- Exploration
and Trekking - 16 days
- From April
to November - Private
- English/Spanish
speaking
Along the way......
This 16-day circuit full of secrets to be shared… you will discover the main attractions of this extraordinary country.
Lima, the region of the legendary Lake Titicaca - the highest navigable lake of the world, Cusco and its Sacred Valley, the most charming of walks which in no way lack interest... that of Huchuyqosqo allowing you comfortable acclimation through surprising landscape, this before attacking the trail of Salkantay, ancient "Apu" Inca (sacred Andean mountain), whose majestic snow-capped summit reigns supreme at a height of 5,373 meters...then to finish in beauty, we enter the citadel of Machu Picchu.
Day 1 : LIMA / RECEPTION
Reception upon arrival at Jorge Chavez airport, in Lima.
Transfer to the hotel.
Meals open.
Day 2 : LIMA – CUZCO (BY PLANE)
Transfer to the Lima airport for a flight with destination Cuzco, heart of the Incan Empire.
Reception at the airport and transfer to the hotel.
Rest to help acclimatize to the altitude and remainder of the day open.
Meals open.
Please note: Visitors are not accompanied by a guide on this flight. Timetable and specific airline details to be communicated to visitors upon arrival in Peru.
Day 3 : CUZCO / COMPLETE CITY TOUR
Day dedicated to the discovery of Cuzco and its surrounding areas.
In the morning, visit of the archaeological sites overlooking the city: Tambomachay, Q’enko, Pukapucara and Sacsayhuaman. We then walk down to the San Blas quarter (the artists’ place). We pass by the famous 12 angles stone and continue to the San Pedro market to familiarize ourselves with local products.
In the afternoon, visits of the Koricancha (Temple of the Sun), and of the Cathedral, exhibiting some paintings from the School of Cuzco and many goldsmith’s art, silver and precious stones treasures.
Transfer to the hotel at the end of the afternoon.
Meals open.
Day 4 : CUZCO - TAMBOMACHAY – QORI QOCHA – UCHUY QOSQO/ TREK
In the morning, departure in a private vehicle for Tambomachay, the start of our trek.
Walk along Lake Qori Qocha. Cold lunch and then continuation of the walk to the ruins of Uchuy Qosqo (or ‘Little Cuzco’).
Night on the site, with an unobstructed view over the Sacred Valley.
Meals included.
Hiking time: around 7 hours.
Day 5 : UCHUY-QOSQO – LAMAY – SACRED VALLEY / TREK
Morning dedicated to the visit of the archaeological site.
In the early afternoon, foot descent to the River Vilcanota at an altitude of 2890 meters a.s.l. (el. 9,480 f.a.s.l.), and arrival at the village of Lamay. Transfer by bus to Urubamba, and then to the hotel in Yucay.
Hiking time: around 3 hours (descent)
Day 6 : SACRED VALLEY - PISAC – OLLANTAYTAMBO – SACRED VALLEY
In the morning, departure in a private vehicle for Pisac.
Visit of the site and descent by foot to the handcraft market.
Typical lunch and then continuation of the journey to Ollantaytambo.
Visit of the fortress and transfer to the hotel.
Lunch included. Dinner open.
Day 7 : SACRED VALLEY – HOT SPRINGS (LARES) – HUACA WASI / TREK
In the early morning, departure for the Lares Valley.
We go over the Huaca Pass Casi, at an altitude of 4400 metrers a.s.l. (el. 14,435 feet), and arrive at the hot springs of Lares.
Walk to the camp, at Huaca Wasi (at an altitude of 3600 meters a.s.l. / el. 11,811 feet).
Transfer: around 5 hours;
Hiking time: around 3 hours;
Temperatures: low at night.
Day 8 : HUACA WASI – IPSAY PASS– LAGOON ISPAYACOCHA - PATACANCHA / TREK
Hiking day with a first stop at the Ipsay Pass. Continuation to the Ispaycocha Lagoon, and descent to Patacancha, at 3650 meters a.s.l. (el. 11,975 feet). During the hike, we come across various Andean communities and we can observe alpacas, llamas and vicunas.
Hiking time: 6 to 7 hours;
Temperatures: low at night.
Day 9 : PATACANCHA – WILLOQ – PUMA MARCA - OLLANTAYTAMBO – AGUASCALIENTES / TREK
Continuation of the descent down to Willoq (at an altitude of 3400 meters a.s.l. / el. 11,154 feet). We cross the site of Cochamarca and visit the Inca site of Puma Marca where we have lunch.
Continuation towards Ollantaytambo on a trail on the sides of a hill.
Evening train to Aguascalientes. Arrival at the hotel.
Hiking time: around 5 hours.
Day 10 : AGUASCALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU - CUZCO
In the early morning, we take the shuttle for the citadel of Machu Picchu. Day dedicated to the visit of the site; one of the wonders of the world, discovered in 1911 by the American anthropologist Hiram Bingham.
In the afternoon, return by train to Cuzco.
Reception and transfer to the hotel.
Meals open.
Suggestion: Ascent to the peak of Huayna Picchu (make sure that you are wearing comfortable shoes and that you are not carrying a heavy load. People suffering from vertigo should not participate) or climb to the La Puerta del Sol.
Please note: train timetables to be communicated to visitors upon arrival in Cuzco.
Day 11 : CUZCO / DAY OPEN
Day open in Cuzco, at the heart of the Inca Empire.
Night in hotel.
Meals open.
Day 12 : CUZCO - PUNO (TITICACA) (TOURIST BUS)
In the morning, transfer to the Cuzco land terminal.
Journey by bus to Puno, town located on the shores of Lake Titicaca.
Wonderful landscapes along the road. We go over the Raya Pass, at an altitude of 4320 meters.
Visits of the Pukara Museum, of the archaeological site of Raqchi and of the “Sistine Chapel” of the Andes in Andahuaylillas. Reception and transfer to the hotel in Puno.
Lunch included (buffet restaurant at Sicuani). Dinner open.
Note: visitors are not accompanied by a guide on the bus journey. However, a Spanish/English-speaking guide, exclusive to the bus company, participates to the journey and gives information along the way.
Option: the Andes Orient Express operates from November to March on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays (and also on Fridays from April to October).
Day 13 : PUNO – UROS – AMANTANI – (TITICACA)
In the morning, transfer to the port of Puno to embark for the islands of Uros and Amantani. After a 25-minute cruise, we visit of the floating islands. These islands are not natural; they have been built by the Uros tribe, whose main activity is fishing.
We then head for Amantani (around 2½-hour cruise).
Lunch at a local resident’s place.
In the afternoon, visit of sites dedicated to the Pachamama and the Pachapapa.
Lunch, dinner and night at a local resident’s place (all included).
Day 14 : AMANTANI –TAQUILE – PUNO (TITICACA)
In the morning, departure by boat for a one-hour cruise to Taquile, an island of great cultural interest, where residents live in harmony with the ancestral traditions.
Visit and lunch in a typical restaurant (not included). Back to Puno in mid-afternoon.
Transfer to the hotel.
Meals open.
Day 15 : PUNO - SILLUSTANI – JULIACA - LIMA (BY PLANE)
Transfer to the Juliaca’s airport for a flight to Lima, the Peruvian capital.
On the way, visit of the Chullpas of Sillustani, funerary towers circular in shape, built in stone, some of which exceeding twelve yards in height.
Reception and transfer to the hotel.
Meals open.
Please note: visitors are not accompanied by a guide on this flight. Timetable and specific airline details to be communicated to visitors upon arrival in Peru.
Option: for a city tour of Lima – contact us.
Day 16 : LIMA / INTERNATIONAL RETURN FLIGHT
Three hours before take-off, transfer to Jorge Chavez airport in Lima.
Connection with the international return flight.
Meals open.
Included:
All tours mentioned in this program
Private English-speaking guide
Aforementioned transport: domestic flights, trains
Private transfer to airport / station / bus terminal / hotel with Spanish-speaking chauffeur
Entrance to sites, museums and natural parks
Hotels with double or triple room including breakfast
Aforementioned meals
Guide expenses (transport, hotels, meals, etc…)
Not Included:
International return flight
Individual equipment (sleeping bag, torch lamp, etc…)
Obligatory travel insurance
Entrance fees if mentioned
Drinks
Tips
Airport tax ($US 6 per person for national flights, $US 30 per person for international flights)
Aforementioned free meals