5-Nights Machu Picchu & the Sacred Valley

Natural Habitat Adventures

An In-Depth Journey into the Ancient Wonders of the Inca Civilization

igh in the Peruvian Andes, the ruins of Machu Picchu rest amid knife-edged ridges and vertical slopes draped in emerald jungle. Hidden to Western explorers until 1911, when a Quechua guide led Yale historian Hiram Bingham to the site, the marvelous Inca city was mesmerizing, even in its dereliction. Built on a granite mountaintop close to the sun, its intricate architecture reveals the ingenuity of its 15th-century designers. Massive blocks of stone were cut to fit together so precisely that no mortar was necessary. The site also reflects the Incas' extraordinary knowledge of astronomy, with many elements aligning with heavenly events such as the solstice sunrise. Far below the ruins, the Urubamba River rushes through a green gorge into the Sacred Valley. Our journey into the mysteries of Inca civilization also includes Cusco, once the gold-laden capital of the empire.

Vacation Inclusions

• Accommodations, services of Nat Hab's professional Expedition Leader(s)
• Round-trip train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes
• All meals from breakfast on Day 2 through lunch on final day (except dinner on Day 2)
• Some gratuities
• Airport transfers on Day 1 and final day
• All activities and entrance fees
• All taxes, permits and service fees.

Featured Destinations

Cuzco Cuzco The Cuzco (Cusco) region of Peru combines Inca legacy with Spanish colonial architecture in an atmosphere at once provincial and sublime. The chaotic marketplaces where campesinos barter grain or potatoes for multi-colored fabric belie the mute spirituality of the Lost Cities, where Inca stonework conveys order and balance. Such diversity enhances this inspiring nine-day adventure. The blue sky radiates with an intensity achieved only at high altitudes (the city of Cuzco lies 11,150 feet above sea level), while the landscape offers its unique pattern of exacting agricultural grids and tangled jungle masses.	Destination Guide
Machu Picchu Machu Picchu Machu Picchu is a fortress city of the ancient Incas, in a high saddle between two peaks 50 miles NW of Cuzco, Peru. The extraordinary pre-Columbian ruin consists of five sq. miles of terraced stonework link by 3,000 steps; it was virtually intact when discovered by Hiram Bibghan in 1911.	Destination Guide
Sacred Valley Sacred Valley The Urubamba valley is also named the Sacred Valley. It begins in the Urubamba's village and continues to Macchu Picchu.
Lima Lima Lima, "the City of the Kings," became the effective capital of the Viceroyalty of Peru, established 1560. Today, a visit to Lima may serve as a unique Peruvian experience that offers a glimpse into the Andean world, Spanish tradition and the country's modern aspect. Visit handsome old buildings and baroque churches that testify to the city's religious background and the Plaza de Armas, shared by the realms of the Catholic church, municipality and national government. The pre-Inca ruins of Pachacamac lie a short distance south of the city. Once a ceremonial site, Pachacamac has been the most important religious center of the Andean world since before the age of Christ. Stop and admire The Temple of the Sun and the Moon, Lima's outstanding museums, and Machu Picchu - a "Jewel in the Mist."	Destination Guide

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