Day 1: 22 June Reception in Cusco airport and Transfer to Hotel Marqueses

Reception in Cusco airport and Transfer to Marqueses Boutique Hotel where they will welcome you with cups of coca leaf tea a traditional drink to minimize the efects of altitude, Relax,rest and acclimatise. We advise you to get an early flight so you can just spend your first 2 hours in Cusco seriously doing nothing but trying to breathe!!

If you are not exhausted you can go straight to the Cusco Folk Dances and Music at Cusco Art Center in the main Ave el Sol. which are included on your tourist ticket 6.30pm 10 min slow walk from Hotel Marqueses. Overnight in Hotel Marqueses

Accommodation: Hotel Marqueses

Day 2: 23 June Sacred Valley Pisac Urubamba Ollantaytambo Cusco

Approx 8.20am transfer from your hotel at earlier time if coordinated. In a tourist bus, we travel from Cusco past Saqsaywaman & Tambomachay, over the mountains toward the Sacred Valley. We descend 1500 feet to the valley floor of the sacred Urubamba river and the village of Pisac where we will visit a traditional market and you can buy some local souveniers. We then drive up to explore the extensive ruins of Pisac with stunning views over the valley. On the guided walk into the Citadel of Pisac you can observe temples, residences, altars, channels, carvings, tunnels/caves and the famous Intihuatana “The hitching post of the Sun",

For those who would prefer to spend more time in the market instead of visiting the ruins, advise your guide so he can organise a time and place to pick you up when returning through the market.

We continue on to Urubamba where we stop for you to buy lunch. A further 30 mins drive takes us to Ollantaytambo surrounded by the sacred mountains, where we will again discover the magnificence of the Incan constructions, the amazing temple of the Sun, enormous blocks of rock perfectly carved and polished, stone water fountains, stairs, terraces and the beauty of the local people in their traditional dress, all surrounded by the sacred mountains and Valley of Patacancha and Willoq.
On our return, we quickly visit the famous church and archeological site in Chincheros, arriving to Cusco at about 6.30-7:00pm.

Meals: Breakfast,

Accommodation: Hotel Marqueses

Day 3: 24 June INTI RAYMI Winter solstice Sun`s Festival -Full Day on June 24 -Group Service.

INTI RAYMI JUNE 24th
The Inti Raymi or Festival of the Sun was an Inca ceremony that took place on an annual basis in Cusco, the capital of Tawantinsuyo, between the end of the harvest period and the beginning of the vernal equinox of the Andes, ie in the second half of June. The Inti Raymi at the time of the Incas was the equivalent of what today is for us the New Year festival. This was a party at which a new year began and ended all the previous "crop year" between the months of May to June, and also began the new agricultural cycle from July, so the period since the last week of June and early July was a period of transition from an old agricultural year to a new one, then the party was dedicated to that event.

Inti Raymi ( The Great Festival of the Sun), Festival of the magnificent ritual of the Sun in the esplanade of Sacsayhuaman where you will be able to apprecciate the most venerated Incas celebration.

SCENARIOS FOR THE CEREMONY:
On June 24 th, the feast in honor of the Sun God, is made in the three historic and natural settings usually used for staging:

1.- The Qorikancha (Siege of gold): In Inca times was the main temple dedicated to the sun.
2.- The Plaza de Armas (or Plaza Auqaypata or Warrior Square): During the Inca Empire, this vast square was used for the ceremony, which took place entirely in the great ushnu or ceremonial platform.
3.- Saqsaywaman (voice which derives from the Quechua words "saqsay" and "waman" which translated into Spanish means "falcon, satiate"). This impressive archaeological site is located at 3,555 meters above the sea level, and one kilometer from the Inca Qolqanpata neighborhood. Final staging - acts (Saqsaywaman)

CEREMONY SCHEDULE:
- 9:00 hrs Qorikancha: Home of the staging. Duration 30 minutes.
- 11:00 hrs. Auqaypata (Square): The lnka and her royal retinue, enter the street K'ijllu Inti. Duration 45 minutes.
- 13:30 hrs. Main ceremony. 90 minutes.

ACTS,CEREMONIES AND RITUALS:
• Ceremonial Initiation
• Report the 4 Regions: Qollasuyu, Kuntisuyu, Antisuyu and Chinchaysuyu.
• Ritual of the sacred Chicha a corn drink
• Ritual of the Holy Fire
• Sacrifice of the llama (Andean cameloid) and auguries.
• Rite of Sankhu (holy bread)
• Q'ochurikuy ( Dances and music )

WHAT IS INCLUDED:
Pick up from your hotels
Ceremonies at Qoricancha and Auqaypata.
Admission fee (with reserved seat in Saqsawaman)
Private Transport in and return
Experienced Tour Guide in English
Packed lunch (Vegetarian meals by request)
Ceremony brochure and DVD.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel Marqueses

Day 4: 25 June 2 DAY/ 1 NIGHT TRAIN TOUR TO AGUAS CALIENTES / MACHUPICCHU,

Transfer from your hotel in Cusco between approx 06:40 am- 6.50am.
The train ride consists of spectacular views in this wonderful land of the Incas, amazing landscapes of mountains and valleys, Inca farming terraces on both sides of the valley, snow capped mountains and sub-tropical jungle near the Ceja de Selva. From Pachar the sacred Vilcanota river will be our companion until arrival at Aguas Calientes (2040m) well known as Machu Picchu Pueblo. A SAS Travel rep will meet you at the train station and accompany you to Hostel Viajeros where you can settle and prepare for your lunch. From about 2.30pm you can enjoy free time wandering the local markets, the Botanical garden, new Machu Picchu museum or walk to Mandor waterfall. Or for the daring, climb Putucusi Mountain (3hrs, steep gradient including ladders up to 20m each, only recommended for the very fit with no vertigo). The rest of the group who have done the 2 day Inca trail trek will arrive at approx 5.30pm for dinner together. You may like to relax in the hot springs in the evening.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Accommodation: Viajeros Hostel or let us know if you would like an hotel upgrade option see recommendations

Day 5: 26 June Guided tour of Machupicchu Citadel

Early breakfast at 05:00 am at the Hostel. Then we are ready to board the first bus to Machupicchu at approx 05.30am and arrive at the entrance at 06.00am when the gates of this Sanctuary is open (please have your passport on hand). Guided tour of Machupicchu Citadel before the crowds arrive and the site is full of people, it takes approx 2 - 2.5 Hrs and leads you through all the most important areas ,miradors, temples, residences, best spots and all archaeological sites with the insights of very capable guides. After our interesting tour you have plenty of time for more exploration in your own, time to do the Huayna Picchu climb
Climbing to Huayna Picchu mountain (1.5 -2 Hrs), if you are booking for high season and Huayna Picchu permits have already run out then we can offer permits for the Montana Machu Picchu climb. This is higher so check the information in
Please Note**.
If you prefer not to do that option let us know immediately and we can reduce the cost of your tour by $10 and you can do one of the other upguided walks such as these 2 which are already included in the Machu Picchu ticket. Walk to "Intipunku" the Sun Gate where the classic Inca Trail ends ( 1.5 hr ) Walk to the Inca bridge located south of Machupicchu ( 1 hr )
All these walks are without a guide, are clearly signed and easy to find.

Your guide will advise you of where and when to use your bus ticket for the journey back down to Aguas Calientes to collect your luggage from the Viajeros Hostel. He will also provide you with the necessary details for the afternoon train return to Cusco,
At 16:40 pm return by Expedition train to Cusco Station (Poroy St). Arriving to Cusco at 9:30 pm approx. and transfer to your hotel in town.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel Marqueses

Day 6: 27 June Adios Cusco

Last chance for Souvenir Shopping in Cusco; Optional time to visit the Weaving Center Museum in Sol Avenue Transfer to the Airport - for your flight to Lima or where ever you are going from here!

Meals: Breakfast