Machu Picchu + Peru Trip Itinerary

Day 1

Cusco: The Capital of the Incan Empire

Under30Experiences staff will pick you up at the airport at 7:00 a.m for red-eye flights. We highly recommend arriving by 12:00 p.m so you can explore more of Cusco. If your flight arrives after 12:00 p.m, we can still arrange separate transportation to pick you up from the airport.

Morning/Afternoon

  • Your Trip Leader will meet you at the airport and after meeting all our new friends, take included transportation to our accommodations in Cusco.
  • Begin acclimating to the altitude, and take a nice walk around the historic capital of the Inca empire.

Evening

  • Enjoy a delicious Peruvian meal at our opening dinner in Cusco’s Plaza de Armas.
  • Get to know the other like-minded travelers on the trip and begin to settle into Peru.

Day 2

Cultural Immersion

Morning

  • Wake up in Cusco and enjoy breakfast right at your hotel.
  • Take a private shuttle to our very own U30X community project above Cusco, in a town near Chinchero.
  • We’ll be hiking and participating in a farming demonstration, so wear comfortable shoes, and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty!

Afternoon

  • Have a farm to table experience, and chow down on lunch that was all grown in the community.
  • After lunch, check out a textile demonstration and learn how the people in the Andes naturally dye and hand-weave their alpaca wool.
  • Once you’ve had a chance to buy some of these incredible alpaca goods for yourself and for friends back home, take the shuttle to the train station in Ollantaytambo.
  • Sit back and enjoy the views as we wind through the Sacred Valley on our way to Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of Machu Picchu.

Evening

  • You’ll have a chance to relax and pick up some snacks for tomorrow.
  • Find a restaurant in this small town for an early dinner together (not included).

Day 3

Machu Picchu

Morning

  • Wake up early for breakfast at your hotel.
  • Head up to Machu Picchu for a guided tour of the magical Inca site.
  • Learn some history, take in the incredible views, and hopefully make friends with the local llamas.

Afternoon

  • We’ll have lunch in Aguas Calientes (not included) and then embark on the train and bus back to Cusco through the Sacred Valley.

Evening

  • Reflect on your experience today over a relaxing dinner with the group.

Day 4

Explore Historical Cusco

Morning

  • Wake up in Cusco and enjoy breakfast at the hotel.
  • This is the perfect day to do some optional activities like the Humantay Lake Hike. Visit one of Peru's most stunning lakes and enjoy the turquoise waters while being surrounded by impressive mountain ranges.
  • Another great option is the Maras Moray Tour where you will explore part of Peru's sacred valley and soak in incredible views of the Urubamba mountains while learning about agriculture, textiles, and Inca history.

Afternoon

  • Have some free time to explore on your own, or pick up some souvenirs in the local markets. Your Trip Leader will be more than happy to provide suggestions and explore with you.

Evening

  • Head out to town for dinner.

Day 5

Peruvian Cooking Class

Morning

  • Wake up in Cusco and enjoy breakfast at your boutique hotel.
  • Start your day by exploring Cusco on your own and learn more about the Inca culture. 
  • Take an optional hike above the city to the famous Cristo Blanco for some spectacular views of the city.

Afternoon

  • Have some free time to explore more of the city on your own, or pick up some souvenirs in the local markets. Your Trip Leader will be more than happy to provide suggestions on where to go.
  • Meet up with your group and enjoy an authentic Peruvian cooking class where you will learn how to make Causa a la limeña and wash it down with a pisco sour, which you will also learn to make.

Evening

  • Following your cooking class, enjoy a group dinner and dessert full of local delicacies! Be sure to fill up, because tomorrow you will be hiking the Rainbow Mountain and you will want the fuel.

Day 6

Rainbow Mountain

Morning

  • Wake up for an early morning drive to the Rainbow Mountain trailhead (~3 hour drive).
  • Afterwards, it's a challenging hike to the summit of the Rainbow Mountain located at 16,500 feet above sea level (~3.5 hour hike).
  • After taking in the reward of breathtaking views, we’ll hike down for a well earned lunch.

Afternoon

  • After lunch head back to Cusco together.
  • Once you're back in Cusco, you’ll have some time to shower and relax or take one last walk around the Plaza before dinner.

Evening

  • Have a final dinner together as a group, and reminisce about the adventures you’ve had with your new friends.
  • Test your rhythm and take advantage of free salsa lessons at one of the local bars or just have a drink with your new travel buddies and watch the movement of the Plaza at night.

Day 7

Relaxation & Departure

Morning

  • Have one last breakfast with your group at the hotel.
  • Hotel checkout is at 9:00 am and for those of you that don’t extend your stay, transportation to the airport is included until 5:00 pm.
  • Did you know you could also hike the legendary Inca Trail with Under30Experiences?

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U30X is such an amazing travel community. Once your trip is over, the experience is not. They keep in touch with their alumni & provide platforms for travel questions, personal development, & community connections in your own backyard! If you're a young person looking to travel I highly recommend U30X!

There are not enough ways for me to describe how amazing this company is. After my first trip I always told people, it wasn't about the location, but the experience that u30x gave me. I have some of the best experiences of my life with u30x, and now a passion for travel. Also, their alumni community and groups are awesome too!

Traveling with U30X has been life changing for me. I've made lifelong friends with both travelers and staff. I can't come up with enough good things to say about the company, the people, and the experiences I've had!

Just returned from my second trip with Under30Experiences. My first trip was to the Costa Rica rainforest. My most recent trip was to Iceland. Both trips were such an amazing experience. I loved learning about Iceland and its origins. I enjoy the small groups and I made some great new friends! Recommend them for anyone wanting to travel alone or with a couple of friends.

I was so scared to travel abroad alone and then I came across their website and they made international travel so easy! And the people I’ve met on the trips are some amazing individuals! I’ve done 6 of their trips and plan on continuing to do even more!!

My Hike the Inca Trail trip was beyond amazing, and I couldn't have asked for anything more from a trip. Our leaders made us all feel instantly comfortable, and the group was fantastic. The trip was well planned and the hike was unforgettable. Memories to last a lifetime.

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