Along the way......

"Las joyas del Peru" meaning "the jewels of Peru" is an itinerary during which you will discover the most incredibly beautiful sites of Peru in combination with cultural visits and hiking.
Have a good trip!

Day 1 : LIMA / RECEPTION

Reception upon arrival at Jorge Chavez airport, in Lima.
Transfer to the hotel. Meals open.

 

Day 2 : LIMA – AREQUIPA (BY PLANE) – HALF-DAY CITY TOUR

Transfer to the Lima airport for a flight with destination Arequipa, the White City. Reception and transfer to the hotel.
Afternoon dedicated to the discovery of the city: visit of the colonial center and the Santa Catalina Convent. Back to the hotel at the end of the day. Meals open.
Note 1: Visitors are not accompanied by a guide on this flight. Timetable and specific airline details to be communicated to visitors upon arrival in Peru.
Note 2: Visit of the Convent with a specialized guide.

 

Day 3 : AREQUIPA – CABANACONDE (el. 3290 m.a.s.l.) – SAN JUAN DE CHUCCHO (el. 2400 m.a.s.l.)/ TREK

Departure in a private vehicle for the Colca Canyon. We reach Cabanaconde.
We start our hike in the heart of the Pampa San Miguel after lunch. We descend along the Canyon until we reach the small village of San Juan de Chuccho. Night in a rustic Auberge (basic comfort). Meals included.
Hiking time: about 3 hours

 

Day 4 : SAN JUAN DE CHUCCHO (el. 2400 m.a.s.l.)/ – SANGALLE (el. 2220 m.a.s.l. /OASIS) / TREK

Program of the day: visit of the village of Tapay, via hamlet where locals grow regional fruits, and harvest the cochinilla. Lunch in Cosnihura in the house of a local inhabitant.
Arrival at the Oasis of Sangalle where we relax in the thermal waters. Night in a rustic Auberge (basic comfort). Meals included.
Hiking time: about 5 hours

 

Day 5 : OASIS – CABANACONDE – CHIVAY - AREQUIPA / TREK

Early departure for Cabanaconde. We then head for the Cruz del Condor (30mn from Cabanaconde). We arrive at Cruz Del Condor to observe the condors (two-hour stay on the site).
Then, continuation of the journey, following the left bank of the river, to Chivay. Arrival in the hotel at Yanque or Chivay. Option of a bath in the hot springs of the village.
Lunch open. In the early afternoon, we catch the local bus for Arequipa and transfer to the hotel.
Hiking time : about 4 hours environ

 

Day 6 : AREQUIPA – PUNO (TITICACA) (BY BUS)

In the morning, transfer to the Arequipa land terminal.
Journey by bus to Puno, town located on the shores of Lake Titicaca. This itinerary gives you the opportunity to discover the rather unusual landscapes of the Altiplano.
Reception and private transfer to the typical village of Llachon, which overlooks Lake Titicaca, at 3820 meters above sea level (12532 feet). Felipe and his family welcome us in their community. Evening meal and night in the community. Lunch open.
Note 1: visitors are not accompanied during the journey. 5-hour of travel time.
Note 2: timetable and specific transport company details to be communicated to visitors upon arrival in Peru.

 

Day 7 : 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 8 : LLACHON – TAQUILE - PUNO (TITICACA)

In the morning, departure for the small port of Llachon, the start of the 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 by boat at the end of the afternoon. Reception and transfer to the hotel. Meals open.

 

Day 9 : PUNO – CUZCO (TOURIST BUS)

Transfer to the Puno land terminal. Journey by bus to Cuzco, Navel of the Inca Empire.
This itinerary allows you to enjoy wonderful landscapes along the road, via the Raya Pass, at 4320 meters above sea level (14173 feet). Visit of the Pukara Museum, the archaeological site of Raqchi and the “Sistine Chapel” of the Andes in Andahuaylillas.
Reception and transfer to the hotel in Cuzco. Lunch included (buffet lunch 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.

Day 10 : 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 11 : CUZCO – PISAC – MARAS - CHINCHERO – CUZCO

In the morning, departure in a private vehicle for a day dedicated to the discovery of the Sacred Valley. First stop at the ruins of Pisac. Visit of the site and walk around the handicraft market. Typical lunch and stop in a ceramic workshop in Urubamba (Ayllu if opens). Continuation of the journey to Maras: salt mines in the middle of the Cordillera!
Continuation of the journey to Chinchero to visit its colonial church. Visit of the textile association Awana Wasi Tocapo.
In the late afternoon, transfer to the hotel in Cuzco. Lunch included. Dinner open.

 

Day 12 : CUZCO - MOLLEPATA – CRUZPATA – SILCACANCHA - SORAYAMPA / TREK

In the early morning, departure in a private vehicle for Molleptata, at an altitude of 3000 meters a.s.l (el. 9,842 feet). We continue to Cruzpata, meeting place with the trekking team.
At mid-morning, departure of the trek while observing the surrounding glaciers of Tucarhuay (5450 meters a.s.l / el. 17,880 feet) and Salkantay (6264 meters a.s.l / el. 20,551 feet). Lunch in the village of Silcacancha, and continuation by foot to Soraypampa. Night in a camp. Lunch and dinner included.
Transfer: around 4 hours; Hiking time: around 6 hours;
Elevation gain: from 3000 meters a.s.l (el. 9,842 feet) to 3700 meters a.s.l (el. 12,139 feet).

 

Day 13 : SORAYPAMPA – SALKANTAY PASS - ARRAYAN PATA / TREK

In the early morning, departure for the most difficult day of the trek.
We go over the Salkantay Pass, at an altitude of 4600 meters a.s.l (el. 15,091 feet). Then, we relax and have lunch. Continuation of the walk to the Arrayan Pata camp, at an altitude of 3450 meters a.s.l (el. 11,318 feet). All included.
Hiking time: around 8 hours;
Elevation gain: 3700 meters a.s.l (el. 12,139 feet) -4600 meters a.s.l (el. 15,091 feet) - 3450 meters a.s.l (el. 11,318 feet).

 

Day 14 : ARRAYAN PATA – COLLPAPAMPA - WIÑAYPOCO - LA PLAYA / TREK

An unforgettable hiking day thanks to the diversity of the vegetation we come across.
Descent into the yungas, intermediary forest between the Sierra and the Amazonia, and arrival at the village of Wiñaypoco. Continuation to the Santa Teresa River to observe the different types of orchids and enjoy the surrounding waterfalls.
Arrival at La Playa camp, at an altitude of 2110 meters a.s.l (el. 6,922 feet). All included.
Hiking time: around 7 hours;
Elevation gain: 3450 meters a.s.l (el. 11,318 feet) - 2110 meters a.s.l (el. 6,922 feet).

 

Day 15 : LA PLAYA – LLACTAPATA – HYDROELECTRICA - AGUASCALIENTES / TREK

Hiking day in the direction of the archaeological remnants of Llactapata, and then descent to the hydroelectric plant, located at an altitude of 1950 meters a.s.l (el. 6,397 feet) Train journey to go to the village of Aguascalientes. Arrival at the hotel.
Lunch included. Dinner open.
Hiking time: around six hours
Elevation gain: 2100 meters a.s.l (el. 6,889 feet) - 2050 meters a.s.l (el. 6,725 feet).

 

Day 16 : AGUASCALIENTES - MACHU PICCHU– CUZCO / TREK

In the early morning, departure with the shuttle service to reach 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 to much luggage. People suffering from vertigo should not participate) or climb to the La Puerta del Sol.

 

Day 17 : CUZCO – LIMA (BY PLANE)

Transfer to the Cuzco airport for a flight to Lima, the Peruvian capital.
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 18 : 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

General information Peru

Equipment to bring

Travel and health advice

Altitude stays

Climate