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Note: this is an example itinerary only, this can be shortened by one day or altered to meet your needs.
This itinerary can be extended to include airport pickups and transfers, a city tour and accomodation in Lima, if required. You an also chose to extend your holiday in Peru to visit the Amazon jungle at Puerto Maldonado. Please ask us for more information.
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Cusco Full On 8 days - Full Itinerary

Day 1 - Lima/Cusco
Upon arrival in Cusco you will be transferred to your selected hotel. We suggest taking an early flight, so you can see as much as you can on your first day in Cusco!

Once you have freshened up, your guide will meet you for a tour of the Four ruins outside Cusco.

The tour will start with a pickup at your hotel and you will be transferred to the spectacular fortress ruins of Sacsayhuaman above the city. Here you have the choice of mounting up on local horses or continuing by vehicle to TamboMachay, PucaPucara, the Temple of the Moon and then to Q’enqo.  The tour concludes with a guided visit to the impressive Sacsayhuaman with views across Cusco.  Our flexible itinerary allows you to walk down from Sacsayhuaman to Cusco (an interesting walk that helps in acclimatization for trekkers) or take private transport, if you are feeling the altitude.
Note:   You have two options on this day - a horseriding tour of the Four Ruins or a tour with vehicles (it’s a very similar tour, however we do recommend the horse riding tour)
Hotel Cusco
Standard: Andenes al Cielo or Andariego
Standard Plus: Casa San Blas or Second Home Cusco
Deluxe: Inkaterra La Casona or Casa Cartagena

Day 2  Rafting in the Sacred Valley
This Urubamba River Rafting day features  nice class II, III and III+ rapids. There are also  scenic riverside views, with big eucalyptus trees, beautiful flowers, a profusion of cactus and Inca ruins adorn this whitewater trip. The rafting season is all year long and from early December to late March the river is Class IV. 
In the early morning you will  be collected from your hotel, after one hour and 30 minute drive through green valleys, snow capped mountains and small Andean villages, we will arrive to the beginning of the trip.  Before we jump into the water the guides will give a safety talk about the rafting, and after this safety session the crew will fit you out with the proper equipment.Before we start running the rapids, we will practice the commands so everybody will be ready when action will come. Slowly going down river we will be between rocks, waves and class II, III rapids. After challenging the Urubamba River, we will have a nice lunch and then transferred to Ollantaytambo where we will spend the night
Hotel Ollantaytambo
Standard: El Albergue, Standard Room  
Standard Plus: El Albergue, Superior room  
Deluxe: Tambo del Inka or Sol y Luna  (both located in Urubamba, not in Ollantaytambo)

Day 3: Sacred Valley / Pisaq /Cusco
We will first have a guided tour of the ruins at Ollantaytambo before heading towards the village of Pisaq, famous for its ruins and a lively market. We will spent a short time looking around this fascinating market before continuing high up in the hills above the Pisac ruins, and far away from the tourist trail.
We will then take private transport to the Abra (Pass) high up in the mountains above Chaywatiri. We will stop to see some pre-Inca rock drawings before heading to the village  of Chayhuatire where people are set up with their looms and they will be only too happy to explain the meaning of their weavings and their use of natural products to make dyes. Inevitably, a group of villagers will gather with their weavings and you will have the opportunity to buy some of these spectacularly woven items. The quality of the products offered is superb, so you cannot expect to get a "bargain" though you will meet the person who made your souvenir!
From here we will mountain bike downhill through typical Sacred Valley farmland before arriving at Pisac Ruins in the mid afternoon. Here, we will have a guided tour and some time to explore a little. The private car will acompany us all along the route and take tired bicycle riders! 
We will return to Cusco in the late afternoon.
Hotel Cusco
Standard: Andenes al Cielo or Andariego
Standard Plus: Casa San Blas or Second Home Cusco
Deluxe: Inkaterra La Casona or Casa Cartagena

Day 4-7 Alternative trek or Inca Trail.
Without a doubt the Cusco region is a mecca of trekking and outdoor activities.  We let you choose which trek you would like to do, depending on your personal interests.
Suggestions are:
Inca culture and people:
Lares and Machu Picchu, including a visit to the community of Chaullacocha
http://www.apus-peru.com/treks/lares_machu_picchu.htm
Inca Jungle Trail
This is a specially designed itinerary for those that love downhill mountain biking, adrenalin, but also the cultural interaction of staying in local coffee farmer’s homestays.
http://www.apus-peru.com/treks/inka_jungle_trail.html
Expreso Salkantay
This is an option for fit, hardy trekkers, where you do the traditional Salkantay route in just four days.   As there is little cultural interaction, this is a scenery oriented route!
http://www.apus-peru.com/treks/expreso_salkantay.htm
Classic Inca Trail 
There is nothing quite like this trek – it is famous for a reason, with wonderful scenery, intricate ruins and a challenging 4200m pass.
http://www.apus-peru.com/treks/classic_inca_trail_2.html
(note – if you are booking for the high season spaces are limited and you should book 3-4 months in advance. Please discuss this option with us as it can sometimes be difficult to put into your itinerary due to reservations restrictions.)
**Note: You can chose to list this trek on the 'trekkers wanted' page and if others join you this will reduce the overall cost of your tour **
On the fourth day of the tour you will return to Cusco in the evening
Hotel Cusco
Standard: Andenes al Cielo or Andariego
Standard Plus: Casa San Blas or Second Home Cusco
Deluxe: Inkaterra La Casona or Casa Cartagena

Day 8
Cusco/Lima
After breakfast, you will have the opportunity for some last minute souvenir shopping or a stroll around Cusco’s atmospheric streets.    At a pre organised time, you will be transferred to Cusco airport and assisted on your departure flight to Lima.

Note:

• If you have an international connection, please make sure you allow enough time between your local flight arriving and your international flights departure.

Itinerary notes

• this is an example itinerary only, this can be shortened by one day or altered to meet your needs.
• this itinerary can be extended to include airport pickups and transfers, a city tour and accomodation in Lima, if required. You an also chose to extend your holiday in Peru to visit the Amazon jungle at Puerto Maldonado. Please ask us for more information or ask to see a sample itinerary

Types of tour - description of standards of accomodation.

STANDARD

• Full private service (ie all driven transport and transfers are private.
• Qualified Bilingual guide (English/Spanish)
• 3 star hotels – we choose our hotels for their overall quality but also try to pick places with an attractive local atmosphere, and plenty of charm.
• If trekking, you receive the standard trekking service.
• Meals as described.  These will be general “Menu” style meals – soup, and a main course with a cup of tea.  Any extra beverages are not included.
• Apus Peru’s Standard Service on all tours is a high quality service that provides a good level of comfort.

STANDARD PLUS

• As listed above
• Includes Vistadome Train, instead of Expedition Service
• Includes meals at nicer restaurants, eg.  Indio feliz in Aguas Calientes and also Tinkuy Buffet Restaurant at Machu Picchu
• Accommodation is the other substantial difference, with nicer 3 star hotels that have plenty of charm, and are generally considered top of their class.

Deluxe

• As listed in Standard Plus
• We offer you the opportunity to take the beautiful Hiram Bingham Train service (at extra cost)
• The most beautiful, luxurious and also famous hotels in the region.  Indulge!

What is included?

• All transport in private vehicle
• Accommodation in the hotels as described
• Activities as described
• English/Spanish/Quechua speaking guide
• Meals as described
• Entry fees.

What is not included?

• Breakfast on the first morning.
• Tips for the guide, and driver.

 

AVAILABLE DISCOUNTS (these discounts are not cumulative

• Students: US$ 30.00 (students require a valid International Student Identity Card. Please beware that Youth Travel Cards are not valid)
• Teenagers: US$ 20.00 (up to 15 years of age, passport copy required for all bookings)
• Children: US$ 45.00 (up to 10 years of age, passport copy required for all bookings)

TO MAKE A BOOKING

Please visit our Make a Booking page.

You will need to email us to check availability, receive booking forms and then make your deposit. For our payment conditions and booking please refer to our Make a Booking page. * For organisational reasons, we require one week to organise your booking, prior to departure.