To ind out more about G Adventures, visit gadventures.co.uk/wanderlust
was so holy to the Incas it used
to be encased in solid gold.
It lies near the city’s grand dame
of colonial architecture, Cusco
Cathedral, which in turn presides
over the vibrant Plaza de Armas
square. If you’re still salivating
from Lima’s food, it’s a similarly
great place to sample some
tasty authentic cuisine.
Unearth the
Urubamba Valley
While Cusco’s gems are many,
it doesn’t take long for the
mystique of the Sacred Valley
to pull you in. Its mist-shrouded
hills contour the landscape like
bubblewrap, overseen by the
occasional condor soaring high
above this slice of the Andes.
The several pitstops you make
en route will deepen your
appreciation for this hallowed
land, as you witness traditional
textile-making in remote villages
and dine in a farm-to-table
community restaurant.
Aside from the sought-after
Inca Trail trek, the train between
Ollantaytambo and Aguas
Calientes has become iconic
in its own way, snaking through
the spellbinding scenery of the
Sacred Valley. Its 1920s-inspired
carriages transport you back
to when Peru’s hidden marvels
were still freshly imprinted
in Hiram Bingham’s brain.
After whizzing through the hills
to Aguas Calientes, peruse
its lively open-air market
or soak in its thermal baths.The magic of
Machu Picchu
Aguas Calientes is a frontier
town nestled at the bottom
of the group of hills that cradle
Machu Picchu. Its placement
means that if you get up early,
you’ll beat the mid-morning rush,
so you’ll have the marvel largely
to yourself. Witness the ancient
jewel bathed in soft golden light- a sight you’ll likely remember
for the rest of your life. Your local
guide will add colour to its key
features like the Temple of the
Condor, while also aording you
valuable time to soak up its
splendour by yourself.
Once you’ve stopped gazing
at Machu Picchu, return to Cusco
for a inal day in the old capital,
or make a beeline out of town
to the multi-hued and striped
sight of Rainbow Mountain.A local eye
This incredible prize is thanks
to the experts at G Adventures,
a tour operator with nearly 30
years’ experience as a specialist
in small-group tours.
G Adventures knows that
wherever you travel, the key
to really getting under the skin
of a place is to be guided
by those who know it best: the
locals. They employ the pick
of the bunch, so afterwards
you’ll feel like you’ve come
a step closer to understanding
their fascinating culture. That’s
especially valuable when you
walk among the Inca heartlands
of Peru, a place whose magic
will have you gripped from
the moment you arrive.How to win
G Adventures is oering
one lucky winner two
places on its eight-day
Machu Picchu Adventure
tour, as well as £1,200 to
cover the cost of return
lights. To be in with
a chance of winning,
simply answer the
following question:When did Hiram Bingham
irst discover Machu Picchu?
(a) 1911
(b) 1913
(c) 1915To enter and for full terms,
conditions and data policies, go to
wanderlust.co.uk/competitions or
send your answer to the Wanderlust
oice (address p7) and state ‘more
info’ if you want to be contacted by
Wanderlust and G Adventures. The
closing date is 13 October 2019.