Book your tour today!

The eternal traveler's question: To pay for a tour or venture solo? We opted for a tour, and I can wholeheartedly say that every penny was well-spent. Let's dive into the details of this unforgettable journey.

DAY 1 - EXPLORING THE SACRED VALLEY

Our adventure commenced bright and early with a 7 a.m. pick-up from our hostel. A 30-minute drive from Cusco brought us to Awana Kancha, known as the "living museum of the Andes." Here, we delved into the cultural and historical significance of llamas and alpacas in Peru. The real treat? Getting to feed them—an absolute highlight for me.

Awana Kancha also serves as a sanctuary for Incan culture, even rehabilitating condor birds. Here, we learned about the various natural methods of dyeing alpaca fur, such as using purple corn, insects that yield a vivid red color when crushed, and brilliant blue seeds. They also sold jewelry and clothes made out of 100% alpaca fur, so if you are looking for a souvenir to take home, this is absolutely the place to buy it, rather than a shop in town where you cannot guarantee complete authenticity.

After spending over an hour at Awana Kancha, we journeyed further into the Sacred Valley. As we traversed the picturesque mountains, our guide treated us to several breathtaking viewpoints, offering insights into the valley's history and nearby Incan ruins. Our next stop was Pisac, renowned for its silver and gold production, as well as its bustling market. Here, we strolled, shopped for souvenirs (many in our group bought silver rings), and tried coca leaves. As instructed by our guide, it is customary to chew on the leaves lightly for 30 minutes to release the flavor and the juices. In Peru, coca leaves are a traditional natural remedy for many ailments, such as headaches, sore throat and upset stomachs. They are also great for altitude sickness, and are great in tea form!

A delectable buffet lunch awaited us in Urubamba before we continued to the Archaeological Park of Ollantaytambo. These well-preserved Incan ruins initially served as a religious fortress but were later used as a refuge against Spanish attacks. After an hour of exploration, we headed to the Ollantaytambo train station for a two-hour ride to Aguas Calientes, the closest town to Machu Picchu. I can confidently say this was the most scenic train journey I've ever taken—two hours breezed by.

DAY 2 - MACHU PICCHU

Our overnight stay at the Ferré Machu Picchu Hotel was arranged by the tour. Being in the small town of Aguas Calientes, the hotel was a short 5-minute walk from both the train station and the bus station. A delightful complimentary breakfast fueled us for the 7 a.m. bus ride. With an early time slot, we encountered a virtually non-existent line, and after a 20-minute ride up the mountain's switchbacks, we reached the Machu Picchu entrance.

Our guide truly knew his audience and took us on Circuit 2, which offers the quintessential views of the Inca city. We had around three hours to explore the site, learn about its cultural and religious history, capture photos, and simply absorb the wonder of Machu Picchu. There was no rush, and it felt like ample time to savor the experience. After descending on the bus, we enjoyed lunch in Aguas Calientes before taking the train back to Ollantaytambo. At the train station, our private transfer awaited, bringing us back to our Cusco hostel in time for dinner.

ACCOMODATIONS

Although our tour included an overnight stay, the description was modest—a "one-night accommodation at a 3-star hotel." Given our budget version of the tour, we were pleasantly surprised. The hotel was clean, tranquil, served a delicious free breakfast, and offered stunning mountain views. Two to a room meant we each had our own full bed; even though the accommodations for this tour were a surprise, they exceeded our initial expectations.