Machu Picchu & Peru

Arrive in the capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco, and take included transportation with your group to your boutique hotel with your group and Trip Leader.

Get to know your new friends as you begin to acclimate at 11,200 feet (3,400 meters) of elevation and take it easy exploring the historic center of Cusco.

See Cusco's incredible Plaza de Armas and Spanish Cathedrals at night and feel like you've traveled in time.

Depart Cusco for the Sacred Valley to a small Indigenous village near Chinchero and participate in a community outreach project exclusive to Under30Experiences travelers.

This local sustainability project brings tourism to a rural area travelers would not usually visit on a trip to Peru and supports a humble community of Indigenous people.

Learn how the native Quechua people live in the Andes and understand their spiritual connection to Pachamama or Mother Earth. This is an incredible cultural exchange with textile weavers and subsistence farmers who still embrace their traditional language and dress.

Continue along the Urubamba River to Ollantaytambo and catch the train to Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of Machu Picchu, where you'll stay the night.

Wake up early and take the winding bus ride up the mountain from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu.

"The Lost City of the Incas" will take your breath away as you weave through the paths and tour this archeological site. Explore Machu Picchu with a local guide who will explain the history of this ancient Inca citadel.

After your llama selfie, enjoy one of the most beautiful train rides on the planet back to Cusco and reflect on the beauty of what you just experienced.

If you'd prefer to a four-day trek to Machu Picchu, consider our trip hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.

Cusco is the center of Quechua culture and the capital of the former Inca Empire. Walking the narrow pedestrian streets, you can see the layers of history come alive. See history firsthand as Spanish Cathedrals were built on top of Inca temples.

Take in the vibrant colors at the artisanal market and find alpaca wool sweaters for friends back home.

Explore Peru's famed gastronomy and see why chefs around the world decide to collaborate in Cusco. Try local delicacies like alpaca or cuy guinea pig, washed down with a pisco sour.

Ask your Trip Leader if you want to enter famous sites like Saksaywaman, Coricancha, or the Inca Museum as optional activities.

Today, immerse yourself in the world-renowned Peruvian gastronomy.

Learn how to make causa limeña, a traditional Peruvian dish made with mashed potatoes, peppers, and avocado–similar to a tiny casserole. You'll also get a chance to make a pisco sour, the national drink of Peru!

After learning to make these dishes, gather with your new group of friends and enjoy a delicious dinner sure to delight your taste buds.

Climb even higher into the Andes for a colorful adventure that is both challenging and rewarding. Remember your coca leaves as you hike above 16,000 feet (4,876 meters) and earn stunning views of Vinicunca--the famous Rainbow Mountain.

Under30Experiences is proud to be one of the first group travel companies to visit the Rainbow Mountains of Peru.

Once you've taken in the vibrant mountainside, head back and take one last stroll through Cusco before our final dinner in Plaza de Armas.

Have breakfast as a group before saying adios to the fantastic new travel buddies you've made in Peru.

Feel free to stay and explore more of the Andes or take the provided transportation back to the Cusco airport. As our trip comes to a close, we hope you keep in touch with our community back home.

Looking for a more active challenge in Peru? Hike the legendary Inca Trail with Under30Experiences instead.