Duration:
9 days / 8 nights
Locations:
Cusco Lake TitiCaca
Rating:
★★★★★
Category:
Adventure
Difficulty:
Easy – Moderate
Minimun Required:
02 Passengers
Overview
A magnificent cultural and adventurel experience visiting the Ancient and Colonial Inca City of Cusco, the Sacred Valley of the Incas, hiking the famous Inca Trail to the grand Machu Picchu, and finally visiting the highest navigating lake in the world, Lake Titicaca. Be dazzled by the blend of Spanish and Inca architecture in Cusco and its surrounding archeological sites with its layout resembling the Puma. Drive through the serene Sacred Valley with its entrancing mountains and stunning landscape, breathing in crisp fresh air. Hike the Inca Trail through beautiful scenery, archeological sites and walk into Sungate and down to Machu Picchu to admire the grandeur of this Sanctuary. Then off to Lake Titicaca to navigate on its still waters for a visit of the Uros and Taquile cultures.
Note: For the Inca Trail portion you must book at least 5 to 6 months in advance. If at the time of booking this tour the Inca Trail is sold out you can substitute it with the Lares Llama Trek.
Day 1 Arrive in Cusco – City Tour
Arrive in the Cusco airport (3300m/10827ft) and our staff will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel. Enjoy a free morning to acclimatize, relax and have an early lunch. We will meet you in your hotel in the afternoon to start the historical tour of the Inca City of Cusco visiting the Cathedral in the Plaza de Armas and Qoricancha (Inca Sun Temple). Afterwards, drive above the city, to visit the ruins of Sacsayhuaman, Q’enqo, Pucapucara and Tambomachay. Return to Cusco.
Overnight in Cusco
No Meals
Note: If you choose Private Service (more expensive but worth it) – Pick your departure time, exclusive visit to the Central San Pedro Market where the locals shop, at your pace, and drop off at your hotel.
Day 2 Sacred Valley Full Day Tour
In the morning we will take off from your hotel and drive to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Our first visit will be of the Pisac complex (2972m/9751ft) admiring the numerous agricultural terraces and the ruins. Then drive down to the town of Pisac and shop in the artisan market with many stalls selling many colorful handicrafts. Thereafter, we drive to Urubamba to have a delicious buffet lunch. After lunch, we continue to one of the original Inca towns of Ollantaytambo (2792m/9160ft) built by the Inca Pachacutec. Visit the archeological site which has many structures such as the Temple of the Sun and more. Afterwards, we will drive to the lovely town of Chinchero (3772m/12375ft) with the remains of what was the royal hacienda of Tupac Inca Yupanqui, as well as a beautiful colonial temple built on Inca foundations. Return to Cusco.
Overnight in Cusco
Breakfast and lunch included
Note: If you choose Private Service (more expensive but worth it) – Pick your departure time, exclusive visit of the Awanacancha weaving center, Pisac sun temple, and enjoy the have a more in depth visit of the ruins, stops for pictures, and at your pace.
Day 3 Inca Trail 4D/3N – Cusco – Piscacucho (Km. 82)-Huayllabamba
An early morning departure from Cusco (3360m/1100ft) to Piscacucho (2663m/8735ft) by bus. Here, we meet with our porters and show our Inca trail permits at the checkpoint. Walk alongside the river with views of snow-capped peaks before passing over the ruins of Llaqtapata. Continue hiking to our first campsite at Huayllabamba (2928m/9606ft).
Camping
Lunch and dinner included
Day 4 Huayllabamba – Warmihuañusca Pass – Pacaymayo
Today will be the most strenuous part of the Inca trail to Machu Pichhu. You will climb up to Llulluchapampa where the hike becomes truly spectacular with scenery that more than compensates for the effort. Vegetation thins and the day warms on the approach to the highest point of the trail – Warmiwañusqa Pass (4236m/13894ft). Thereafter, we descend down to the Pacaymayo Valley (3526m/11566ft) our next campsite.
Camping
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
Day 5 Pacaymayo – Runkuracay pass – Wiñaywayna
After breakfast we will climb an Inca trail stairway to Runkurakay ruins from where the final push begins to the Runkurakay pass (3962m/12996ft). Thereafter, climb down to the impressive ruins of Sayacmarca (3657m/11998ft) for a visit and continue on to the Phuyupatamarca Ruins (3521m/11552ft). The inca trail becomes increasingly more dramatic as it leads down to the next campsite of Wiñaywayna ruins. Tonight we say goodbye to our Inca trail porters because we will depart our campsite early the next morning.
Camping
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
Note: If the campsite Wiñaywayna is not available which is a 2 hour hike to Machupicchu, the official system will assign the campsite of Phuyupatamarca which is 5 hours to Machupicchu.
Day 6 Wiñaywayna – Inti Punku – Machu Picchu – Cusco
This early morning we will walk to Intipunku (Sungate) for our first amazing views of Machu Picchu (2400m/7870ft). Then walk down to the Sanctuary for a professional guided walking tour of Machu Picchu. Visit the many sacred temples and more. Afterwards, take the bus down to Machu Picchu town to eat lunch (on your own) before taking the train to Poroy and transfer to your hotel in Cusco.
Overnight in Cusco
Breakfast included
Optional extra cost: Add Huayna Picchu (must book 3 months in advance) or Machu Picchu Mountain Peak
Day 7 Cusco – Puno
After, an early breakfast transfer from your Cusco hotel to the bus station to begin our trip to Puno. We’ll travel along the Vilcanota River Valley. Along this route we will visit Andahuaylillas with its colonial chapel known as the Sistine Chapel of South America. Then continue to Raqchi for a visit of the famous Wirachocha Temple. We will enjoy lunch in Sicuani. After lunch, we travel to La Raya (4321m/14172ft) for a short visit catching stunning vistas of the Cordillera Vilcanota. Later we will visit the Pucara museum before continuing our drive to Puno. Reception in Puno and transfer to your hotel.
Overnight in Puno
Breakfast and lunch included
Day 8 Lake Titicaca Tour
After breakfast, transfer to the dock to board our motorboat to start our ride on the smooth waters of Lake Titicaca to the island of Uros. Enjoy a pleasurable visit of the Uros people, where the inhabitants have built and continue to build their islands from the totora reeds unique to the area. Their homes and boats are also built from the reeds. We journey to the island of Taquile on its tranquil pristine waters. Meet these graceful people and admire their culture and lifestyle. The Taquileños are known for their hand-woven textiles and clothing considered among the highest quality handicrafts in Peru. Knitting is exclusively performed by males, starting at age eight. The women exclusively make yarn and weave. Enjoy a scenic trek of the island and have a delicious lunch in a local restaurant. After a wonderful cultural experience, it is time to return to Puno.
Overnight in Puno
Breakfast and lunch included
Day 9 Puno – Silustani Ruins – Lima
After breakfast in the morning we will drive to the Juliaca airport and en route visit the Silustani ruins. We will tour the pre-Incan burial ground on the shores of Lake Umayo near Puno. These tombs, which are built above ground in structures that resemble towers are called chullpas and are the vestiges of the Colla people, Aymara who were conquered by the Inca in the 15th century. Afterwards, we continue to the Juliaca aiport to take your flight to Lima.
Breakfast included
End of Services
Add extra cost: You can add Lima, Paracas, Nazca Lines. Or exchange Lake Titicaca for the Amazon.
Services Included:
- Transfer IN/OUT
- Trek briefing with your guide.
- Professional English/Spanish Guide
- Entrance to ruins mentioned in program.
- Tours as per program
- Hotel in Cusco – 3 nights
- Camping – 3 nights
- Hotel in Puno – 2 nights
- Cook
- Cook to prepare your meals
- Porters to carry camp equipment.
- Private transportation to the start point.
- Permit and entrance fees to the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu.
- Portable biodegradable bag in toilet with tent.
- Camping equipment: double tents, sleeping pad, kitchen/dining tents, tables, stools, and all kitchen gear. There are basic toilet facilities at each campsite.
- All meals on the itinerary (B= Breakfast L= Lunch, D= Dinner). Vegetarian, vegan and gluten free meals on request at no extra cost.
- Bus ticket: Machu Picchu /Machupicchu town – one way
- Train: Tourist ticket from Machupicchu town to Poroy station or Ollantaytambo station
- Transfer from Poroy or Ollantaytambo station to your hotel in Cusco.
- First-aid kit and oxygen.
- Trekperu uses walkie talkies.
- All trash produced during the trek returns to Cusco.
Services NOT Included:
- Domestic flights. (we can book for you)
- Breakfast on first day, Lunch last day in Aguas Calientes.
- Any expenses incurred in preparing for the trip, such as, but not limited to, non-refundable airline tickets or travel insurance, nor additional expenses encountered as a result of flight or train schedule changes, delays, strikes, cancellations, missed connections, acts of God or war.
- Extra porter to carry your baggage (per person-will carry 7kg/15lbs to include weight of your sleeping bag for the entire trek) US$75. Per person
- Personal items like individual gear, sleeping bag , medicines, laundry, telephone calls, etc. If you will request one, please send us your height.
- Travel Insurance.
- Entrance fee: Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Peak $70. per person
- Single Tent: $25.
- Walking Pole set: $20.
- Sleeping bag with liner: $25.
- Gratuities.