Lima and Cusco

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 10:30 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, 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

You leave Cusco at 4:30 a.m. for Cusipata, where you have a buffet breakfast. From Phulawasipata (4,600 m) you walk about 1 hr 30 min to the Rainbow Mountain viewpoint (Vinicunca, 5,200 m), among llamas and alpacas, with views of the Ausangate mountain range.

After your guide's explanation and time for photos, you descend the same way, have lunch in Cusipata and return to Cusco, arriving around 5:00 p.m.

Overnight: Cusco

Maras, Moray and Chinchero

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. The afternoon is free.

Overnight: Cusco

Humantay Lake

You leave at 4:30 a.m. for Mollepata (2,900 m), where you have an Andean buffet breakfast, then continue by vehicle to Soraypampa (3,900 m). From there you hike about 1 hr 45 min, at a moderate pace, to Humantay Lake (4,200 m).

After your guide's explanation and time for photos, you descend the same way, have lunch in Mollepata and return to Cusco, arriving around 5:00 p.m.

Overnight: Cusco

Transfer to Cusco airport

After breakfast, at the scheduled time, we take you to Cusco airport, 2 hours before your flight. Our services end here.