Daily Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Lima • Transit Stay

Upon arrival at Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM) in Lima, check in to your hotel located right at the terminal. Rest and recharge after your international flight to prepare for your morning flight into the high Andes.

• Meals Included: None (Independent)
• Accommodation: Hotel at Lima Airport (Elevation: 30 m / 98 ft)

Day 2: Fly to Cusco • Center for Traditional Textiles & City Orientation

Take a morning domestic flight from Lima to Cusco. Upon arrival at Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport (CUZ), an Apple Travel Peru representative will transfer you to your hotel. Spend your morning easing into the high elevation. In the afternoon, enjoy an introductory walk through Cusco’s historic center. Visit the Center for Traditional Textiles to learn about Quechua weaving traditions, stroll the historic Plaza de Armas, and browse San Pedro Market.

• Meals Included: Breakfast
• Accommodation: 3-Star Boutique Hotel in Cusco (Elevation: 3,400 m / 11,150 ft)

Day 3: Cusco Historic Landmarks • Sacsayhuamán & Megalithic Ruins

Dedicate the day to exploring Cusco’s extraordinary archaeological sites. Begin at Qorikancha (The Temple of the Sun), where colonial structures were built directly atop polished Inca stonework. Drive just above the city to Sacsayhuamán to admire its massive limestone boulders, followed by visits to the ceremonial centers of Q’enqo, Puka Pukara, and the water temple of Tambomachay. Enjoy an evening at leisure exploring Cusco’s local restaurants.

• Meals Included: Breakfast
• Accommodation: 3-Star Boutique Hotel in Cusco (Elevation: 3,400 m / 11,150 ft)

Day 4: Sacred Valley Exploration • Pisac • Maras • Moray • Ollantaytambo

Descend into the fertile Sacred Valley of the Incas, dropping in elevation to help your body acclimate further. Visit the terraced ruins of Pisac overlooking the Urubamba Valley, then explore its famous artisan market. Continue across the Maras plateau to view the concentric agricultural terraces of Moray and the thousands of ancient salt-evaporation pools at Maras. End your day in Ollantaytambo, a continuously inhabited Inca town, and tour its massive stone fortress.

• Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
• Accommodation: 3-Star Hotel in Ollantaytambo (Elevation: 2,792 m / 9,160 ft)

Day 5: 2-Day Short Inca Trail (Day 1) • KM 104 • Wiñay Wayna • Sun Gate View • Aguas Calientes

Board an early morning train from Ollantaytambo to Trail Marker 104, the official start of the Short Inca Trail. Begin your guided 12 km hike with a steady climb through lush cloud forest to the remarkable terraced ruins of Wiñay Wayna (2,550 m / 8,366 ft). Enjoy a packed box lunch while taking in views of the Urubamba River canyon. Continue along intact stone Inca pathways to Inti Punku (The Sun Gate) for your rewarding first panoramic view of Machu Picchu in the late afternoon light. Walk down to the upper viewpoint of the citadel for photos, then take the shuttle bus down to Aguas Calientes to check into your hotel and enjoy dinner.

• Meals Included: Breakfast, Box Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: 3-Star Hotel in Aguas Calientes / Machu Picchu Pueblo (Elevation: 2,040 m / 6,692 ft)

Day 6: 2-Day Short Inca Trail (Day 2) • Machu Picchu Citadel Guided Tour • Return to Cusco

After breakfast at your hotel, take an early morning shuttle bus back up to Machu Picchu. Join your expert guide for a dedicated 2-hour tour of the citadel, discovering key Incan sites including the Temple of the Sun, the Temple of the Condor, the Sacred Rock, and the Intihuatana. (Optional: Hike Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain if permits are reserved in advance). In the afternoon, return by train to Ollantaytambo, followed by private transport back to your hotel in Cusco.

• Meals Included: Breakfast
• Accommodation: 3-Star Boutique Hotel in Cusco (Elevation: 3,400 m / 11,150 ft)

Day 7: Private Transfer to Cusco Airport (CUZ) • Flight to Lima

Enjoy a final Andean breakfast at your hotel. At the scheduled time, our team will provide a private transfer to Cusco Airport (CUZ) for your domestic flight to Lima and onward international connections.

• Transfer Included: Private Airport Transfer
• Meals Included: Breakfast