6 days Lima Culinary – Cusco - Machu Picchu - Lima

Highlights

Sacred Valley:

• Natural Landscapes: Surrounded by majestic Andean mountains, the Sacred Valley is famous for its green terraces and crystal clear rivers.
• Archaeological Sites: Includes such wonders as Ollantaytambo, Pisac, and Moray, each with a fascinating history and impressive architecture.
• Living Culture: The villages of the Sacred Valley keep alive ancestral traditions, such as weaving and agriculture, offering an authentic immersion into Quechua culture.

Lima:

• Gastronomy: Known as the gastronomic capital of Latin America, Lima offers a variety of dishes that combine traditional and contemporary flavors. From ceviche to Nikkei food, the culinary offerings are a feast for the senses.
• History and Culture: Lima’s Historic Center, with its colonial architecture, churches and plazas, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In addition, museums such as the Larco Museum and the Museum of the Nation present Peru’s rich pre-Columbian history.
• Nightlife: Nightlife in Lima is vibrant, with bars, nightclubs and cultural events that make the city a dynamic and exciting place.

Machu Picchu:

• Wonder of the World: Machu Picchu, one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, is an icon of Peru. The ancient Inca city, with its monumental architecture and mysteries to be discovered, is a must-see destination.
• Spiritual Experience: Many visitors find Machu Picchu a spiritual experience, connecting with the energy of the place while exploring its temples and sacred structures.
• Inca Trail: For the adventurous, the Inca Trail is one of the most famous trekking routes in the world, offering a unique way to reach the citadel through breathtaking natural landscapes.

Why Choose Us?

• BigFoot Machu Picchu, a local tour operator based in Cusco, operates the trip throughout Peru.
• We cater to small groups, with a maximum of 8 people, setting us apart from larger travel companies.
• We are a pragmatic, prompt, and dependable travel company, extending our hospitality to individuals and groups. Refer to our Trip Advisor reviews.
• Our Tour Guides stay updated and engage in continuous professional development, eager to reveal the wonders of Machu Picchu.
• At BigFoot Machu Picchu, our guides and drivers receive immediate compensation upon completing their tasks.
• Local pricing ensures affordability.
• Expedited booking process for your convenience.

Itinerary

ARRIVAL IN LIMA

Upon arrival in Lima, you will be met and transferred to your selected hotel.

Overnight: Lima

LIMA CULINARY EXPERIENCE

This morning I will visit one of the most emblematic and picturesque markets, where you will be able to see, taste and buy the most popular ingredients used in Peruvian cuisine. With our culinary expert, you will have the opportunity to taste fruits from the coast, highlands and jungle, such as chirimoya, pacay, mango, passion fruit, aguaymanto, aguaje, and more. The market’s variety of vegetables includes peppers, pigeon mushrooms, native varieties of potatoes, tubers, root vegetables, organic vegetables, miniature vegetables, aromatic herbs, grains and more. And don’t forget the impressive seafood section, which offers prawns, shrimp, various fish, octopus, scallops and much more. You also have the opportunity to sample and purchase nuts, as well as straw and wood crafts. To end your market tour, you can try a nutritious fruit juice at a stall on the new market boulevard.

Next, head to La Picanteria – a restaurant, owned by celebrity chef Hector Solis of Fiesta restaurant. The restaurant aims to produce the rustic and traditional ambiance of a “Picantería” and menus vary according to what is best in the market that day, whether fish or meat. Unless you request a private table, there are two communal tables where people sit, exactly as in a traditional “Picantería”. You have the opportunity to try the “Chicha de jora” and the incredible varieties they produce in this restaurant, it is all authentic, charming, rustic and at the same time designed by one of the best chefs in Peru.

Breakfast & Lunch included Overnight: Lima

LIMA – SACRED VALLEY O CHINCHERO – MARAS – MORAY

Upon arrival in Cusco, you will be met by our representative and driven to the “Sacred Valley of the Incas”, a succession of picturesque Andean villages, agricultural terraces and many archaeological sites, as well as the world’s most famous white corn grown for export. This morning drive to Chinchero, where you can enjoy its church and then visit the home of artist and master weaver Nilda Callañaupa. Peruvian textiles, recently thought to be one generation away from extinction, are experiencing a surprising resurgence. The revival of the country’s 2,000-year-old weaving techniques is due in large part to Nilda Callañaupa, who works with six mountain villages to resurrect symbolic patterns and avoid garish chemical dyes and synthetic yarns. You will enjoy a very educational weaving demonstration; learn about wool spinning, natural dyes, traditional patterns and weaving techniques used in the Andes region.

From Nilda’s house we cross the pampas of Chinchero and take the detour to the town of Maras and the archaeological site of Moray. The tour begins with a visit to the “Agricultural Laboratory” of Moray. This consists of circular concentric geological depressions, reinforced by agricultural terraces that follow the shape of these geological lines. There are considerable temperature differences between these levels, which facilitated the adaptation of plant species at different ecological levels, especially the adaptation of the important sacred leaf of Mama Coca.

We leave this interesting archaeological site to continue to Maras Pampa, where people cultivate the land and raise cattle and sheep. The Urubamba mountain range and its snow-capped peaks provide a spectacular backdrop for your hike. In the town of Maras you will see the facades of the old houses, made of finely worked stone, indicative of the economic height reached by the town’s population at that time. Continue your hike through a spectacular Quechua landscape to reach the Maras salt mines, whose brilliant white can be seen from far away. These salt mines have been exploited for centuries and are still in use (elegant bath and table salt products made with Maras salt have recently come on the market). At the end of this excursion we will head to an exclusive place for lunch. We recommend an overnight stay in a hotel in the Sacred Valley, if you wish we can make a reservation for you.

Breakfast: Included

Lunch included Overnight: Sacred Valley

CUSCO – MACHU PICCHU

At a suitable time you will be transferred to the train station to board the Vistadome train to Aguas Calientes. Enjoy a unique train ride to the marvelous Inca ruins of Machu Picchu. Get the most outstanding views of the Urubamba River, which winds its way through green fields under the high peaks of the Andean glaciers. From Aguas Calientes you will climb up a hillside to Machu Picchu, the “Lost City of the Incas”. Machu Picchu, which means “Old Mountain”, is a World Heritage Site.

INCLUSIONS

• 3 STAR HOTEL CUSCO-MACHU PICCHU-CUSCO
• ASSISTANCE AT THE AIRPORT
• TRANSPORTATION
• MEALS INCLUDED ACCORDING TO THE
• TOUR GUIDE (ENGLISH – SPANISH)
• ENTRANCE FEES TO THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES

PACKING LIST

• Jackets, warm clothing
• Non-slip walking shoes
• Tennis cap or hat
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Toilet paper
• Local currency
• Snacks

Peru Package 5 days

The group service costs $850 per person, you can reserve your place with a prepayment of $200 in advance and pay the remaining balance one day before your trip begins.