This morning, transfer to the airport and board your flight to Cusco, where you'll meet your guide for the drive to the Sacred Valley. The drive alone is stupendous, with views of the Andean mountains, the valley surrounding the Urubamba River, rural villages, and roaming llamas and alpacas. But this valley also once formed the epicenter of the Inca Empire. The rich and fertile agricultural land allowed the Incas to grow essential crops like corn, potatoes, olluco, quinoa, and coca leaf, considered a sacred plant. Visits to a local farm and an agricultural museum give you insights into the sophisticated Incan farming techniques and crop genetics, such as the development of Giant White Corn, an ancient crop that grows only here in this valley. Enjoy a four-course lunch at the hacienda and watch the museum's demonstrations of chicha brewing (a non-alcoholic beer) and traditional textile techniques. Afterwards, proceed to the 5-star Tambo del Inka Resort & Spa, your accommodations for the night, and dine at the on-site Hawa Restaurant, which features organic ingredients and local products from Peru. (Transfers, lunch, dinner, flight from Lima to Cusco, and overnight at Tambo del Inka, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, in Sacred Valley are included.) ...
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