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Day by day…
“Among Mountains and Lakes” is a program that blends nature and history – this includes sailing on the quiet waters of Lake Titicaca, walking along the remote roads and trails of the Cordillera, and trekking around to discover ancient Inca architectural treasures.
Day 1: LIMA RECEPTION
Reception at Jorge Chavez airport, flight ? to ? and transfer to Ducado ** located in the Miraflores district.
Free for lunch
Day 2: LIMA- JULIACA - PUNO – LAC TITICACA (AIRPLANE)
Early in the morning, transfer to the airport for a flight to Juliaca. Reception and transfer in a private vehicle to Puno which is located on the edge of lake Titicaca. On the way we will visit Chullpas de Sillustani, an archeological site located 30 Km north of Puno. The Chullpas are funeral towers built of stones in a circular shape that can measure up to 12m high. They were used by the Collas, a pre-Inkaic civilization and later by the Inkas.
Installation at the Balsas Inn ** in Puno.
Free time for meals
Note 1: unaccompanied flight.
Note 2: the timetable will be confirmed before booking
Day 3: PUNO – UROS – AMANTANI (BOAT)
Transfer to Puno’s port to board early in the morning to go to Uros and Taquile islands. After a 40-min boat ride, guided tour of the Uros floating islands. These islands are not natural; the Uros tribe built them. This tribe’s main activity is fishing. After a 40-min tour, departure by boat to Amantani located 2h30 away from the Uros Island.
Arrival in Amantani in the end of the morning and a family will receive you in their house. Lunch with the family. In the afternoon we will visit sites that are dedicated to the Pachamama and the Pachapapa.
Lunch, dinner and night, in your family’s house.
Everything is included
Day 4: AMANTANI –TAQUILE – PUNO (BOAT)
Departure by boat at 08: 30 to Taquile Island located at 1 hour from Amantani. Taquile is an island of great cultural interest. The inhabitants still follow the ancient traditions and the Inca laws. Guided tour of the island and its Inca ruins. Free time to have lunch in one of the island’s typical restaurants. Time to relax and return to Puno in the middle of the afternoon.
Transfer to Balsas Inn **.Free time for meals.
Note 1: it is forbidden to navigate by night on the lake.
Day 5: PUNO – CUSCO (BUS)
Transfer to the bus terminal to head off to Cusco. Beautiful scenery all along the way. Visit of the Raqchi and archeological sites as well as Andahuaylillas village and its famous « Sixtine Chapel » that was built in the middle of the 17th century. Lunch on the way in Sicuani (included)
Departure: Puno at 08: 00 p.m., arrival in Cusco at 5: 00 p.m.
Transfer to Tika Wasi Hotel **.
Lunch included.
Free for dinner.
Note 1: unaccompanied bus trip.
Note 2: the timetable will be confirmed before booking
Option: The Andes Orient Express train– runs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Day 6: CUSCO CITY TOUR 1 DAY (Alt.3399 m)
Departure at 09.00 a.m. from the hotel. In the afternoon we will visit Cusco and its surroundings. We will begin our tour with a visit of Koricancha (Temple of the Sun); main religious building the Inkas built dedicated to the cult of the sun. We will continue our tour visiting the Cathedral. Its construction began in 1560 and ended in 1669. This church has many paintings from the Cusuqenian School, and a large collection of jewelry, silver and precious stones. Then we will head off to the heights of Cusco to visit the 4 Inca ruins overhanging Cusco: Tambomachay Q'enko - Pukapucara - Sacsayhuaman -. Transfer to Tika Wasi Hotel**at the end of the afternoon.
Free time for meals.
Day 7: CUSCO - TAMBOMACHAY – UCHUYQOSQO (3650M)
TREK UCHUYQOSQO
In the morning, we will start our walk to uchuyqosqo ruins. we will climb to qori qocha lake where we will lunch. In the afternoon, we continue our trek to uchuyqosqo RUINS. camp in the middle of the ruins with an amzing view of the sacred valley.
Meals included.
Note: 5 to 6 hours.
Day 8: UCHUYQOSQO (3650 M) – LAMAY - URUMBAMBA
TREK UCHUYQOSQO
In the morning, we will rest and visit the ruins. In the afternoon, we will walk down to the rio Vilcanota (2890m) ; we will at the small village of Lamay where we will take a bus to Urubamba. Transfer to Casa de Campo ** in Urubamba.
Lunch included.
Dinner not included.
Day 9: CUSCO – PISAC – OLLANTAYTAMBO – URUBAMBA (PRIVATE)
9.00 a.m. Departure to the Sacred Valley in a private vehicle. After a 1-hour trip, we will be arriving at the Pisac ruins, which was once one of the most important fortresses of the Inca Empire mainly built to stock the Empire’s food supplies. Guided tour of the Inca site. We will walk back down to Pisac, the colonial village and walk around the Indian market (Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays). Lunch in a restaurant to taste a typical buffet. In the beginning of the afternoon, we will continue our tour to see Ollantaytambo, which is an Inca village, and we will visit the fortress, which was a military, religious and agricultural strategic center. At the end of the day we will walk around this village’s streets. Transfer to Casa de Campo Hotel **.
Free time for dinner.
Note: 40-minute walk.
Day 10: CUSCO - OLLANTAYTAMBO - HUANCACALLE
TREK THE FORGOTTEN VILCABAMBA TO MACHU PICCHU
We will depart at 07:00 in a private bus from Cusco to the town of Huancacalle, from where we will start our trek. Along the way, we will pass by villages including Cachimayo and Chincheros (3760 m.a.s.l.) and continue deep into the lush Sacred Valley of the Incas. This area sits at 2800 to 2900 m.a.s.l. and is characterized by a warm climate all year long. We will arrive at the town of Ollantaytambo (2850 m.a.s.l.), where we will have a short rest. We will continue our hike to Malaga (4313 m.a.s.l.). Immediately we will start descending into the semi-tropical Vilcabamba Valley, and after a 3-hour hike we will arrive at the town of Huancacalle (3000 m.a.s.l.) where we will make camp for the night.
Duration: 9 hours
Day 11: HUANCACALLE - COL DE AZUTINA - INKA WASI
TREK THE FORGOTTEN VILCABAMBA TO MACHU PICCHU
Near the town of Huancacalle, we will find the archaeological complexes of Vitcos Rorarpata (3080 m.a.s.l.) and Ñusta Hispana (3050 m.a.s.l.) which we will visit before continuing on our way. During the hike, we will enjoy an exceptional view of the Tincoc and Ccaccacarcel rivers. On the way up to Pachac, we will stop and have lunch, and then continue via this forgotten part of the Inca Trail towards the Azutina Pass (3900 m.a.s.l.). Later, we will arrive at the town of Pumachaca (3150 m.a.s.l.). This is the crossroads that take travellers to Choquequirao, Espiritu Pampas, Nustahispana, Vitcos Rosaspata and Machu Picchu, our final destination. We will arrive at the best-known and most-travelled part of the Inca Trail, and then descend to the ruins of Inka Wasi, where we will make camp for the night.
Duration: 9 hours
Day 12: INKA WASI - HATÚN PAMPA.
TREK THE FORGOTTEN VILCABAMBA TO MACHU PICCHU
On Day 3, we will walk along the original Inca Trail that leads to the village of Racachaca (3650 m.a.s.l.), located next to the Lazuna glacier (5470 m.a.s.l.). Later, we will arrive at Hatún Pampas (3800 m.a.s.l.) where we will make camp for the night.
Duration: 4 hours
Day 13: HATÚN PAMPAS - COL DE YANACOCHA – LACCOCOCHA LAGOON – MUTUYPATA
TREK THE FORGOTTEN VILCABAMBA TO MACHU PICCHU
On Day 4, we will arrive at the highest point of our trek, located at the Yanacocha Pass (4600 m.a.s.l.). At this spot, we will take in the amazing panoramic 360° vista of the Salkantay glacier and the Machu Picchu mountain, part of the Vilcabamba mountain range; and on the other side, we will be able to see the Mojon Pass (4500 m.a.s.l.). After hiking through the Yanacocha Pass, we will start descending, passing through the lush green vegetation and arriving at Laco Cocha Lake (3600 m.a.s.l.). From there, will trek into the cloud forest of Mutuypata, where we will make camp for the night (3000 m.a.s.l.).
Duration: 7 hours
Day 14: MUTUYPATA - YANATILE - SANTA TERESA.
TREK THE FORGOTTEN VILCABAMBA TO MACHU PICCHU
We will walk through the exuberant Mutuypata Valley along the Sacsarayoc River. The presence of natural hot springs indicates that this is an active volcanic zone. Our trek continues towards the Yanatile Valley (2000 m.a.s.l.), and we will finish our dayney in the town of Santa Teresa (1800 m.a.s.l.), home to a terrible a catastrophe in 1998 caused by flooding on the Vilcanota River. We will have some time to relax in the natural hot springs in Santa Teresa, and we will spend the night at a lodge there.
Duration: 7 hours
Day 15: SANTA TERESA - HIDROELECTRICA – AGUAS CALIENTES.
TREK THE FORGOTTEN VILCABAMBA TO MACHU PICCHU
On Day 6, we will make a short hike along the Willcamayu River. We will use the small hand-operated gondola to cross the river, and then make our way to the power station. From there, we will take the local train and arrive at the town of Aguas Calientes (2050 m.a.s.l.) located at the foot of Machu Picchu, and we will spend the night at the Continental hotel **. Dinner not included.
Duration: 4 hours
Day 16: AGUAS CALIENTES - MACHU PICCHU - CUSCO (TRAIN)
TREK THE FORGOTTEN VILCABAMBA TO MACHU PICCHU
Machu Picchu was discovered by the American historian Hiram Bingham in 1911. Archaeologists estimate that this Inca citadel was constructed in the middle of the 15th century. Nowadays, there are different hypotheses about the purpose of the almost inaccessible sanctuary-city of Machu Picchu. A military post?; A hidden city for the virgins of the Sun?; A place to rest?. All of it is still an enigma.
We will make an early departure at 06:30, and take a bus up from Aguas Calientes to the entrance of the citadel of Machu Picchu. We will dedicate this day to a guided visit of the sanctuary-city. After lunch, we will take the bus back down to the town of Aguas Calientes and connect with the train to Cusco. We will arrive back in Cusco at approximately 20:20. From the Cusco train station, we will take a private bus to Tika Wasi hotel **.
Only lunch is included
Suggestion: It is possible climb to the peak of Huayna Picchu, though the climb up can be quite difficult. It is essential to have good hiking shoes, and not to carry heavy backpacks. People who suffer from vertigo should NOT make the climb. From the top of Huayna Picchu, we will enjoy an awesome view of Machu Picchu. The climb up and down Huayna Picchu takes approximately two hours. Another less ambitious trip is a short hike up to the Inkti Punktu (“Sun Gate”), which connects the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu – this beautiful hike ends in a great view overlooking the sanctuary-city of Machu Picchu and it takes only about an hour to make the roundtrip.
Note 1: Train schedules are confirmed at time of reservation
Note 2: Campsites may vary according to climate and/or the state of health of our clients.
Day 17: CUSCO – LIMA (AIRPLANE)
Transfer to the Cusco airport for a flight to the Peruvian capital. Reception at the airport and transfer to Ducado Hotel **.
In the beginning of the afternoon, visit of the Peruvian capital with an English-speaking guide. We will go visit the colonial districts in the center walk by the Plaza San Martin, the Plaza de Armas, the Cathedral and we will visit the San Francisco convent.
Transfer to Ducado Hotel ** in the Miraflores district.
Free time for meals.
Day 18: LIMA – DEPARTURE INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT
3 hours before landing Transfer to the airport and connection for the international return flight. Free time for meals
Included:
Mentioned transport, 2 domestic flights, mentioned meals, double room in 2-star hotel with breakfast, 1 night in houses in communities visited, entrance to parks and cultural sights, guided visits and mentioned excursions, English guide to accompany visits and excursions.
Treks: English speaking guide (+ 1 assistant if the group is > 8 people), 1 cooker (+ 1 assistant if the group is > 8 people), food during the treks, hiking and mountain equipment (tents, camping equipment), transport of collective equipment (by mules and porters).
Not Included:
International flights; Airport tax (US$28 per person for international flights and US$5 for national flights); meals which are not mentioned, drinks, tips, etc.; Personal equipment; Obligatory personal insurance.
Hotels
Lima
Puno
Cuzco
Vallée Sacrée
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3 star
Faraona
Hacienda
Tupac Yupanqui
Incaland
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4/5 star
Sol de Oro ****
Libertador *****
Libertador *****
Posada del Inca ****
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