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EXPLORING CUSCO WITH ORIENT EXPRESS
4D/3N: Cusco, Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu

Discover Cusco in a deep yet relaxed way, combining the trip with the glamour that Orient Express properties offer in Cusco city, at the Sacred Valley of the Incas and in Machu Picchu, as well as taking one of the most impressive train rides of the world on the Hiram Bingham express train. This is a tour in which every detail has been thought of carefully to make your trip a memorable experience.

Detailed Itinerary

DAY 1: CUSCO/SACRED VALLEY
Arrival in Cusco, welcoming reception and transfer to the Sacred Valley where it will be easy to adjust to the altitude changes. On the way there we will stop for a short visit at the Pisac Market to admire the colorful displays of this community as well as their cultural diversity. Then we are off to Urubamba to the exquisite boutique hotel Rio Sagrado. Free afternoon to enjoy the hotel facilities. A spa session is highly recommended. Stay at Urubamba.

DAY 2: SACRED VALLEY
We will travel to remote places of the Sacred Valley. First stop: Chinchero, where we’ll take a walk around its beautiful town and archaeological complex. We will also have the opportunity to see a short exhibit of traditional textiles, a distinctive feature of this town dedicated to following ancestral dyeing techniques to create high quality works of art. Our trip continues in Moray, a place with a breathtaking view thanks to its colossal concentric terraces resembling a coliseum. What did they use it for? The terraces recreated 20 different types of microclimates, and they were studied to ensure the agricultural production of the empire. After a picnic-style lunch we will continue our journey to Maras, the millenary colonial salt mines. The contrast of the white pools against the green valley is so impressive that it resembles a postcard. Our last stop: Ollantaytambo, a small town full of local color and inhabited since Inca times in which we will visit the main temple used as a fortress during the Inca resistance. Breathtaking views for amazing pictures.

DAY 3: SACRED VALLEY/MACHU PICCHU      
From the Ollantaytambo station, we will embark in one of the most spectacular rides on board the exclusive Hiram Bingham deluxe train. The experience on board is purely first class. The train’s incredible classic style goes perfectly with the dining room arrangement, making it easy to taste the delightful dishes carefully prepared for us by experienced chefs. The landscapes are breathtaking and while we follow the Urubamba River course getting closer and closer to the canyon, we’ll arrive at Aguas Calientes. From there, we will take a small bus up the winding road to Machu Picchu.  The Lost City of the Incas will astonish us with its terraces, ceremonial shrines, steps and the solar clock or Intihuatana, all this amid a special atmosphere and on a guided tour. Tea time and stay at Sanctuary Lodge hotel.

DAY 4: MACHU PICCHU/CUSCO
Free morning.  Do as you please with your free time: enjoy once more the energy and mystique offered by the fortress or do some hiking like going up Intipunku or Door of the Sun, entrance to

Machu Picchu coming from the Inca Trail or climb the Huayna Picchu, mountain overlooking Machu Picchu and home to the temple of the Moon. At the arranged time, we will return to Cusco by bus and will be transferred to Monasterio hotel.

DAY 5: CUSCO
Our tour guide will take us around the city of Cusco at our own pace, exploring the city on foot to get us into less explored places as well as visiting the city’s main attractions and the Sacsayhuaman archaeological park. If you want to as well, we will visit Cusco’s South Valley where the Huaro Church and the ancestral water shrine, Tipon, stand out. At noon, we will stop for a lunch tasting at MAP Café.

DAY 6: CUSCO/LIMA
Departure transfer.

End of our services.