In the morning you will just need to walk back across the street to check in for your flight to Cuzco, the capital city of the former Inca Empire. Upon arrival in Cuzco, you'll be met at the airport by your guide and driver and escorted to your Cuzco hotel. Since you're going from sea level to 11,500 feet, you will want to spend today slowly adjusting to your new beautiful but literally breath-taking surroundings. Cuzco is one of the most charming towns in all of South America, and extremely pedestrian and visitor friendly.

During your tour of Cuzco, the capital of the Incan Empire, you'll visit Sacsayhuaman, an immense Incan complex with impressive stonework; Koricancha, one of the most important Incan temples (the walls were once actually coated in gold!); and Cuzco's Cathedral where you'll learn about the Cuzco School of Art.

Heading out early from your Cuzco hotel, you will be driven 4.5 hours through the Sacred Valley to the village of Lares, where you can enjoy the local hot springs and lunch. You will then hike 3.5 hours to Huacahuasi (12,300 ft), your campsite for the evening. In the afternoon, you can meet some of the locals and observe their traditional weaving techniques.

Rising early, you will start the ascent to the Ipsayccasa Pass; at 14,600 feet this is the highest point of the trek. Take in the breathtaking views of Mount Veronica and the surrounding snow-capped peaks. Continue downhill to Ipsaycocha Lake for lunch where you can usually see Andean geese. Afterwards you’ll visit Patacancha Town (12,300 ft), a textile community where Quechua is still spoken today.

In the morning you'll continue downhill through gorgeous valley to Pumamarka, an important archeological Inca site, then board the train to the Inca town of Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley. Enjoy a stroll around the traditional Andean town, and board your train to Aguas Calientes (6,730 ft), located at the base of Machu Picchu, where your hotel awaits you.

Uncover the secrets of Machu Picchu during a guided tour of this Incan citadel. You'll visit the most important parts of the ruins to learn how and why they were constructed. After the tour, you'll have time to further explore the ruins or sit back and enjoy the magic of Machu Picchu. Departing from Machu Picchu town, enjoy a train ride to Cuzco. Upon arrival at the train station you will be met and transferred to your Cuzco hotel.

You will be picked up from your hotel and driven to the Cuzco airport for your flight to Lima. Optional upgrade before international flight home: take a Private Lima City Tour which includes visits to the historical center, the Larco Archeology Museum and Casa Aliaga, the longest continually-owned colonial home in the Americas.