Places to visit
Lima – Nazca – Arequipa – Colca Canyon – Puno – Titicaca Lake – Cusco -Machu Picchu
summary
On this journey, you will come to know the city of Lima, the enigmatic Lines of Nazca, and the White City of Arequipa. You will get chance to observe the flight of the condors in Colca Canyon and sail the highest navigable lake in the world, Lake Titicaca, as well as visit its beautiful islands. Finally, you will become familiar with the ancient capita of the Inkas, The city of Cusco, and discover the incredible beauty of the Sanctuary of Machupicchu.
Itinerary
Day 01: LIMA
We will meet you at the Lima airport for your reception and take you to your hotel. After getting settled into your accommodations, we will take you on a city tour of Lima. You will tour the most important and characteristic colonial areas of the city including the Main Square, the Government Palace, The Cathedral, the San Francisco Church with its majestic convent and catacombs, and colonial-era buildings. Leaving central Lima, we will visit modern Lima, and you will be able to see the contrast between the 21st century capital of Perú and its colonial roots. You will spend the night in your hotel in Lima. (L)
Day 02: NAZCA
In the morning, we’ll leave Lima to Nazca and get checked into the hotel there. After lunch we’ll tour the archaeological site of the Chauchilla cemetery, which displays the remnants of this once-thriving culture. Next we’ll visit the Cantalloq geoglyphs and the underground aqueducts that demonstrate this culture’s knowledge of hydraulic engineering. This is one of the greatest legacies left behind by the Nazca culture, because this underground water system is unique in South America and perhaps in the whole world. We’ll return to your hotel for your overnight stay. (B/L)
Day 03: THE LINES OF NAZCA
In the morning, transfer to the airport and then we will fly over the Nazca Lines on a high plateau known as the Pampa de San José. The Nazca people used the sixty miles long and five miles wide coastal plain to draw long, intricate lines and designs such as the hummingbird, monkey, whale, spider, condor, dog and many others. Archaeologists believe that it was a huge astronomical calendar with very important ritual role at the time. Once we land, we will take a bus from Nazca to Arequipa and check into our hotel for the night. (B/L)
Day 04: AREQUIPA
After breakfast we’ll visit the highlights of Arequipa (7,660 ft): the Main Square, the Cathedral, the San Francisco Convent, the city’s colonial-era buildings, the colonial area of Yanahuara, and the Santa Catalina Convent. Most of the buildings in Arequipa were built with «sillar» rock (a white volcanic rock), that shimmers in the sun and gives the city its nickname. You will return to your hotel for the night. (B/L
Day 05: Colca CANYON
After breakfast begins our two-day excursion to Colca Canyon. We will pass the National Reserve of Aguada Blanca and Salinas, seeing herds of vicuñas, llamas, and alpacas in their natural habitat and some birds like flamingoes, ibis, andean gooze, ducks, and the andean eagle, «Kara Kara». We’ll arrive at the village of Chivay (12,000 ft), capitol of the Caylloma province, lodging accommodation and taking a rest. In the afternoon and after lunch we’ll visit the medicinal thermal baths of La Calera. We will spend the night in the hotel. You have the optional visit to the Ethnological Museum. (B/L/D)
Day 06: Colca CANYON – CRUZ DEL CONDOR – AREQUIPA – PUNO
We will leave Chivay early in the morning and travel two-hour drive to Cruz Del Condor (12,500 ft). There you can see terraces that predate the Inkas and are still farmed by the local people, along with the unique landscapes of the one deepest canyon in the world. At 9.00 am we will have the unforgettable experience of watching the flight of the condors. Afterwards, we will return to Arequipa and take our private transport to travel from Arequipa to Puno (12,700 ft) during the night. Hotel in Puno. (B/L/D)
Day 07: Titicaca LAKE – UROS – TAQUILE – AMANTANI
We will have breakfast and then be picked up from our hotel towards Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world. We will take a launch from the Puno docks to Uros, which is an amazing complex of about 40 floating islands, made out of the totora reed. From Uros, we continue to the island of Taquile, hiking a beautiful trail surrounded by the natural landscape of the Sacred Lake of the Inkas. We will have lunch at a restaurant in Taquile. After lunch, we will take our boat to Amantani Island, where the community preserves its ancient ways of life: clothing, language, customs and social organization. At Amantani, we’ll visit the sacred mountains of “Apu Pachatata” and mother earth “Pachamama”, where we will make a special offering. After dinner we will be welcomed with a fantastic party with the local people in “La Peña”. We will spend the night as guests in the comfortable homes of local families. (B/L/D)
Day 08: PUNO – SILLUSTANI
Our boat will meet us at Amantani and we will cruise across the lake back to Puno. From Puno, we’ll visit the Umayo Lagoon and the stunning pre-Inka tombs of Sillustani (13,000 ft), where Qolla’s noble class (Caciques, priests) were buried in funeral towers called “ch’ullpas”. Before being deposited in the “ch’ullpas”, their bodies were mummified and placed in the fetal position. They were buried together with some of their belongings, such as gold and silver objects, jewelry, ceramics, and food. We will have lunch in Puno and return to our hotel for the night. You can visit the Coca Museum as an optional tour. (B/L)
Day 09: PUNO – CUSCO
After breakfastwe’ll start the eight-hour journey from Puno (12,700 ft) to Cusco (11,000 ft), in our private transport. Along the way we will visit the Wiraqocha Temple in Raqchi (11,482 ft), the colonial church of San Pedro de Andahuaylillas (called the Sistine Chapel of Perú) and the RumilColca South Gate. Once we arrive in Cusco, we will check you into your hotel. (B/L)
Day 10: CUSCO – THE PUMA CITY
After our breakfast, we will tour the amazing city of Cusco (11,000 ft). We will tour the city both on foot and by bus, wandering through the Inka-era and colonial-era streets. We will visit the Qorikancha Temple, the colorful neighborhood of San Blas, the Main Square, the Great Cathedral and the San Pedro local Market. After lunch we’ll drive up to the San Cristobal Square to have an excellent panoramic view of Cusco City. Afterwards, we’ll take our bus up to the megalithic temple of Saqcsayhuaman (12,139 ft). Finally we go to Q’enko, Puca-pukara and Tambomachay. Return to Cusco. Hotel. (B/L)
Day 11: CHINCHERO – MARAS – MORAY
We’ll take our bus to Chinchero (12,342 ft), the palace of Inka emperor Tupaq Inka Yupanki. Here we’ll visit our friends of the Mama Oqllo Community and we can see how these women weave beautiful and colorful textiles with the techniques and procedures of their ancestors. Then we’ll visit the colonial church of Nuestra Señora de Monserrate and the archeological complex. We’ll head next to Moray (11,100 ft), a stunning open-air crop laboratory. At Moray, we’ll take a break, and you’ll have the opportunity to explore and walk around. From Moray, we’ll continue on to Maras, to behold a spectacle of unusual beauty: the salt mines “Salineras”, located on a wide-open hill above the Urubamba Valley (9,500 ft). We’ll round out our trip with a short walk down to Salineras. Finally we’ll be transferred to Pisaq village and then to our hotel for the night. (B/L)
Day 12: PISAQ – OLLANTAYTAMBO
After breakfast you will be picked up from your hotel and taken to the Pisaq archeological site (9,750 ft). You’ll be conducted on a guided walking tour around this marvelous temple and circle back towards the town of Pisaq, where we’ll visit the Andean market. After a buffet lunch we’ll visit Ollantaytambo (9,186 ft). Situated in a fertile river valley and sheltered by mountains, this ancient Inca village is considered one of the most important living museums in the world. Perhaps the longest occupied town in the Americas, it retains the original Inka houses, canals, streets and walls. This is a perfect place to appreciate the technology and the vast archeological remnants of the Sun Temple of Ollantaytambo. There will be a guided tour. After Ollantaytambo, we’ll transfer by train to Aguas Calientes (6,560 ft). There, you have the option of visiting the hot springs of town. (B/L)
Day 13: MACHUPICCHU
After an early breakfast, we’ll take a bus up the winding road to Machupicchu. Our scheduled visit allows you a calm, quiet visit and lets you enjoy the natural beauty and the magical environment of this masterpiece of the Andean man. You’ll have a walking tour with an expert guide. After that, you can explore and relax by yourself, including the option of climbing up Waynapicchu Mountain for the spectacular view of the cloud forest. After a morning of wandering through the Sanctuary of Machupicchu we’ll return to Aguas Calientes and have a buffet lunch. We’ll transfer from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo by train, and by bus proceed back to Cusco. We’ll check into our hotel and spend the night there. (B/L)
Day 14: EXPLORING CUSCO
You have the entire day to explore the city of Cusco at your leisure! You can wander off on your own, visit some museums or churches in this beautiful and fascinating center of the Inka Empire, try the exquisite Peruvian cuisine, go shopping or just relax and take a rest. Finally we will have farewell dinner show. (B/D)
Day 15: TRANSFER OUT
In the morning, you will be transferred at the Cusco airport for your flight for Lima, in time to catch your international flight. (B)
End of our services
INCLUDED
- All the trips and private ground transportation described in the program, including the overflight of the Nazca Lines, the roundtrip to Colca Canyon, the roundtrip to Machupicchu and the motorboat excursion on Lake Titicaca
- Accommodations in select hotels, with breakfast included based on double or single occupancy as well as one night in a family home in Amantani, one night in Chivay village and one night in Aguas Calientes town.
- All the meals indicated in the program. (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)
- Entry to all the sites listed in the program (Included the Cusco Tourist Ticket)
- All scheduled excursions with English-speaking guide services and guide assistant
- First Aid kits and all safety equipment including oxygen tank if needed
NOT INCLUDED
- International flights or domestic flights within Perú
- Fees, tariffs, or taxes for international or domestic flights
- Optional visits or re-entry to tourist attractions
- Excess baggage charges
- Additional nights during trip due to flight cancellations
- Insurance of any kind
- Personal Expenses
- Extra food or beverages
- Tips
- Others not specified
RECOMMENDATIONS AND NOTES
- Accommodations, transportation, meals, and optional excursions can be arranged.
- You can include an extra day visiting the Ballestas Islands on the coast or an extra day in Caral Sanctuary
- For those who would like to walk up from Aguas Calientes to Machupicchu or witness the sunrise (Sun gate) there, just let us know your plans.