Gay Machu Picchu Luxury Tour

Days 1-2: Lima

There are no activities scheduled on the arrival day. So you can schedule your flights to arrive at any time on Day 1. When you arrive, we will provide a transfer to the hotel, where rooms have been reserved starting from the evening of Day 1. On Day 2, we enjoy a full-day tour of Lima including the Main Square, the Cathedral of Lima, San Francisco Convent, and the exteriors of the Government Palace. Then after lunch, we will visit the Larco Museum showcasing Peru’s heritage. The museum also contains a famous collection of erotic ceramic tomb art, that gives insights into various aspects of pre-Columbian sexuality. This evening, enjoy dinner at the Huaca Pucllana Restaurant overlooking a pre-Incan site.

Days 3-4: Lima to Cusco – Sacred Valley

In the morning, we will transfer from our Lima hotel to the airport for the scenic one-hour flight over the Andes to Cusco.

Upon arrival at the Cusco Airport, we will enjoy our private air-conditioned ride into the Sacred Valley. We will drive over the Pampa de Anta Pass, then descend a steep mountain road into the Sacred Valley of the Incas. This valley is one of the loveliest valleys on earth. So be on the lookout for llamas, women dressed in colorful clothing, and stunning mountain vistas as we make our way through the valley. On the way to our hotel, we will stop and spend some time at Pisac, a beautiful place where Incan and Colonial influences have reached a perfect balance. This quaint little town is famous for its artisan markets which are full of extraordinarily fine jewelry and ceramic and textile craftwork. We will arrive at the hotel mid-afternoon and enjoy time on our own until dinner.

On our second day, we will enjoy the area of Moray, which showcases Incan agriculture. The journey will continue to the Salt Pans of Maras, a still-operating salt mine, in use since Incan times. Today, lunch will be enjoyed at a private hacienda. Next, we will visit the Incan ruins at Ollantaytambo; once guarded by a massive fortress. A day in this beautiful and fertile valley will provide us with a restful interlude between our busy days of sightseeing.

Days 5-6: Gay Machu Picchu

After breakfast, we will drive to the train station where we will board and head to gay Machu Picchu. Riding along the Urubamba River is an exciting and visually stunning experience. We will pass through narrow gorges and see lovely terraced fields verdant with vegetation high up in the mountains. Upon our arrival, we will make our way, via bus, to the entrance gate of the Machu Picchu citadel.

Here is a complete Inca city high on a mountain saddle, sometimes hidden in a forest of clouds. Its steeply terraced slopes fall away to the river, which rushes through a great hairpin bend 1,200 feet below. The Spaniards supposedly never found it, and for centuries it remained unknown, untouched, and overgrown with vegetation. In 1911, Dr. Hiram Bingham rediscovered it and brought it to the world’s attention. Since then, Machu Picchu has attracted travelers, explorers, and, archeologists. Much has been written and revealed about this great city, but much is still debated and unknown.

We will have plenty of time to contemplate the mystery of this fascinating site. We will walk among the ancient ruins of staircases, temples, and a sundial.

Dawn is an incredible sight at Machu Picchu. As the clouds part and the sun appears over the tops of the snow-capped Andean peaks, the light begins to color the ancient stones. Shadows and light transform the ancient city. If you wish, you can hike to the top of Huayna Picchu, a challenging climb about an hour and a half long(not recommended when wet), and return to the hotel in time for lunch.

Later today, we will be transferred to the railroad station in the valley, for our return trip to Cusco. You have the option to upgrade to the Hiram Bingham train and enjoy the approximately four-hour journey in elegance.

Days 7-8: Cusco

This morning we will enjoy time exploring the Imperial City by strolling through the Main Square. Here we will discover the Cathedral and admire its exquisite vestibules and paintings from the Cusco School of the 17th and 18th centuries. We will continue on to one of the most impressive buildings of Incan Cusco, Qoricancha(the Golden Temple). This temple was dedicated to the worship of the Sun God, whose interior walls were said to have been covered in gold. Our lunch today will be a lovely picnic lunch at Sacsayhuaman.

On our second day here, we will set out on a day trip to see the South Valley, first heading to Tipon, an amazing archaeological complex fo elevated platforms and terraces. Spring waters still flow through the sites’ impressive system of fountains and aqueducts. Next, we will continue on and make our way across the stunning Andean landscapes and remote villages until we reach the pre-Incan citadel of Pikillacta. This impressive site is nearly 120 acres! Our journey will continue on to Andahuaylillas, home to San Pedro Apostol, one of the most outstanding churches in the Andes. Known as the Sistine Chapel of Peru, with the dazzling beauty of its splendid decorated murals and frescoes.

Day 9: Departure

In the middle of the day, we will transfer from our hotel to the airport for the one-hour flight to Lima. Travelers leaving in the late evening can make arrangements for a day room at a hotel by Lima Airport, sightseeing, or last-minute shopping. Individual extensions to an Amazon eco-lodge or to a private island in Lake Titicaca may also be available following our tour. Please contact us if you would like to extend your Peruvian holiday.