MACHU PICCHU & LAKE TITICACA

9 days

Gaze in wonder as the early morning mist gently clears, and a fiery sun rises over the majestic Machu Picchu, casting its golden light on the mysterious lost city of the Incas. Sail through the clear blue waters of the massive Lake Titicaca and explore the floating islands of Uros, home to indigenous people who will reveal their intriguing ways of life. Discover the fortress of the legendary Chief Ollantay where tales of forbidden love and extraordinary defeats still linger. All of these unique sites are for your eyes to behold as you make your way through the mystical country of Peru, with passionate local guides by your side. Marvel at the beauty of Lima, the City of Kings, proudly displaying elaborate colonial buildings and lush avenues. Dive into the archeological legacy in Cusco where Warriors Square and Korikancha Temple offer profound insights into a rich culture with deep historical roots. In this fascinating land, you will come face to face with ancient mystery, thriving local traditions, vibrant cultures, and exquisite cuisine. Experience Peru, the land of the Incas!

Book now

Itinerary

Lima - Airport (Arrival)

Welcome to Lima International Airport. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by your local Travelous representative who will be holding a sign with your name printed on it.

Transfer in a private vehicle with an English-speaking driver from the Airport to your hotel overnight.

Lima - Airport (Depart)

Transfer in a private vehicle with an English-speaking driver from your hotel to Lima Airport.

Lima - Cusco (1 hr, 21 min)

Flight from Lima to Cusco. The duration is 1 hour and 21 minutes.

Cusco - Airport (Arrival)

Upon arrival at the Cusco Airport, transfer in a private vehicle with an English-speaking driver to your hotel.

Cusco & Surrounding Ruins

In the early afternoon, enjoy a private tour of Cusco and its surrounding ruins. This captivating exploration of the city begins with a visit to Cusco's Main Square, known in Inca times as "Huyacaypata" or "The Warrior's Square". This was the location of key political and cultural events in Cusco's history.

The next stop is the great Cathedral, built between 1560 and 1664, with large stones of red granite that were taken from the Inca Fortress of Sacsayhuaman. Next, tour the gold-plated Korikancha Temple, an important place dedicated to sun worship. Afterward, continue to the ruins above Cusco: Kenko, Puca Pucara, Tambomachay, and the Sacsayhuaman Fortress, an imposing example of Inca military architecture.

Sacred Valley (Lunch Included)

Bask in the glory of the Sacred Valley through a full-day tour of its alluring attractions. Visit the Pisac Ruins, set high above the valley (9,700ft), by patterned fields and rimmed with terraces. Its stonework and panoramas from Pisac ruins are quite striking. Continue to Maras Salt Terraces, the glistening salt mines where local communities extract salt and which have been in use since pre-Columbian times. Visit the archaeological site of Moray, where Andean terraces built on retaining walls filled with fertile soil and watered via an intricate irrigation system, once offered more than 250 different types of vegetables and cereals, such as corn, quinoa, and kiwicha for the population.

In the afternoon, you will visit the Ollantaytambo Ruins (9,160ft), named in honor of Chief Ollanta, who was famous for courting an Inca Princess, daughter of Pachacutec. This ancient fortress contains the well-preserved area known as Hanan Hucaypata, which lies north of the main square and includes 15 houses, built with elegantly crafted stone walks.

You will also have the opportunity to visit Chinchero, a vibrant community nestled in the mountains. Its main attraction, however, is its Sunday Market, which was originally dedicated to the barter of produce by the people of the valley. Today it is a hub of pulsating activity with its colorful range of produce, handicrafts, and textiles made in pre-Columbian style.

This morning your private guide will greet you at reception. Together you will transfer by private vehicle to the town of Ollantaytambo, approximately 20 minutes away. Being a few minutes from the train station that will lead you to Machu Picchu; you will enjoy a site of marvelous Inka engineering built on the steep slope of a mountain ridge. Explore its adjoining living town, water canal system, and courtyards dating back to the middle of the 15th century.

You will have around 40 minutes to visit the archaeological park of Ollantaytambo, another jewel of Inca engineering. Afterward, you will transfer to the train station (5 min. away). There you will board the train to Machu Picchu, in the company of your private guide.

Ollantaytambo - Machu Picchu Pueblo (1 hr, 30 min)

Travel to Aguas Calientes on board the Vistadome Valley Train, accompanied by your private guide. The duration is 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Explore Machu Picchu (Lunch)

Enjoy a private exploration of Machu Picchu, a citadel considered to be one of the most extraordinary examples of landscape architecture in the world, lost to time until it was re-discovered in 1911 by the explorer Hiram Bingham. Located in an enclave on the saddle of a mountain, overlooking the deep canyon of the Urubamba River, in an area of lush tropical forest, it served as a place of worship, a site for star-gazing, and was once a private estate of the family of the Inca Emperor Pachacutec. It consists of two main areas: one agricultural and the other urban, which is noted for its sacred zone with its temples, squares, and royal tombs.

After the tour, you will take the bus to Aguas Calientes town, escorted by your private guide.

Morning at Leisure

Enjoy a leisurely morning to explore Machu Picchu at your own pace. Entrance Ticket and roundtrip - bus ride included.

Machu Picchu - Poroy (3 hrs, 30 min)

Board the Vistadome train to Poroy station. The duration is 3 hours and 30 minutes.

Poroy Train Station - Cusco (Arrival) (30 min)

Transfer in a private vehicle with your guide from Poroy Train Station to Cusco overnight. The duration is 30 minutes.

Morning at Leisure

Enjoy this morning at leisure to take in the city's captivating cultural, historical, and architectural possibilities.

Second Entrance Ticket Included

Time: To be determined.

Cusco - Puno via Andahuaylillas, Raqchi, La Raya

Enjoy a scenic full-day journey from Cusco to Puno (12,421 ft) with guided visits of several cultural gems en-route.

Visit the crowned jewel of the Andahuaylillas District, San Pedro Apostol Church, a beautiful building displaying Baroque and Mestizo architecture, an architectural style that originated in Cusco. This church is known as the " Sistine Chapel of the Americas" because of its rich decoration and baroque frescoes.

Continue to Raqchi; the archaeological site includes a temple built by the Incas to worship the god Wiracocha. This magnificent edifice is made of stone and clay, 92 meters long and 25 meters wide; it dates back to 200 BCE.

After lunch near Sicuani, continue along to La Raya, the midpoint between Puno and Cusco, and the area with the highest altitude during the trip. On this mountain pass, marvel at the vastness of the snowy landscapes and the distinctiveness of local fauna (llamas, alpacas, and vicuna). It also is the meeting point of two ancestral cultures, the Quechua and Aymara. La Raya, at 14,000 ft, displays unique scenery that is specific to the area and different from that in Puno. Visit Alcra Pukara Museum, located 140 miles north of Puno, in a town inhabited by native people who are highly involved in the production of ceramic crafts.

The museum showcases a series of intriguing objects that have been found in the exploration of this center.

Full Day Uros & Taquile (Lunch)

Explore the wondrous Uros and Taquile Islands of Lake Titicaca by boat.

The tour begins with a visit to the Uros Islands, a group of 40 big island-like packs made of floating totora reeds. These islands, located within the Titikaka National Reserve, are where the Uros, dwellers of the lake, continue living like their ancestors did, preserving their customs and culture but, above all, their system of communal life.

You will then navigate towards Taquile Island, another enchanting island in the middle of the enormous Lake Titicaca. Visiting Taquile Island, catch a glimpse of the exceptional customs and traditions of the indigenous inhabitants and an understanding of how native peoples manage to sustain themselves so far away from the modern world.

Puno - Juliaca (53 min)

Transfer in a private vehicle with an English-speaking driver from Puno to Juliaca. The duration is approximately 53 minutes.

Juliaca - Lima (1 hr, 34 min)

Flight from Juliaca to Lima for your departure home. The duration is 1 hour and 34 minutes.

Unfortunately, we say goodbye to you today. Keep the memories alive and we hope to see you in Peru again soon. Stay Travelous!