Lima, Cusco and Puno

Ballestas Islands, Ica and Huacachina

You leave at 5:00 a.m. with a box breakfast and travel about 3 hours to the Bay of Paracas, with a stop to try artisan empanadas (at your own expense). From the El Chaco pier you tour the Ballestas Islands by boat, with sea lions, penguins, seabirds and the Candelabra geoglyph.

In Ica you have time for lunch at your own expense, followed by a tasting of piscos and local wines. In the afternoon, at the Huacachina Oasis (403 m), you ride up the dunes in a buggy and slide down on a sandboard. In the evening you return to Lima, arriving around 10:00 p.m.

Overnight: Lima

Arrival in Cusco and city tour

You arrive in Cusco (3,399 m), where we meet you and take you to your hotel. There you have a cup of coca tea to begin acclimatizing, and we give you a briefing on the details of the trip.

At 12:45 p.m. we pick you up for the city tour: the Cathedral on the Plaza de Armas, the Qoricancha or Temple of the Sun and, on the outskirts, Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay. You return to the city around 6:30 p.m.

Overnight: Cusco

Sacred Valley and night in Aguas Calientes

At 7:30 a.m. we pick you up for the Sacred Valley tour. You stop at the Taray viewpoint (3,200 m), visit the Pisac archaeological complex and its artisan market, and follow the Vilcanota River to Urubamba, where you have a buffet lunch.

In the afternoon you visit Ollantaytambo (2,792 m), one of the last living Inca towns, with its archaeological complex and stone streets. When you finish, you take the train from the Ollantaytambo station to Aguas Calientes (2,040 m), where you spend the night.

Overnight: Aguas Calientes

Machu Picchu and return to Cusco

After breakfast you take the bus up from Aguas Calientes (2,040 m) to Machu Picchu (2,430 m). With your guide you tour the citadel for about 2 hours, following the route on your ticket, with explanations of its history and architecture.

You take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes and have free time. In the afternoon you take the train to Ollantaytambo and then tourist transport to Cusco.

Overnight: Cusco

Rainbow Mountain or Humantay Lake

You choose one of the two hikes; both leave at 4:30 a.m. and return around 5:00 p.m. For Rainbow Mountain, you have breakfast in Cusipata and walk about 1 hr 30 min from Phulawasipata (4,600 m) to the Vinicunca viewpoint (5,200 m), among llamas and alpacas, with views of the Ausangate range.

For Humantay Lake, you have breakfast in Mollepata (2,900 m) and walk about 1 hr 45 min from Soraypampa (3,900 m) to the lake (4,200 m). In both cases you get explanations from the guide and time for photos, and have a buffet lunch before returning to Cusco.

Overnight: Cusco

Maras, Moray and night bus to Puno

At 8:10 a.m. we pick you up at your hotel to visit the circular terraces of Moray (3,500 m), an ancient Inca agricultural center, and the Maras salt pans, with more than 3,000 salt ponds worked since before Inca times.

You end in Chinchero with a demonstration of Andean weaving and natural dyeing. You return to Cusco around 2:30 p.m. Around 9:00 p.m. we take you to the bus terminal for the overnight bus to Puno.

Overnight: Overnight bus Cusco – Puno

Lake Titicaca: Uros and night in Amantaní

At 7:30 a.m. we take you to the pier. First you visit the floating Uros Islands (3,810 m), where they explain how they build their islands and totora reed boats; if you wish, you can take an optional 20-minute ride in one of their boats.

You continue to Amantaní Island (4,150 m), where a local family welcomes you with a traditional lunch. In the afternoon you walk to the Pachata and Pachamama temples; then you have dinner and, if the weather allows, take part in a show with the islanders. You sleep at the family's home.

Overnight: Family home stay in Amantaní

Taquile and overnight bus to Cusco

In the morning you sail to Taquile Island (3,950 m) and walk about 35 minutes to the village. You learn about its customs and its textile art, recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, have lunch overlooking the lake, and walk its stone arches before returning to Puno.

In the evening we take you to the terminal to catch the overnight bus to Cusco, at about 10:00 p.m.

Overnight: Overnight bus Puno – Cusco

Airport transfer

You arrive in Cusco in the morning and, at the scheduled time, we take you to the airport 2 hours before your flight. Our services end here.