CIRCUIT: LIMA, AREQUIPA, PUNO AND CUSCO 11 DAYS

WONDERFULL DISCOVER CIRCUIT: LIMA, AREQUIPA, PUNO AND CUSCO

11 DAYS 10 NIGHTS 

When Peruvians talk about the turquoise of Lake Titicaca, they proudly observe that the lake is so big that it has waves. The most sacred body of water in the Andean world separates and connects Peru and Bolivia, the two countries you will visit in this personalized tour package.

You will start in Cusco and the Sacred Valley, the heart of the Inca Empire, which at its height, dominated the entire length of the Andes. You will visit Machu Picchu, built in the mid-1400s as the royal hacienda of the powerful Inca king Pachacutec and later abandoned after the Spanish conquest.

Lake Titicaca marks the midpoint of this tour. You will sail across the vast blue lake, stopping at Uros and Taquile to witness the ancient traditions of the oldest living cultures of the Andes.

Short Itinerary

  • DAY 01:  LIMA
  • DAY 02: LIMA - AREQUIPA
  • DAY 03: AREQUIPA – CHIVAY (HOT SPRING OF LA CALERA)
  • DAY 04: AREQUIPA – PUNO (COLCA CANYON)
  • DAY 05: PUNO / TITICACA / UROS & TAQUILE ISLANDS
  • DAY 06: PUNO – CUSCO (ROUTE OF THE SUN)
  • DAY 07: CITY TOUR CUSCO + 4 NEARBY RUINS
  • DAY 08: SACRED VALLEY FULL DAY TOUR
  • DAY 09: CUSCO – INKATRAIL TO KM 104
  • DAY 10: MACHUPICCHU “THE SUNRISE EXPERIENCE”
  • DAY 11: CUSCO – LIMA

Remember to book a hotel night in Machupicchu Pueblo to avoid setbacks and fatigue during your visit to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu.

Important information about picking up passengers in the cities of Lima, Arequipa, Cusco and Puno: If your hotel is located where our buses cannot enter due to the narrowness of the streets or because it is an inaccessible place one of our staff will go to your hotel to pick you up and guide you to the location of the transport (car, van or bus)

 

DAY 1:  LIMA

Flight to Lima. Welcome, reception and transfer to the select hotel. Overnight in Lima. Lima

 

DAY 2: LIMA - AREQUIPA

   LIMA - CUSCO

Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the airport to take the flight to Arequipa.

Upon arrival in Arequipa we will be received and transferred to the hotel. We have as an option the rest of the day to enjoy the beautiful streets, fantastic Plaza de Armas and Museums of the White City of Arequipa. It is possible to take the Excursion de la Campiña Arequipeña described below.

Optional excursion to the Arequipeña countryside tour

In the afternoon at 02:00 pm we will be picked up from our hotel to start the excursion to La Campiña Arequipeña. This interesting tour includes a visit to the most beautiful architectural monuments and viewpoints that surround the white city. We will drive our mobility to the outskirts of the city where we will first visit the beautiful Mirador de Sachaca, which will offer us a beautiful natural panorama of Arequipa and its volcanoes.

Then we will drive our vehicle to the Founder's Mansion, a beautiful construction from the colonial era where the founder of the city of Arequipa García Manuel de Carvajal lived in the 15th century. Finally we will travel through a spectacular Andean landscape and we will reach the Molino de Sabandia, an impressive construction based on volcanic rock known as sillar, where you can see an old stone mill that was built in the year 1785. Our excursion concludes at 06:00 pm in the city center.

We will have the night in Arequipa.

DAY 3: AREQUIPA – CHIVAY (HOT SPRING OF LA CALERA)

SACRED VALLEY

08:00 am - 08:30 am Departure to Chivay. We will start our tour on the road to Yura, where we will admire the natural and cultural landscape of that area, then we will border the Chachani volcano and we will pass through the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve until we reach Pampa Cañahuas, in this place the guide will explain about the flora and fauna of the area, here we will appreciate the natural habitat of the South American camelids within them LA VICUÑA. Continuing with the tour on the way, a small stop will be made in Patahuasi (house on top) to take the coca tea. Immediately we will continue the trip to the bofedales where we will observe different species of birds both local and migratory to the area according to season, then we will continue to Patapampa, the highest point of the trip located at 4900 masl approx. Also known as the Mirador de los Andes, here you can see different volcanoes such as Misti, HualcaHualca, Sabancaya, Ampato, Ubinas and Chachani.

At noon we will be arriving at the town of Chivay where we can have lunch and then move to the hotel, we will have time to rest and then continue to the Calera thermal baths. These outdoor baths have thermo medicinal water that will make us enjoy a magical moment after the bus tour in the morning.

We will return to the hotel to rest and spend the night in the town of Chivay.

DAY 4: AREQUIPA (COLCA CANYON) – PUNO

CUSCO PUNO

  06:00 am. approx. After having breakfast we will head towards the Mirador de la Cruz del Cóndor, where you can see the majestic flight of the condors and the depth of the canyon. On the way we will make a stop in the town of YANQUE to observe its colonial church, Wititi dances as well as the typical costume of the area. On the way back to Chivay we will visit the towns of PINCHOLLO, MACA, ACHOMA, in which the guide will explain their different customs in the area as well as the Lito models, colonial churches and terraces. 11:30 am approx. Arrival to Chivay. 11:45 am approx. lunch 01:30 pm approx. We will board the bus to Puno. The bus makes stops en route and we can appreciate a little more of the fauna and flora on the way to Lake Titicaca. We will be assisted and transferred to the hotel upon arrival in Puno.

DAY 5: PUNO / TITICACA / UROS & TAQUILE ISLANDS

PUNO: TITICACA LAKE

At 7:00 am we will be picked up from the hotel and transferred to the port of Lake Titicaca, where our local guide will be waiting with the boat to start our adventure on Lake Titicaca. Once we have left, our guide will explain important points of this great lake, and a few minutes later we will arrive at the famous floating islands of Los Uros. Here we will stop at one of the Islands, visit its inhabitants and learn about the customs of these communities that live for years in the highlands. Later we will return to the boat and continue our trip towards the Taquile Island. The boat trip lasts approximately 3 hours. Taquile is a huge island that is characterized by its beautiful fabrics. Here visitors will be able to observe how the people of the island make ponchos, belts, gloves and other typical high Andean garments, all made by hand. In order to get to the top of the Island, we will have to walk along a beautiful, slightly inclined path that offers spectacular views of the lake. Here we advise you to walk slowly and take it easy, since you are walking over 3800 meters high. After approximately 45 minutes we will arrive at the center of Taquile, where we can rest and visit a small site museum, which shows through photos important aspects of the life of the people of Taquile. Our group will have lunch in a typical restaurant around the plaza. After lunch, visitors will have free time to visit the weaving workshops and take photos with the islanders. Later we will descend towards the pier and we will start our return trip to Puno, arriving in the city at approximately 05:00 pm. We will spend one night at the hotel in Puno.

DAY 6: PUNO – CUSCO (ROUTE OF THE SUN)

06:15 am pick up from the hotel and transfer to the bus station in the Puno bus terminal

During our tour that lasts approximately 10 hours we will have 4 excursions and guided visits to the tourist attractions of the southern corridor of the altiplano visiting the temple of Andahuaylillas or Sistine Chapel of America, the Inka temple of Raqchi, the passage of the Raya at 4335 masl and the Inka Aymara museum in Pukara. Each visit lasts 20 to 40 minutes, where the passenger can ask questions, take photos and explore the attraction at their own discretion, making this experience an unforgettable activity.

We will be arriving in Cusco at 4:30 p.m. being picked up and transferred to the hotel where we will spend the night

DAY 07: CITY TOUR CUSCO + 4 NEARBY RUINS

LIMA - CUSCO

Free morning to acclimatize or make some purchases.

City tour in Cusco

01:00 pm pick up from the hotel, at 13:30 pm start of our tour of the city, where our professional guide will provide us with detailed information of all the tourist attractions we will visit, will be attentive to any questions and / or needs that each of our visitors require.

The places we have to visit are. The main temple of the Sun also known as the "Qoricancha", "Sacsayhuaman" known as the head of the Puma in reference to the fact that the City of Cusco had the shape of a Puma in Inca times and the head of this cougar was exactly Sacsayhuaman, immediately We visit Qenqo, temple in honor of the mother earth or Pachamama, we continue through Pucapucara or entrance control center to the Sacred city of Cusco, later we visit Tambomachay Inca resting place and at the same time temple to the natural element of Water.

Night in Cusco

DAY 08: SACRED VALLEY FULL DAY TOUR

SACRED VALLEY

8:00 am Pick up from your hotel to start our tour of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, we will be leaving the city to go through the Sacsahuaman archaeological park and arrive at the Taray viewpoint, a wide viewpoint from where you can see the beautiful Inca terraces and the current cultivation land which surrounds the sacred river of the incas "Willcamayuc", later we visit the archaeological park of Pisaq, we will also visit the indigenous market of Pisaq, the quality is very colorful as the local inhabitants come to sell or acquire local products that the population needs. The Pisaq indigenous market is the best place to shop for handicrafts and souvenirs. After a continuous free time we will continue our journey towards Ollantaytambo, known as the last living Inca city. Ollantaytambo reminds us of a critical story of Love, a drama that makes love prevail over all obstacles, believes that this city was built by General Inca Ollantay in a moment of rebellion against the Inca's royal army to obstruct his union with the beautiful princess Cusi Qoyllor "beautiful star". We continue with our guided tour and arrive at Chinchero, where its colonial and Inca temple reflects the current syncretism of these 02 great cultures, Chinchero is also known for its great weavers, who perform beautiful works with Inca techniques. Lunch on this tour is included in the Urubamba village. We continue our trip and return to Cusco, through abundant farmland Arrival in Cusco at 19:00 pm, approximately time when you will be at the door of your hotel or place that you indicate.

DAY 09: CUSCO – INKA TRAIL TO KM 104  

TREKKING KM 82 “PISCACUCHO TO WAYLLABAMBA”

Breakfast in the hotel.

Transfer by ITEP Van, from Cusco to Train station, later train service to Km 104 “Inca Trail Entrance”.

Trekking Km 104 “Chachabamba to Inti Punku, the Sun Gate

Today our trek takes us along the most impressive stretch of the Inka Trail. We'll visit beautiful Inka sites, see a variety of flora and fauna and get to take in the fantastic panoramas of the Andes mountains. Covering 16km of the trail our journey begins in the Sacred Valley and works its way up along an original Inca Trail to the Inca site of Wiñay Wayna before continuing on to Machu Picchu via the Sun Gate (Inti Punku).

As we make our way to Machu Picchu we'll pass through the lush and verdant cloud forest that covers the mountain and get to see a variety of plants, flowers and birds along the way. We may also see some larger mammals such as Viscachas (rabbit-like Chinchillas) and Spectacled Bears (if we are very lucky).

After a full day trekking we'll arrive to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) in the late afternoon and get our first views of Machu Picchu spread out on the mountain below. The light at this time of day is great for photos because there are few tourists so it's a perfect time to take some pictures of the site. After we've passed through the Sun Gate, we'll carry on along the trail a little way before taking a side trail that leads us to Aguas Calientes, in the valley below where we'll check in to our hotel.

Meals: Box Lunch and dinner.

Accommodation: Overnight in Aguas Calientes town. (Hotel on request)

Distance: 16kms/10 mls (6 hours more or less of hiking)

Difficulty: Easy/Moderate.

Walking Time:     Approximately 6 hours (including picnic lunch en route)

Walk and Terrain: Walk, canter on open roads, some steep ascending trails

DAY 10: MACHUPICCHU “THE SUNRISE EXPERIENCE”

TREKKING “WIÑAYHUAYNA – INTI PUNKU & MACHUPICCHU GUIDED TOUR”

Waking up early (04:00am) we’ll take one of the first buses back up to Machu Picchu to enter the site as soon as it opens (06:00am) we’ll have 2-hours guided tour in the site where you'll learn about the Inkas and visit all the most important areas of the citadel. After your tour, you'll have free time to explore the site by yourself and if you have permits to climb either Huayna Picchu (2 hours round trip) or Machu Picchu Mountain (3 hours round trip).

You will also have time to indulge in a few of the following activities on your own if you choose (not included in the price)

  • Climb up Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain and appreciate the beauty and magnificence of Machu Picchu from there.
  • Other optional activities in Aguas Calientes are a visit to the new local museum or bathe in the hot springs.

Back to Cusco: You will descend to Aguas Calientes by bus and later board the Expedition train to the Ollantaytambo Train Station “Train departure time can vary according train schedule and availability”. In Ollantaytambo Train station you will meet our private van and be transferred to your hotel in Cusco.

Meals: Breakfast (If you booked the hotel with us) Distance: 8.9kms/5.5mls “By Bus in 25 minutes”

Difficulty: Easy waking

*** Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountains hike depends on availability; please let us know if you want to add one of these extra hikes at the time of your booking.

*** We only take ITEP EcoTravel passengers in our small vans / auto – We do not use public transport.

 DAY 11: CUSCO – LIMA

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer hotel - airport. Flight Cusco – Lima. (NOT INCLUDE) Arrival to Lima. Waiting at the airport for international flight.

 

INCLUDES

  • Transfer of entry and exit at each destination.
  • 01 nights accommodation in Lima with breakfast
  • City tour in Lima Traditional
  • 04 nights accommodation in Cusco with breakfast
  • 01 nights accommodation in Arequipa with breakfast
  • 01 night accommodation in Aguas Calientes Town
  • 01 night accommodation in Chivay
  • Full Day Sacred Valley + Buffet Lunch
  • Camino Inca 2d/1 noche + Visit Machu Picchu + Lunch
  • Conssetur down the first day, and bus round trip in the second day.
  • Train Ollantaytambo - Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytambo.
  • Just to 4 or 5 stars hotels options, in the return have a Vistadome train and buffet lunch in Tinkuy at Sanctuary Lodge.
  • 02 nights accommodation in Puno with breakfast
  • Full Day Lake Titicaca + Typical lunch.
  • Transfer out hotel Puno to the airport in Juliaca – Puno.

DOES NOT INCLUDES:

  • Not mentioned meals
  • Domestic flights Puno - Lima

GENERAL CONDITIONS:

  • Rates expressed in US dollars, per person.
  • Guided in Spanish or English.
  • Shared service
  • Subject to availability, does not apply for holidays such as Easter, Inti Raymi, National Holidays, Christmas New Year and other festivities of the place).
  • The order of the tours may vary.
  • Pick - ups are given from downtown hotels, if they are outside the pickup area, cost will be added for transfers outside the center

 

Traveler Reviews

Maria
Lima, Perú
Gran experiencia que combina lo maravillo de la naturaleza con la aventura, la visita a las Islas Ballestas fue espectacular con el Candelabro y los lobos marinos y estar en Huacachina haciendo buggy sandboarding y ver el atardecer es maravilloso. Todo es perfecto en este lugar, definitivamente lo recomiendo.
Pablo C
Córdoba, Argentina
Cumplieron con todo lo prometido. Excelente experiencia. Los super recomiendo Me quedé con ganas de conocer más cosas. Seguramente el próximo año volveré
Kriss A
Realmente muy contenta con el servicio brindado, hicieron que tenga una estadía sin preocupaciones y sobre todo la puntualidad. Gracias a nuestro guía que hizo más amena la visita, nos sentimos en casa.

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