This exciting 9-day itinerary in Cusco combines culture, nature and adventure. It includes the exploration of Cusco and its archaeological parks, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, the Colored Mountain and a tour of the white city of Arequipa through the islands of Lake Titicaca before returning home from Juliaca.
Arrival in Lima and City Tour
Upon arrival at the airport in Lima, You will be met and transferred to your hotel in the city.
At 2:30 p.m., he will begin his thrilling City Tour of Lima, with passengers being picked up from their hotels from 2:00 p.m. onwards.
During the tour, you will explore Lima in its three stages: Ancestral, Colonial and Modern Lima. You will start with a panoramic view of the “Pucllana Pyramid”, an ancient Ceremonial and Archaeological Center built in the 4th century A.D., considered a Sacred Town of the Incas.
Then, you will go to the Historic Center of Lima, where you will contemplate what was the old Lima Cuadrada. You will discover more than fifty monuments and colonial buildings, including the Paseo de la Republica, Plaza San Martin, Plaza Mayor, the Government Palace, the Municipal Palace, the Archbishop’s Palace and the Cathedral Basilica, among others.
Continuing the tour, you will visit the Museum of the Central Reserve Bank, where you can appreciate the Collection of Treasures of Peru, which includes ceramic, gold and textile objects from various pre-Columbian cultures. They will also explore the Monumental Complex of San Francisco, which houses the largest sample of colonial religious art in America, with its main attraction, the subway crypts known as “Catacombs”.
Finally, they will head to the Contemporary Zone of Lima, where they will admire the main buildings and residential areas of the city, including the Olivar de San Isidro, Miraflores, Larcomar and the Parque del Amor.
The tour will conclude at 18:00 hrs. You will spend the night in Lima, having explored
At 04:00 a.m., you will be picked up from the hotel or agreed place to start our trip to the beautiful city of Paracas. We estimate to arrive in Paracas around 8:00 a.m. Once there, we will head to the “El Chaco” dock to board a boat that will take us to the amazing Ballestas Islands.
Our first stop on the boat will be in front of the enigmatic Candelabro, a colossal trident-shaped geoglyph more than 2,500 years old. Together we will explore the various theories about its origin, which could be related to ancient pirates or even the creators of the famous Nazca Lines.
We will continue our tour to reach the Ballestas Islands, three small islands that are home to Peru’s impressive maritime and ecological wealth. Here, we will witness vast colonies of sea lions, Humboldt penguins and numerous guano birds flying over the area.
Although we will not be able to disembark on the islands in order to preserve the ecosystem and not disturb the animals, we will get close enough to observe them in their natural habitat during a tour of approximately one hour around the three islands. Afterwards, we will return to the Paracas pier.
Afterwards, we will continue our journey to Ica, where we will visit an artisanal winery that produces the famous Peruvian brandy known as Pisco. Here, a local guide will take us through the winery’s facilities and explain the ancient process of making Pisco.
Afterwards, we will head to the Huacachina Oasis, located just 5 km from the city center. In this beautiful setting, visitors can enjoy the tranquility of the place and explore the surroundings in search of excellent photo opportunities or visit local restaurants (free time).
At 4:00 p.m., or at a previously arranged time, the exciting sand buggy experience will begin on the dunes surrounding the Huacachina Lagoon. In addition, the imposing dunes surrounding the lagoon offer visitors the opportunity to participate in one of the most fascinating sports in the region, known as Sandboarding, which consists of sliding on a board on the desert sand. Finally, we will spend the night in Huacachina.
Day in Nazca: Aqueducts, Flight over the Lines and Cahuachi.
At 7:00 a.m., we will head to the province of Nazca, where you will enjoy three exciting activities:
Tour to the Cantalloc Aqueducts (Duration: 2 hours).
Just 3 km east of the city of Nazca, you will find the impressive Cantalloc Aqueducts, a marvel of ancient Nazca engineering, built around 500 years after Christ. These subway canals are essential to maintain a constant water supply in a region where rivers are often dry. The Nazca proved to be master hydraulic engineers, using materials that have endured for more than 1500 years. On this tour, you will learn how they controlled the flow of water and how they maintained these canals.
Overflight of the Nazca Lines (Duration: 30 minutes)
Next, you will experience the thrill of a flight over the famous Nazca Lines, an archaeological mystery that has fascinated mankind for centuries. For approximately 30 minutes, you will have the opportunity to admire the enigmatic figures drawn in the Nazca desert. These artistic representations of stylized animals and plants extend over a vast labyrinth of lines, trapezoids, triangles and spirals that have endured for almost 2,000 years.
Tour to the Ceremonial Center of Cahuachi
Our next stop will be the Ceremonial Center of Cahuachi, located 28 km southwest of the city of Nazca. Cahuachi is a complex of ceremonial plazas, stepped temples and pyramids that served as places of sacrifice and offerings. Archaeologists believe that it was the inhabitants of Cahuachi who created the Nazca Lines, as it is in close proximity to them. In addition to exploring Cahuachi, you will visit the Maria Reich Museum and workshops where you can appreciate local craftsmanship in ceramics, goldsmithing and weaving.
After this fascinating day, we will return to the city of Lima. Overnight in Lima.
Upon arrival in the historic city of Cusco, you will be greeted at Velasco Astete International Airport and taken to your hotel.
At 1:00 pm, our exciting City Tour will begin. This experience starts with a visit to the impressive Temple of Qoricancha, a sacred place of great importance in the Inca era. Then, we will board our vehicle to head towards the fascinating archaeological sites of the region.
Our first stop will be Sacsayhuamán, known for its strategic location and the presence of enormous polished and shaped stones. From this point, you will enjoy an impressive panoramic view of the city of Cusco.
We will continue our journey to the mystical Temple of Qenqo, where the Incas held religious ceremonies and sacrifices in ancient times. Then, we will explore the Inca control and military center, known as Puka Pukara.
Finally, we will visit the enigmatic Temple of Tambomachay, renowned for its impressive flowing water fountains. You will return to your hotel around 6:30 pm, where you will spend the night in Cusco, immersed in the historical and cultural richness of this fascinating city.
Your exciting tour will begin early, at 06:30 a.m. The first stop will be in the picturesque town of Chinchero, where you will have the opportunity to visit its beautiful church and explore the fascinating archaeological park of the area. Additionally, you will have the unique experience of entering a textile production center where ancestral weaving and dyeing techniques are still employed. Here, you can appreciate the traditional art that has been passed down through generations.
Then, we will head to the astonishing archaeological park of Moray, famous for its circular terraces. These concentric circles represent an Inca engineering feat and have been admired for centuries.
We will continue to the salt mines of Maras, where you will find around 5000 small pools still exploited for salt production destined for human consumption. This panoramic view is a testament to the Incas’ skill in utilizing natural resources.
After these fascinating visits, we will head to the city of Urubamba, where you will enjoy a delicious buffet lunch.
The next stop will be the charming town of Ollantaytambo, known as the “living Inca city.” Here, you will visit the archaeological park housing the Temple of the Sun, an impressive megalithic construction. You will also explore the Temple of the Ten Niches, the sacred fountains, and the face of the Andean god Tunupa, among other archaeological treasures.
Then, we will head to the Ollantaytambo train station, where you will board a train that will take you to the charming town of Aguas Calientes. The train journey lasts approximately 1 ½ hours. Once in Aguas Calientes, you will be greeted by our staff and taken to the assigned hotel.
That same evening, a local tour guide will visit you at the hotel to coordinate the details of the exciting tour awaiting you the next day. You will spend the night in Aguas Calientes, preparing for your adventure in Machu Picchu.
At the pre-arranged time, you will head to the starting point of your Machu Picchu adventure. A picturesque 25-minute bus ride will take you to the entrance of the majestic Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. Here, your visit will begin, lasting approximately 2 hours. Our experienced guide will accompany you, providing a detailed explanation of all aspects of this world wonder.
Once you have completed the circuit within the Inca citadel, our guide’s work will conclude. From this point, you will have the afternoon free to enjoy lunch on your own and explore Machu Picchu at your own pace.
To return to Cusco, you must be at the train station at least half an hour in advance according to the schedule indicated on your tickets. You will then board the train that will take you back to the town of Ollantaytambo, where our bus will pick you up and take you back to the city of Cusco.
Finally, you will spend the night in Cusco, carrying with you the unforgettable memories of your visit to Machu Picchu, one of the most impressive wonders of our world.
Our exciting journey begins at 4:30 a.m. We will start by picking you up from your hotel and then embark on our journey along a paved road to the charming town of Mollepata, where you will enjoy a delicious breakfast.
Once satisfied, we will continue our journey along a dirt road until we reach the town of Soraypampa. From this point, the hike will begin, lasting approximately an hour and a half, until we reach the impressive Humantay Lagoon, located at 4,200 meters above sea level. Here, you will have enough time to immerse yourself in the breathtaking landscape and capture beautiful photographs. It is important to mention that this tour has a moderate level of difficulty and requires an acceptable physical condition.
After enjoying the visit to Humantay, we will descend back to Soraypampa, where we will board our vehicle that will take us back to the town of Mollepata, where we will enjoy a comforting lunch.
Then, we will continue our return journey to the city of Cusco, where we estimate to arrive around 5:30 p.m. You will spend the night in Cusco, carrying with you the memories of a day filled with natural beauty and adventure.
Your exciting day will start early, at 4:30 a.m., when we will pick you up from your hotel. From there, we will embark on a journey along a paved road to the picturesque town of Cusipata. Then, we will continue along a dirt road until we reach the town of Paucarpata, where you will enjoy a delicious breakfast to fuel up.
After breakfast, we will continue our journey to Qomer Qocha, where you will have enough time to prepare and receive necessary recommendations from our tour guide before the hike. The hike itself lasts approximately 1 hour, with a moderate level of difficulty that requires an acceptable physical condition. The hike culminates at the highest point of Vinicunca, which sits at an altitude of 5,200 meters above sea level.
Once at the mountain, you will have time to capture memorable photographs and enjoy the stunning landscape of the Rainbow Mountain. Afterwards, you will return to Qomer Qocha, where you will board our vehicle that will take you back to the restaurant for a revitalizing lunch.
After a brief rest, we will embark on the return journey to the city of Cusco, with an estimated arrival around 5:00 p.m. Your adventure-filled day will conclude, and you will spend the night in Cusco, carrying with you the memories of the impressive Vinicunca Mountain.
At the agreed-upon time, we will provide the departure transfer service from your hotel to Cusco Airport. This marks the end of our services. We thank you for choosing us for your travel experience and wish you a safe and pleasant journey back home. Feel free to contact us again in the future for any other adventures you wish to embark on. Until next time and safe travels!