This tour is your best choice if you wish to explore places off-the-beaten-track near Cusco at a slightly more relaxed pace whilst still enjoying some of the main highlights and fabulous beauty spots of the area without having to do strenuous hikes. This may also suit families with small children. You will stay at welcoming rural Lodges where you will feel part of the family and enjoy great healthy food! PRIVATE TOUR.
Day 1 We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco in the morning and head to the highland lagoon of Huaypo that is a great spot for watching waterfowl, where we will enjoy a cup of coca tea whilst watching out for wildlife. From here we drive on to the town of Huarocondo which boasts an interesting square with its richly decorated Andean Baroque Church of San Martín de Tours. We will visit the church if possible in order to appreciate the typical Andean Baroque works of art and gilded altars. We go on to Zurite (3,405 m) to explore the impressive Inca agricultural terraces. There are about 40 stone constructions up to 1,500 meters long and three meters high divided into four sectors. It is said that they were built by the Inca Wiracocha and are still used today. In addition, rooms and complex irrigation systems have been found that modified the Andean landscape in favor of the population of the empire. Before the Incas, there were already different clans occupying this territory that, once they were conquered, formed ayllus, that is, extended family groups that share a common area and that carry out collective work. Afterward, will visit the beautiful Plaza with its church San Nicolás de Bari, and its mural paintings that can be seen next to the access door to the temple.
A delicious outdoor lunch awaits us at Pumatambo Hostel, where we will also stay tonight. It is a lovely rural hostel with lots of history. Children love this place since in the garden there are numerous games to delight them. Relax in the gardens in the afternoon or go for an optional hike with your guide. In the evening we will take our dinner at the Pumatambo hostel. It also has a bar. Accommodation is simple but cozy, there are dorms for families or groups of friends with shared bathrooms.
Day 2 After breakfast we will continue our journey through the Pampa de Anta to Killarumiyoq (3,600 m), an important Inca ceremonial complex at the foot of the Apu Soq’omarka. Here you will find terraces, water channels, cultivation areas, and an ushnu, as well as a small cave inside which there are petroglyphs. In the middle of all this is a huaca (sanctuary) with a semicircular carving, in the form of a throne, dedicated to Killa, the Goddess Moon. After exploring this wonderful site and enjoying the views of Anta and the snow-capped mountains of the Cordillera Vilcabamba, we will continue our journey descending to the subtropical valley of Limatambo. Our destination is the Hacienda Sondorf, a 19th-century estate that still retains its aura from the past. Here you will sample a delicious lunch and you will have the opportunity to learn about the history of this extraordinary place. You may also learn how to prepare a delicious fruit cake, a specialty of the house, before sampling it with a cup of coffee. We will continue our journey to Limatambo where we will make a stop at the beautiful Plaza before continuing to Andean Spirit Lodge in the community of Pichuímarca, our base for the next nights. Full board.
Day 3 After breakfast, we head towards the village of Mollepata where we will make a short stop to appreciate the beauty of the Plaza with its church. We will continue our trip to Cruzpata, on the road to Soraypampa at the foot of the snow-capped Salkantay and Humantay which is also the starting point to make the trek to Machupicchu. After a cup of coca tea, we start our leisurely one-hour hike to the magical hidden Inca complex of Choquechurco. This was once an important ceremonial complex and from here the majestic Apu Humantay is always in sight. The hike will lead you through dwarf forest where you find queuña trees and possibly even some orchids. You may observe raptors, hummingbirds, and thrushes amongst other birds. You may also appreciate the views of the whole of the Limatambo valley from here. After a half-hour descent to Cruzpata, we will enjoy a home-cooked picnic lunch before returning to Andean Spirit Lodge in the afternoon. Overnight at Andean Spirit Lodge. Breakfast, picnic lunch, and dinner.
Day 4 After breakfast you may stroll through the extensive gardens, watch birds or book a yoga class before lunch. We will start our trip back to Cusco after lunch. On the way we will visit the Inka complex of Tarawasi that boasts a beautiful wall in cellular rosetta style and an ushnu (raised platform) with niches. B & L
Includes:
- One night at Pumatambo Hostel in Zurite (shared bathroom)
- Two nights in a bungalow with private bathroom at Andean Spirit Lodge
- Meals according to the itinerary
- English speaking Guide
- Private transport
- Entrance fees
- Peruvian taxes
Not Included:
- Meals not included in the itinerary
- Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks
- Yoga Class (optional)
- Extras not mentioned in the itinerary
- Tips and gratuities
Prices per person in USD:
1 person USD 1660.-
2 people USD 955.- per person
3 people USD 825.- per person
4 or more people USD 680.- per person
