Peru | Post-trip Extension in Machu Picchu with Mary Washington Alumni on the Road

We return to the airport for our flight to Lima. Upon arrival in Lima, proceed through customs and immigration before exiting the secured area of the airport. Our Peru guide will be waiting outside the exit door. Transfer to the hotel and check in.

This morning after breakfast, gather for a short orientation. Then, explore the colonial center of Lima with a visit to the Plaza de Armas and the Monastery of San Francisco, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Head to the airport for an afternoon flight to Cusco. Please note lunch is on your own today at the airport. Upon arrival, we travel to the Sacred Valley and check in at the hotel. Have time to rest to acclimate to the altitude change before dinner at the hotel.

Today explore the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Drive to Chincheros to visit a local weaving community and learn which
ancient traditions are still practiced by modern-day descendants of the Incas. Then continue to the Moray archaeological site to discover the agricultural genius of the Inca people. Finally, stop at the salt mines of Maras before a traditional lunch
with members of a local family. End the day with an ancient Pachamama ceremony led by a shaman, and then return to the Sacred Valley. Dinner will be on your own to explore the local cuisine.

After breakfast, board the train to Aguas Calientes. Upon arrival, take the bus to the top of the mountain for our guided tour of the ruins at Machu Picchu. The guided tour is about two hours and you have the rest of the day to enjoy this magical place on your own. Machu Picchu, known as "The Lost City of the Incas," is probably the best known yet least understood of all Incan sites. The quality of the stonework and the abundance of ornamental sites indicate that Machu Picchu must have been an important ceremonial center, but knowledge of the city’s history has been lost over time. Upon arrival, check in at the hotel - one of the top 25 hotels in South America, as rated by readers of Condé Nast Traveler - and settle into your room. Dinner at the hotel.

This morning, return to the ruins at 6 am for a second visit. Then, take the train back to Ollantaytambo with a boxed lunch and depart to the archaeological site of Sacsayhuamán, an impressive citadel surrounded by beautiful landscapes in complete communion with nature. This evening, gather for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

This morning, take a walk to explore Cusco, including the Incan temple of Coricancha and the Cathedral of Cusco. After lunch, enjoy the early afternoon at leisure to explore Cusco’s city center. Later, transfer to the airport and board your flight to Lima and your connecting flight(s) home.

Arrive home following your overnight flight.