On arrival at Cusco airport our guide will be waiting to accompany us on the ninety minute transfer to our accommodation.  Along the way we will stop for photos of the beautiful scenery and enjoy lunch at one of the local restaurants. After settling into our hotel room, we will visit a local potter and where we can make our own souvenir under their expert guidance.  After we have finished our masterpieces, our guide will take us back to the hotel where we will rest for the remaining of the evening in the peace and quiet of the rural area.

Today we drive to the small town of Pisac to enjoy its market day where we will wonder amongst the many artisan stalls at a leisurely pace.  You may also see some of the elder locals who have travelled down from the remote hill villages to barter potatoes, carrots and onions in exchange for tropical fruits brought up from the jungle. Afterwards, we head to Taray where we will unload our bikes and cycle out of the plaza on a dirt road along side the Urubamba river.  Travelling slowly is the perfect way to appreciate the beauty of this traditional agricultural area.  Vibrant fields of corn, kiwicha and quinoa line our route as cherry farm workers put down their tools to wave to us as we pass.  En-route we will enjoy a picnic lunch.  The fit can cycle back to the hotel or the support vehicle can take us back at any time. Today’s distance is flexible as you can cycle as little or as much as you want. Average cycling time is 3 hours or approximately 35Km.

A day of variety awaits us .  A forty minute drives takes you to the shores of Lake Huaypo.  Set amongst fields of corn with fantastic views across the snow capped Urubamba mountains, this really is a special place.  Once arrived we will help prepare a Pachamanca, a very traditional Peruvian meal where meat and vegetables are cooked on hot stones in a hole in the ground.  Once the food is cooking, we will enjoy some fun on the water of the world’s highest fleet of standup paddleboards.  This fantastic new sport is spreading fast across the world.  Under the careful instructions of your expert English speaking guides, you will soon pick up the needed skills to head out across the lake.  Once off the water it is time to uncover our earthen oven and enjoy succulent food we prepared.  Afterwards, we drive fifteen minutes to the spectacular salt pans of Maras.  Worked by hand for generations these are a photographers dream.  We will then hike and old mule track which is used to carry salt down to the valley.

Today is the day we reach Machu Picchu.  Built over 500 years ago, this is one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and rightly slow, words do not do it justice.  We take an early train to start our hike along the Inca Trail.  A few hours into climbing brings you to the beautiful Inca terraces of Winay Wayna where we will enjoy a box lunch.  A further gentle two hours, a final set of steps, you pass through the old Incan gateway, turn to your left and there it is.  Machu Picchu unfolds before our eyes.  Tonight we will spend the night in the town below, perhaps enjoy the medicinal waters of the hot springs, but above all, dream about tomorrow and our chance to fully explore the ruins of Machu Picchu.

A twenty minute bus rides brings us back to Machu Picchu where our guide will show us around and explain just how the Incas managed to  build with such precision and beauty on this remote hilltop.  From alters used for human sacrifices, temples carved in the shape of condors through to stones used to tie the sun, this is a history lesson everyone will enjoy.  If you are really lucky, you may even see Paddington Bear and his marmalade sandwich.  Today we will have lunch in Sanctuary Lodge. After a fantastic day in an even more fantastic destination, we board the train where you can sit back and relax and take in the scenery on our journey back to Cusco.

A leisurely day today.  A fifteen minute drive to the old Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman.  Standing guard above Cusco, the huge ramparts boasts stones up to 28 feet high weighing 140 tonnes.   Quite how the Incas moved them into place remains one of the world’s greatest mysteries. After climbing to the top of the ramparts for a spectacular view of Cusco it is time to play.  Sacsayhuaman boasts an impressive system of tunnels just waiting for us to explore.  Finally a twenty minute walk brings us back down to Cusco where we will relax and enjoy some lunch.  Late afternoon is chocolate time.  You probably know what you like, but do you know how it is made?  Our hosts will explain where it comes from and the story behind this most popular of foods before helping us make our very own bar of Peruvian chocolate.  It’s the perfect gift to take home for a loved one… that’s if you don’t eat it beforehand.

Time to work off all that chocolate.  A forty minute drive takes us to Pinipampa section of river where we can ride the rapids in our very own inflatable canoe.  The safe but fun rapids are perfect for beginners. Whist there we will have experts guides showing us what we need know.  Whatever your age, you are sure to get off the water grinning from ear to ear. A tasty lunch at a local restaurant then it’s time to meet the locals.  The four legged variety.  At Awana Kancha we can feed the llamas and alpacas as well as seeing how the traditional cloth is woven and dyed.  Then across the road at Ccochhuasi animal sanctuary we will see first hand just how big a condor’s wingspan is as it swoops low over our heads.  Home to a variety of rescued animals, this is the ideal place to see native Peruvian animals such as condors, pumas, macaws and the Peruvian hairless dog.

Today you are free to wander around Cusco, explore the cobbled side streets of the San Blas artist district or stare in awe at the Inca treasures in the many museums. This afternoon we will be taken to the airport for your onward journey, perhaps to Lake Titicaca, the Amazon Jungle or even home.