Itinerary

Day 01: ...... / Lima (- / - / -)

• From the moment you arrive in Lima, a team member will be waiting for you at the airport and take you, on private transport, to your hotel.
• Then you will have all day to relax and enjoy the beauty of Lima and its surroundings.
• Accommodation in Lima.

Day 02: Cusco City Tour (B/-/-)

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Transfer to the airport and trip to the city of Cusco
• In the afternoon, you’ll have a full Cusco city tour, During the Cusco City Tour you will discover the beauty and the magic of Cusco, the Imperial Capital of the Incas. 
• Our tour Cusco begins, when we’ll first head to the wonderful Cathedral, located on the Plaza de Armas. Built between 1560 and 1654 on top of the foundations of an existing Inca temple, this spectacular cathedral houses many works of art by the Cusco School of painters, and its main altar and pulpit are covered in gold and silver relief work. Look carefully and you’ll also see elements of indigenous religious symbolism incorporated into the church by the native people who worked on its construction, such as the carved head of a jaguar on the doors.
• After visiting the Cathedral, we’ll head Qoricancha, next door to Santo Domingo Church. According to the chroniclers who wrote during the period directly after the Spanish Conquest, the Qoricancha was the most sacred and most important temple in the Inca Empire. Its walls were covered with gold, and life-size statues of plants and animals – all made of pure gold and silver – decorated its rooms and hallways. Sadly, this wealth was stripped out by the Spanish conquistadors.
• After exploring Cathedral and Qoricancha we’ll head up the hill to the Qenqo, Pucapucara and Tambomachay Archeological Complex
• In Tambomachay the exact purpose of this site is unknown, but it may have functioned, at least in part, as an Inca spa. Inca hydro-engineering is apparent here, with a series of aqueducts, canals and waterfalls running through the terraced rocks.
• Our next stop is the imposing Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman, which sits on a hill above Cusco. Here you will see some of the finest examples of Inca stonework and construction, including massive rocks that were carefully cut and perfectly fitted together to form the walls.
• Finally, you will return to hotel.
• Accommodation in Cusco.

Day 03: Cusco - Sacred Valley of the Incas - Machu Picchu (B/-/ -)

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• We’ll pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at 07h30 and then set off on our day trip from Cusco to the Sacred Valley. Here we’ll find ourselves beside the sacred Urubamba River and the pretty village of Pisac. In Pisac, we will visit the colorful traditional market, where you can browse the array of local artisan work and other souvenirs – which of course you can buy to take home with you. We’ll spend about 30 minutes here, and then head up to the ruins of Pisac which sit atop a hill at the entrance to the valley.
• At the Pisac archaeological site, we’ll explore the extensive ruins and enjoy the beautiful views across the valley. You’ll be given a guided tour of the ruins, passing through various structures that once served as homes, storage rooms and temples, and you’ll see Inca altars, carvings, tunnels, caves and the famous Intihuatana, the “hitching post of the sun.” We’ll explore Pisac for about 95 minutes.
• We’ll now head on towards Urubamba, where we’ll stop for about 45 minutes for lunch. After we’ll reach the wonderful Inca town and archaeological site of Ollantaytambo. Ollantaytambo was the royal estate of the Inca emperor Pachacuti, who conquered the region and built the town and a ceremonial center. We’ll spend about an hour exploring these magnificent ruins, visiting the amazing Temple of the Sun and seeing massive blocks of rock that were perfectly carved and polished by master Inca stonemasons. Ollantaytambo is also a fine example of Inca agricultural construction and hydro-engineering, with a complex series of stone water fountains, channels and agricultural terraces, the latter organized by elevation to create different microclimates for crop experimentation.  
• We’ll see the extent of the water system when we return to the town, where fast flowing water channels built by the Incas are still in use today.
• After Ollantaytambo, we’ll drive to train station to board the train to Aguas Calientes also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo. The two-hour train journey is a memorable experience in itself, as we pass through river canyons and rolling hills, then your guide will pick you up from the train station, and we’ll drop you off at your hotel.
• Accommodation in Machu Picchu. 

Day 04: Machu Picchu - Cusco (B/-/-)

• To best appreciated Machu Picchu, we’ll wake up early in the morning so we can get to the citadel in good time. You’ll have time for breakfast first, and then your guide will pick you up from the hotel at around 6:00 a.m. We’ll then walk to the bus departure point for  zigzagging ascent up the road to Machu Picchu. 
• We’ll then pass through the gates into the Machu Picchu archaeological site. Here you’ll begin your guided walking tour with an experienced and highly knowledgeable guide. Our tour of Machu Picchu will last about two hours, and will take you to all the most famous and most spectacular parts of the extensive archaeological complex. And as we walk around, we’ll have spectacular views across the agriculture terraces of Machu Picchu and across to the surrounding mountains and plunging gorges. 
• Once we’ve finished our tour of Machu Picchu, we’ll take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes where you can relax and have lunch before we board the train back to Ollantaytambo. Upon arrival at the station, we’ll be waiting to take you back to your hotel in Cusco.
• Accommodation in Cusco.

Day 05: Maras, Moray and Chincheros (B/-/-)

• Our standard half-day tour to Maras and Moray begins when we pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at around 08h00. First we’ll head to magnificent Moray, the Inca agricultural laboratory. It takes about 1.5 hours to get there, but we’ll be driving through spectacular Andean scenery, passing by yellow wheat fields, picturesque traditional villages and snow-capped mountains.   
• Arriving at Moray, your guide will show you around the three amphitheater-like terraced structures. These terraces, which are carved in a circular series to create a bowl shape, are believed to have been used as a testing ground for various crops, to find the most optimal growing conditions. It’s an incredible sight, and gives real insight into the genius of the Inca Empire. 
• After exploring Moray we’ll head on to Maras, which is just two miles away. Here we’ll see the amazing salt evaporation ponds, which were used by the Incas and quite possibly by pre-Inca civilizations. More than 3,000 salt pools are carved into the mountainside, which catch highly salty water as it emerges from a spring in the mountain. The ponds catch this water, where it slowly evaporates, leaving just the salt behind. This is collected via a communal process, and is most famously used to make sal de Maras, the famous pink table salt. It’s an incredible sight looking down across the salt ponds, which look like they are covered in snow or ice. 
• Next we’ll drive to Chinchero where we’ll spend about 30 minutes visiting the famous church and the massive Inca stone wall in the main plaza, which has ten trapezoidal niches. The colonial church, meanwhile, dates back to the early 17th century, and was built upon the foundations of an Inca temple or palace. The walls of the church are covered in wonderful floral and religious designs. The people of Chinchero are very much connected to the old traditions, and many still dress in colorful clothes that combine indigenous and Spanish influences. After we’ll head back to Cusco, where we’ll drop you off at your hotel.
• Accommodation in Cusco.

Day 06: Puno to Cusco the Sun Route (B/L/-)

• We will pick you up at 07h00 and take you to the bus station to catch the bus to Puno. The bus trip is more like a tour - it stops at four interesting sites along the way where you will have guided tours:
• Andahuaylillas: This is the Sistine chapel of South America: this church is one of the most beautiful examples of Andean popular religious art.
• Raqchi (Wiracocha God Temple): This was an Inca church of monumental dimensions; 100 meters long, 26 meters wide and 14 meters high. The temple is divided into two naves, and each nave has eleven giant columns - huge!
• La Raya: This is the halfway point between Cusco and Puno and the highest point (4335 meters above sea level). The landscapes here are stunning and it is common to see typical Andean animals like the llama, alpaca and vicuña. It is also the geographical border between the two cultures - Quechua and Aymara.
• Pukara: This is the most important and oldest ceremonial center of the altiplano. There are interesting sculptures and tombs. 
• Arrival time to Cusco will be around 5pm.
• Accommodation in Puno.

Day 07: Puno - Uros and Taquile aislands  (B/L/-)

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Our Titicaca adventure begins at 07h30 when we pick you up from your hotel in Puno and head down to the port. We’ll then take a comfortable motorboat out to the floating islands of the Uros people. The artificial islands are located about 14 km from the port, and it takes about 30 minutes to get there – but you won’t be in any rush, as the scenery is spectacular.
• When we arrive at the floating islands, you’ll probably be amazed by the scale of these floating reed constructions. The Uros originally built these islands for defensive reasons: if a threat appeared, they could move their island homes to a safer location. The islands are made from the totora reeds that grow around the lake, and each island is in a constant state of reconstruction, as old reeds are preplaced by new. 
• Stepping onto the islands is quite an experience, as the springy reed floor feels strange beneath your feet. We’ll explore the main island, and see the houses, watchtowers and other structures, all built of reeds. One of the locals will then give a brief presentation about how the islands are made, and then you can meet one of the local families to see how they live.
• Next we’ll board the boat for the wonderful Taquile Island, which is about 1.5 hours away. We’ll arrive at a secluded and picturesque section of Taquile Island, which also has a pristine sandy beach where we can stretch our legs for a while. From which we’ll set off to explore this stunningly beautiful island for at least four hours. We’ll go to the less touristy northern area, where we’ll have spectacular panoramic views across Lake Titicaca. After relaxing here for a while, we’ll hike along a pre-Inca trail, visiting families of weavers to learn about their textile art and the rich symbolism that decorates their textiles. After a traditional lunch in a local restaurant – quinoa soup and grilled trout being particularly popular – we’ll walk to the main port and descend some steps to the pier. 
• After visiting the Uros and Taquile islands, we’ll head back to Puno, where we’ll take you to your hotel.
• Accommodation in Puno.

Day 08: Puno - Chivay  (B/L/-)

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Departure from Puno between 06h00 to 06h30, we’ll drive toward to Chivay Village. We will have a trip around 5 hours with stops on the way to take photographs. You will observe the area called "Lagunillas", where with some luck American camelids maybe take some pictures of flamingos, birds and Andean ducks, on the way we will see Andean landscapes, South American camelids. Continuing on the road we will pass Tocra, a high plain at more than 4,500 meters, where we will observe lakes with migrant birds and get pictures of the Antiplano with its Llamas and Guanacos. The highest point of our tour will be Pata Pampa (Pata=high, Pampa=land) located at 4,820 meters, where we’ll observe the volcanoes Ampato, Sabancaya, Hualca-Hualca, Mismi (the source of the Amazon River), and the Cordillera de Chila. 
• Our next stop will be the town of Chivay, where one end of the Colca Valley begins. The traditional terrace systems found here, built by indigenous inhabitants of the area, are remarkable for their scale and precise construction. Chivay itself was founded by the Spanish, a fact reflected in its church and other colonial buildings. You can have a traditional lunch in the town (not included) before we check in to our hotel. 
• You’ll then have the afternoon to explore the town on your own, and, if you like, visit the hot springs at La Calera, about 3 km from Chivay. Colca Canyon and the Colca Valley are dotted with natural hot springs and thermal baths, thanks to the seismic activity in the region. La Calera has public thermal baths which are said to have healing properties, with temperatures around 38 C (98 F).
• Accommodation in Chivay.

Día 09: Chivay - Cañon del Colca - Arequipa  (B/-/-)

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• First we’ll go to the lookout point known as Cruz del Condor (Cross of the Condor), near the small villages of Maca and Cabanaconde. Here, strong winds rise up from the canyon, providing a favourite spot for Andean condors. They soar on the thermals, often in pairs, normally in the early morning and late afternoon. There’s a good chance you’ll see these huge condors, with their three-meter wingspans, flying very close to the lookout point, providing a truly majestic sight. From the lookout point you’ll also have incredible views down into the depths of Colca Canyon.  
• We’ll then head back to Chivay, first stopping off at the traditional village of Pinchollo and the Antahuilque viewpoint. This viewpoint (or Mirador, as they are known in Spanish) offers wonderful views of the 1,500-year-old agricultural terraces that curve along the hillsides like an amphitheatre. You can also spot some of the enchanting lagoons of the Colca Valley. We will have lunch in Chivay in the afternoon and then begin the journey to Arequipa (4 hours).
• Accommodation in Arequipa.

Day 10: City Tour Arequipa (B/-/-)

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• In the morning we will stop by your hotel and then we will stop to admire some of the city’s most famous buildings, such as the Basílica Catedral de Arequipa. Located on the city’s elegant Plaza de Armas, this huge cathedral has been damaged by earthquakes on numerous occasions over the centuries, but each time it has been rebuilt, becoming ever more impressive. 
• After exploring the Plaza de Armas and surrounding streets, we’ll head to the famous viewpoint of Yanahuara. With its carved sillar stone arches, this beautiful viewpoint offers sublime views across Arequipa and beyond to the volcanic peaks of Misti, Chachani and Pichu Pichu. Yanahuara was built the 19th century and stands next to the pretty San Juan de Yanahuara, a Baroque church built in 1750. Engraved into the sillar stone of Yanahuara are the names of notable people who have lived in Arequipa during the last two hundred years. 
• After exploring the Plaza de Armas and surrounding streets, we’ll head to the most famous attraction in Arequipa: the 16th century Santa Catalina Monastery, which opened to the public in 1970 after nearly 400 years as a cloister. For a nun to enter the monastery, they first had to prove their Spanish origin and pay a dowry of at least 1,000 gold pesos. Once inside, they were largely cut off from the world within the sprawling monastery, which is like a little town all of its own, with narrow streets, gardens and different sections for sleeping, cooking and prayer. The monastery covers an entire city block, and exploring its picturesque alleyways and rooms is quite an experience.
• When the restoration of the Monastery began, before it opened to the public, a great collection of primarily religious paintings was found, some dating to the Viceroyalty of Peru. Some 400 works were restored, revealing influences from Italian and Spanish schools of art, as well as excellent examples of the Cusco School. The most important paintings are displayed in two immense rooms inside the monastery, with high vaults, in the shape of a cross, from which the plaster has been removed to reveal the Sillar walls.
• At the end of our program we will transfer you to your hotel.
• Accommodation in Arequipa.

Day 11: Cusco/Lima (B/-/-)

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• After breakfast free time, at an appropriate hour transfer of departure to airport, bus or train station. 

B: Breakfast / L: Lunch / D: Dinner