From the Colca Canyon, Lake Titicaca to Machu Picchu
• Cusco • Ollantaytambo • Sacred Valley • Lake Titicaca • Machu Picchu • Colca Canyon
12 Days / 11 Nights
• Cusco • Ollantaytambo • Sacred Valley • Lake Titicaca • Machu Picchu • Colca Canyon
Experience the best of Peru with this incredible 12-day journey. Begin in the bustling capital of Lima, exploring its rich history and vibrant cuisine. Fly to Cusco, the heart of the Inca Empire, and venture into the stunning Sacred Valley. Visit the awe-inspiring Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Continue to the serene Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable lake, and finally, marvel at the dramatic landscapes of the Colca Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in the world. This tour blends ancient history, natural beauty, and cultural immersion for an unforgettable adventure!
• Off the beaten track experience.
• Fully Private Tours ensures personalized service.
• Discover the Uros Floating Islands, made of reeds and home to an ancient culture, and visit Taquile Island, renowned for its stunning views and vibrant textile traditions.
• In Colca Canyon, watch the Andean condors soar over the canyon from the Cruz del Condor viewpoint.
• Explore the highlights of colonial and modern Lima with your private tour guide.
• Take a breathtaking train ride through the Andean landscape along the Urubamba River to reach the town of Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu.
• Discover Machu Picchu in a private guided tour.
• Scenic roundtrip train journey to Machu Picchu.
• Stay in a selection of carefully selected hotels.
• 24 hours emergency contact ensures support no matter what time.
Welcome to Peru! In our country, the international flights arrive at late hours of the night and there are no connecting flights from Lima to other cities in Peru at that time. If your international flight arrives at night, you will stay at one of the best hotels close to the airport and have a peaceful night and rest comfortably for your local flight the next day.
Beginning the day, we will pick you up from your hotel and take you to
the Lima airport to travel to Cuzco. You will travel to the navel of the
world and the imperial city and your private guide will welcome you once
you arrive. Your private driver will take you to one of the best hotels,
previously selected. We will begin in the San Blas neighborhood, the
oldest in Cuzco. It is the neighborhood of artists and artisans where
the history of imperial Cuzco is revealed. Following this, we will visit
the famous 12 angled stone, known for its perfect edges and finish and
as an example of Inca architecture. We will later enter the principal
plaza of Cuzco and visit the Cathedral, the most important religious
monument in the city, where we will find the most famous works of art
from the Cuzqueña school. After that, we will visit the Qoricancha, or
the Temple of the Sun. It was one of the most adored and respected
temples in the Inca Empire. To end the morning, we will guide you to the
famous San Pedro market where you will see a large variety of Andean
products (potatoes, cheese, corn, fruit, etc.). We will then guide you
to one of the best restaurants. After lunch, we will move to explore the
city limits (the fortress of the Inca, or Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo,
Pucapukara, and Tambomachay).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
In the morning, after a pleasant breakfast in your hotel, your guide will
pick you up and start the first leg of your private tour of the Sacred
Valley of the Incas. Your adventure begins on the same route, surrounded
by the impressive landscape of the Andean countryside, the imposing
sacred mountaintops rise in the distance, while at the entrance of the
Sacred Valley, the Vilcanota river greets you. We will arrive at the
colonial town of Pisaq and you will walk through the narrow stone
streets, the plaza, and the traditional market. After, you will pass
through a beautiful native community where the warmth of the locals will
make you feel at home. Our hosts will demonstrate how to make Andean
textiles and what the manual manufacturing process is like. To continue,
they will teach you about the types of Andean potatoes in the area (in
Peru, there are more than 5,000 types of native potatoes) and try your
selection. We will start with the local cuisine, trying dishes made with
products of the earth that our hosts have cultivated. After a short
rest, you will go to the archaeological jewel of Pisaq, known for its
great view of the andenes, or sets of stepped terraces built on the
slopes of the Andes and fantastic Inca structures while listening to the
sound of a quena (an indigenous musical instrument), played by a local.
Later, you will go to the Inkariy Museum. Its exhibitions are unique and
are divided into 8 pavilions, showing you the Prehispanic cultures that
gave rise to the largest ancient empire in the Western hemisphere. The
cultures include Chavin, Wari, Paracas, Caral, Mochica, Nazca,
Lambayeque, Chimú, and Inca. To finish the day, we will let you enjoy
one of the best hotels of the valley.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
The day will start early and promising as we pick you up for the second
part of the private tour of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. We will take
you to the Archaeological Park of Chinchero where we will find the old
palace. It was once the residence of the Inca Tupac Yupanqui and is now
the church of Nuestra Señora de Monserrate due to the process of
syncretism. We will guide you to the atrium finely made of pan de oro,
where the Virgin of the Nativity rests. You can also see the local
market, Andean stairs, Inca walls, beautiful terraces, and a textile
center where they make clothing and other goods out of alpaca and llama
wool by hand. Afterwards, we will take a special detour where the locals
will teach us about their customs. Afterwards, we will take you to
Maras, a plateau with an enormous overlook where one can see the
beautiful chain of mountains such as La Verónica, Chicón, and others.
After that, we will go to Moray, an impressive agricultural experimental
site. The stepped levels generate thermal gradients and affect the
climate for each level. Now, they go towards the salt mines in Maras
where one can see various salt wells that the locals take to sell to the
community and to others in Cuzco (it’s recommended on red meat). To
finish the day, we will take you to the Inca city of
Ollantaytambo.
Meals: Breakfast
Prepare yourself for an incredible adventure! In the morning, your guide
will pick you up from your hotel to guide you to the train station in
Ollantaytambo where you will board the train to Aguas Calientes. In this
1.5 hour trip, you can observe a beautiful landscape. Upon arriving at
Aguas Calientes, your private guide will take you to one of the
transports and will accompany you to the citadel of Machu Picchu, “the
Lost City of the Incas”. During your visit to this sacred site of the
Incas, you will learn about the history of the citadel and visit the Sun
and Condor templates. You will also see the aqueducts and houses while
learning about the history behind the sacred terraces of the Inca. After
your guided visit, you will have enough time to explore this amazing
place on your own. There are many options to walk along short trails,
like that of the Puerta del Sol for an impressive view of Machu Picchu,
or the trail that leads to the Inca bridge, a secret entrance for the
Inca army. In the afternoon, you will return to Aguas Calientes, where
you will have the rest of the afternoon to spend as you wish. Don’t miss
the opportunity to bathe in the hot springs or have a good dinner in one
of our recommended restaurants. To finish the day, we will let you enjoy
one of the best hotels in the valley.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Early in the morning, you will be taken to the train station in Aguas
Calientes to board the return train to the city of Ollantaytambo. After
an hour-and-a-half of travel on the train, you will meet your driver to
get to the imperial city of Cusco. Here, you can enjoy cooking classes
where you can prepare your own food and enjoy Peruvian food with a
professional Peruvian chef. The chef will show you how to prepare the
most popular and delicious dishes from the Peruvian Andes. The classes
include a refreshing beverage, an appetizer, a main dish, a dessert, and
of course, the famous pisco sour.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Early in the morning, you will start your trip through the Andes to Lake
Titicaca. The first stop in this route will be the Andahuaylillas
church, known as the Sistine Chapel of the Andes, where you can observe
interesting paintings on the walls from the 16th, 17th, and 18th
centuries and altars completely decorated in gold. After, you will go to
the archaeological site of Raqchi, a small city in the highlands, where
you will see the Inca temple of Wiracocha and learn about its
fascinating construction with adobe walls that measure up to 11 meters
high. After lunch, you will travel to the highest point of the trip, La
Raya (4,300m, 14,100 ft), which is the halfway point between Cuzco and
Puno. At approximately 4:00pm, you will arrive in Puno, where you will
find the shores of Lake Titicaca. A driver will take you to your hotel
where you will have the rest of the night to relax or explore the
city.
Meals: Breakfast
Today, your guide and driver will wait for you at your hotel to take you
to Lake Titicaca, the highest lake in the world. In the morning, we will
visit the floating islands of Uros, which were constructed using only
totora, a water plant that grows in the lake. You will be surprised to
see how the locals use the totora to construct their canoes, houses,
beds, and many other objects necessary in their daily lives. As a part
of your visit to Uros, you will navigate a totora canoe that will permit
you to go around the islands. Afterwards, we will go towards Taquile
island in a motor boat. The journey will last two hours and you can
relax and enjoy the impressive scenery of Lake Titicaca. Upon your
arrival on Taquile island, you will enjoy a lunch prepared locally with
delicious and very fresh trout from the lake. After lunch, you will have
the opportunity to walk on a short hike to explore the island. At night,
you will be welcomed in your cabin on the island with a Peruvian dinner.
You will spend the night in your cozy little cabin. (Note: if you go
with a shared tour, you can stay on a different island).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Early in the morning, you will enjoy a local breakfast with a spectacular
view of the sunrise that illuminates all of Lake Titicaca. After
breakfast, you will walk around Taquile island and learn about its
pre-Inca constructions and agricultural terraces. This is a great
opportunity to immerse yourself in the local culture, as this island is
one of the last places where they still conserve their culture.
Additionally, there are not many tourists that stay on this island. In
the afternoon, we will navigate back to Puno, where you will have the
rest of the day to spend your free time.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
In the morning, you will leave Lake Titicaca and continue your journey to
the Colca Canyon, one of the deepest Canyon in the world. Along the
six-hour journey, you will have a view of magnificent landscapes marked
by lakes, lagoons, trout farms and Andean flamingos. You will also reach
the soaring altitude of 4850m (12,000ft), which will give you an
unbelievable view of the highlands.After this spectacular journey, you
will arrive at your hotel, located in one of the small villages at the
entrance to the Canyon, where you will have the rest of the day to spend
at your leisure. You might hike around the town, take a bath in the
nearby thermal baths or just relax surrounded by the amazing nature of
the region.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Very early in the morning, you will be met at your hotel and taken to the
most spectacular places in the Colca Canyon. Along the way, we will stop
in some small Andean villages where time seems to have stood still and
Colonial architecture continues to be well preserved. We will then
travel along the canyon until we reach ‘Mirador Cruz del Condor’, which
is the most popular viewing point for looking into the depths of the
Colca Canyon; at this particular point, it is 1200m deep. From here you
will almost always see a few condors flying with breathtaking scenery in
the background. You will have an opportunity for a short hike along the
canyon and afterward, you will enjoy a nicely prepared local lunch. Once
you have taken in the refreshing air of the Colca Canyon, we will head
to your hotel in Arequipa, which will take approximately 4 hours through
the spectacular scenery of lakes, glaciers, and volcanoes.
Meals: Breakfast
Today, your private driver will meet you at your hotel and take you to
the Arequipa Airport. Your flight will take approximately one hour and a
half from Arequipa to Lima. You will arrive in Lima in time for your
international flight.
Meals: Breakfast
• Bring a light jacket or sweater, as Lima's coastal climate can be cool and foggy, especially in the mornings and evenings, even during warmer months.
• Spend at least a day in Cusco or the Sacred Valley to adjust to the high altitude. Drink plenty of water and consider coca tea to help with acclimatization.
• The weather in the Andes can be unpredictable. Bring layers, including a rain jacket, as mornings and evenings can be cool, and daytime can be warm.
• The Andean sun can be strong, even on cloudy days. Protect yourself with sunscreen, sunglasses, and a wide-brimmed hat to avoid sunburn.
• Many of the ruins, including Machu Picchu and Ollantaytambo, involve hiking and uneven terrain. Sturdy, comfortable walking shoes are essential for these excursions.
• While some places accept credit cards, it’s best to carry cash (in Peruvian soles) for markets, tips, and small purchases in more remote areas of the Sacred Valley.
• Altitude can make digestion slower, so stay hydrated and eat light meals to avoid altitude sickness. Avoid alcohol on your first day to prevent dehydration.
• Lake Titicaca: The altitude makes mornings and evenings chilly, so pack layers, including a warm jacket, hat, and gloves.
• Lake Titicaca: The high altitude means stronger UV rays. Protect your skin and eyes with sunscreen and sunglasses.
• Some of the island tours involve hiking, so bring sturdy, comfortable shoes for walking on uneven terrain.
• For your Colca Canyon tour, bring warm layers, hiking shoes, sun protection, a water bottle, snacks, a camera, and swimwear for the hot springs.
Ready to embark on an unforgettable journey? Book your tour Today!
