INCA SIDEREAL SKIES A 3D/2N TRIP OF ASTROTOURISM AND ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY

Day 1: Cusco City Tour and Stargazing Experience: Uncover the Rich History and Astronomy of the Incas.

Your star-filled tour begins in the magical city of Cusco, where history is ingrained in its cobblestone streets. We will set out on our Cusco city tour to explore the history of the Inca Capital, where two cultures, indigenous and Spanish, merged to form a rich and fascinating heritage. Our Cusco City Tour will take you through the streets of this ancient city, where you can see for yourself the incredible blend of different architectural styles, as well as the bohemian art scene of the San Blas neighborhood.

Next up on our Cusco tour is the central Plaza de Armas, home to the Cusco Cathedral, closely followed by the Korikancha Temple. This “ Temple of the Sun”, who´s walls were once lined with gold in honor to Inti, the Inca sun god , and most important deity in the Inca beliefs system. The foundations of the building are Inca and the Spanish Santo Domingo church was built on top, combining the different stages of Peru´s history. We will then explore the bustling and eclectic San Pedro Market, where you can sample exotic fruits, local delicacies and even buy some handicrafts or ceremonial potions, depending on what takes your fancy! After lunch, we will take a break to recharge for the evening’s impressive stargazing experience.

In the evening, we will head out to the spectacular Cusco Planetarium, where you can witness the night sky in all its glory. The stars and galaxies that the Incas revered will be on show as we look up into the Andean sky on our stargazing trip. The nighttime skies form an integral part of life in The Andean region, whose people have been stargazing for generations.  The universe served as the Incas’ guide and a source of worship in addition to providing a beautiful setting.  The darker constellations created by the spaces between the stars tell stories of llamas, snakes, and other sacred animals essential to Andean existence, the Milky Way, or “Mayu” in the ancient Inca language Quechua, was viewed as a sacred river in the sky. This ancestral knowledge offers visitors today the opportunity to reconnect with the heavens in a personal and profound way. The Cusco Planetarium allow you to observe through telescopes the stunning constellations of the Southern Hemisphere, with zero light pollution, as the Inca constellations assist you to see the mysteries of the universe in this part of the world. Allow this seamless blending of science and tradition provide a fascinating journey into the cosmos above Peru! Listen to tales of Inca constellations that take you back in history to when the Incas roamed this stunning region!

Day 2: Sacred Valley Sights With Andean Family Homestay and Star Gazing

On day 2 of our Astro Photography and Inca Astronomy tour, we will collect you from your hotel with our expert local guide on our journey to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. We will drive to some of the iconic Sacred Valley sites that in one way or another had a connection to ancient Inca Astronomy.  This includes Chinchero, Maras salt Pans, Moray circular terraces, and the magnificent Ollantaytambo, where we can enjoy lunch at the base of this stunning astronomical temple built by our Inca ancestors.

In the afternoon, we’ll continue our journey to the Andean community of Palca, where our host family will greet us and offer us their humble home to spend the night. This incredibly remote community offers the perfect conditions for our stargazing and astro photography session, far away from any light pollution and with the clearest Andean skies. Our wonderful family will share their ancient ancestral knowledge about the movements of the stars and how they still look to the skies for guidance in agriculture and being able to forecast the weather.

We will be able to take stunning photos of the starry sky, which is probably different than what you are used to, with the Southern hemisphere constellations.  He will also explain all about the Inca constellations visible from the Andes. Our guide will show astro photography techniques to capture this incredible experience forever. After our astro photography session, we will return to our host family house, to rest under the stars in the comfortable rooms provided by our Andean Quechua families.

Day 3: Machu Picchu Tour: Explore This Remarkable Inca Archaeological Site in Depth

After a wonderful evening in the community, staring at the Inca constellations, we will bid farewell to our homestay family and journey back to the town of Ollantaytambo, where we will take our train to Machu Picchu.  This 1.5 hour train ride passes through some of the most spectacular scenery in The Sacred Valley as we head to the ancient Inca marvel. Our destination is Aguas Calientes, the town below Machu Picchu and the gateway to visit the archaeological site. From Aguas Calientes we will take the shuttle bus to the Wonder of the World, Machu Picchu, where our expert local guide will lead us along a trail to the temples, plazas, terraces and astronomical features of the iconic Inca ruins which is overflowing with archaeology, history, flora, and fauna. This masterpiece of astronomical alignment and spiritual significance houses within its ancient walls, iconic astronomical sites that demonstrate the profound connection that the Incas had with the cosmos.

The Intihuatana Stone, also known as the “Hitching Post of the Sun,” is thought to have been used to track the movement of the sun and mark the solstices, demonstrating the Incas’ understanding of celestial cycles. The Temple of the Sun, with its curved construction and it’s perfectly positioned windows, was designed to align perfectly with the sun during the winter and summer solstices, illuminating the whole structure. This is said to have symbolized the connection of the earth to the sky. Then, there is the Temple of the Three Windows where the morning sunlight enters, more than likely representing the three levels of existence in Inca cosmology: the heavens, the earth, and the underworld. These impressive temples and buildings dedicated to astronomy shows how the Incas included astronomy in their lives.

Once we have finished our Machu Picchu tour, we will take the shuttle bus back down the windy road to Aguas Calientes where we can enjoy lunch at the restaurant of your choice. Depending on the time of our train, we will return back to Cusco or the sacred Valley, depending on the train you have booked with us. We will be waiting at the train station to take you to your Cusco hotel. This marks the end of this unique cultural astrophotography tour designed by Kallpa Travel.  We hope you have a safe trip back home or onto your next exciting destination, brimming with the ancient wisdom of Peru´s nighttime skies that few are so privileged to witness! Contact us here if you would like to book an awe inspiring Astro Photography tour to experience Astro tourism in Peru!

Included:

• Professional English Spanish – Quechua speaking guide
• Briefing before the start of your hike
• Private transport for your excursion
• 1 night camping
• All meals on the itinerary (B= Breakfast L= Lunch, D= Dinner). Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free meals on request at no extra cost. (Home cooked meals during the homestay using organic fresh ingredients from the region)
• Admission fees
• Tour as per itinerary
• First-aid kit and oxygen

Services NOT Included:

• Domestic Flights (we can book for you)
• Breakfast on day 1
• Meals not mentioned on itinerary
• Any unforeseen expenses
• Personal expenses
• Anything not mentioned on the itinerary
• Gratuities