Choquequirao Trek 4 Days
This expedition or Choquequirao trek, is one of the most spectacular hikes you can do on the Andes,
This impressive tour combines the globally renowned Inca Trail journey to Machu Picchu with Cusco’s most conventional tours, including the Sacred Valley tour, the Inca terraces of Moray, and the Salineras de Maras.
Experience the Inca Empire in just 3 days filled with culture, adventure, and tradition. In under a week, you can witness the finest of the Inca heritage and partake in the Inca Short Trail adventure. This package encompasses the City of Cusco, the agricultural hubs of Maras and Moray, the traditional Sacred Valley of the Incas, and the thrill of a 2-day hike to Machu Picchu.
This package suits solo travelers, groups of friends, or families looking to explore Machu Picchu. Availability depends on the Short Inca trail’s capacity. For those seeking adventure, we invite you to discover the Sacred Valley of the Incas uniquely and enjoyably through our ATV Tours Cusco.
At 07:00, we collect you from your hotel to transport you to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, a fertile agricultural region created by the Urubamba River. Next, we visit the town of Chinchero, where you can explore the colonial temple with captivating frescoes in the portico, constructed atop the foundations of an Inca edifice. Subsequently, we proceed to Moray, where you can admire the intriguing circular crop terraces used by the Incas for agricultural experimentation and seed acclimatization. Our journey continues to the Maras Salt Mines.
In Maras Salt Mines, you can witness the compact salt pools meticulously constructed in the shape of terraced steps along a narrow valley. These small salt pools are supplied by a saltwater source located near the commencement of all the salt pools. The salt of Maras has been collected since pre-Inca and Inca times. Following this, we head to Urubamba Town, renowned as the valley’s capital. Here, we partake in a buffet lunch at one of its charming tourist restaurants that offer traditional Andean cuisine. We proceed with our tour to visit the still-thriving Incan settlement of Ollantaytambo, where our Tour Guide leads us through its Incan fortress, providing insights into its purpose and history. The town and fortress are strategically positioned, commanding a breathtaking view of the valley. This significant archaeological site is celebrated for being one of the finest surviving illustrations of Incan urban planning and engineering. It is renowned for its colossal steep terraces that safeguard the Incan fortress and for being one of the few places where the Spanish suffered a significant defeat during their conquest! Overnight in Ollantaytambo.
Rise early, have breakfast, and prepare for the 2-day hike to Machu Picchu. Proceed on foot to Ollantaytambo’s railway station, where we board a train bound for Km 104, home to an Inca Trail checkpoint. Amidst the Andean mountains and tropical forests, a magnificent Inca Trail meanders through the mountains and the Sacred Valley. Our initial archaeological stop is Chachabamba (2,200 m / 7,218 ft), nestled along the banks of the Urubamba River. WiƱaywayna (2,650 m / 8,696 ft) sits atop. Following this, we make our way to the Intipunku (2,720 m / 8,924 ft), offering a panoramic view of Machu Picchu (2,490 m / 8,169 ft). Here, you can also spot a variety of flora and fauna, along with diverse bird species. The hike takes approximately 6 to 7 hours until you reach the Sun Gate, known as the āInti Punku,ā where you can catch the first panoramic glimpses of Machu Picchu.
After an early morning breakfast, we continue our Inca Trail hike for approximately 2 hours, reaching the enigmatic city of Machu Picchu. We enter the city early for prime photo opportunities. The Machu Picchu tour is conducted privately, offering a glimpse of one of the most spectacular cities of the ancient world. Conceived by Inka Pachacuteq, this magnificent city boasts houses, temples, storehouses, a vast square, and a labyrinth of narrow streets and stairways. It is encircled by agricultural terraces. Following a comprehensive 2-hour tour, you have leisure time to revel in the magic and spirituality of this city. Additionally, you have the option to embark on a 45-minute ascent to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (peaks overlooking Machu Picchu, offering panoramic views of the Inka city). The 2-day Inca Trail culminates with a train journey to Ollantaytambo, from where we are transported by van back to Cusco.
When it comes to planning an unforgettable adventure in Cusco, Peru, the choices can be overwhelming. With so many travel agencies vying for your attention, it’s essential to select one that stands out and offers a truly exceptional experience. That’s where “Tierras Andinas” Travel Agency comes into play. Here are some compelling reasons why you should choose us for your Cusco adventure:
A day trip is ideal for exploring two notable sites of the Inca civilization located in the Sacred Valley.
Visiting Maras and Moray from Cusco in just one day is perfectly feasible and without rushing. To give you an idea, if you opt for a guided tour, it is a half-day excursion.
The most comfortable and easiest way to get to Maras and Moray is by booking a tour in Cusco. That’s precisely what we did, since these tours usually include a guide.
However, as we mentioned above, you will see this excursion promoted in all the travel agencies in Cusco. Our advice is to make sure of the reputation of the local agency before making a reservation.
After spending a month living in Cusco while volunteering, we heard several stories where reliability left a lot to be desired. Unfortunately, we saw this repeat itself on several occasions. Don’t be swayed by the price alone, as sometimes paying a little more can give you a better guarantee.
If you prefer to make an online reservation with complete confidence, we provide you here with the website that we use to book excursions and guided tours, which can be very useful on your trip to Peru.
The Maras Moray tour leaves Cusco at 8:30 in the morning and lasts approximately 6 hours. Includes transportation from your hotel and a visit with a guide.
Entrance fees to the Maras salt mines and the Moray archaeological site are not included in the tours. The entrance fee to Maras is only 10 soles, while Moray is included in the Cusco tourist ticket.
In this case, among all the tourist ticket options, you will need the 2-day tourist card for the Sacred Valley.
The Maras salt flats are one of the most beautiful places you can visit near Cusco. There are 3,000 salt mines located at 3,380 meters above sea level and are supplied by an underground spring that was already exploited in pre-Inca times.
These pools of Andean pink salt are barely five square meters each and create a spectacular landscape. Extraction is a simple process: when the water evaporates, the crystallized salt is carefully removed with shovels and rakes.
One of them is that the wells are not sold, they are passed down as an inheritance from grandparents to grandchildren.
This salt is said to be of better quality than sea salt and is considered one of the best in the world, along with Himalayan salt. Furthermore, it is important to note that there are only four places in the world where pink salt can be extracted, and the Maras mines are one of them.
Salt is sold to the Japanese for 30 dollars per 400 grams, while there it is bought for 5 soles (a little more than 10 euros).