Wonders of the Andes of Peru

From the middle coast to one of the seven wonders of the World Machupicchu, this trip combines the essential places to have adventure experiences and enjoy Peru in family...
Day 1: Arrival in Lima
Upon arriving in the city of Lima, you will be welcomed by one of our representatives, who will give you a brief introduction to the city and to our services while in route to the hotel.
You will have the afternoon free.

Day 2: Lima – Paracas Reservation
In the morning after breakfast, we will start our journey going to the bus station to take a scheduled bus from Lima to Paracas through a highway, which runs along the Pacific coast. Arrival to the hotel of Paracas, where we will leave our unnecessary belongings and depart towards the Paracas National Reserve. During this excursion, we will walk to a small viewpoint to be able to enjoy the maritime and desert landscapes, see large groups of flamingos feeding on the shores of the sea and learn about the ancient Paracas culture, who inhabited those coasts about 2000 years ago.

Day 3: Paracas – Ballestas Island – Huacachina Oasis
In the morning, we will walk towards “El Chaco” port to take a boat to the Ballestas Islands. During this excursion we will discover the richness of the local marine fauna: elephant seals, pelicans, penguins and other sea birds taking advantage of the cold Humboldt current extremely rich in plankton, and therefore in fish! After the experience, we will have time for lunch and then be transfered the city of Ica, south of Paracas. Arriving to Ica, we will visit the famous Huacachina Oasis and enjoy the view in the middle of the desert. In addition, there will be other activities to do as sandboarding and buggy cars (at an additional cost). Overnight in Huacachina oasis.

Day 4: Huacachina Oasis – Nazca - Arequipa
On our fourth day, we will leave for Nazca. Along the way, you will begin to glimpse the mysterious Nazca Lines. We will drive to the Chauchilla necropolis, a pre-Columbian necropolis, the only place in Peru where we can discover millenary tombs. In the afternoon you will be transferred to the bus terminal to take the bus (10 hours) to the city of Arequipa. Upon your arrival in the morning, a transport will be waiting for you to transfer you from the bus terminal to your Hotel in Arequipa.
Extra activities to do on Nazca: (not included in package) Flight over the “Nazca lines” (130 USD per person). American scientist Paul Kosok discovered the Nazca Lines in 1939 when he flew over the area in search of irrigation canals. They appear as a dense network of zoomorphic and geometric figures up to 300 m long (984 ft.), and 10km straight lines, visible only from the sky.

Day 5: Arequipa the white city
In the morning, discover the so-called white city and its colonial center by walking: the Plaza de Armas, the Santuarios Andinos museum and the Santa Catalina’s Convent. A true city with its alleys lined with colorful houses. You will then go to the Yanahuara and Cayma overlooks, which offer panoramic views of the fabulous surrounding volcanoes. Return to the hotel and free afternoon. Overnight in Arequipa.

Day 6: Arequipa – Puno Titicaca Lake
Free morning. After lunchtime, we will start our journey towards the city of Puno. On the way, we will stop in Pampa Cañahuas, located in the Aguada Blanca National Reserve. This place is located behind the Chachani volcano (6057 m // 19,872 ft.) and if we are lucky, we can see animals such as vicuñas, llamas, foxes, guanacos or even cougars! Our next stop is in Patawasi, where we will rest a while off the car and taste a bit of coca tea, a very famous leaf of the Andes. We continue the road with a stop at an overlook to observe a panoramic view of the Andean highlands. Finally, our last stop is at Lagunillas, a viewpoint where we can see a group of small lagoons, with a variety of flora and fauna. Arrival to Puno and transfer to the Hotel. Overnight in Puno.

Day 7: Uros & Amantani Island excursion
In the morning, we will be transferred to the port of Puno to take the boat to Amantaní Island, located on Lake Titicaca (“stone puma” in the Aymara language). Along the way, we will visit the floating islands of Uros, where Aymara inhabitants build their homes on gigantic reed boats (totoras). Our navigation on Lake Titicaca will continue to Amantaní Island. We will walk the trails and enjoy the exceptional view of the Royal Bolivian Cordillera. By ascending the Pachatata (4200 m // 13,779ft.) we will discover the magnificent sunset over the lake. We will then descend and encounter our family hosts for the night, who will welcome us to their home and share us their traditional food and tell us stories about their daily lives. Overnight at the local house in Amantaní.
For the excursion on Lake Titicaca, bring a backpack of maximum 10 kilograms so as not to overload the boat. The rest of your belongings will be left in storage at the hotel in Puno.

Day 8: Amantani – Puno
In the morning, we will have breakfast with our hosts in Amantaní and depart to Taquile Island by boat. Upon arrival, we will start walking for about 45 min until we reach the main square of the island. In this particular island, their inhabitants live in a very traditional way, dating back to the time of the Incas. Here about 300 people work one day for themselves and the next for the community. Taquile’s life is self-sustaining and has maintained for centuries the Inca principles of “do not steal, do not lie, and do not be lazy”. We take our boat back to Puno, overnight in the Hotel.

Day 9: Road trip from Puno to Cusco
In this day we will depart from Puno to Cusco on board a comfortable touristic bus, as we enjoy one of the most beautiful views of the Andes. During our trip, we will make a brief stop at Pucará, known as the place where the Toritos (little bulls) of Pucará are made.
We will then cross the La Raya Pass, which lies at 14,222 feet (4,335 meters) above sea level. There we will see herds of vicuñas and llamas. Our following stop is Racchi, one of the most important constructions of the Inca Empire, known for its extraordinary architecture. Our last stop will be the town of Andahuaylillas, a friendly, warm-weather town which is home to one of the most unique churches in the Andes, known as Peru’s Sistine Chapel. You will be dazzled by the beautifully decorated murals and frescoes covering walls, baseboards, ceilings and facades.

Day 10: Cusco city tour
History-filled alleys, churches, walls and archeological treasures await you in the magnificent Incan capital.
You will begin your tour as you enjoy the best view of the city of Cusco from atop Cerro Pukamoqo (Red Peak), a natural scenic overlook from which the outstretched arms of Cristo Blanco, a massive white statue of Christ, embrace the city in a benevolent gesture. You will then visit the nearby Fortaleza de Sacsayhuamán (Fortress of Sacsayhuamán), a colossal structure of enormous stones, carved and fitted together with incredible precision.
As you return to the lower part of the city, you will stop off at the Mercado de San Pedro (Market of St. Peter), which being the city’s main street market, will give you an opportunity to get to know the products of Cusco, overwhelming you with the sights, aromas, tastes, and colors of the region.
Just a few blocks away, you will discover one of the most impressive buildings of Incan Cusco: The Korikancha (the Golden Temple) - a temple dedicated to the worship of the Sun God, whose interior walls were said to have been covered in gold. You will complete the day with a stroll through the Cusco Plaza de Armas (Main Square), where you will visit the Cathedral and admire its exquisite vestibules and priceless paintings from the Cusco School of the 17th and 18th centuries.

Day 11: The Sacred Valley Maras salt mines and Moray
This tour starts in Cusco; our staff will visit you at your hotel at 8 o´clock in the morning to transfer you to the starting point of the tour. We will make a trip to the north of Cusco. First, we will visit Moray, an important archeological site of the Sacred Valley. It is an agricultural experimental laboratory that the Incas used in order to adapt its products to other climates; then we will go to Maras, a place known for its salt mines. This element is extracted in its natural form and today it is known worldwide for its great taste and nutritional value. Our tour ends approximately at 2:00p.m.

Day 12: Cusco to the Sacred Valley
This morning, we will continue or trip toward Valle Sagrado (Sacred Valley) A few miles farther along, you will reach Pisac, a beautiful place where Incan and Colonial influences have reached a perfect balance and created the unique way of life of the local inhabitants. You will get a chance to explore this quaint town, famous for its artisan markets where you can find extraordinarily fine jewelry and ceramic and textile craftwork.
In the afternoon, you will visit one of the last remaining Incan towns, Ollantaytambo, which was once fiercely guarded by a massive fortress. Discover the large archeological complex of what used to serve as a wayside inn for royal delegations on long journeys. Surviving structures here include multiple walls and towers that were used to protect the citadel from possible invasions.
After the tour you will have lunch in the town of Ollantaytambo and after board the Expedition train departing at 15:20 that will take you to Aguas Calientes. Upon arrival you will have the evening free to explore Aguas Calientes on your own. You will spend the night in a hotel.

Day 13: Machu Picchu citadel excursion
This day, you will visit the Santuario Histórico de Machu Picchu (Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu). A bus will take you to the entrance gate of the citadel of Machu Picchu. Rediscovered by Hiram Bingham more than a century ago, Machu Picchu is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Its architectural beauty, spectacular natural landscapes and the energy held in its enigmatic structures will take your breath away. You will follow in the footsteps of the ancient Incans as you explore this magical citadel along with your guide. After the tour, you will stop at a local restaurant for lunch.
At the scheduled time, you will be picked up and taken to the Aguas Calientes train Station, where you will board your return train. Upon your arrival at the station just outside of Cusco, a private transfer service will be waiting to take you back to your hotel in the city.
* Additional activities to do on site: (not included in the package and reserved in advance)
Possibility of adding the ascent of Huaynapicchu or Machupicchu depending on availability. (These mountains are part of the landscape of the Citadel of Machupicchu and have different times and entrances, since they take longer to climb and visit).

Day 14: Cusco - Rainbow Mountain - Cusco
With an early pick up from your hotel in Cusco at 04:00 am, we begin your amazing Rainbow Mountain Trek with a 3-hour drive through the South Valley ending up at the trailhead at Quesiuno which is located at an altitude of (4,326 mts/14,189 ft)
On this trek, you will experience amazing views of Inca terraces, valleys filled with alpacas and vicunas, Rocky Mountains with snowy glacier peaks and the amazing news of the Rainbow Mountain itself!
The views of the Ausangate Mountain will follow us through the trail as we hike through different villages and interact with the local people, who are still keeping the culture alive. It will take us around 3 to 3.5 hours, to finally reach our destination to the Rainbow Mountain (5,020mts /16,466ft).
At the summit you will have some time to rest, and enjoy the scenery! take photos and soak up the environment. We will spend approximately 30 minutes at the top.
Once we regroup, we will hike back down the trail we came on. The hike takes 2.5 hours back to the trailhead. Our van will be waiting for us when we return. On the 3-hour drive back to Cusco you will be able to rest a bit from this great hike and share the experience with your friends and family!
*You can rent a horse from local people at the starting point of the trek if you wish!

Day 15: Cusco - Lima – International Flight
Flight to Lima, then transfer to your international flight

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