Project Description
Machu Picchu & Lake Titicaca
10 Days / 9 Nights
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
[Places Visited] Lima, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Cusco & Lake Titicaca
[Tour Length] 10 Days
SUMMARY
Day 1: LIMA
Welcome at Lima Airport and transfer to your comfortable hotel.
Day 2: LIMA
Morning at leisure.
Lunch at traditional local restaurant.
Afternoon City Tour & Larco Herrera museum.
Meals: B,L
Day 3: LIMA – CUSCO – SACRED VALLEY
Transfer to Lima Airport for your flight to Cusco.
Welcome at Cusco Airport and transfer to the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
Full day tour. Visit Chinchero town & Moray complex.
Meals: B,Picnic L
Day 4: SACRED VALLEY
Full day tour. Discover Hatuncancha & Ollantaytambo
Meals: B,Picnic L
Day 5: SACRED VALLEY – MACHU PICCHU
Morning transfer to Ollanta station to board Vistadome Valley train to Machu Picchu.
Tour at Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary (3 hrs approx.)
Meals: B,L,D
Day 6: MACHU PICCHU – SACRED VALLEY – CUSCO
Morning optional sunrise and / or hikes at Machu Picchu.
Afternoon board Vistadome Valley train to Ollanta station and transfer to your comfortable hotel.
Meals: B,L
Day 7: CUSCO
Morning City Tour (Qoricancha – Temple of the Sun, Saqsaywaman, Qenqo, San Pedro Market & San Blas Artists neighbourhood).
Unforgettable lunch at Villa Tipon & Andean Offering Ceremony.
Afternoon explore Tipon Archaeological Site.
Meals: B,L
Day 8: CUSCO – JULIACA – PUNO
Transfer to Cusco Airport for your flight to Juliaca.
Welcome at Juliaca Airport and transfer to your comfortable hotel.
On the way route visit Sillustani stone towers.
Meals: B
Day 9: PUNO
Morning visit the Uros islands on Lake Titicaca
Afternoon explore Lake shores: Chucuito village & Fertility Temple
Meals: B,L
Day 10: PUNO – JULIACA – LIMA – OUTBOUND
Transfer to Juliaca Airport for your flight to Lima.
Welcome back to Lima Airport and assistance with your flight connection.
Meals: B
Note: Subject to availability and change without prior notice.
Welcome to Peru! Upon arrival in Lima, after clearing Immigration and Customs you are met and transferred to your hotel. Lima, the Peruvian Capital, was founded by Spanish conqueror Pizarro in 1,535 like the “City of the Kings”. As the starting point for most travelers, it has developed a great variety of destinations to visit like the historical and archaeological centers, museums, festivities, nightlife and art galleries. Steeped in history, Lima strives to maintain a balance between modernism and tradition.
Day 2: LIMA
Welcome to Peru! Upon arrival in Lima, after clearing Immigration and Customs you are met and transferred to your hotel. Lima, the Peruvian Capital, was founded by Spanish conqueror Pizarro in 1,535 like the “City of the Kings”. As the starting point for most travelers, it has developed a great variety of destinations to visit like the historical and archaeological centers, museums, festivities, nightlife and art galleries. Steeped in history, Lima strives to maintain a balance between modernism and tradition.
(B, L)
Day 3: LIMA – CUSCO – SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS
Today you are transferred to Lima’s airport for an hour flight to Cusco, where you are welcomed and start descending gradually into the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Along the route, visit the colorful native town of Chinchero, which is believed to be the mythical birthplace of the rainbow. Witness an amazing ancient weaving demo in this village, where weaving traditions are still strong and many weavers still know and use a great variety of techniques and designs of our ancestors. For at least two thousand years Peruvian weavers have experimented with every weaving technique known in the world.
After lunch venture off the beaten path to Moray, which is a series of circular Inca terraces worked into the ground. Local people refer to it as the greenhouse of the Incas and historians think it was used as an agricultural research center. As you descend each layer, so too does the temperature. The Incas may have used Moray mainly to test and develop new crops.
Situated at a lower altitude than Cusco, your hotel provides the perfect environment in which to relax and acclimatize, and an ideal base to explore the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu.
(B, Picnic L)
Day 4: SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS
After breakfast, you start a very especial and unique trip to Hatuncancha community. This is a journey into the past, every moment of it, is like living each page of a millenary book. After a 45 minute drive to the summit of the Andes Mountains you arrive to Hatuncancha. All the villagers, who are direct descendants of the Incas, speak Quechua and dress in colorful red ponchos and shawls, woolen hats decorated with cheerful red ribbons, trousers, and rubber sandals. Their remarkable apparel is usually embellished with elaborate, darker colored patterns, which they can read like books and that are records of the most important aspects of their rich culture.
They welcome us into their homes, which have stood in the exact spot since the Incas ruled the area. Enjoy their warm hospitality, learn about their ancient way of life and even have the opportunity to participate in this family’s everyday life, working side by side with them as they knit, weave, perform the farm chores, tend the livestock, cook traditional dishes, learn some words from their native Quechua language and enjoy lunch prepared with same ingredients as Incas did. This lifetime experience takes you back in time 1000 years into the past!
In the afternoon, visit Ollantaytambo, the oldest continuously occupied settlement in the Americas, which demonstrates the best surviving example of Inca city planning. The complex consists of a number of ascending terraces alongside which runs a path that provides entrance to the high ceremonial area. There is a large number of chambers which are made of rough blocks of stone. This ancient complex was originally a Temple and later used as a fortress by some Incas to repel the attack by the Spanish conquerors. This important Inca site is a great example of magnificent stonework.
(B, Picnic L)
Day 5: SACRED VALLEY – MACHU PICCHU
This morning you are transferred to Ollanta rail station to board the train to Machu Picchu. The Vistadome Valley service includes carriages with panoramic windows which enhance the impressive scenic view. During the journey – 1.5 hours – a light snack is provided. You arrive at Machu Picchu town and are transferred to Machu Picchu Archaeological site by shuttle bus.
Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary Excursion
Explore the enigmatic complex of Machu Picchu accompanied by your expert guide, who leads the way through the site, providing varied information on key areas of interest, including Intihuatana or Sun Dial, the Sacred Plaza and the Temple of the Sun. The story of Machu Picchu is very interesting. It’s still unknown what the site exactly was in terms of its place in Inca life. Some scholars believe that Machu Picchu was a summer country resort for elite Incas. However, other theories affirm that Machu Picchu was one of the greatest ceremonial centers in the entire Inca Empire.
You may enjoy the last sun rays at Machu Picchu or relax at your comfortable hotel for the balance of the day.
(B,L,D)
Day 6: MACHU PICCHU – SACRED VALLEY – CUSCO
After breakfast, you may witness a breathtaking sunrise in Machu Picchu and enjoy this amazing place for a second time. For the most adventurous ones, we suggest to go up the Huayna Picchu Mountain (reservation required) from where you can appreciate the immensity of Machu Picchu, even more amazing being high and distant. It’s an exciting adventure for the travelers who want to see, from the top, the nature and the carved stone emerging from the ground. Less demanding and beautiful hikes are also available such the Sun Gate or the Inca Bridge.
After lunch, board the Vistadome Valley train back to the Sacred Valley and continue by road all the way to your hotel in Cusco.
(B,L)
Day 7: CUSCO
This morning discover Cusco City, which was the capital of the vast and impressive Inca Civilization. Explore the Qorikancha or Sun Temple, now referred to as Santo Domingo Church. The curved stonework of the temple is probably unequalled in the world which probably was covered with gold during the Inca period. Then, visit the impressive archaeological sites around the city: Saqsayhuaman, an Inca complex with huge stone constructions, where the Inti Raymi or Festival of the Sun is held every June. Sacsayhuaman has a great cosmic energy – that is why people think it was an astronomic observatory and an Inca oracle. Explore also Q’enqo, a place used for ceremonial purposes, fertility rites and celebrations of the solstice and equinox. Once back to the city, visit the very colorful San Pedro market and finally proceed to San Blas, the Artisans’ Neighborhood of narrow and high streets, visit its beautiful little plaza and discover unique workshops.
Around noon, continue to Villa Tipón, an exclusive retreat located just outside the city of Cusco. This unique and beautiful Villa is set in the midst of awe inspiring mountains, which incredible gardens full of vividly colored flowers invite you to take a relaxing stroll. Enjoy an unforgettable typical lunch followed by an Andean offering performed by an Andean shaman.
In the afternoon visit Tipón – The Water Temple, a little-known jewel of the Inca Empire and its extensive ruins which include baths, terraces, irrigation systems and a ceremonial complex. The site represents great mastery of irrigation and hydraulic technology. The Inca engineers of Tipón designed buildings, 13 integrated central terraces, waterworks, hundreds of other terraces and massive structures to be visually and functionally harmonious with their surroundings.
(B, L)
Day 8: CUSCO – JULIACA – PUNO
You are transferred to Cusco Airport for your flight to Juliaca, where you are welcomed and transported to your hotel in Puno. On the route, visit the pre-Inca necropolis of Sillustani, located on top of a small peninsula above Umayo lagoon. We start a soft trek to the top of the peninsula, where most of the ancient Chullpas are located. A Chullpa is an ancient Aymara funerary stone tower originally constructed for a noble person or noble family. Chullpas are found across the high plateau in Peru and Bolivia. The tallest are about 39 feet high. Many alpacas and llamas are also part of this impressive Andean atmosphere.
For the remainder of the day, we recommend you to have a siesta, take it easy and drink plenty of liquids in order to get used to the altitude.
(B)
Day 9: PUNO
Located between Peru and Bolivia, Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world and one of the most fascinating destinations in Peru. Situated at a very high altitude, at 12,507 feet above sea level, Lake Titicaca is considered a sacred place for the Inca civilization, since according to Andean belief, this lake gave birth to the sun, as well as the father and mother of all the Incas, Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo.
This morning you have an excursion on Lake Titicaca to the remarkable floating reed island – built on layers of totora reeds – home to the Uros Indians, who still live as their ancestors did a thousand years ago, depending on the resources of the lake for their living. The Uros themselves dwell on the floating islands they build with the lake’s reed vegetation which are very skillfully interwoven. There are in total about 50 floating islands, located inside the bay of Puno in an area declared as a National Reserve.
After lunch, explore Chucuito Town at the banks of Lake Titicaca. During Colonial times, this traditional village was the headquarters of the “Real Cash Desk”. Besides its richly ornamented colonial religious temples, the main highlight is the pre-Inca temple of Inca Uyo, since it was dedicated to the cult of fertility and probably used as well as an astronomical observatory for the Incas.
(B,L)
Day 10: PUNO – JULIACA – LIMA – OUTBOUND
Today you are transferred to Juliaca Airport for your flight back to Lima, where you are met and assisted with your connecting flight.
(B)
| 5 Stars US $ 4,375 |
4 Stars US $ 3,520 |
3 Stars US $ 3,250 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Lima | JW MARRIOT Deluxe Room |
CASA ANDINA PRIVATE Superior Room |
CASA ANDINA SELECT Traditional Room |
| Sacred Valley | TAMBO DEL INKA Superior Room |
PAKARITAMPU Standard Room |
CASONA YUCAY Superior Room |
| Machu Picchu | INKATERRA Superior Deluxe Room |
EL MAPI Deluxe Room |
INTI INN Standard Room |
| Cusco | CASONA INKATERRA Suite Patio |
NOVOTEL Contemporary Room |
CASA ANDINA CLASSIC Superior Room |
| Puno | CASA ANDINA PRIVATE Lake View Suite |
CASA ANDINA PRIVATE Lake View Superior |
SONESTA POSADA Standard Room |
* Pricing per person based on double occupancy
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