Country: Peru
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Cusco Ruins Circuit visit
Afternoon circuit of Inca sites around Cusco: Qenqo, where ceremonies and sacrifices were held, Puca Pucara, Tambomachay (also called the Bath of the Inca), and Sacsayhuaman Fortress, the setting for Inca festivals such as Inti Raymi and Warachicuy.
Read MorePisac town square and craft market visit
Pisac's town square holds the largest and best-known craft market in the Sacred Valley. The surrounding streets form a maze of gardens, carved stone buildings, and hidden colonial courtyards.
Read MoreRainbow Mountain and Red Valley Hike
Hike from the Ausangate trailhead to Vinicunca, known as Rainbow Mountain, beginning with an ascent of about one hour to the layered, mineral-coloured slopes and the viewpoint above them. The return descends into the Red Valley, with a picnic lunch served along the route at high altitude.
Read MoreCusco Historic Center Walking Tour
Relaxed guided walk through the historic centre of Cusco, the Inca capital, taking in the Cathedral on the Plaza de Armas, the Koricancha (Temple of the Sun), and Inca ruins close to the centre. The pace is unhurried and adapted to the altitude.
Read MoreMiraflores clifftop promenade walk and waterfront dining
Free time on foot along the Miraflores clifftop promenade, which looks over the Pacific from the top of the coastal cliffs. The district's eateries serve traditional Peruvian dishes and drinks, with ceviche and a pisco sour among the local staples.
Read MoreOllantaytambo train station
The departure point for trains from Ollantaytambo into the Urubamba valley towards Aguas Calientes, beside the town's Inca street plan.
Read MoreAusangate trailhead
Trailhead in the Ausangate mountain range where the walk up Vinicunca begins, on high open pasture country below the Rainbow Mountain ridge.
Read MoreCusco Airport
Cusco's airport, on the south-eastern edge of the city, and the gateway used for arrivals into the Andes.
Read MoreTraditional Weaving Demonstration at Upis with Awaq Mayki
At Upis, Ruperta Condori Merma — co-president of the Awaq Mayki weaving association and a Threads of Peru partner since 2012 — welcomes the group into her home. Her family demonstrates traditional weaving techniques and talks about Andean daily life, farming, textiles and the community's connection to the land. Guests can try natural dyeing with dye plants, learn to read the symbols woven into traditional dress, and even take a turn shearing alpacas. It is a quiet, generous exchange rather than a staged show.
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