Summary – A Classic Three-Day Experience in the Heart of the Andes

Cusco – Catedral – Qoricancha – Saqsayhuaman – Qenqo – Puka pukara – Tambomachay – Cusco

12:00 – 12:30 pm: Pick up from your hotel
1:00 -2:00 pm: Catedral tour
2:00 – 3:00 pm: Qoricancha tour
3:30 pm: Arrive at Sacsayhuaman / Qenko
6:00 pm: Return to Cusco

Cusco – Pisac – Urubamba – Ollantaytambo – Machupichu

7:00 – 8:00 am :Pick up from your hotel
9:00 -10:00 am: Pisac tour
12:00 pm: Lunch in Urubamba
2:00 – 3:30 pm: Ollantaytambo Tour and free time to explore 
7:00 pm: Train to Machupicchu

Cusco – Aguas Calientes – Machupicchu  – Cusco

6:00 am: Bus to Machupicchu 
7:00 am: Machupicchu guided tour
11:00 am: Bus to Aguas Calientes
12:00 pm: Lunch time and free time
2:55 pm: Departure time for the train back to Ollantaytambo
6:30 pm: Arrival time to Cusco

Itinerary – Three Days Exploring Cusco and Its Surroundings

Day 1: PICK UP/CITY TOUR

We begin our journey by picking up the party at the required time to take you to your hotel for some needed rest, meanwhile you will also be able to try our most popular coca tea so you can assimilate a little better with the altitude side effects.

Afterwards, you can finally explore the city with our guide at 13.00 and visit the Main Cathedral with their exquisite paintings originating from Cusco, the chapel amongst others. Then we can visit the temple of the sun, known as the Qoricancha.

We can then continue visiting all the popular archeological sites! Such as, Sacsayhuaman, where the people of Cusco celebrate the festival of the sun, the solstice of winter, June 21st. We will also visit Qenko, Pucapucará and Tambomachay.

We can then head back to the city, back to your hotel, thus concluding day 1.

Includes: Transfer, Guide, bus, and entry to all sites
Hotel: Included
Not included: Food not mentioned

Day 2: Sacred Valley of Cusco to Machupicchu

We begin this joyous day picking you up at 7 am from your hotel, please DO bring tourist tickets/passes as well as your passports prior to starting our journey.

We will begin towards the sacred river to Pisac, we will then drive towards the Inca citadel of Pisac, from this vantage point you will be able to observe the temples, residences, altars, canals, sculptures, tunnels / caves and the famous Intihuatana “the andean Solar Calendar” after viewing these wonders we then make a stop at Urubamba for a much-needed lunch!

After 40 minutes or so, we continue towards Ollantaytambo to visit the enormous blocks of rocks that are perfectly carved and polished. Following the temples, we will have time to visit the little town within Ollantaytambo before taking the train to Machupicchu at 7 pm, where we will arrive at the town of Aguas Calientes at around 8:45 pm. Concluding day 2 with a much-needed rest.

Includes: Guide, bus, Lunch  and entry to all sites, train tickets to Aguas Calientes
Hotel: included 
No extra food included beyond what has been stated

Day 3: Machupicchu – Cusco

This day of wonder we begin early in the morning, after breakfast, we will head towards the station to the bus that will take us with the break of dawn to Machu Picchu and with the help of our guide to visit the most essential places and temples of the site.

We can break it down to 3 areas: the agricultural area, the urban area, and the area of temples, such as the temple of the sun or the sun clock. After 2 hours of the guided tour, we will have around 3 hours of extra time before taking the bus back.

We will go back to Aguas Calientes to take the train, but not before having lunch first! This concludes day 3. ( optional transfer to airport included )

Includes: Guide, bus round trip to and from Machupicchu, train back to Cusco, entry to Machupicchu, bus back to Cusco, Lunch, and dinner 
Hotel: Included

Inclusions – Carefully Selected Services for a Complete Experience

Includes:

Transportations

• City tour: professional tour guide, permits, and tour bus
• Tourist bus
• Sacred Valley: professional tour guide, Lunch, permits, Tour bus
• Machupicchu: Guide, train, permits, breakfast, and tour bus
• All entry tickets to sites within Sacred Valley, Cathedral and Qoricancha

Excludes:

• National and international flights
• Any tips for the team
• Foods not mentioned in the program
• Insurances regarding cancelations or incidentes

Packing List – Essentials for Three Days in Cusco

Recomendations:

• Passport
• Valid, STUDENT CARD (if you booked as a student)
• 2 wicking t-shirts
• 2 hiking pants
• 2 sets of undergarments.
• 1 Fleece
• 1 Warm, down jacket: gets very cold at night
• 1 Rain jacket and pants
• 1 sun hat
• 1 wool hat
• Headlamp: essential
• Waterproof gloves (even if they are ski gloves, take them)
• Comfortable shoes
• Waterproof jacket/rain poncho
• Battery Charger: There is no place to plug in while trekking!
• Large plastic bags: to help organize and keep clean from dirty.
• Sunscreen
• Wet wipes
• Toothbrush and paste
• Toiletpaper
• Personal medication
• Water: we supply clean water at each meal. You are responsible for your first morning of water only as we won’t have time to filter water until your first lunch.
• Camera
• Toilet paper and small plastic bag for waste
• Extra Money for Souvenirs, Drinks & Tips
• First aid kit: band aids, moleskin, etc.

Travel Info - Important Details Before You Gorive.

1. Briefings

   All briefings are done at our office at 5:00 PM one or two nights before your trek. If you are unable to make this time, you need to coordinate another time with a member of the Xtreme Tourbulencia office team. Briefings are approximately 40 minutes long.

2. Pickups

   Xtreme Tourbulencia is one of the only companies to pick you up directly from your hotel. As long as your hotel is in the center of Cusco city, we will coordinate this pickup based on a time that your guide will discuss at the briefing. Pick up times may vary 30 – 45 minutes based on traffic conditions and previous pickups.

   Cusco is an old city with cobblestoned streets and very narrow passageways. Smaller hotels and Airbnbs are often located on streets that cars can´t pass through.

   They also are frequently on hillsides with long steep climbs, making it difficult to carry luggage. We highly recommend that you book accommodations with better access. We have a list of hotels that are all comfortable with easy access to pick up and drop off.

3. Health Concerns

   You must be honest with your guide about any health conditions or concerns you might have. While our guides are not medical professionals, they do have first aid training. We also work with a clinic in Cusco that can help assist our team.

   You are responsible for assessing whether a tour is suitable for you. You should consult your physician to confirm your fitness for travel and participation in any planned activities. You should seek your physician’s advice on vaccinations and medical precautions.

   Xtreme TourBulencia will not provide medical advice. It is your responsibility to assess the risks and requirements of each aspect of the tour based on your unique circumstances, limitations, fitness level, and medical requirements.

   If you develop extreme altitude sickness or any other illness that prevents you from hiking, and you still wish to visit Machu Picchu by train, we will work with you to coordinate this trip. Since this will be a new trip, it may require additional fees. We will use as much of the original itinerary to keep costs low.

   If you experience issues while hiking and can not continue, a porter will accompany you to the closest road and wait while a car comes to pick you up and bring you to the nearest health clinic.

4. Group Tours

   Group tours are made up of all different types of people, with various hiking skills and ages. By agreeing to a group tour, you agree that some people might be slower or faster than you are.

   Everyone can go at their own pace for the trek, and the guide will work with the group to spend time with everyone. Groups might request some modifications to the tour, and the guide will work with everyone to make the best decision for the group.

5. Strikes

   Unfortunately, strikes are frequent in Peru and can disrupt our tours. Roads are often blocked, and trains stopped. We will make sure your trek continues as planned, even if that means leaving the night before your start date.

   Under these circumstances, tours might need to be canceled. But our operations department will coordinate with you in this situation. Your safety is always our top concern and will dictate how we decide.

6. Lost Items

   You are responsible for your items throughout the tour. Please be diligent about where you leave your things and remember to remove all items from our vans, your tents, restaurant, etc.

   Do not leave anything unintended during your hike. Other trekkers or teams might pick it up not knowing whose it is.

7. Tips

   Tipping is part of the tradition of any trek to Machu Picchu. While we pay good wages to our entire team, anything extra is always appreciated. Please know that this is not obligatory and that you should never feel pressured into this.

   Typically the participants in a group pool their tipping money together for the porters and chef. The amount recommended is $20 USD per person per trek.

   For the guide, this is more personal and needs to be decided based on your relationship with them and done separately from the group. Porters and Chefs prefer soles if possible. Guides are happy with U.S. dollars, Peruvian Soles, or even your credit card.

8. Travel Insurance

   Travel insurance is inexpensive and strongly recommended. With trips being planned months ahead of time, you never can predict what could happen. Adventure travel includes more risk than the average trip.

   Insurance is a way to protect the investment you have made on this journey. We can help recommend an agent to walk you through this type of insurance if needed.

9. Weather

   Of course, the weather is unpredictable. Typically the dry season in Cusco is from April through October, but this does not stop rain from falling in June or the sun from coming out in December so just be prepared.

   No matter what month you are doing the trek, make sure that you have rain gear that includes a waterproof jacket, pants, poncho, and waterproof gloves. Many people forget about gloves, but being cold and wet makes hiking very unpleasant.

   Also, prepare for four seasons. Several of the treks through the Andes involve various microclimates and you will need to be prepared. Layers are always key since they are easy to adjust to different temperature changes. Be prepared with a warm packable down jacket since the evening will be cold.

   It’s also important to note that the weather can change a listed itinerary. There are times that routes become impassable, and our guides will be forced for your safety to rework your tour.

   More Information About the Weather (BOTÓN)

10. Altitude Sickness

    As soon as people book their trip to Peru, specifically Cusco, they start wondering about altitude sickness. The air at high altitudes contains less oxygen than at sea level and forces your body to work harder to get the oxygen it needs.

    Over several days at high altitude, your body adjusts to the lower amount of oxygen in the air. For this reason, we always recommend spending at least two days in Cusco before beginning any trek in the Andes. Cusco is a marvelous city with lots to do, so if you have more time to acclimate you won´t be bored.

    With altitude sickness, you may first feel like you have the flu or a hangover. You may have a headache, tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, dizziness, trouble sleeping, trouble breathing during exercise. If any of these effects become severe, please contact our office, and we will help you get to a doctor.

    Most of the time, these symptoms will be mild. We always recommend easing into activity slowly, allowing your body to adjust. Drink plenty of fluids such as water or coca tea.

    Coca tea has been used since ancient times to help prevent altitude sickness. Leaves from the Coca Plant contain alkaloids that help bring oxygen into your blood, helping your body avoid the effects of altitude sickness. Avoid drinking a lot of alcohol and coffee. They will cause you to urinate more often and become dehydrated. Avoid smoking. Smoking makes it more difficult for your body to get oxygen. Avoid sleeping pills. They may cause shallow breathing at night, making it more difficult for your body to absorb oxygen while you sleep.

    Remember the trek to Machu Picchu is not a race. Even those in the best shape will suffer from altitude sickness if they race to the top of the mountain too quickly. Go slow, and it will give your body time to adjust to the elevation.

    Your healthcare provider may prescribe medications, such as acetazolamide and dexamethasone, to help prevent altitude sickness. Start the medicine two days before you get to a high altitude. Continue to take it while you are at high altitude.

    You must remember that this is your holiday and you do not want to stress out about the possibility of getting sick from the mountains. Do everything slowly and drink lots of water, and enjoy the coca tea.

    If anything does happen and you, unfortunately, get sick, let your guide know right away. Xtreme Tourbulencia guides are trained to help you get through it.

11. Getting To Cusco

    The airport in Cusco currently is only for domestic flights, so all international travelers by plane must disembark in Lima and go through Customs. Even if your flight to Cusco is the same day by the same airline carrier, you must grab your bags in Lima and then check them back in.

    The best way to get to Cusco is by air, and there are several options in airlines. LATAM tends to be the most expensive but has the most options and flights. Expect delays or flight cancellations. Due to the high altitude of Cusco, it tends to be difficult to land, and any inclement weather will stop air traffic.

    Bus travel is always available, and while the trip can be long, especially from Lima, the buses in Peru are very well maintained and comfortable. This option is strongly encouraged if coming from a city closer to Cusco, like Puno. Lima buses will take about 20 hours to arrive.

FAQs – Common Questions About the Traditional Cusco Program