Why To Choose Us   Treks   Tours   Book A Trip   What to Bring   Accomodations	INCA CULTURE TOUR 45 days / 44 nights (CODE) If you are truly drawn to the mystic beauty of the Andes and ancient Peruvian culture, this is your chance to immerse yourself, discovering the wealth of architecture, in costumes, religion and philosophy, absorbing the energy of one of the greatest spiritual centers of the world. This is one of our special and unique new programs for those who want to need a deep experience of Peru. Visit Cusco and the Sacred Valley of the Incas, experiencing firsthand the Andean lifestyle and sharing activities in the Andean countryside with native Quechua speaking people. You will have the chance to live with locals and hear their stories, listening to the heart beat of the land. The peoples' generosity, the vibrant colours of their clothes, their sincere deep love for Pachamama, the Apus, spirits of the mountain and all nature, will fill your soul with living Andean energies. You'll be assisted by a professional native Quechua and English speaking tour guide. In modern cities people are living immersed in a way of life where the most important personal values have been lost. Return to a life that sees beyond the material. IMPORTANT: This program is especially for groups, and the price is calculated considering a minimum of 5 participants. Smaller groups will be considered but this may affect the price [Day 1]: Arrive in Lima - Check in to your hotel. [Day 2]: Fly to Cusco - We will meet you in the airport and transfer you to the hotel. After lunch you will have a walking tour in Cusco visiting the important sites and observing some handicraft workshops. [Day 3]: Exploring Cusco - Quechua speaking descendents of the Incas fill the streets and markets, and majestic stone buildings invite us to explore the mysteries of the Incas' navel city, visiting the most important archaeological sites, including Saqsaywaman, Qenqo, Tambomachay, Pucapucara, and the temple of the Moon. [Day 4]: Journey to Urubamba - We will go by bus about an hour and a half to our Apuwasy family house in Urubamba. Urubamba can be considered the capital of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, situated at 2865 m. (9540 ft.) Nestled in the midst of spectacular mountains and green vegetation, its beauty and majsty remains to this day, leaving visitors in awe and touching the soul. One Quechua legend says that Urubamba is the earthly mirror of the celestial river, the Milky Way, and that water flows from one into the other. There are many reasons to choose the city as a base from which to explore other parts of Cusco and the Sacred Valley. [Day 5]: Pisaq - In the morning we visit Pisaq, where there is a nice native market. Here it is still possible to observe the bartering of goods, such as fruits, coca leaves, potatoes, broad beans, and chuño. In the afternoon, we'll have a Spanish lesson. To know at least some basic things in Spanish is necessary for better understanding of Peru and its people, as well as for practical reasons. They'll be conducted by native professional teachers, assisted by your guide. [Day 6]: Ollantaytambo - We will have a full day excursion to this living Inca town It is a lovely place; green and relaxed, enclosed by steep hills that hide some of the most impressive ancient archaeology in the valley. It is still occupied by Inca descendants. [Day 7]: At Home - You'll have the morning free to do as you wish. In the afternoon we'll have another Spanish lesson. [Day 8]: School Visit - We start our morning by visiting a small local school to share time with the kids in activities like football. In the afternoon we'll have a Spanish lesson. [Day 9-10]: Family Home Visit - We will take you to the homes of local families, where we will show you about the daily activities such as farming and feeding the animals (guinea pigs, donkeys, llamas, ducks, Chickens, etc) and sharing their style of life with the natives. If you want you can learn a bit of Quechua - he language of the Incas. But your Peru Alive guide will always be available to assist you with any special questions. [Day 11]: Prepare to Trek - Today we'll make all of the necessary arrangements for our trek. [Day 12-20]: Vilcabamba Trek - (see our Vilcabamba Trek on the treks page). [Day 21]: Echarate - Our Vilcabamba trek ends at Echarate, a small village situated at 1360 m. (4,000 ft). It is part of the entrance to the jungle inhabited by Campesinos who work the land, cultivating products such as: coca leaves, coffee beans, cocoa, maize, tropical fruits, yuca, achira, etc. After that, you'll have some free time. [Day 22-23]: Harvesting - We will go to the Laderusayuc family home, which is surrounded by fields where we will see the harvesting of products like coca, coffee, cocoa, fruits, etc. At same time we'll be learning about the cultivation techniques of the different plants and crops, sharing the experience with local farmers and enjoying the typical foods and fruits of the region after picking some ourselves. [Day 24]: Journey to Urubamba - After breakfast we will take a bus to Quillabamba (40 mins. drive), then head for our home in Urubamba (about 6 Hours). [Day 25-27]: Workshop Visit - The Incas were very skilled in handicrafts, and they had a wide variety of techniques which are still alive and practiced in the Sacred Valley. Now we have the chance to learn and practice some Inca handicrafts, while visiting local workshops. Textiles: The Acllas wove the finest fabric for the Incas, called Awaska, from Alpaca wool, vicuña wool, etc; and even used bat skin. We will see how many of these techniques are still in use. Ceramics: The Incas made a wide variety of pottery, vessels for storage and transport of food, Chicha, Maize and Chuño. People still use them today. Metalwork: The ancient Peruvians were masters in metalwork. Melting down the Inca metalwork is one of the Spaniards' greatest crimes, most of it reduced from dazzlingly worked artifacts to lump gold and silver. In the Sacred Valley there are metalworkers still, and they can show you these techniques. [Day 28]: Travel to Macchu Picchu - The morning will be yours to do as you wish. In the afternoon, we take a train for about 2 hours to Macchu Picchu and spend the night there in a hotel. [Day 29]: Machu Picchu - We'll tour the amazing ruins then return by train to home. [Day 30-31]: Family Time - This is our second experience of the typical Peruvian family's lifestyle. [Day 32]: Maras Moray - This is a unique Inca agricultural investigation center in the region With irrigated farming terraces. it was an important center of domestication, acclimatization and hybridization of wild vegetable species that were adapted for human consumption. [Day 33-36]: Huaran Cuncany Lares Trek - This is a small village situated at 2560 m (8,500 ft), where we will relax, enjoying the natural medicinal hot spring. The next day we return home by bus. (See our Huaran Cuncany Lares trek program) [Day 37]: Shamanic Healing - The Incas worshipped several Gods. The main god was Apu Teqsi Wiraqocha (the creator). One of the major deities was the female Pachamama (the Earth mother). They also worshipped the Apus. Willac Uma was considered the most powerful priest who lived in the center of the empire Cusco, and Qoricancha was the center of the center. Still we have the descendants of those priests but they are now called: Shaman, Qawaq, Yachaq, Pacqo, Yatiry, Chiripigary, Qalawaya Watoq, etc, depending where they're from in the region. Today we will participate in a ritual ceremony and purification healing assisted by an Andean priest, learning more about the spirituality of the Andes, exploring the culture and cosmology of the Quechua Campesinos and understanding their beliefs. The ceremony can help us realize our personal objectives. [Day 38]: At Home - This is a free day with no specific activities planned. [Day 39]: Pachamanca - A Peruvian food with many different varieties, Pachamanca is one of the foods made since the time of the Incas for special dates and offerings. Different types of meat are stewed in an earthen oven, accompanies by potatoes, beans, Añu. Oqa, Chuño etc. We'll prepare some then invite the local families to enjoy it with us accompanied by Chicha. [Day 40]: Gift Day - Upucallpa's main purpose is to help the poor families from the communities in the countryside; especially the kids and elderly, and one of the ways we do this is with presents: note books, pencils, school bags, clothing, toys, etc. Much happiness will be shared along with the gifts. [Day 41]: Packing Up - We make all the necessary preparations for departure and end our journey with a wonderful dinner together. [Day 42]: Journey to Cusco - After saying good bye to our family, we journey to Cusco by bus arriving after 1.5 hours at our hotel. [Day 43]: Cusco - We are blessed with one last day in this history-rich city; you'll have the day to explore on your own. [Day 44]: Fly to Lima - We will transfer you to the airport in the morning for your flight to Lima. You will have extra time to visit churches or museums on your own. [Day 45]: Return to Airport - Fly home from Lima. Includes: Accomodations At the homes in Urubamba on comfortable beds, five nights in hotels, and camping on the trek Food All meals at family homes and on the trek Transportation All bus and train fare Entrance Fees All Notes Roundtrip flight: Lima–Cusco–Lima, is not included. Please allow US $150 (flight cost subject to change), $28 international departure tax, and $10 local departure taxes. Staff Tour Leader, Porters, Cooks, and Transfer Staff	Contact Info About us