Titicaca lake - Cusco circuit: private tour in Peru

Day by day…
Vegetation in the Yungas is probably the most exuberant in the tropic area, there are a lot of orchids, begonias and giant ferns…
At some kilometers from this region we found the highest navigable lake of the world. Climate there is very rigorous and vegetation poor. At more than 4000 meters over the level of the sea, vicuñas are silent witnesses of a wild animal life...
Have a good trip !

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 – CUSCO (AIRPLANE)
Transfer to the Lima airport for a flight to Cusco. Reception at the airport and transfer to Tika Wasi Hotel **.
In Quechua, Cusco means « navel of the world » because this town was the capital of the Inca Empire and was the departing point of the four regions of the World according to the cosmic vision that the Inkas had. Cusco is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful cities of the Peruvian Sierra.
Rest to get acclimatized to the altitude. Free time for lunch. After lunch, guided tour of Cusco and it’s surroundings: The temple of the Sun – the Cathedral - Tambomachay - Pukapucara - Sacsayhuaman - Q'enko. Transfer to Tika Wasi Hotel ** at the end of the afternoon.
Free time for meals.
Note 1: unaccompanied flight.
Note 2: the timetable will be confirmed before booking

Day 3: 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 4: URUBAMBA - OLLANTAYTAMBO – AGUASCALIENTES (TRAIN)
Departure at 08.35 a.m. to catch a train to Aguascalientes. Arrival at about 10: 00 a.m. Installation at Presidente Hotel **. Free for lunch. Time to relax or walk to a waterfall. In the end of the afternoon a specialized guide will show us orchids that grow naturally in the region located halfway between the cordillera and the Amazonian jungle (Andean foothills).
Free time for dinner.
Note: the train timetable will be confirmed when you book the trip.

Day 5: AGUASCALIENTES- MACHU PICCHU – OLLANTAYTAMBO (TRAIN) - URUBAMBA
Hiram Bingham, an American anthropologist discovered Machu Picchu, in 1911. The archeologists estimate this citadel was built in the middle of the 15th century. Today several hypotheses have been ventured on the function this inaccessible citadel. Was it for military purposes? A kind of secret harem dedicated to the Inkas? A place to rest for the Inkas? It is still an enigma!
Departure early in the morning, at about 06.30 a.m. by bus to reach Machu Picchu citadel. Day dedicated to visiting the site. Free for lunch. Return to Aguascalientes by bus and connection to the train to Ollantaytambo at 03 :55 p.m., arrival at 07 :35 p.m.. Transfer to Casa de Campo Hotel ** in Urubamba.
Suggestions: You can also reach Huayna Picchu peak. The hike up there is quite difficult. You will need good shoes, light backpacks and not to be afraid of heights. From the top, you can enjoy a beautiful view of Machu Picchu. You will need about 2 hours to go up and come back down.
Or you can walk to the Sun gate. Less dangerous and you will also have a beautiful view. It will take you about an hour and a half, both ways.
Note: the train timetable will be confirmed when you book the trip.

Day 6: URUBAMBA – MORAY- MARAS - CHINCHERO – CUSCO (PRIVATE)
In the morning we will go to Moray farming site in a private vehicle. Moray is an ancient Inca agricultural laboratory. The Inkas re-created different suitable climates for growing certain cultures. We will continue our tour at a strange site called Maras: salt marshes in the cordillera! The salt cultivation existed in pre-Inkaic and colonial times. We will observe farmers use the traditional techniques for salt harvesting. We will continue our tour to a colonial village called Chinchero. We will walk around the streets and the market (Sunday) and visit the colonial church. Arrival in Cusco in the afternoon. Transfer to Tika Wasi Hotel **.
Free time for meals.

Day 7: FREE IN CUSCO
Free day to walk around Cusco’s typical streets of San Blas district. Tika Wasi Hotel **.
Free time for meals.

Day 8: CUSCO- PUNO (BUS)
Transfer to the bus terminal to go to Puno. Beautiful scenery all along the way. We will visit the archeological sites of Raqchi, Tipon and Andahuaylillas village with its famous « Sixtine chapel «, which was built in the middle of the 17th century. Lunch on the way to Sicuani (included)
Departure from Cusco at 08: 00 a.m. and arrival in Puno at about 05: 30 p.m.
Transfer to Balsas Inn **.
Lunch Included.
Free for dinner.
Note 1: unaccompanied bus trip.
Option: The Andes Orient Express train only runs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Day 9: 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 10: 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 11: PUNO – JULIACA - SILLUSTANI– LIMA (AIRPLANE)
Transfer to Juliaca’s airport. On the way we will visit Chullpas de Sillustani. This site unveils many funeral towers amongst which some are higher than 12m high. They were used by the Collas, a pre-Inkaic and later by the Inkas. Flight to the Peruvian capital.
Reception at Lima airport and transfer to Ducado Hotel **.
Free time for meals.

Day 12: 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 speaking guide to accompany visits and excursions.

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.