Jan
min : 20°C
max : 26°C
We Love —
- Enjoy a private tour through the spectacular cities, villages, and valleys of Peru.
- Visit some of the world’s most beautiful sites including Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley, and visit the indigenous people of the Uros Islands and discover ancient Inca traditions.
- Stay in a selection of hand-picked hotels with a daily breakfast.
Your Destinations —
Your Itinerary in Brief —
Day 1: Arrive into Lima
Day 2: Lima (Breakfast)
Day 3: Lima - Arequipa
Day 4: Arequipa - Puno - Sillustani En Route
Day 5: Puno - Lake Titicaca - Taquile Island
Day 6: Lake Titicaca: Taquile Islands & Uros - Puno
Day 7: Puno - Cusco
Day 8: Cusco - Sacred Valley - Chinchero - Ollantaytambo
Day 9: Sacred Valley - Machu Picchu - Ollanta Station - Cusco
Day 10: Cusco - Walking City tour & San Pedro Market
Day 11: Cusco
Day 12: Cusco - Departure to Lima
Your Itinerary —
Day 1: Arrive into Lima
Upon arrival at the airport, you will receive a transfer to your hotel. Overnight at a selected hotel in Lima.
Day 2: Lima (Breakfast)
Breakfast at the hotel. Visit Lima's Downtown, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO where you will know the Cathedral of Lima, located in the Main Square, the most important church in Peru built between 1542 and 1622, and one of the several beautiful colonial buildings, which constitutes an important part of the identity of the city. Then walk towards the Aliaga House -viceregal house delivered by Francisco Pizarro to one of his captains (Jeronimo de Aliaga) when the city was established- a jewel of colonial architecture currently inhabited by family members. Continue your tour by visiting the Church of Santo Domingo, built in the late sixteenth century, which has several viceroy altars and sculptures showing different periods and aesthetic manifestations. Then you will be transferred to the districts of San Isidro and Miraflores for a panoramic view, and make a brief stop at the Love Park before moving on to your hotel. Overnight at a selected hotel in Lima.
Breakfast at the hotel. You are transferred to the airport. Flight to Arequipa. Once you land in Arequipa, a transportation service will take you to your hotel. Then, after a representative informs you about the attractions and services the city has to offer, go enjoy a tour of the town.In the afternoon, you will visit Arequipa´s Main Square, one of the most beautiful in Peru. Front facing this square you will see the imposing Cathedral, built in the seventeenth century.
From there go to the Monastery of Santa Catalina, a cloister and small religious citadel built in 1579, still in use to date. Then, visit the Church of La Compañia de Jesus (1590), considered a classic example of local baroque architecture that houses an exceptional exhibition of paintings and murals. Finally, visit the districts of Yanahuara and Carmen Alto for a panoramic view of the Arequipa countryside.
Overnight at selected hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel. The journey from Arequipa to Puno passes through almost surreal scenery. You leave the city via Yura, a district characterised by its rugged scenery, through the Pampa Cañahuas Reserve, an extensive plain where you can see vicuñas, an indigenous Andean camelid. At Patahuasi you take the turn-off to Sillustani via Imata, Lagunillas and Santa Lucía. At Sillustani, a peninsula jutting into Lake Umayo, you can visit a necropolis that is one of the largest in the world, with more than 90 "chullpas": huge and primitive stone mausoleums more than 12 metres high, with their tops wider than their bases. The road to Puno is a magical journey across the Andean plateau, through petrified forests and emerald lakes.Overnight at the selected hotel in Colca on bed and breakfast basis. Lunch included. Overnight at selected hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel. Motorboat excursion to Taquile Island on Lake Titicaca, inhabited by quechua speaking natives who have developed over several generations both an efficient and original social system and a fine handweaving technique. Lunch at a typical restaurant.In the evening, enjoy some traditional hospitality having dinner and staying at home of local islanders for the night.
Overnight at selected hotel.
Day 6: Lake Titicaca: Taquile Islands & Uros - Puno
After breakfast, start off the morning leisurely and stroll by the quaint streets of this colorful island. In the afternoon, go on a motorboat excursion over Lake Titicaca to visit the interesting and unique floating islands of the Uros. The Uros are an ancient culture that inhabits a series of artificial islands built using reeds growing in the lake itself. These are constructed by weaving reed in the areas where it grows thicker and thus forming a natural layer. Return to Puno in the afternoon.
Overnight at selected hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel. At the agreed time, a transportation service will transfer you from your hotel to the bus station where you will be assisted by a representative. The ride to Cusco is set to have interesting stops on route. The first stop will be made in the town of Pucara and the Pucara Lithic Museum. This was the first urban settlement on the highlands, a civilization that populated the area between 100 and 300 B.C. After a brief break at La Raya, the highest pass on our way to Cusco (at 4313 m.a.s.l), the bus stops at Sicuani where lunch is served. We then head on to Racchi, where Wiracocha Temple, an Inca site built in honour of Wiracocha, a powerful Andean God, is located. The rectangular construction shows thatched rooftops 20 meters above the ground, which are thought to be the highest in the Inca Empire. Later we visit the Church of Andahuaylillas, known as the "Sistine Chapel of the Americas" due to the high-quality pieces of art it shelters. The church was built during the XVI century on top of Wari remains. Today it houses a beautifully restored Colonial organ. Finally, a short 40 kilometers drive gets us to Cusco at the end of today's journey. Overnight at selected hotel.
Day 8: Cusco - Sacred Valley - Chinchero - Ollantaytambo (75km - 1.5 hours)
Breakfast at the hotel. During the morning, you are picked up from your hotel to visit the town of Chinchero*, a traditional Cusco urban centre located at an elevated point with a beautiful view of the valley. The inhabitants of this area preserve the artisan traditions and the inherited knowledge of the Incas and display them in their clothes and customs. In Chinchero there are also archaeological remains and a beautiful seventeenth-century church, one of the first Catholic buildings in Peru. Then, you are transferred to the Living Museum of Yucay, a centre of Andean handicraft traditions, where demonstrations of the elaboration of textile work, adobe, pottery and silverware are carried out in the same way in which they used to in ancient times; an original recreation of Incan traditions. In addition, you may be able to feed the ´residents´ at this museum. These include llamas, sheep and alpacas! Later, have lunch in Ollantaytambo and enjoy a superior Andean gastronomy experience in Chuncho restaurant, where the true spirit of the Sacred Valley radiates in a cosy atmosphere. Upon arriving in Ollantaytambo, visit its town, inhabited uninterruptedly since Inca times, and climb the iconic fortress, built next to a mountain. At the end of this activity, you are transferred back to your hotel. *On Sundays, also visit the local market. Overnight at the selected hotel in Sacred Valley on bed and breakfast basis. Lunch included.
Breakfast at the hotel. Your tour to Machu Picchu begins with a train ride to Aguas Calientes. This town is also known as "Machu Picchu Pueblo" and is the last stop before the entrance to the most important archaeological site in Peru. In Aguas Calientes you can see the train station, a crafts market, restaurants and accommodation of different categories for those who prefer to spend the night at the foot of the mountain and climb it early. Finally, after a short transfer, reach Machu Picchu, a masterpiece of engineering and architecture that is believed served as a sanctuary and retreat for the Inca Pachacuti. Machu Picchu, which means "Old Mountain", is considered a World Heritage by UNESCO and one of the New Seven Wonders of the world. At the end of the tour, return by bus to Aguas Calientes and have lunch at Café Inkaterra. Return by train to Cusco during the afternoon. Overnight at the selected hotel in Cusco on bed and breakfast basis. Lunch included.
Breakfast at the hotel. Today you will participate on a walking tour starting at the Coricancha Temple, one of the most important buildings in the city. It was one of the most important centers of worship to the Sun God of the Incas that was converted into a convent after the arrival of the Spanish. Then visit the wonderful Cusco Cathedral, built between 1560 and 1664, and end the tour visiting the San Pedro market, a pantry of thousands of products from different areas of the region. Finally, you will return to your hotel.* The visit to San Pedro market can be replaced by a visit to Casa Concha, an old colonial mansion that houses an impressive collection of Inca pieces from Machu Picchu. Overnight at the selected hotel in Cusco on bed and breakfast basis.
Day 11: Cusco
Breakfast at the hotel. Day at leisure to explore on your own. Overnight at the selected hotel in Cusco on bed and breakfast basis.
Day 12: Cusco - Departure to Lima
Breakfast at the hotel. A transportation service transfers you from the selected hotel to the airport. A representative assists you during the journey.
Your Hotels —
Our members will have a choice of Standard category or Superior category hotels (or similar). They will be accommodated in a Standard Room with Bed & Breakfast.
Standard Category Hotels
Arequipa: Standard Andean House or similar
Puno: Hacienda Puno or similar
Taquile Island: private house or similar
Cuzco: San Francisco Plaza or similar
Sacred Valley: Hacienda Valle or similar
Superior Category Hotels
Arequipa: Casa Andina Select or similar
Puno: Posada del Inca Puno or similar
Taquile Island: private house or similar
Cusco: Sonesta Cusco or similar
Sacred Valley: Posada del Inca Yucay or similar
3 Adults
or
2 Adults
+ 1 Child
Please note: the bed for the 3rd guest sharing is likely to be a sofa bed or camp style bed. If any of these hotels are not available, hotels of a similar standard will be found.
Your Optional Excursions —
Half Day Maras and Moray
Rainbow Mountains
Departure at 4am to Quesoyuni. Visit Japura on the way, a small Andean community and have breakfast there. A hike to Kairawiri, starting point of the hike to the impressive 7-color Mountain. Enjoy the natural spectacle that you have in front of you and the imposing mountains that also fill the landscape of colours. After the 30 to 45 minute visit, go to Kairawiri for a packed lunch. Return by bus to Cusco and transfer to the hotel.
Magic Circuit + Dinner and Show
Cooking in front of the sea
Full day in Palcoyo (the other mountain of the 7 colors)
You will arrive at the starting point of the hike, before climbing to the top of the impressive colorful mountain of Palcoyo.
Balcon del Diablo
After lunch en route, you will visit the Temple of the Moon where you will learn more about the Andean cosmovision and its connection with the stars and the forces of nature. Then you will explore the archaeological complex of Cusilluchayoc. The return to Cusco is made following the route of the old Inca road that went to Antisuyo. You will enter the city through San Blas, an area known for its talented craftsmen, where the hike ends.
Level: moderate
Duration: 8 hours
Maximum altitude: 12358 feet / 3767 m a.s.l.
Walking distance: 10 km
Your Journey —
Flights: You may choose from Economy, Premium or Business class flights on sectors that they operate, at the next stage of the booking process.
The flights included are with either a scheduled or no-frills airline and are subject to live availability and prices can change. You can choose your preferred departure times during the booking process. Please select your flight options carefully as departure and arrival airports may differ.
Transfers: Private transfers are included throughout your tour.
For inbound transfer arrangements please confirm with your transfer provider when you arrive. Alternatively, please check with the reception of your accommodation. If you still require assistance, please call the transfer provider directly.
