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Four days! Four days in a place that vibrates with beauty, tradition and culture. Four days to meet people, learn about their history, see the archaeological digs, visit markets and projects and experience Machu Picchu.

With the help of our hotel – Amaru Hostal II we planned our time in Cuzco to get a real taste of life in this region while still visiting some of the main tourist destinations.

Our Itinerary

Day 1 Cuzco: specifically planned to give us plenty of rest to acclimatise to the altitude. If you don’t want to ruin your time in Cuzco, then this is important or you may find yourself one of those tourists requiring evacuation to a lower altitude to treat altitude sickness symptoms. Having to acclimatise was a really good excuse to sit on the hotel veranda sipping ‘mate de coco’ tea while soaking up the Cuzco sun, atmosphere and the stunning views of the Andean mountains. It was also a good time to take stock of what we had experienced and talk about our trip highlights.

Day 2 Sacred Valley: This was a key settlement area of the Incas. Our full day tour included a visit to a Cultural Project where local women are taught how to do traditional weaving, dyeing and make items. The sales of these items help supplement their income from farming. The tour also stopped at a family owned wild life sanctuary where we were able to stand next to condors, the famous Pisaq market and then finishing at Ollamtaytambo archaeological digs dating from the Pre Inca and Inca times. Sleep over at Urubamba

Day 3 Machu Picchu: We were picked up from Urubamba by taxi to catch the backpackers train from Ollamtaytambo station. After a scenic two hours train ride (as compared to the four hour journey from Cuzco) we were met at Machu Picchu station by our tour guide who explained the tour itinerary and then led us to the bus stop. The bus journey is half an hour from the station to the gate entrance. (And the views are spectacular). Stopping for the toilet at the entrance is important! This is your last toilet stop for the next four to five hours, so don’t miss it! The four hour guided tour of stories, history, theories and humour gave us a deep understanding and appreciation of the Incas lifestyles, building techniques and the region’s history. Sleep over at Urubamba.

Day 4 Cuzco: The ‘bus’, actually a five seater taxi, travels from Urubamba bus depot to Cuzco bus depot and is a lot cheaper than a ‘proper’ taxi. This is a chance to experience local driving through the Andean mountains! In Cuzco we had the choice of wandering round on our own or doing a half day tour. We opted to wander on our own to the various plazas and churches. We wanted this time free to be able to experience and explore the local area. Sleep Cuzco.

This was a whirlwind tour but without the rush. It gave us the opportunity to explore and savour the environment, soak up the beauty, learn about the local traditions and to meet lots of interesting people.