Peru's Rich History & CUlture; APRIL 17-25, 2026 (9 days/8 nights)

Upon arrival at the Cusco International Airport (CUZ), you will be met by a representative of Better Adventures in the arrivals hall for the transfer to the hotel in the Sacred Valley.

Enjoy a welcome dinner with the group.

A full American-style breakfast will be served each morning during your stay in Peru.

Excursion: Moray Ruins

This morning, we visit an unusual and spectacular set of ruins. The Moray Ruins are concentric circles that are thought to have made up an Incan agricultural laboratory. Some of the terraced circular depressions are almost 100 feet deep, creating a wide variety of temperatures within them. This archaeological site also contains amphitheaters where rituals and ceremonies may have been performed.

Excursion: Maras 

The spectacular Maras site is a collection of salt mines that has been used since pre-Inca times.

Workers channel an underground stream into various salt ponds. There are around 5,000 separate salt ponds, albeit not all of them are in working use at the same time. The local community has to work hard and in a team to maintain the balance between salt and sweet water, evaporation, and keeping the pond walls in good order. The strong Andean sun evaporates the water to leave the highly-prized salt that can be white, red and brown in color.

 
Enjoy a traditional lunch at a local restaurant. 

Excursion: Traditional Textiles 

In Chinchero, we visit the women's weaving cooperative where we watch a demonstration of local weavers. They use traditional Inca techniques for dyeing fabric and for weaving traditional patterns. The local community has used its internationally-renowned weaving skills to regenerate the village.

There is time to browse in the shop, where the items you’ve seen being made are sold. This is a great place to get a souvenir, from Inca-style purses, colorful tablecloths, wall hangings, and many more exquisitely patterned artisanal goods.

Return to the hotel to freshen up and relax. 

Dinner is included today.

Excursion: Local Farm Visit

Experience how local farmers cultivate the land and help to cut the alfalfa that is used to feed the guinea pigs. Guinea pigs are a common site in Peruvian kitchens and gardens. They are often cooked for special occasions, throughout the Andes.

Excursion: Pachamanca Lunch & Chicha

Pachamanca comes from the Quechua words “Pacha” for earth and “Manka” for pot. Preparation begins with the heating of stones over a fire. Meat and vegetables are then placed on top. An oven is made by placing earth and grass on top of the food. Everything is usually cooked for 2 to 3 hours. Enjoy this traditional dish for a delicious lunch.

Following lunch, learn about chicha, a fermented, alcoholic drink found all over the Andes. It is usually made from maize but there are many regional varieties made from quinoa, yucca, and even potato. The Incas used chicha in ceremonies and rituals. It's still drunk on special occasions and it's sold at Chicherias. These tavern-type places usually offer home-brewed chichi and are often identifiable by a small, red flag outside the building.

Transfer to the hotel for a bit of relaxation. Dinner is included.

Excursion: Pisac & Pisac Market

Today, visit the terraced Inca ruins that are situated high on a mountain. From here, we climb to the top of the ruins and take in amazing views of the Sacred Valley. Your guide can explain the religious, astronomical, and military functions of these ruins at Pisac. We hike a further to a little-known, seldom used original Inca trail and we visit one of the largest Inca cemeteries. We finish the tour with a trip to the Pisac handicraft market, known for ceramics, jewelry, and woven products that make for great souvenirs. 

Lunch and the afternoon are at leisure. Gather in the evening for a delicious dinner with the group.

Excursion: Ollantaytambo

This morning, explore one of the best preserved Inca towns in all of Peru, Ollantaytambo. Many of the original buildings date back to the 15th century. Ollantaytambo was an important town – it was home to the Inca emperor Pachacutec and was the base for military victories against the Spanish.

Included in the tour are the exquisite terracing, fountains, aqueducts, and ruins that surround the town. Highlights are Temple Hill with its Sun Temple, the impressive Wall of the Six Monoliths, and the Pinkuylluna Inca storehouses.

Enjoy lunch on your own.

Transfer: Train to Aguas Calientes

Early afternoon, we  board the train going to the town of Aguas Calientes (90 min), our base for Machu Picchu.

The remainder of the afternoon and dinner are at leisure. The Tour Manager with the group will have restaurant recommendations. 

Excursion: Machu Picchu

Today, we explore the Lost City of the Incas — Machu Picchu. It’s an early start because we want to enjoy sunrise at Machu Picchu. We’ll board a bus for the 20-minute bus ride to the Machu Picchu ruins entrance, passports in hand for the checkpoint. Our local guide will take you on a two-and-a-half-hour tour around one of the world's most spectacular sights. Have your camera ready.

Transfer: Aguas Calientes - Ollantaytambo - Cusco

In the afternoon, we catch the train to Ollantaytambo and travel on to Cusco.

Dinner is on your own.

Excursion: Alpaca Farm

We start off the day with a visit to a local famr where we'll meet the four species of the native camelid family up close; alpacas, llamas, guanacos, and vicunãs. These long-necked creatures have roamed the Andes for millennia and have provided clothing, fuel, and companionship as domesticated animals. 

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant on the bustling Plaza de Armas, Cusco's main square.

Excursion: Sacsayhuaman Fortress

This afternoon, explore the UNESCO World Heritage site of Sacsayhuaman Fortress. Perched on a steep outcrop some two kilometers outside Cusco, Sacsayhuaman is an Inca site that still boggles the mind; massive carved boulders sit together to form earthquake-proof military and ceremonial sites. There is no mortar on site, and some stones are 30 feet tall and weigh 120 ton.

Dinner is at leisure.

Spend the day at leisure to explore Cusco. The Tour Manager will have plenty of suggestions on how you can spend the day.

Enjoy a final group dinner on your last night in Peru. 

After breakfast, you will be transferred back to the airport for your flights home.