EXPLORE THE LOST CITY OF MACHU PICCHU
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
Encounter the magnificent last refuge of the rebel Incas, the 15th-century citadel located in the Eastern Cordillera of southern Peru, also referred to as The Lost City. Perched above the Sacred Vally at 7,970-ft on the stunning mountain ridge that embraces the Urubamba Province, the majestic UNESCO World Heritage Site of Machu Picchu is a declared Peruvian Historic Sanctuary. This New Seven Wonders of the World wonder will leave all explorers dumbfounded with its breathtaking beauty…even the renowned American explorer, Hiram Bingham III, was astounded beyond words when he discovered the ruins in 1911. This “Old Peak” exudes a mysterious and magical vibe at first sight, captivating all your senses with its enchanting beauty and beckoning you to gaze for hours. Walk upon its mystical terrain, as you learn its ancient story and long history. Experience additional Inca sites scattered throughout the Sacred Valley; travel to bustling markets offering immersive cultural ambiance; view a local Incan weaving demonstration of the famous colorful handmade textiles; and throughout the adventure, taste and dine on traditional Peruvian cuisine from street vendors, to chef-prepared culinary delights. Spend ample time in Lima and Cusco, bustling cities with vibrant cultures and unique sights worthy of experiencing. Embrace all the extraordinary untamed natural wonders and cultural delights that this phenomenal region of the world has to offer!
This is a private THIRDHOME small-group tour with a maximum occupancy of 14 for the Machu Picchu Adventure. Our group size is kept small, allowing this Adventure to be a more engaging and rewarding experience for participants. On this active, immersive journey, travelers will connect with the culture of the extraordinary destinations of Peru in an authentic and more intimate way.
Who Can Participate
Exchange Club & Adventure Club Members, along with their family & friends ● Age requirement 10+
Activity Level
To experience this unique destination, you will need to be able to walk at least 30-60 minutes at a time over a variety of terrains ranging from sea level to high altitude elevation; including being physically able to hike, swim and snorkel. You can expect some longer guided days, balanced with free time to relax or set out on your own when possible. The touring days have pre-planned select included group activities in addition to occasional meals together as a group. Guests should bring adequate sun protection, appropriate layers for multiple climates, and sturdy walking shoes adequate for walking and climbing on uneven surfaces.
MACHU PICCHU HIGHLIGHTS
- Enjoy the City of the Kings, the Peruvian capital of Lima
- Journey through the Sacred Valley of the Incas, for a special lunch with stunning views
- Visit the Museum of Living Culture of Yucay to learn the customs of the local people
- Experience the Andean village of Willoq, home of the direct descendants of the Incas
- Explore the famous Ollantaytambo archaeological site and village with its Temple Fortress
- Travel by Peruvian Vistadome Rail on a scenic journey between Ollanta to Machu Picchu
- Marvel at the majestic UNESCO World Heritage Site of Machu Picchu
- Enjoy informative explorations of Machu Picchu with expert local guides
- Visit Aguas Calientes Village for a traditional locally prepared lunch
- Stay in the bustling cities of Cusco and Lima with included highlights
- Immerse yourself into the cultures of each city with guided walking tours
- Stroll the colorful marketplaces, bohemian art districts and visit exclusive neighborhoods
- Exclusive mountain retreat lunch at Villa Tipon located outside of Cusco
- Taste authentic Peruvian cuisine including memorable culinary experiences
All images courtesy of Larry Grossman – world adventurer, philanthropist and Thirdhome member
Itinerary
Collapse All*** OCTOBER 25: MACHU PICCHU ADVENTURE BEGINS ***
ARRIVAL INTO LIMA
For those who are joining only our Machu Picchu Adventure, your Adventure begins today. Travel today from your home airport into Lima…Welcome to Peru! Depending on your departure location, most flights from the USA will arrive into Lima in the early-to-late evening timeframe; it will not matter what time your arrival is, as you will be met and greeted at the Lima International Airport. Upon clearing Customs & Immigrations, you will be assisted with luggage, for a very short transfer to the Wyndham Hotel & Suites in the airport for overnight accommodations. (Meals on your own today)
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26 (2023)
DEPART LIMA TO CUSCO – JOURNEY INTO THE SACRED VALLEY
After breakfast, we will be assisted with luggage for a short transfer back to airport and we will check-in for our morning flight from Lima to Cusco. Immediately upon arrival into Cusco, we will journey with our local guide down in altitude to the Urabamba Valley, also referred to as the Sacred Valley of the Incas. We will stop to enjoy a wonderful local lunch at Altar Inka restaurant which has some of the best views of the Sacred Valley. We continue with stops for photos along the way to the Yucay Living Museum. We will learn about the ancient and current cultural customs of the Andean people such as the coca leaf, and their ceremony of payment to the earth, along with the salt of Maras as well as their typical dishes and drinks. We will then depart and arrive to check-into the charming hotel and relax for the rest of the afternoon to adjust to the altitude. Dinner is on your own this evening. Overnight at Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba Hotel in Superior Deluxe Room accommodations. (Breakfast and lunch included)
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27 (2023)
SACRED VALLEY EXPLORATION
Following breakfast, we will depart the hotel for a guided full-day exploration starting with the Willoq Community to meet villagers who are direct descendants of the Incas. Willoq is a small Andean village, whose quaint adobe houses are roofed with either straw or red tiles. It is located in the Patacancha Valley, 30 minutes by car from Ollantaytambo. All the villagers speak Quechua and dress in colorful red ponchos and shawls, woolen hats decorated with cheerful red ribbons, trousers, and rubber sandals. Their remarkable apparel is usually embellished with elaborate, darker colored patterns, which they can read like books and that are records of the most important aspects of this rich culture. Experiencing Willoq is a journey that steps back into the past some 800+ years, within a world governed by a concept of time very different from the one which holds way in this stress-filled age of ours. Today, these descendants of the Incas live in their traditional lands and are watched over by two sacred mountains (they call apus): Mount Veronica and Mount Helancoma. This will be an incredible and unique experience on this journey. We will be welcomed by leader of the community (or an Elder) and students. Visit the school and deliver school supplies which we will have previously purchased. Enjoy a lovely authentic Andean lunch especially prepared by our chef who assists the villagers in the cooking and preparation process for its cherished guests. Afterwards, we will continue to the famous Ollantaytambo archaeological site situated in a beautiful and tranquil village. Here we will view the spectacular and extensive Incan ruins, most of them enclosed within a temple fortress. The unfinished temple was begun by the Pachacuti emperor and contains some of the largest stones ever used by the Incan builders. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon, with the evening at your leisure to relax. Dinner is on you own. Overnight at Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba Hotel in Superior Deluxe Room accommodations. (Breakfast and lunch included)
IMPORTANT NOTE This evening you will need to pack a small bag for your rail journey tomorrow. Per the requirements for all PeruRail journeys, each passenger is allowed only 1 bag or backpack which must not exceed 11-pounds and/or 62 inches/157cm (length + height + width). Please be sure to pack light. Baggage that exceeds these measurements will not be allowed. Your additional luggage will be safely stored and will be reconnected with you later in our journey.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28 (2023)
DEPART SACRED VALLEY – TRAIN TO MACHU PICCHU
After breakfast this morning, we will depart the hotel for a short vehicle transfer to the Ollanta rail station to board the PeruRail Vistadome train to Machu Picchu. The Vistadome Valley service includes carriages with glass panoramic windows which enhance the impressive scenic view. During the journey which is 1.5 hours, guests onboard receive a light snack. When we arrive at Machu Picchu town we travel by shuttle bus upward the mountain and into the Machu Picchu Archaeological site. Here will we enjoy a wonderful traditional lunch at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge. In the afternoon we explore with our expert local guide the enigmatic complex of Machu Picchu, for approximately 3 hours. Our guide will lead the way through the site providing information on key areas of interest, including Intihuatana or Sun Dial, the Sacred Plaza and the Temple of the Sun. The story of Machu Picchu is very intriguing, filled with mystic wonder, legends and lore – it is still to this day unknown as to what the site exactly was in terms of its place in Inca life. Some scholars believe that Machu Picchu was a summer country resort for elite Incas. However, other theories affirm that Machu Picchu was one of the greatest ceremonial centers in the entire Inca Empire. In the late afternoon we return down the mountain by shuttle bus to our hotel where we have time to freshen up, and enjoy a fun Group Dinner. Overnight at Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel in Deluxe Junior Suite accommodations. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29 (2023)
EXPLORE MACHU PICCHU – JOURNEY TO CUSCO
After breakfast this morning, we will depart the hotel to return to the Incan ruins of Machu Picchu to discover what we did not get to see on another private guided tour. Afterwards, we will depart and return down the mountain to the village of Aguas Calientes for lunch in a local restaurant before boarding the Vistadome train bound for the Ollanta station. Our vehicle is waiting to pick us up at the rail station and transport us to Cusco for check-in to our hotel for the next two nights. Dinner is on our own tonight. Overnight at the Cusco Aranwa Boutique Hotel in Suite accommodations. (Breakfast and lunch included)
MONDAY, OCTOBER 30 (2023)
CUSCO’S CULTURE & ART SCENCE
Enjoy breakfast this morning before we discover the city of Cusco, the capital of the vast and impressive Inca Civilization. With our expert local guide we will explore the Qorikancha or Sun Temple, now known as Santo Domingo Church. The curved stonework of the temple is probably unequalled in the world which likely was covered with gold during the Inca period. Then, visit the impressive archaeological sites around the city: Saqsayhuaman, an Inca complex with huge stone constructions, where the Inti Raymi or Festival of the Sun is held every June. Sacsayhuaman has a great cosmic energy – that is why people think it was an astronomic observatory and an Inca oracle. We will continue onward to explore also Q’enqo, a place used for ceremonial purposes, fertility rites and celebrations of the solstice and equinox. Once back into the heart of the city, we will enjoy a stroll through the very colorful San Pedro market and finally proceed to San Blas, the picturesque Artisans’ Neighborhood of narrow and high streets, with its beautiful little plaza and unique workshops. Around noon we will journey a short distance into the countryside, to Villa Tipón, an exclusive retreat located just outside the city limits. This unique and beautiful Villa is set in the midst of the awe inspiring mountains with incredible gardens blooming with vividly colored flowers. Here we will enjoy a lovely lunch courtesy of the Bustamante family, whose family heritage and personal friendship with Thirdhome, makes this Adventure experience possible. We will depart by mid-afternoon and return to Cusco with the remainder of the day free to explore as you wish, or perhaps relax. This evening and dinner is on your own to perhaps dine at one of the local restaurants. Overnight at the Cusco Aranwa Boutique Hotel in Suite accommodations. (Breakfast and lunch included)
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31 (2023)
DEPART CUSCO – FLIGHT TO LIMA
After breakfast, depart hotel and transfer with our guide to the airport for our flight to Lima. We are met upon arrival in Lima and accompanied to the Swissotel, located in an upscale neighborhood of Lima and your home for the next two nights. Lunch is on your own with a little free time in the city. This late afternoon we will enjoy a memorable Peruvian culinary experience that will begin around 4:00pm and transport you into a tasteful paradise that will last approximately 5-hours. This culinary experience includes local chef prepared signature dishes and delights that include Seaside Pisco cocktails and fresh Peruvian cuisine at sunset. Taste traditionally prepared Peruvian dishes with a vibrant modern twist, while dining alongside the pre-Incan ruins of the Huaca Pucllana within a lush garden amid an eclectic mix of art and architecture. Afterwards we will take a starlit walk in bohemian Barranco, and be immersed within the romance and heartbeat of Lima. Overnight in Lima at the Swissotel in Executive Room accommodations. (Breakfast and dinner included)
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1 (2023)
LIMA’S CULTURE & CULINARY EXPERIENCE
After breakfast we will start our morning exploration with our guide to begin yet another 5-hour Peruvian culinary experience immersed with local culture. This second culinary Peruvian experience includes a more in-depth walking tour of Barranco (in the daytime), Lima’s bohemian art district. We will start with sipping freshly roasted organic Peruvian coffee, stroll through a colorful market for fresh tastings and local bites, gain amazing views of Miraflores, savor exclusive selections of Peru’s best dishes for a proper lunch and sip refreshing cocktails all within multiple neighborhoods…we will end with a sweet finale for a delightful dessert amid the pre-Incan ruins of the Huaca Pucllana. Late afternoon is at your leisure to do some shopping or return to the hotel to relax. Dinner on your own this evening. Overnight at Swissotel in Executive Room accommodations. (Breakfast and full-day culinary tastings along with lunch included)
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2 (2023)
DEPART LIMA LATE EVENING – RETURN HOME
After breakfast, the day is free up to the point of when your return international flight is scheduled to depart. You will be transferred to the airport for check-in of your flight back to the USA and/or your next destination onward. Note: Return air schedules vary with different airlines; therefore if you choose an overnight flight you may wish to have additional optional tours in Lima to visit museums or just relax and explore the city further on your own before your flight. Check-out at the Swissotel is required by no later than 11am (or we can also arrange a day-room rate for additional cost; luggage will be held in storage by the hotel bell-staff if you choose to check-out and have not arranged a hotel day-room extension. (Breakfast included)
ACCOMMODATIONS
Enjoy deluxe 4-star accommodations throughout the Adventure in the order of the itinerary nights, at the following properties:
- Wyndham Suites Airport (Lima)
- Inkaterra Hacienda Hotel Urubamba (Urubamba/Sacred Valley)
- Inkaterra Pueblo Hotel Machu Picchu (Machu Picchu)
- Aranwa Boutique Hotel Cusco (Cusco)
- Swissotel City Hotel (Lima)
What’s Included
- 8 nights accommodations in 4-star properties throughout group itinerary – 1 Night Lima, 2 Nights Urubamba/Sacred Valley, 1 Night Machu Picchu, 2 Nights Cusco, 2 Nights Lima
- Small-group deluxe bus transportation in each region of the itinerary
- Insider Expert Naturalist & Regional Guides throughout the itinerary
- 16 Group Meals including 8 breakfasts, 6 lunches
and 2 dinners - Insider expert tour guides throughout adventure itinerary
- All regional sightseeing experiences as noted per adventure itinerary
What’s not Included
- International Airfare – into Lima for arrival / departure from Lima
- Internal Domestic Flights required per adventure itinerary from Lima to Cusco, and Cusco to Lima (airfare is approximately $450 per person)
- Visas may be required for each destination based on traveler’s nationality (SEE BELOW)
- Meals “on your own” when not provided in the scheduled group itinerary
- Optional activities, spa treatments and hotel incidentals are on your own
- Premium Experiences offered are optional and at additional cost as noted
- Additional pre and post nights/extensions if required due to international flights
- “Cancel for Any Reason” travel insurance (please inquire for pricing)
VISA & PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS
- PERU – Please follow the guidelines on this direct link provided by the country of Peru, for U.S. Citizens – Currently, U.S. citizens may enter without a tourist visa, along with a valid passport. COVID entry requirements are also noted.
- PASSPORTS – All traveler passports MUST have validity of minimum 6 months or longer at the time travel occurs, otherwise the risk of denied travel could be experienced per airline carrier rules and country entry requirement mandates with Customs & Immigrations. We recommend that our members travel abroad with a photocopy of their passport and applicable visas. Your photocopy should be packed separately from your actual passport. We also recommend leaving a copy at home with your emergency contact or entrusted family/friend.
- PROOF OF RETURN OR ONWARD TICKET – Peru requires proof of onward ticket or return to your original destination or another destination outside of their country, to ensure you are not staying past the 90-days tourist time allowance.
ADVENTURE PRICING
Adventure pricing excludes “Not Included items as noted below in addition to the Galapagos Passion Yacht Extension
$4795 per person based on Double Occupancy
$2295 Add-on to the above pricing for Single Occupancy
DEPOSIT REQUIRED to Confirm: $1095 per person (refer to terms & conditions)
FINAL PAYMENT DUE: AUG 1st, 2023
ADVENTURE TERMS & CONDITIONS
Adventure is non-refundable (this applies to all deposits and final payments). This Adventure requires 10-14 people to operate at the price quoted; if less participants join this adventure than an increase in cost would be incurred, which THIRDHOME will advise.
THIRDHOME strongly recommends that all participants purchase travel insurance in order to participate in an Adventure. Insurance is required to be purchased at the time of deposit or by the date advised. THIRDHOME has partnered with USI Affinity Travel Insurance providing members full travel coverage with a discount – Click here to obtain a quote. Thirdhome Adventures reserves the right to modify or change itinerary accommodations and/or alter tour routing if conditions beyond their control require such alterations thereof due to unforeseen circumstances.
Any traveler that elects not to purchase travel insurance, agrees to release THIRDHOME and its tour operation partners from liability for any loss of funds incurred due to the cancellation of a specific THIRDHOME Adventure as a result of, but not limited to, an act of God, a failure to purchase travel insurance, the cessation of business with respect to a tour operator/ground operator partnered services, and.or the failure of a tour operator/ground operator to refund consumer deposits or payments following the cancellation of a THIRDHOME Adventure or a material failure to complete the operation of any THIRDHOME Adventure.
Click here to view the THIRDHOME Adventures Terms and Conditions
This Adventure is provided in partnership with Center for Conservation and Community