Cusco, Aires Andinos

Arrival in Cusco (a flight arriving around 11:00 is recommended). Meeting and transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon, a tour of the city's pre-Hispanic and colonial heritage: the Koricancha, the former Temple of the Sun on which the Santo Domingo Convent stands; the Plaza de Armas and its imposing cathedral, with altars, Cusco School paintings and wood carvings; and, on the outskirts, the Sacsayhuamán fortress with its enormous stone blocks, the Kenko shrine, the Puka Pukará military lookout and Tambomachay, the 'Baths of the Inca'. Overnight in Cusco. Meals: none.

Full day through the Sacred Valley of the Incas. First stop in the village of Pisac and its famous artisan market, with jewellery, ceramics and textiles, then the Pisac archaeological site high on the mountain, with agricultural terraces, Inca temples and valley views. Continue to Urubamba, the heart of the valley, for a buffet lunch at a hacienda restaurant (drinks not included). In the afternoon, the imposing Ollantaytambo fortress, a key site of Inca resistance, with its cobbled streets and giant stones. Transfer to the hotel in the valley. Overnight in the Sacred Valley. Meals: breakfast and lunch.

Full-day excursion to Machu Picchu. Transfer to the railway station and journey across the Andean landscapes and cloud forest to the town of Aguas Calientes; from there, a bus up to the summit and a visit to the Machu Picchu citadel, one of the New Seven Wonders of the Modern World. After walking its passageways and admiring the Inca architecture, descend to Aguas Calientes for lunch and return by train to Cusco. Overnight in Cusco. Meals: breakfast and lunch.

At the coordinated time, transfer to the airport to board the return flight to Lima. Meals: breakfast.