local  hot springs, visit a beautiful botanical garden, or wander the  handicraft stalls in town as you prepare for an early start the  following day to go up to Machu Picchu.

Hotel Taypikala Machupicchu (or similar)

Enjoy a guided tour of the Machu Picchu ruins. Get free time to explore  on your own or take an optional visit to the Inca Bridge before  returning to Cusco by train.

Rise  and shine – the best time to see the Lost City of the Incas is in the  early morning light. Follow the local guide to Machu Picchu to learn  about its history at a leisurely pace. Gain local insight into the Inti  Mach’ay cave, Inti Watana, the Temple of the Water, the Temple of the Condor, and the Room of the Three Windows. Take time to sit and feel the energy of this 15th-century site, now both a UNESCO World Heritage site and voted one of the new Seven Wonders of the World.

Taypikala Hotel Cusco (or similar)

Spend the day exploring charming Cusco. Opt to visit the Plaza de Armas, the historic main square; the 15th-century Sacsayhuaman fortress; or some of the city’s museums and ornate  churches. This evening, we’ll head to the Cusco Planetarium to learn  about the importance of astronomy to the ancient Inca and, weather-permitting, look out at the glittering, starry sky through telescopes.

Please remember that star gazing is completely weather dependent and sometimes there can be cloudy skies.

Hotel Taypikala Cusco (or similar)

Fly back to Lima. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure or choose to take a half-day guided tour of the Peruvian capital. Visit the San Francisco Monastery, part of Lima’s World Heritage-listed historic  center, and descend into its famed catacombs. Wander across Plaza Mayor,  the city’s oldest public square, and enjoy Peruvian tapas and a tasting of pisco sours before returning to your hotel.

Hotel Antigua Miraflores (or similar)

Depart at any time - home to the USA or continue your adventure with us in Colombia!