Sacred Valley Acclimatization Day Tour
Cusco, Peru
Trip Highlights
- Amazing Inca & Historic Sites
- Perfect Acclimatization Activities
- Full Day of Activities
- Pick-up/Drop-off in Cusco
- Expert Knowledgeable Guides
- Comfortable Transportation
- Snacks, Lunch & Drinking Water Included
Description
This add-on acclimatization cultural Peru tour explores historic and cultural areas of the Sacred Valley just north of Cusco, Peru. A mixture of stops at culturally significant locations and ancient Inca ruins allows us to dive into this region’s most unique sites and educate ourselves with it’s fascinating history. This all-inclusive tour is a great way to spend an acclimatization day experiencing the intriguing culture of Peru, enjoying a wonderful Peruvian lunch prepared by our outdoor chef with outstanding scenery, and exploring ancient Inca ruins.
Our tour will start with our expert certified guide picking you up from your hotel in Cusco and heading out of the city north towards the Sacred Valley. Our first stop of the day will take us to the village of Chinchero, where we will visit a cooperative weaving center. The Chincherinas (local women) will show us the process of weaving beautiful blankets, making clothes and the natural process to dye the materials used in these textiles. This is a great place to learn, shop for souvenirs and support these extremely talented women. We also get the chance here to get to know and photograph some of Peru’s most famous and loved domesticated animals; llamas, alpacas and cuys!
Subsequently, we will head towards the Maras salt mines or Salineras that date back over 2,000 years with over 3,000 salt pools carved into the mountain side. After visiting both of these unique cultural and historic sites, we will go to an amazing lunch spot with phenomenal mountain views. Here we’ll meet our professional chef for lunch. We get to enjoy the cuisine Peru is so famous for while being in a stunningly beautiful outdoor setting. The set-up will be similar to what you will experience during our treks with a dining tent and wait staff.
After lunch we will move on to the fascinating terraces of Moray, once used for agricultural experimentation by the Incas. These ruins are a truly fascinating representation of the Inca culture and your guide will bring the history and significance of this area alive with expert in depth interpretation and information. Our day ends with a scenic drive back to the heart of the Inca Empire, Cusco.
Please Note: This day tour is included with our “Extended Package” Inca Trail and Salkantay itineraries.
$345 Per Person
DIFFICULTY LEVEL 1
Scale of 1-5. 1 is least difficult; 5 is most difficult
Hiking Distances:
Up to 4 mi
Backpack Weight:
8-12 lbs
Terrain:
Not Rugged
Max Daily Elev. ↑↓:
Up to 250 ft
Heights Exposure:
None
PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THIS TRIP
- Walking for 3-4 hours
SOLITUDE LEVEL 1
- 1 least solitude, 5 most solitudeWe rate this Peru acclimatization activity a solitude 1. You can expect to be around other people the entire time.
Travel to and from Cusco are the guest’s responsibility. Multiple airlines operate flights into Cusco, and nearly all connect through Lima. You can reach Lima from many U.S. and European international airports. Some of the primary U.S. departure cities include Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Atlanta, Washington D.C., Minneapolis, Chicago, New Orleans, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, and Los Angeles. The duration of nonstop flights to Lima is 5-9 hours. The duration of flights from Lima to Cusco is 80 minutes.
Learn About Our Private Trips
View Private TripsRates
Rates for our Acclimatization Day Tours are based on whether you join us for ONE or TWO Acclimatization Day Tour(s) & if you are adding tour(s) onto another multi-day trip or as a standalone tour:
ONE Acclimatization Tour: $345 Per Person (STANDALONE)
TWO Acclimatization Tour: $645 Per Person (STANDALONE)
**booking other Peru day hikes (Rainbow Mountain & Lake Humantay) does not adjust Acclimatization Day Tour rates.
***prices do not include guide gratuity (recommended 10-20%)
TRIP DATES & BOOKING
This tour is booked on a custom basis for private groups so does not have set dates (requested dates are almost always available). Give us a call at 800-715-HIKE (4453) to schedule your hike!
Don't see your dates? Call us! We may be able to add new trip dates.
800-715-HIKE (4453)Trip Details
What's Included
- Access to our Adventure Consultant team 7 days a week
- A professional, medically trained, and friendly local Wildland guide knowledgeable in the cultural history of the sites you visit to provide an overall standard of excellence in service quality.
- Transportation from/to your Cusco hotel in safe comfortable vehicles
- Lunch prepared by our professional chef and snacks
- Drinking water for the duration of the tour
- All entrance fees to sites visited during tour
What's Not Included
- Day pack for personal items
- Sunglasses, sunscreen & hat
- Camera
- Waterproof rain jacket or poncho
- Warm layers for cooler temperatures
- Gratuity for your guide(s) and driver (industry recommendation is 10-20% of total trip cost; USD is recommended.)
Food: What to Expect
This add-on acclimatization cultural tour features a hot lunch of Peruvian cuisine prepared by our professional chef. Some staples you may find are potatoes (papas), quinoa, rice, beans, meat, fish, various grains and vegetables. In addition, we will provide you with an assortment of local snacks to eat at your own discretion during the tour.
We can often accommodate vegan, vegetarian, kosher and non-gluten diets and make adjustments for food allergies. These and other special dietary requests may require an additional fee, and in some countries may be more difficult to accommodate than others. Please inquire with us for more information about the specific trip you’re interested in.
Trip Logistics
Where Do We Meet?
Your guide will meet you at your hotel in Cusco at 7:30 AM the morning of your tour. The tour commonly ends between 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM at your hotel in Cusco.
Safety Precautions
Your safety is our top priority. Our hiking tours are led by professional hiking guides, all of whom are wilderness-certified first responders or EMT’s, each with years of guiding and wilderness experience. Guides adhere to standardized risk management protocols in case of any potential or actual incident, and all tours carry an emergency communication device and comprehensive first-aid kit. Additionally we have a “24/7” system through which guides or guests can reach Wildland support personnel at any time.
In the interest of your safety, it’s important to refer to the Center for Disease Control website for up-to-date recommendations on immunizations before your trip.
Guides
Our approach to international travel is to combine the best of two worlds: the dialed-in details, professionalism and consistency Wildland trips are known for; and the cultural immersion and intimate regional knowledge that only locals can provide. To excel with this approach, we vet and hire the best local guides, welcome them into the Wildland family and train them to meet our standard of excellence with every aspect of a trip. But along with managing logistics and safety, your guides will teach you about the area’s history and culture, and provide a level of familiarity and intimate detail only locals can.
Check out our Meet Our Team page for staff bios.
Age Restrictions
Age restrictions on this trip are as follows:
- 12 and older to join daily departures (mixed groups)
- 5 and older to join private tours, with final approval on a case by case basis
Weather in Peru
Peru is home to part of the Amazon Rainforest as well as the towering Andes Mountains. Machu Picchu is at an elevation of 7,710 feet (2,350 meters), but most of our treks in the region reach elevations well above 10,000 feet, some reaching nearly 17,000 feet. Because of the significant elevation changes and alpine hiking, the temperatures and weather can also vary widely. At elevations above 10,000 feet you can expect cold temperatures.
The average temperatures and precipitation in the Machu Picchu region are:
| Month | Hi | Low | Precip |
| March | 70° F | 45° F | 11 days |
| April | 72° F | 40° F | 8 days |
| May | 70° F | 36° F | 3 days |
| June | 70° F | 34° F | 2 days |
| July | 70° F | 30° F | 2 days |
| August | 70° F | 34° F | 2 days |
| September | 72° F | 40° F | 7 days |
| October | 72° F | 43° F | 8 days |
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