Lima - Arequipa - Colca Canyon - Puno - Lake Titicaca - Cusco - Machu Picchu - Lima

 

South Peru offers a unique combination of natural beauty and cultural heritage. In this two-week program, we have concentrated on selecting the best historic sites (Cusco, Machu Picchu, Arequipa, Lima) and places of unique nature (Colca Canyon, ​Titicaca Lake).

 

DAY 1: ARRIVAL TO LIMA

Arrival to Lima and transfer to hotel.

 

DAY 2: LIMA

This day we will discover Lima, both pre-Columbian (Huaca Pucllana) and colonial (The Monastery of Saint Francis, Plaza de Armas and others). In addition to the historical sites, we will visit a restaurant that offers a selection of the finest Peruvian cuisine.

 

DAY 3: LIMA - AREQUIPA

We will fly to Arequipa known as the "White City" (the "sillar" stone blocks of the volcanic origin were used to build the buildings), and in the afternoon we will take part in the City Tour. We will start exploring the Santa Catalina Monastery, founded in 1580. We will also visit the frozen mummy Juanita, a young Inca girl sacrificed to Gods in the Inca times. Later we visit the Jesuit Church, Yanahuara Square, from where we will enjoy the view of the El Misti volcano, which towers over the city.

 

DAY 4: AREQUIPA - COLCA CANYON

Our tour starts at 3.00am in the morning by picking up at the hotel and transporting to Chivay, the gate to the Colca Canyon. We will drive through the Pampa Cañahuas Nature Reserve, where we will see alpacas, llamas, and maybe vicuñas. On the way we will have the chance to see the surrounding geological formations, the non-active and active volcanoes. In the afternoon we arrive in Chivay, where we will have dinner. Later there will be an opportunity to relax in the local thermal springs.

 

DAY 5: COLCA CANYON

At 7.00am we board the bus which takes us to La Cruz del Cóndor along a path stretching the edges of the Colca Canyon, the deepest canyon in the world, 4100m. We will stop several times and enjoy the beautiful views of the Canyon. The guide will explain the history and present of the Canyon's inhabitants. We will climb to the famous La Cruz del Cóndor - from where there is a magnificent view of the canyon and the sailing Andean Condors, the second largest terrestrial bird species.

 

DAY 6: COLCA - SILLUSTANI - PUNO

After breakfast we set off to Puna. On the way, we make a stop in Las Lagunillas (4400 m), mountain lakes with flamingos. The last stop will be Sillustani, an archaeological complex, the most important necropolis in the world. We will see burial towers called Chullpas - huge monuments at an altitude of 4000 meters above sea level on the banks of the beautiful lake Umayo. Upon arrival to Puno, we stay and relax at the hotel.

 

DAY 7: PUNO - UROS - AMANTANI

At 7.30am, we pick you up at the hotel in Puno and we get to the local lake harbor where a cruise ship will be waiting for us and will bring us to one of Uros' floating reed island. A representative of the local population will explain everything about the life of the local community and demonstrate the construction of floating reed islands. After completing the visit to the island of Uros, we will arrive after a three-hour cruise to Amantani Island. Here, we will be divided in to small groups, and local families will take care of us during our stay on the island. Then we head to the top of the mountain at a height of 4,120 masl to visit two temples: Pachamama and Pachatata. After dinner, prepared by "our" family, we will go to the local "community centre" and experience one evening full of local music and dances.

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DAY 8: AMANTANI - TAQUILE - PUNO

At 8.00am, after the breakfast prepared by our "family", we will go to the harbor and after one hour of cruise we will arrive in Taquile Island. Here we will be able to explore the island and see the people of the local community well-known by the weaving fabrics and their sophisticated patterns. These hand-made cloths are included in the World Heritage by UNESCO. After the lunch on the island we return to Puno after 3 hours of boat cruise and get to our hotel at approximately 4pm.

 

DAY 9: PUNO - CUSCO

After breakfast we start our trip to Cusco. On the way, we will enjoy the surrounding natural scenery, first to be dominated by so-called pampas - plains, and as we will be approaching Cusco, the majestic Ands. Upon arrival at Cusco, we stay at the hotel.

 

DAY 10: CUSCO

This day we take a walk around the city, visiting sights and markets. We will have lunch and dinner in typical Cusquean restaurants. In the afternoon we take part in the Cusco City Tour, we will visit the Incas and colonial monuments in Cusco itself and its surroundings (Sacsayhuaman, Puca Pucara, Tambomachay).

 

DAY 11: THE SACRED VALLEY - AGUAS CALIENTES

At 7am we take the private bus to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. We will visit archaeological complexes and market in Pisac. We will pass through the valley to the city of Urubamba, where we will have lunch and later we will continue to Ollantaytambo. Here we will visit the Inca fortress that spans the valley. Then we will board the train Vistadome to Aguas Calientes. There we will have the dinner and overnight in the hotel.

 

DAY 12: MACHU PICCHU - CUSCO

Early in the morning, we'll go on a tour of the "Lost City of Incas" - Machu Picchu. We will explore its temples, the Inca Bridge, or climb up to the Huayna Picchu where we will experience an unforgettable view of Machu Picchu. In the afternoon we will return to Aguas Calientes, where we will have lunch and take the Vistadome train back to Cusco

  

DAY 13: SOUTHERN VALLEY or MARAS MORAY

Option 1:

At 8.30h we will pick you up at the hotel and take you to the Southern Valley. Throughout the journey we will be able to watch the surrounding Andean Highlands. The first stop will be a magnificent church in the village of Andahuaylillas. This little church, a small jewel of colonial architecture, is called the Sistine Chapel of America for its decoration. Inside, there is an impressive collection of canvases, mainly the so-called Cuskean school, wall paintings, baroque altars and the world-famous five-language gate. Next, we head to the Pikillacta archaeological complex, which literally means "flea city". It is an ancient fortified fortress built by the culture of Wari and was one of the most important centers of Wari culture in its expansion towards Cusco. At the last stop of the cultural and archeological centers of the Southern Valley, we stop at the Tipón archaeological center. This Inca architectural work served as terraces for crop cultivation. Its most precious and most interesting part is the irrigation system built by the Incas, which serves until today. The water is fed from the spring of Pachatusan Mountain and then cleverly distributed over all the terraces. On our way back to Cusco we stop in Oropesa, where we will have the opportunity to taste and buy the famous Chuta bread. After the tour, we return by bus to Cusco at about 14:30.

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Option 2: We will visit Salt Mines in Maras and Moray Incas circular agricultural terraces.

 

Dinner and farewell to Cusco.

 

DAY 14: CUSCO - LIMA

Transfer to the airport in the morning for the flight to Lima. Return to your home country or continue traveling as a part of an extension program according to your individual preferences.