11-Day Perú Adventure: Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca

Between 09h15 y 09h45, recojo del hotel para iniciar la visita de la ciudad: panoramic view of the “Pucllana Pyramid”, a magnificent ceremonial and  archaeological center built in the 4th century AD and considered a “sacred town” by the Incas. Then, visit the historic center of Lima, where you will appreciate more than fifty monuments and colonial buildings, highlighting the Paseo de la República, Plaza San Martín, the Plaza Mayor, the Government Palace, the Archbishop's Palace, the Cathedral Basilica, the Municipal Palace, among others. Visit the Central Reserve Bank Museum*, where you will appreciate the “Treasures of Peru Collection”, a select exhibition of gold, ceramic and textile objects from various pre-Columbian cultures. Then, visit the San Francisco Monumental Complex, which constitutes the largest exhibition of colonial religious art in America; a visit to its underground crypts known as “Catacombs” stands out.Back at the hotel, panoramic tour of the most traditional residential areas of Lima, El Olivar de San Isidro, Miraflores and Larcomar.

In the afternoon, transfer to the airport and flight to Arequipa. Arrival and transfer to the hotel.

1: Shared service tour with a bilingual Spanish-Anglophone guide.

2: Central Reserve Bank Museum, closed to the public on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Monday closed all day.

3: Hotel - airport - hotel transfers by private transport (with assistance in Arequipa).

Overnight at the hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast.

Free tomorrow.

In the afternoon, city tour: Visit the Chilina neighborhood, to see the Inca platforms (tiered terraces) built for the cultivation of agricultural products, in force until now. Then, visit the picturesque and elegant neighborhood of Yanahuara, with its Andalusian-style streets and residences surrounded by gardens. From that point you will have a panoramic view of the city, surrounded by its magnificent volcanoes. Then, visit the Plaza de Armas with its beautiful arches, considered one of the most beautiful in the country, the Cathedral (exterior), built in the 19th century, the Church of the Company and its cloisters, considered to be the most perfect expression of 17th century religious architecture, this complex is part of the mixed baroque. Then, visit the famous convent of Santa Catalina, unique in the world with its streets and squares, which are named after Spanish cities. This convent, where the Spanish nuns lived for several centuries, has been open to the public since 1970. With its 20,000 m2 of surface, it is a true 16th century religious citadel that forms an extraordinary architectural complex.

1: Shared service tour with a bilingual Spanish-Anglophone guide.

Overnight at the hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast.

Arequipa — Valle del Colca 1 60 Km = 4h30 approx.

Altitude in the Colca Valley = 3650 meters above sea level.

In the morning, departure to Chivay and the Colca Canyon. On this route, we will take a road at the foot of the Chachani volcano to enter the Pampa Cañahuas and Aguada Blanca reserve, where you can see the vicuña in its natural state. In addition, this reserve is home to many alpacas, llama and vizcachas. We will pass through the crater of the Chucura volcano and stop at the highest point also called Mirador de los Andes, from where it is possible to observe the Chachani, Misti, Ampato and Sabancaya volcanoes. Along the way, in passing, we will visit different picturesque towns such as: Viscachani. Arrival to the Colca Valley and transfer to the hotel. Rest of the afternoon free.

Shared service tour with bilingual Spanish-Anglophone guide.

Overnight at the hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast.

Valle del Colca — Puno 28 0 Km = 6 hours approx.

Altitude in Puno = 3830 msnm.

Early departure to the Colca Canyon. Stop at Cruz del Cóndor. From this place, we will have an impressive scenery, an abyss 1200 m deep, at the bottom of which the Colca River runs, and, on the opposite side, the walls of the Canyon exceed 3000 m in altitude. If we are a little lucky we can appreciate the flight of His Majesty the Condor. Condors use the warm air rising from the Canyon to glide above our heads. This experience is unforgettable and unique in South America.

Back at the hotel, we will stop to visit small towns such as: Maca and Yanque.

In the early afternoon, departure across the highlands to the city of Puno on the edge of Lake Titicaca.

Shared service tour with bilingual Spanish-Anglophone guide.

Overnight at the hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast.

Full day trip to Lake Titicaca, the lake of legends. According to one of them, the couple Mama Ocllo and Manco Capac emerged from its waters to found the Inca Empire by order of the Sun. First, we will visit the floating islands of the Uros, whose way of life and traditions have always motivated strangeness and curiosity. Both on the islands and in their cabins, part of their diet and boats are made up of the totora, an aquatic plant from the same lake. They complete their diet with fishing with artisanal nets and local ducks. Then, the trip across the lake continues to Taquile Island. From the top of the island you will be amazed at the spectacle ahead: Lake Titicaca and the mountains that surround it. Approach and contact with the inhabitants of the island, who are excellent hosts, weavers, and builders of finely tuned sikus (wind musical instruments). Lunch at a local restaurant. End of the tour and return to the hotel.

Speedboat (shared) for higher categories.

Accompaniment by a private Spanish-speaking guide during the tour.

Night at the hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast.

Puno — Cusco 389 km = 10 hours approx. (with stops en route and lunch).

Altitude in Cusco: 3350 meters above sea level.

In the morning, departure by tourist bus to the city of Cusco. The beauty of the landscape deserves this journey full of unforgettable images. The highest point of the route is in La Raya (more than 4000 meters high), which is the division between the Andean zone and the highlands. During the tour, the bus stops in Pucará, to visit its lithic museum, then in Raqchi, ancient Inca ruins with the beautiful temple of Huiracocha, and finally in Andahuaylillas, an opportunity to visit its impressive chapel known as the “Little Sistine”. Lunch at a restaurant en route. Arrival in Cusco towards the end of the afternoon

Nota 1 : Hotel - bus station - hotel transfers by private transport with assistance.

Nota 2 : Trip from Puno to Cusco by tourist bus with a bilingual Spanish-English-speaking guide and three tours en route.

  Night at the hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast.

In the morning, departure to the Sacred Valley and visit the ruins of Pisaq, one of the most beautiful Inca imperial-style buildings. Visit the Pisaq market; starting from the main square, the entire town becomes a fair, mainly on Sundays, offering visitors a colorful and folkloric show with its displays of fruits and vegetables both on the floor and in stands where it is possible to buy handmade products brought from all corners of the region: multicolored fabrics, fabrics, traditional ponchos, jewelry, antiques, objects for rituals, among others. Continue to the fortress of Ollantaytambo, which was one of the last Inca buildings. Much of the work remained unfinished, the abandoned stones (Piedras Cansadas) being silent witnesses of the battle between Manco II and the conquerors.

At the end of the visit, transfer to the Ollanta train station and continue to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town). Arrival and installation at the hotel.

Nota 1 : Shared service tour with Spanish-speaking guide.

Nota 2: Ollantaytambo - Aguas Calientes trip by economy class train. IMPORTANT: Train companies only allow you to carry hand luggage (a backpack or travel bag). Suitcases should be kept in storage at the hotel in Cusco.

Nota 3: Transfer on foot in Aguas Calientes (there are no vehicles in the town).

 Night at the hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast.

Early in the morning, ride a minibus up to 2,400m above sea level, where you will find the Inca city, intact and long forgotten. It was discovered in 1911 by the American anthropologist Hiram Bingham. The history and function of the citadel remain a mystery to this day. Built on top of a mountain in an absolutely magnificent place, between the peak of Huayna Picchu “young peak” and Machu Picchu “old peak”, you will be enchanted by the beauty of the place and its mystical character. Guided tour of the citadel and free time on site.

In the afternoon, return by train to Cusco and transfer to the hotel.

Nota 1 : Private service tour with a Spanish-speaking guide.

Nota 2 : Aguas Calientes — Cusco trip by economy class train. If there were no available trains to Cusco, the route would be Aguas Calientes — Ollantaytambo followed by an Ollantaytambo — Cusco transfer by private transport.

 Overnight at the hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast.

Free tomorrow. In the afternoon, departure to the Monastery of Santo Domingo built on the imposing “Koricancha Temple” or “golden temple”, which during the Incanate period housed sacred relics from all over the territory. Today, the Koricancha preserves some of its rounded polished stone walls, which are considered to be the best work of art of the Inca era. Continue to Loreto Street to get to the Plaza de Armas. Visit the Cathedral, built in 1534 with large blocks of red granite extracted from Sacsayhuaman. The Renaissance-style façade contrasts with its lavish Baroque and Plateresque interior. Continuation with a visit to the surrounding ruins: Sacsayhuaman. Due to the shape of its construction, the conquerors thought that it was the fortress that defended Cuzco. It is composed of 3 terraced walls 300 m long. More recent studies lead us to believe that it was a religious center. Tambomachay: Inca construction composed of terraces and stairs, also called “Inca Baths” due to its numerous perfectly polished stone springs.

PukaPukara: which means red fortress due to the color of the stones with which it was built and its strategic location (panoramic view from the road). Q'enko, a religious temple with a complex shape carved in rock. It represents the three worlds of Inca cosmology: sky, earth and subsoil.

Overnight in Cusco.

Meals Included: Breakfast.

At the right time, transfer to the airport. Assistance with boarding procedures for your international departure flight. (flights not included).

Nota 1 : Hotel—airport transfer by private shuttle with assistance

Nota 2 : Assistance at Lima airport to make the connection.

Meals Included: Breakfast