9 Days a Journey through the lost city of the Incas

DAY 1.- ARRIVAL IN CUSCO & CITY TOUR.

Bienvenidos! Welcome to Peru. Your adventure begins with a welcoming greeting at Cusco airport to transfer you to your hotel.

In the afternoon your local expert guide will collect you from your hotel for a tour of the Cusco city ” The Puma City” starting out at the Santo Domingo convent monastery. This former colonial monastery was previously the Qoricancha Temple, also known as the “Temple of the Sun” or where the gold shines. One of the most important temples devoted to the worship of the sun (“in our ancient language “Quechua” the Sun is called INTI”). According to the chronicles, it was covered in gold leaf and filled with golden representations of nature. Your next stop will be the Plaza de Armas or the main plaza of Cusco.

Finally we are going to visit Cusco’s central market, a wonderful way to discover the Andean culture and daily life. This vibrant spot, with its dazzling displays of fresh produce and fascinating local products, could keep you entertained for hours.

Places That Are Visited:

• Santo Domingo Monhastery / Qoricanca.
• Main Plaza of Cusco City – Main Square surrounded by the Inca palaces.
• Central Market Of Cusco.

Then meet for our briefing with your tour guide to get acquainted with our itinerary. The evening is free for your own food adventures. Your leader will have plenty of suggestions!

Lodging: Cusco – Sonesta Hotel Cusco ****  or similars.

DAY 2.- SACRED VALLEY & TRAIN TO MACHUPICCHU.

Guiding you through to the fertile Sacred Valley, once the spiritual and commercial heartland of the Inca Empire. You will be collected from your hotel by your expert, local guide and private vehicle to be driven firstly to The Animal Sanctuary of Cochawasi, located in heart of the valley: here we may observe many of the native Andean species such as the puma, Andean cóndor, alpacas, and many more.

Your next stop will be the Incan fortress of Pisaq. where you can see the biggest Inca cemetery with more than 2000 tombs. There we can admire the incredible farming terraces carved into the mountain and the religious area of this important citadel.

After Pisac we head to Urubamba where we have a delicious  buffet lunch (Not Included).  Then we continue on to Ollantaytambo, the oldest continuously occupied town on the American continent. The narrow streets of Ollantaytambo, along with their canals, have not changed much from the time of the Inca Empire, giving you a feeling of what it would have been like to live during this time.

In the afternoon we will board the train to Machupicchu town.

Lodging: Aguas Calientes – Machupicchu.

Waman Hotel Machupicchu *** o similars.

DAY 3.- PRIVATE TOUR OF MACHUPICCHU WITH OVERNIGHT.

After a delicious breakfast at the hotel your private guide will take you on a comprehensive tour of the Machupicchu citadel, really bringing it to life by detailing the history, significance and myths surrounding it as well as taking you to the hidden corners and best viewpoints. Then after your guided tour, you’ll enjoy a delicious lunch before an afternoon at your leisure. You can explore the areas around Machu Picchu or carry on exploring the ruins.

Return in the evening to overnight at your hotel in the Machu Picchu area.

Optional:

The trek to the peak of Huayna Picchu: Huayna Picchu is the mountain that stands next to Machu Picchu. It is a 45 minute hike to the top. Going back down is quite steep, if you are scared of heights. This is done after your tour of Machu Picchu. The cost is $35 per person to hike. Arrangements need to be made at least one month in advance, due to popularity.

Difficulty: Moderate to challenging.

The trek to Machu Picchu Mountain: It has the most spectacular view, It is a 1.5 hours hike to the top. Located to the southwest of the citadel of Machu Picchu with a height of 3,050 m (10,007 ft.), This trek offers unparalleled views of the famous Inca sanctuary and also panoramic views of the surrounding mountainous landscape. The cost is $35 per person to hike.

Difficulty: Moderate to challenging.

Lodging: Aguas Calientes – Machupicchu.
Waman Hotel Machupicchu *** or similars.

DAY 4.- MORAY – MARAS SALT MINES – CHINCHERO & ANDEAN WEAVING CENTER.

In the morning we will board our train to Ollantaytambo and then we will begin our tour visiting to Moray, an ancient construction designed for agricultural investigations and studies of different crops in a range of altitudes. Here the many concentric “rings” of terraces produce a fine gradient of micro-climates; the warmth of the lowest central ring slowly dissapates as the rings ascend outward and upward, creating reductions in temperatures until reaching the ground-level norm.Your next stop will be The salt mines of Maras, which is about 2 miles away. This village is known as a former salt-producing center that is thought to date back all the way to pre-Inca times. There are over 3000 salt pools all carved into the mountain side, being filled daily by a little stream of water.

Finally We will visit Chinchero, on this site we will appreciate the Inka walls that are very well preserved in the main square as well as many altars directed to the four cardinal points. We will also visit the beautiful colonial church, unique for its work of art. Continuing, we will participate in a wonderful exposition of Andean weaving art; During the weaving we will become familiar with the wisdom of Andean weavings, such and as they are maintained long before Inka times.

Lodging:  Chinchero Boutique Hotel*** or similars.

DAY 5.- DAY AT LEISURE IN CUSCO.

Explore the beautiful city of Cusco at your own pace with a day at leisure.

Lodging: Cusco – Sonesta Hotel Cusco ****  or similars.

DAY 6.- DEPARTURE TO PUNO – ROUTE OF THE SUN.

In the morning we will depart from the bus terminal and head towards Puno. This is a special journey by bus which allows us to visit the many diverse locations along the way on the route of the sun. There will be planned stops to visit the following:

Andahuaylillas: (the sistine chapel of the Americas, this temple is one of the best examples of the fusion between Catholic and Andean religions)

Raqchi: A Inka temple dedicated to the god Wiracocha, construction of monumental dimensions, an estimated 100 meters long, 26m wide, 14m high. This is the only known temple dedicated to the God Wiracocha, creator of the Universe.

La Raya: Midway point on our journey and highest point on the road – 4335 m.s.n.m. The impressive views here allow us to admire the rugged high altitude, full of tall peaks, many of which are snow-capped, and herds of llamas, alpacas and vicuñas. This is the geografic border between two cultures, the Quechua of Cusco and the Aymara of Puno.

Pucara: This ceremonial center is one of the oldest and most important of the high plains, well known for its lithic structures and tombs.

We are going to arrive to Puno around 5:00pm. At the bus station in Puno, a member of the hotel will be there waiting for you holding a sign board with your name on it to transfer you to our hotel. So, all you need to do is just look for your name.

Lodging: Puno – Qalasaya Hotel**** or similars.

DAY 7.- FLOATING ISLANDS OF UROS & AMANTANI ISLAND.

A full day of boat excursion afloat Lake Titicaca. We will visit the ancient culture of the Uros and step foot on their floating islands. The islanders will give us a presentation about their lifestyle upon their man-made islands, built using the totora reed which grows among the shores of the lake. We will learn about their existence on these small islands and how they have adapted to its conditions.

Continuing across the lake we will arrive to the island of Amantani. Here we will meet the Quechua families that will offer us a cosy home-stay style lodging and prepare us traditional food for lunch. After lunch we will make the short ascent to the two hilltops of the island while observing the daily lifestyle of the local people. Atop of the island we will visit two ancient pre-Inka temples, Pachatata and Pachamama (father & mother cosmos). In the evening after dinner the community members will hold a small welcoming party for us.

Lodging: Amantani Island (HOMESTAY).

DAY 8.- TAQUILE ISLAND & BACK TO PUNO.

After breakfast on Amantani we will board the boat again to make the short trip to the neighboring island of Taquile. Here we will ascend the beautiful stone paths to the community, a small and quite shy population, not to mention very hard-working and wise, a culture full of art and tradition. Taquiles’ people are cheerful and proud of their origen and culture, happy to share with us the beautiful atmosphere of island life upon the immense lake Titicaca.

Lodging: Puno – Qalasaya Hotel**** or similars.

DAY 9.- PUNO – JULIACA – FLY TO LIMA.

A brief transfer from Puno to the neighboring city of Juliaca. Upon arrival in Lima there will be assitence for an international connecting flight, or if prefered, transfer for a hotel.

End of the tour!!!

INCLUDED:

• 8 night’s accommodations with ( 6 nights with 3 stars hotels, 2 nights with 4 stars hotels and 1 night in a Homestay in the Tititcaca Lake.
• 8 breakfasts,2 lunches and 2 family dinners.
• Meet and greet airport service.
• All transportation.
• All transfers.
• Train to Machu Picchu.
• Tourist ticket.
• Buses to Machu Picchu.
• All entrances in Cusco.
• Andean village visit.
• Completely private tour of Machu Picchu and Cusco.
• Entrances to Machu Picchu.
• Bus to Puno.
• Uros,Amantani,Takile tours.
• Turistic bus to Puno.
• Tour leader during whole trip.
• Full support from your Travel Concierge before, during and after your trip.

NOT INCLUDED:

• International flights.
• Meals where are not stated.
• Gratitudes.
• Huayna Picchu entrance fee US$35.
• Travel Insurance – you are strongly recommended to take out travel insurance for the duration of your trip.

THINGS TO BRING:

• Original Passport.
• Current University Card (if you are a student and want to qualify for the discount).
• Waterproof jacket / rain poncho.
• Warm jacket.
• T-shirts.
• Comfortable Trousers.
• Sun hat.
• Sun cream (factor 35 or higher).
• Insect repellant.
• Personal medication.
• Camera and film.

THIS TOUR RUNS ONLY AS A PRIVATE SERVICE!
****Daily Departure with at least 2 people****

DEPARTURE DATES:

• As long as we meet our minimum of two people, our Incredible Adventure Tours can leave any day of the week, twelve months a year.