Holy Week in Cusco 6 days

According to your flight schedule, our team will welcome you at the airport and take you to your hotel in Cusco, where you will be greeted with a cup of the famous coca tea. Free afternoon to attend the traditional Señor de los Temblores procession (held in the main square called – Plaza de Armas). Holy Week is one of the most important celebrations in Cusco. In the afternoon, the Señor de los Temblores procession takes place (Patron Saint of Cusco), who’s its image is the most important in Cusco, which is why the entire population of Cusco gathers.

A very important element is the Flower of Ñucchu (Splendid Sage), used in the Inca period as an offering to the god Wiracocha. Nowadays, it is offered to the Señor de los Temblores

• Overnight: Hotel in Cusco

At the agreed-upon time, we will take a tour of the city of Cusco where you will visit various attractions. We will start with the cathedral, located in the Plaza de Armas, the main square of the imperial city that once housed the palace of the Inca Wiracocha. The cathedral has more than 300 paintings from the Cusco school. Then, we will visit Qoricancha, the first temple built by the Incas and considered the great temple of the sun. After visiting Qoricancha, we will leave the city to go to the Sacsayhuaman archaeological site, an impressive archaeological complex famous for its huge lithic blocks of more than 150 tons that was probably a sacred site.

Later, we will go to the archaeological site of Q’enqo. This site was dedicated to Pacha Mama (Mother Earth), where you can appreciate carved stone constructions. Then, we will visit Puka Pukara, which was possibly a large Inca fortress. Next, we will go to Tambo Machay, where we will see the sacred temple dedicated to the worship of water, which probably also had a function of purifying baths for the Inca rulers. After Tambomachay, we will visit the architectural complex of Pisaq, located on top of a mountain. This wonderful place is formed by groups of terraces and architectural structures scattered on the hills and also on top of the mountain. Pisaq is one of the most beautiful monumental centers in the valley because it combines the landscape with its impeccable constructions. Afterward, we will return to the city of Cusco, where we will drop you off at the chosen hotel.

• Overnight: Hotel in Cusco

On this day, you will get to know the wonderful Sacred Valley of the Incas in a special way because we will also visit Moray and the Maras Salt Mines. We will start the day by visiting the picturesque town of Chinchero, where the remains of the royal estate of Tupac Inca Yupanqui are located. You can admire the preserved Inca walls in the main square. Next, we will visit Moray, an incredible Inca archaeological complex formed by overlapping circular terraces that form a large agricultural experimentation laboratory reproducing the climatic conditions of different ecological zones of the empire. After a brief visit to the town of Maras, we will continue to the famous Salinas, composed of more than 3,000 wells crossed by a stream of salty water that nourishes them, and with the action of intense sun, coarse salt crystals sprout, which are later collected. We will learn about the production and extraction processes of the pink salt from Maras, known worldwide for its medicinal properties. We will pass through Urubamba, where we will take a break for lunch. We will taste typical Peruvian cuisine with a good variety of dishes, including salads, soups, hot dishes, the famous ceviche, and delicious desserts. After lunch, we will visit the architectural complex of Ollantaytambo, a living Inca town built to guard the entrance to this part of the valley and protect it from possible invaders. We will have the opportunity to walk through its streets and get a clearer idea of how this military, religious, and cultural center was during the Inca Empire. After the visit, we will board the train to Aguas Calientes. Upon arrival, the hotel representative will take you to your hotel.

IMPORTANT TIPS: After a good breakfast accompanied by coca tea, we recommend that you only take a small backpack for the overnight stay in Aguas Calientes (money, light clothing, documents, camera, and personal hygiene products). This way, your trip will be more comfortable and relaxed. You can leave the rest of your luggage in the hotel’s storage of Cusco.

After visiting Ollantaytambo, there will be free time until the departure time of the train. During this time, you can take the opportunity to explore the streets of the town and interact with the local residents.

If you enjoy coffee, don’t miss the opportunity to try one of the best coffees in the world, produced in the jungle of Quillabamba, which can be found in various establishments in Ollantaytambo.

• Overnight: Hotel in Aguas Calientes

In the morning, at the scheduled time, our guide will pick you up at your hotel to go to the bus station where you will climb 400m along a winding path for 20 minutes to reach the incredible wonder of the world, “The Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu”, also known as “The Lost City of the Incas”. Upon arriving at the Machu Picchu citadel with our guide, we will pass through the entrance and start the tour of the entire citadel. For about 2:30 hours, we will visit the main places of Machu Picchu.

After finishing the guided tour, we will return to the town of Aguas Calientes in the afternoon, where you will have free time to enjoy your lunch at one of the many restaurants or, if you prefer, at the Sanctuary Lodge (lunch at your own expense).

After lunch, we will take the train back to Ollantaytambo (depending on the availability of the train departure time). The return will follow the same route as the outbound journey. Upon arriving in Ollantaytambo, our driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel in Cusco.

JUST TO CONSIDER

Since January 1, 2019, the rules for entering Machu Picchu have changed. Now the time limit for the visit is 4 hours with entrance shifts every hour. All our passengers have a guided visit in the 8 am shift, as your overnight stay will be in Aguas Calientes.

The visit to the Machu Picchu citadel is done only in a one-way direction. After passing through a place, you cannot return. Additionally, you cannot re-enter the citadel. If we leave the citadel, we cannot return. Re-entry is only possible when the ticket includes Machu Picchu Mountain.

IMPORTANT TIPS

Before climbing Machu Picchu, we suggest leaving your backpack in the storage of your hotel in Aguas Calientes and only taking your Machu Picchu ticket, passport, money, hat, repellent, and sunscreen. When you return to Aguas Calientes, you can pick up your backpack to return to Cusco.

When you return to Aguas Calientes, if time allows, we recommend visiting the Chávez Ballón site museum. The museum opens at 12 pm, and admission is free. At the entrance, you need to present your passport or valid identification.

We need to consider that every year, you will need to stand in line to take the Aguas Calientes-Machu Picchu and Machu Picchu-Aguas Calientes buses, as well as to take the train back to Cusco. Our guide will help you with recommendations to manage your time in the best way.

FOR A MORE AMAZING VISIT TO MACHU PICCHU

• Request a private guide for Machu Picchu
• Request lunch at one of the best restaurants near the Machu Picchu archaeological complex, Sanctuary Lodge. Ask one of our consultants to make the purchase. It’s very easy (USD45.00 per person).
• Overnight: Hotel in Cusco

On this day, we will have an exclusive adventure. We will visit the picturesque and little-explored Southern Valley of Cusco. We will start the tour in the south of Cusco, where we will visit the impressive archaeological complex of Tipón, an important center of Inca water worship. One of the elements of nature considered sacred in the Andean vision, which circulates through channels passing through terraces and waterfalls. Then we will visit the archaeological complex of Pikillacta, a Huari urban center belonging to the Pre-Inca period. You will be able to observe constructions very different from the Incas. Finally, we will visit the village of Andahuaylillas, where we will see its remarkable and fantastic 16th-century church known as the Sistine Chapel of the Americas due to the large number of paintings on its walls and ceiling. It has an organ decorated with angels and cherubs and prodigious murals by the famous artist Tadeo Escalante. Before the return, we will have time for a brief optional visit to the Museum of Sacred Stones (optional, not included in the package). To finish the tour, we will return to Cusco, where we will drop you off at your hotel.

HOLY FRIDAY

holy Friday is memorable for the people of Cusco: It is customary on this day to fast until 3 p.m. (the time when Christ died). Later in the day, families usually eat the 12 dishes (mainly soup, fish, wheat, “olluco” (a type of tuber), corn, empanadas, “tamales” (made of corn and chicken), cakes, etc.).

In the afternoon, the traditional procession of the Sorrowful Virgin and the Holy Sepulcher (Christ in his coffin) is held in all the churches of Cusco.

• Overnight: Hotel in Cusco

According to your flight schedule, we will provide the transfer from your hotel to Cusco Airport. End of our services.

The itinerary combines time in Cusco during Semana Santa with guided excursions to Cusco and Pisac, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, and the South Valley. You will spend four nights in Cusco and one in Aguas Calientes, with airport transfers at the beginning and end of the trip.

The itinerary is designed to begin on Holy Monday, with free time after your airport transfer to attend the procession. Your arrival time determines how much of the celebration you can see. Contact our team before booking flights so we can check your proposed arrival against the confirmed procession schedule.

The published itinerary provides free time to attend independently; it does not list a guided procession visit or reserved viewing area. Ask our team for advice on reaching the celebration from your hotel and coordinating your arrival. Any additional guiding arrangements should be confirmed separately.

The itinerary can also appeal to travelers interested in local culture, architecture, and history. Religious celebrations form part of the experience alongside archaeological visits. When attending services or processions, allow space for worshippers and follow any instructions concerning access, photography, and respectful behavior.

Day two combines the Cathedral, Qoricancha, Sacsayhuamán, Q’enqo, Puka Pukara, Tambomachay, and Pisac in an approximately eight-hour excursion. Day three follows a different route through Chinchero, Maras, Moray, the salt pans, Urubamba, and Ollantaytambo. After that excursion, you will continue by train to Aguas Calientes.

You will stay in Aguas Calientes on the third night, then take the shuttle bus to Machu Picchu the following morning. The guided visit is planned for approximately two and a half hours, following the route assigned to your entrance ticket. Afterward, you will return to Cusco by train and road. A private guide is listed as an optional upgrade.

The South Valley adds places from different historical periods to your trip. At Tipón, you will see terraces and water channels associated with Inca engineering. Pikillacta introduces an earlier settlement with a different layout and construction style, while Andahuaylillas Church brings the focus to colonial religious art. The excursion is scheduled for approximately five hours on Good Friday.

The itinerary describes these as local Holy Week customs, but it does not list a guided Good Friday procession visit or a twelve-dish meal among the included services. The scheduled activity that day is the South Valley excursion. If either tradition is a priority for your visit, ask our team what can be arranged around the tour schedule.

This is a sightseeing itinerary rather than a trekking trip, but the archaeological visits involve walking, steps, and uneven ground. Days two and three also combine several stops before returning to your hotel or continuing by train. Tell our team about mobility concerns before booking so we can explain the terrain and pace of each excursion.

The package includes five hotel nights with breakfast, lunch during the Sacred Valley excursion, scheduled tour transportation, and airport transfers in Cusco. The Machu Picchu excursion includes train travel, shuttle buses, an entrance ticket, guiding, and the return transfer to Cusco. Airfare and other meals are excluded unless specifically stated in your booking.