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SPECIAL DEPARTURE: Inti Raymi Festival & Machu Picchu

The famous Festival of the Sun, Inti Raymi, only comes once a year to the Inca heartland

Duration: 8 days
Cost: $2,095/Person
The famous Festival of the Sun, Inti Raymi, only comes once a year to the Inca heartland—this year join our special Peru tour through the celebration! The entire week is full of colorful processions and dancing, culminating with the religious ceremony of the Inca Empire at the legendary Inca ruins of Sacsayhuamán. Along the way, bargain at the vibrant markets of Cusco and Pisac. After touring Cusco, spend winter solstice, one of the most important days of the year for the Incas, in the Sacred Valley of the Urubamba and Ollantaytambo. Reach the hidden city of Machu Picchu, where you will spend two days exploring its mysterious ruins and the surrounding cloud forests before returning to Cusco for the Inti Raymi Celebration.
We can also arrange a private departure for you. Please contact us regarding logistics and costs.

Experience Machu Picchu Itinerary

• 18^th (Thu) ARRIVE LIMA View Lima accommodations picture gallery Arrival and transfer to your hotel. If you arrive early, we can arrange optional tours to explore the city, including museum visits and other sites of interests.
  Begin Optional Pre-Itinerary Tour Extensions
• 19^th (Fri) LIMA - CUSCO View Lima accommodations picture gallery Morning departure for your flight to Cusco, center of the Inca Empire. Southern Explorations' guides pick you up at the airport, stopping for a quick tour of the colonial Plaza de Armas. From there, you will be taken to your hotel and be free for the rest of the day to explore the city and acclimatize to the altitude (10,856 ft). (B)
• 20^th (Sat) CUSCO View Cusco accommodations picture gallery This morning take a guided walking tour through the colorful markets of Cusco, the colonial cathedral and Koricancha, the impressive Temple of the Sun. After a lunch of regional cuisine, depart for an afternoon tour of prominent Inca sights in and around Cusco. You'll see the fortress of Sacsayhuamán, with its megalithic stone terraces; Kenko, with its carved stone surfaces and subterranean altars; the small Puka Pukara fortress that protected the royal capital from attacks; and the water temple, Tambo Machay. In the late afternoon, return to your hotel to relax or further explore the fascinating mix of Cusco cultures. (B)
• 21^st (Sun) CUSCO - SACRED VALLEY View Sacred Valley accommodations picture gallery Today's day-long guided excursion passes through snowcapped mountains to the legendary Sacred Valley of the Incas on one of the most important days of the year for the Incas: Winter Solstice. Along the way, you'll pass Inca terracing that climbs steep valley walls and see the ruined temples of Pisac with panoramic views of the jagged granite peaks before stopping in the town to visit one of the best textile markets in the Andes. There, you'll be able to test your bargaining skills and learn about the local culture. After lunch, the next stop is Ollantaytambo (9,185 ft.), a small town with an impressive Inca fortress. Stay overnight at a hotel in Ollantaytambo. (B)
• 22^nd (Mon) SACRED VALLEY – OLLANTAYTAMBO - MACHU PICCHU View Machu Picchu accommodations picture gallery Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and take a refreshing walking tour of the Ollantaytambo ruins and surrounding town before heading to the Ollantaytambo train station for today's unforgettable trip. Making its way toward the Amazon and Machu Picchu, the train follows the Urubamba River into a magnificent cloud forest, arriving at the station. Here take a traditional lunch before meeting the bus waiting to take you the rest of the way to Machu Picchu (7,800 ft.). Spend the afternoon exploring the famous ruins, returning in the late afternoon to nearby Aguas Calientes where you'll be spending the night. You'll have time for a soothing soak in the hot springs and a tasty dinner before turning in early. (B)
• 23^rd (Tue) MACHU PICCHU – CHINCHEROS ARTISAN MARKET - CUSCO View Cusco accommodations picture gallery Today, take the opportunity to see an unmatched sunrise at Machu Picchu before the crowds arrive and spend the rest of the day among the numerous ruins a climb to the sacred peak of Huayna Picchu or a picturesque walk to the Temple of the Moon. Return midday to the town of Aguas Calientes for lunch and your early afternoon train back to Ollantaytambo. Meet your private van at the train station to travel to the collective Chincheros textile market, featuring an explanation of the traditional weaving methods of the Sacred Valley and some of the best textiles available in Peru. This is the ideal place for last minute shopping before returning to your Cusco hotel for the evening. (B)
• 24^th (Wed) INTI RAYMI CEREMONY View Cusco accommodations picture gallery Today, experience the Inti Raymi Ceremonial events. At Korikancha Square, the Sapa Inca gives a traditional oration, calling for blessings from the sun, fabled to be the origin of the Inca rulers. From here, the Sapa Inca, carried on a golden throne, leads the procession through the ancient city of Cusco up to Sacsayhuaman in the hills above the city. Transfer to the ruins where you have reservations to watch the reenactment of the ancient ceremony of sacrificing a llama to the Pachamama, Mother Earth, to ensure the fertility of the earth and warmth from the sun. Return to Cusco in the late afternoon to celebrate the new year! (B)
• 25^th (Thu) CUSCO - LIMA - HOME In the morning you'll be taken to the airport for the return flight to Lima and your connecting international flight, marking the end of Southern Explorations' services. If your schedule permits, trip extensions to other regions or extra days in Lima or Cusco can also be arranged. (B) Begin Optional Post-Itinerary Tour Extensions
• Key: (B)reakfast (L)unch (D)inner

Itinerary Map

PERU EXTENSIONS

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2009 SPECIAL DEPARTURE

Thursday Departure
2 person minimum / 12 maximum

June 18-25

Private Departures can be arranged. Please contact us regarding private departure costs.

INCLUSIONS / EXCLUSIONS

Included in tour cost

- Meals as indicated

- All hotel accommodations (twin shared basis)

- All airport/hotel transfers

- Entrance fees for all scheduled tours and archaeological sites

- English speaking certified guides

- Southern Explorations pre departure services

Excluded in tour cost

- International round - trip airfare to and from Peru

- Airfare $295 (Lima/Cusco/Lima)

- Airport taxes international (around $30) and local (around $5)

- Tips and gratuities

- Travel insurance

- Continental breakfasts are included at all hotels. All other meals are not included unless specified in the itinerary.

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

PERU ACCOMMODATION

Inti Raymi Festival & Machu Picchu

7 nights hotels

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT

Additional $465

- Single Supplement is the additional cost of a single traveler not sharing a room in double occupancy. We will match you with another same gender traveler unless you request single accommodations.

Prices based on 3% cash discount