Inti Raymi Festival Tours

In the morning, we take you to the Lima´s airport for your flight to Cusco City. Our Representative awaits you in front of the Cusco´s arrival airport hall holding a sheet with your name. After he/she welcomes you in Cusco, he/she takes you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax and explore around this fascinating city as well as to acclimatize to its high altitude. 

The Cusco City is the oldest continuously inhabited city of this continent as well as a hub of the South American travel network! The city attracts people from all around the world, who arrive not only to visit a unique destination, but also to experience an antique culture that differs a lot from the occidental 21st century´s way of life. One could easily spend a week just in and around this site. Inca-built stone walls line most of the central streets and it is not necessary to go far to see other major Inca ruins! This is a city steeped in history, traditions and legends!

Every year, Cusco is visited by thousands of travelers, who come to delve into its noble, but tragic past. It is a perfect base for optional explorations around the city´s surroundings as well as for a range of outdoor activities.
 
Cusco also has got numerous colonial churches. The most important of them is the Cathedral on the main square. Its construction started in 1559 and it took 100 years to finish!! The Cathedral can pride on the biggest depository of Colonial art of the city! A vault containing remains of the famous Incan historian - Garcilaso de la Vega is just past the entrance. Other churches that are worth seeing are La Compañía, La Merced and San Francisco. 

The city is also a perfect base for those more adventurous as it offers a range of optional outdoor activities such as white river rafting on Urubamba River, horseback riding around nearby archaeological sites (Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Tambomachay and Puca Pucara) or mountain biking down to Maras-Moray-Salineras and perhaps visiting some Incan sites on the way.

One of the most spectacular days of the tour takes us through the Sacred Valley of the Incas that was once an important source of food to Incan people. Sacred Valley is a lush agricultural region that keep supplying the city of Cusco with much of its production. As it lays 600 metres lower than Cusco, its average temperature is 5ºC higher so it has got a very pleasant climate.

The tour shows us around the major archaeological sites placed in Pisaq, Ollantaytambo and Chinchero. At Pisaq, an optional two hour (5 km) trek allows us to fully appreciate this huge antique Incan city nestled high in this Andean range. Later on, we can observe a colorful handicraft market at the modern Pisaq Town that is without any doubt a unique place to find perfect souvenirs! Then, we stop in Urubamba, considered to be the capital of the valley, where we have a buffet lunch offering Andean cuisine. Afterwards, we continue to the picturesque town of Ollantaytambo, a place that can boast with another large Incan site. Its major ruin is known as the best surviving example of Incan urban planning and engineering! But Ollantaytambo is more than that, it is an alive and breathing Incan town!! Then we start returning to Cusco, but there is one more Incan site expecting us on the way! The site is Chinchero where we enjoy our last guided tour. Later on, we get to Cusco to overnight and get ready for Inti Raymi - the Cusco festival of the Sun 2014!

The festivity in honor of the Sun god is celebrated in 3 historical scenes.

• Qorikancha (Golden Temple), it was the principal temple dedicated to the Sun in the Incan era.
• Plaza de Armas (called by the Incas "Auqaypata", the Warrior Square), which was a huge square during the Inca times where this ceremony was held on a ceremonial platform (“ushnu” in Quechua). From there, the Inca was carried on a golden throne leading a procession through the ancient city of Cusco up to Sacsaywaman in the hills above city.
• Saqsaywaman ("saqsay" and "waman" in Quechua mean "satiate hawk"), which is an impressive archaeological centre situated at 3,555 m.a.s.l., just a kilometre far away from the Inca neighbourhood of Qolqanpata.

Program of the Sacsaywaman´s scene:

• Ceremonial arrival
• Announcement of the 4 “Suyus” (or the four cardinal points): Qollasuyu, Kuntisuyu, Antisuyu and Chinchaysuyu
• Chicha Ritual
• Sacred Fire Ritual
• Lama (Andean cameloid) sacrifice and a sign reading (But no worries, there is not any lama killed in fact nowadays!
• Sankhu (sacred bread) Reading
• Q'ochurikuy (burst of popular exaltation)

Very early in the morning, we pick you up from your hotel and transfer you during a 1 hour and 40 minute ride to the railway station of Ollantaytambo in order to reach Machu Picchu by train. During this 1 hour and 45 minute ride, you experience spectacular changeable landscapes passing through lush fields and colourful villages placed on the foothill of the Andes. The highlight of the way are wonderful views of mountains and the marvellous Urubamba River that runs through the Sacred Valley of the Incas. In the end, you reach Aguas Calientes, a town just below Machu Picchu, where your Tour Guide welcomes you at the railway station to accompany you to a shuttle bus taking you up to the archaeological complex of Machu Picchu following a zigzag path for about 25 minutes. Once in Machu Pichu, your Guide introduces you to the most important attractions of this unique Incan site such as its main square, the Sun Temple, Intiwatana (Sun Clock), the Royal Rooms, the Temple of the Three Windows and the Royal Incas Cemetery. This guided tour takes about 2 and half an hour and then you are given time off to explore around the complex and to climb Huayna Picchu (or Machu Picchu Mountain) to take some amazing panoramic photos of Machu Picchu. So please do not forget your camera and enjoy the visit of the "One of the New 7 Wonders of the World"!!
When you have enjoyed the site enough, you take a shuttle bus down to Aguas Calientes where you can have lunch (not included in the package) in one of many lovely restaurants offering traditional Andean as well as international cuisine. You can also visit local hot springs (entrance fee of 10 Soles is not included in the package). In the afternoon, we take a train back to Ollantaytambo where our driver expects us in front of the railway station to transfer us back to Cusco.

In the morning, you are transfered back to the airport at Cusco in order to take a flight to Lima. There you are picked-up by our Representative and taken to your hotel. Afterwards, you are given time off to explore the city on your own and buy some souvenirs.

We can also offer you an optional City Tour of Lima that takes about 3 and half an hour and introduces you Lima in its 3 periods of time: pre-Colombian, Colonial and Modern. The start of the tour is at the archaeological site of the cultures Wari and Inca - “Huaca Pucllana”. After that, it continues to the impressive city centre visiting its colonial palaces, houses, churches and squares. Finally, it takes you to the modern city quarters such as the residential and financial zones of San Isidro and Miraflores with its unforgettable views of the Pacific Ocean!!
We can arrange you the City Tour upon request!

Transfer to the Lima´s airport for your international flight.

End of service!

• Welcome by our Representative at arrival;
• All airport transfers at arrival and departure;
• 2x domestic flight: Lima - Cusco - Lima;
• Accommodation: 3* hotel (6 nights);
• Professional bilingual Tour Guide as per the itinerary;
• All entrance fees (it means to the Inti Raymi festival in Peru including the huge fortress of Sacsayhuaman within the festival, Machu Picchu, Pisaq, Ollantaytambo and Chinchero);
• Meals: 6x breakfast, 1x buffet lunch (during the Sacred Valley Tour);
• Transport by a private van during the tours and local transfers;
• A tourist train round trip to Machu Picchu (Expedition Class);
• A shuttle bus round trips between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu.

• Pre & post tour accommodation,
• International flights nor airport departure taxes,
• Entrance fee to Huayna Picchu  ($80),
• Meals not mentioned,
• Travel insurance
• Tips and baggage portage (Please note: It is a custom to give tips in Peru; however, it is not obligatory.),
• Other extras not mentioned.

Meals budget: Please allow USD 50 - 100 for meals not included.

Single room: Please note that if you have booked the "Single Room" option for the Inti Raymi tour, you receive your own single room for all overnights.

Local flights: There are two local flights included in the cost of the tour. It is very important that we have got your passport details at the time of booking in order to process the air ticket! Internal flight tickets are issued locally and will be given to you prior to each flight departure!

All Tierras Vivas adventurous group tours are accompanied by a Tierras Vivas Tour Guide, a Representative or an expedition team. The aim of our Tour Guides is to take a hassle out of our customers’ trips and to help them to have the best trip possible. The Tour Guides provide information on places visited, offer suggestions of what to see and to do, recommend a good place to eat and introduce to his/her colleagues. The Guides have a broad general knowledge of each country visited during a tour, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local Tour Guides where we think that more specific knowledge could add more enjoyment to visited places.

Accommodation during the tour to Inti Raymi

These following hotels are used to accommodate you during your tour:

Accommodation in Lima:

Hotel Las Palmas

Address: Calle Bellavista N 320

Tel: (+51) 1 4446033

Accommodation in Cusco:

Hotel Prisma

Address: Calle Matara N 394, Cusco

Tel: (+51)  84 224466

During the tour, we request our hotels to get ready your rooms for time of your arrival, especially, if you arrive prior to standard check-in time. Nevertheless, this is not always possible. In this case, you just store your luggage in that hotel storage room and you can explore around your new destination in between.

Please note! If you have purchased pre or post trip accommodation, you might be asked to change your room during your trip.

A kind of luggage you need to take with depends on a kind of tour you plan to undertake, a part of the country you like to visit, a year season and a length of your trip. In general, you should pack as lightly as possible because you carry your own luggage during most of our tours (however, there are not long walking distances – up to 30 minutes). We recommend you to keep weight of your luggage under 10 kg (22 lb.).

Most of travelers use a suitcase. However, a big backpack would be more suitable. In any case, please do not forget a small rucksack that you will need for daily travels (to carry your bottled water, camera, snacks, etc.). It is better to avoid a wheeled luggage and use luggage with shoulder straps.

What Kind of Clothing to Pack to Peru

Clothing to take with you depends on a year season in Peru and a part of country you plan to visit.

When visiting coastline of the Northern Peru and surroundings of Lima, then you need to pack some light cloths (for example, shorts, skirts, dresses, T-shirts), flip-flops, sandals, a head cover as a protection against the Sun (a hat or a cap), sun protection cream, sunglasses, mosquitos repellent and swimsuit, of course.

If you plan to visit Peruvian mountains (Andean mountain range or Altiplano), then we recommend you to take some trousers suitable for hiking, shorts, T-shirts and trekking shoes for the days; and sweaters, fleeces, hats, scarves and warm jackets for the nights. You also should take a sun protection cream, sun glasses and in some cases, mosquito repellent (depending on a route chosen). It is very convenient to have a light rain-gear available in a daypack (e.g. a waterproof poncho or jacket and/or waterproof trousers) as weather changes quickly and rains can suddenly occur. For more details, please check the below link of “What to Bring on the Inti Raymi”.

What to Bring on the Inti Raymi

• Passport Original and copies
• Travel insurance(+ copies for a case of lost),
• Flight tickets,
• Cash in USD or credit cards,
• Our service voucher (sent by us to you),
• Entry visa and a proof of vaccination (if applicable),
• Day pack (to carry your personal items during daily travels),
• Rain gear (a rain-jacket and a waterproof trousers or a rain poncho - this can be purchased in Cusco),
• Resistible footwear, waterproof trekking shoes are recommended,
• Sandals (for a higher comfort while at a campsite),
• Warm clothes such as a jacket, a fleece (thermal clothing is also recommended for cold nights during camping),
• Hat or a cap (to protect you against the Sun, rain as well as cold),
• Sun cream or sun block,
• After-sun cream or hydrating cream for face and body,
• Insect repellent– recommended minimum is 20% DEET (please note that no malaria has been reported during this trip!),
• Camera and its charger/batteries (please note that batteries are consumed quickly under cold conditions),
• Flashlight/headlamp + batteries,
• Handkerchiefs and toilet paper,
• Small towel and toiletries,
• Sufficient reserve of underwear,
• Swimsuit (to visit the thermal baths of Aguas Calientes),
• Snacks (biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, muesli, etc.)
  Please note: we do provide a daily morning snack and our meal service is very complete and well supplied. The recommendation of taken own snack applies only for customers who like a specific snack that might not be in our menu.
• Bottled water for the first morning and a water bottle.
  Important: plastic bottles are not allowed on the Classic Inca Trail! Please bring a metallic (alternatively Nalgene) bottles!
• Optional: walking sticks (please note: rubber covers are required for the Inca Trail!!); you can also rent it from us,
• Please note: we provide with filtered boiled water during entire Inca Trail, but if you like to use water from streams along the trail, you need to take some water-purifying tablets with you.