Trip introduction
Cusco and Puno are cities that share certain similarities in terms of culture and history on the one hand we have Machu Picchu and on the other the highest navigable lake in the world like the famous Lake Titicaca, both places are rich in history, traditions and about everything in culture, during 10 days we will know each of these places to fill us with energy and experiences, we will share time with local families and we will learn more about the Andean and Aymara culture that takes place in both destinations.
Responsible Travel.
By booking this trip, you will be helping provide a special Christmas breakfast for low income children in Cusco.
Overview
Dare to join us and travel, meet and explore each magical destination that Peru has, for 10 days we will get to know Cusco, the ancient capital of the Incas, walking through its streets as if it were a living museum where it will be easy to see people even wearing their typical costumes and offering us to take a picture with his llama, we will travel through the sacred valley of the Incas, visiting its artisan markets and walking through the small towns of Pisac and Ollantaytambo, we will make the trip of our dreams by train until we reach the town of Aguas Calientes to finally know the great Machu Picchu and its secrets and charge ourselves with energy to do the Humantay and Rainbow Mountain hikes and exceed our limits reaching 5000 meters above sea level and then take a bus that will take us to the city of Puno en route called the route of the sun making stops to know the destinations of the way, we will arrive in Puno and we definitely have to eat To prove that it is the highest navigable lake in the world, for this we will visit its island and sleep in the house of a local family to learn more about their customs and traditions to finally continue the trip to Bolivia or take the plane back to their country.
Day 1: CUSCO – CITY TOUR - CUSCO
In the morning our driver will be waiting for your arrival at the city airport to drive you to your hotel, and in the afternoon at approximately 12:30, our guide will go through your hotel to start the City tour where you will You will be able to visit some colonial temples of the city such as the Cusco Cathedral, which is considered the second most beautiful in the entire American continent and inside which stores more than 300 works of art, many of them from the Cusco school that was developed between the years of 1600, we will continue the tour until we reach the famous temple of the sun or Qoricancha that was considered the most important temple in the ancient Inca empire, here the architecture of the place will leave you amazed by the great quality of construction that the place presents.
We will board our transport to leave the city for a moment and in 20 minutes reach the Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman where its megalithic constructions with stones weighing up to 120 tons will simply leave us impressed and from which we will also have a panoramic view of the city of Cusco , we will continue the trip by car until we reach the sites of Qenqo, Puca pucara and Tambomachay which, due to their size compared to the others, are small but their importance was very valuable since in Qenqo mummification processes were carried out and in Tambomachay cults of Water .
By late afternoon we will return to the city arriving at approximately 6:30 a.m. where our tour will end near the main square.
Day 2: CUSCO - SACRED VALLEY – AGUAS CALIENTES
At approximately 8 in the morning, our guide will pass by in our private transport to begin our visit to the Sacred Valley of the Incas where we will visit the town of Pisac, famous for its craft market and its archaeological center that is located in the upper part of the town. and inside you can see buildings from the Inca era and also one of the largest cemeteries from the pre-colonial era, we will continue the trip through the valley passing through different towns that Coya, Huayllabamba that are mostly producers of white corn which is considered the largest in the world.
Approximately at noon we will arrive in the city of Urubamba, which is considered the capital of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, it is here where we will take the opportunity to have a buffet lunch and enjoy all the local and Peruvian cuisine in general.
In the afternoon we will continue our trip until we reach the living Inca city popularly known as Ollantaytambo, this place still maintains many evidences of its ancient inhabitants, the Incas, since its streets, squares, and irrigation canals are still considered original from that time. precolonial. We will ascend to the top of the hill to explore its archaeological site where the temple of the sun stands out and is an excellent place to appreciate the beauty of the sacred valley and the Patacancha valley.
After our visit, our guide will take us to the train station to board our train that will take us to the town of Aguas Calientes for an hour and a half, on this journey you will see how the ecosystem is changing and becoming an area more tropical since we will descend to 2000 meters above sea level.
Already in Aguas Calientes or also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo you can rest and wait for the next day for our visit to Machu Picchu.
Day 3: AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO
Early in the morning after breakfast together with our guide we will board the bus that will take us to the main gate of Machu Picchu for 30 minutes, where we will pass the control points to start During our visit, we will go up to the top of the city and be able to have a privileged view of the place and in the same way take advantage of the classic photographs, then our guide will show us each place in the city, we will visit temples, squares and enclosures for approximately 3 hours.
After our tour we will leave the Inca city to board our bus down to Aguas Calientes where you will have time to have lunch and finally board the return train to Ollantaytambo where our driver will be waiting to bring you back to the city of Cusco.
Day 4: CUSCO – RAINBOW MOUNTAIN – CUSCO
Depending on the location of your hotel, we will pick up our clients from 4:00 am and we will take the highway in the direction of the southern valley of the Cusco region, the trip will take approximately 2 hours until we reach the town of Cusipata where we can make use of the bathrooms and take the opportunity to have a buffet breakfast.
After breakfast we will continue the trip for an additional hour and a half until we reach the community of Llacto where the hike to the rainbow mountain begins. The beginning of the walk is simple, being mostly flat and the last 600 meters, close to reaching the top of the same mountain, is quite steep and is considered the most difficult part of the route.
Throughout this journey we will enjoy a unique landscape, surrounded by sacred mountains and imposing snow-capped mountains together with a wide flora and fauna where animals such as alpaca and llamas stand out.
The approximate total hike will be 1 hour and a half, once at the top you will have enough time to contemplate the landscape as our guide provides information taking about thee reason why this mountain presents these unique color variations in the world.
Finally we will start the way back to board our transport arriaving to the town of Cusipata where we will have the opportunity to recharge our batteries with a buffet lunch and then continue the return trip to Cusco, arriving around 5:00 p.m.
Day 5: CUSCO – MORAY AND MARAS SALT MINES – CUSCO (ATV TOUR)
Early after breakfast at approximately 7 in the morning our staff will go through your hotel to start our trip by car to the Cruzpata sector where our base is located to be able to use the ATVs. Our guide will give us an informative talk on the correct use of these vehicles and the care that we have to take into account. We will have approximately 30 minutes to practice before leaving with the rest of the group.
Our guide will go to the beginning of the group showing us the way, our first place to visit will be the salt mines of the town of Maras, these are around more than 4000 small pools where groundwater is collected from the mountain to be dried by evaporation that produces the sun during the dry season leaving only the salt so that later the inhabitants can extract it, our guide will provide you with more information once we are in this place.
We will continue the trip to the town of Maras, which is a typical colonial-style town whose narrow streets take us back to Spanish towns of the time, here we will see details on the door of the houses such as family coats of arms during the colonial era.
We will continue our journey along the road until we reach the archaeological center of Moray, these are huge circular agricultural terraces that were designed for the adaptation of different types of plants to different ecosystems in the region, we will be able to explore the place with our guide who He will explain each of the details of this unique construction of its kind.
After having driven around 30 kilometers in our ATVs, we will return to the base to board our transport and return to the city of Cusco, during the afternoon we will be able to rest and if you like to know more about the customs of Cusco, we recommend you visit the center of Native art where every day there is a presentation of typical dances from Cusco.
Day 6: CUSCO – HUMANTAY LAGOON – CUSCO
Approximately at 5 in the morning we will leave Cusco in our private transport to the town of Mollepata which is located 2 hours away, in this place we will take the opportunity to have breakfast and use the bathrooms to continue later with our trip 1 hour more by car until you reach the town of Soraypampa.
Once in Soraypampa, which is the starting point of the walk, our guide will provide us with the necessary information on the entire route and the care and precautions that we must take into account.
The walk has a total distance of 10 kilometers, which the first 5 to the lagoon itself are through a steep narrow path, this entire journey will take us approximately 2 hours at a normal walking pace.
Already at the top we will have time to explore the place, take the corresponding photos and listen to the information from our guide who will give us more details about why and why this lagoon has a turquoise color.
After our visit, we will return by the same path to Soraypampa, all this part of the path will be downhill and it will take us approximately 1 hour in total at a normal walking pace. We will board our private transport and we will return to Mollepata where we will have the buffet lunch and finally we will return to Cusco arriving at the city at approximately 6 in the afternoon.
Day 7: CUSCO – ROUTE OF THE SUN – PUNO
We will start at 7 in the morning boarding the bus that will take us for 10 hours to the city of Puno, at approximately 7:30 in the morning we will leave the city of the Cusco we will make our firts stop visiting the Andahuaylillas temple considered by many as the Sistine of America due to the presence of mural painting as decoration art throughout the interior of the church that presents many works of art from the Andes that arrived together to the conquest and many other works by Cusco artists from the colonial era.
Will continue the trip in the Cusco region and we will arrive at the temple of Viracocha in the archaeological center of Raqchi, this temple is considered the largest in all that was once the Inca empire due to the large size of its walls that our guide will explain to you.
Then we will continue our trip for 2 more hours until we reach the area known as the RAYA, which is the dividing zone between Puno and Cusco, we will take the opportunity to take some photos and then we will be able to have a buffet lunch included in our itinerary.
After about 2 hours of travel We will arrive at the town of Pucara, where we will have a stop to see and learn about the production centers of the famous Pucara bulls that are very colorful and our guide will inform us about its history and why it can be seen on the roofs of the houses in the Peruvian Andes.
Finally at approximately 5 in the afternoon we will arrive in the city of Cusco where our team will be waiting for you to take you to your hotel.
Day 8: PUNO – UROS ISLAND – AMANTANI
Our one day tour on Lake Titicaca is the most complete and popular one day tour. In the morning our guide will go to your hotel to pick you up and take you to the port of the city where we will embark our boat and begin the journey towards our first destination, which will be the Isla de los Uros, which we will arrive after 30 minutes of navigation. where our guide will explain the reason for the name of the lake and its history.
Already in the Uros, we will descend to be received by a local family who will show us their things and will give us an explanation of the entire construction process of these floating islands that are periodically made using the Totora, which is a plant from Lake Titicaca itself, the Isla de los Uros are small islets that in their entirety are approximately 90 islands which we will visit 2 and we will move from one to the other by means of their typical Totora boat that they themselves make.
We will continue with our trip to the island of Amantani in a navigation of approximately 2 hours and a half where we will arrive at midday and we will be received by the local families of the area, accompanied by them we will walk for 30 minutes uphill until we find the houses of the settlers where we will be able to have lunch the typical food of the island and then we will settle in our rooms to be able to rest. In the afternoon we will take a short walk to the top of the island to see the famous temples of Pachamama and Pachatata and from this place we will have a view of the lake in all its splendor at sunset, finally we will return to have dinner at home from our host who will organize a meeting for us where we can dance and wear part of their local clothing all this accompanied by music by the inhabitants of the area.
Day 9: AMANTANI - TAQUILE - PUNO
After our breakfast we will go down to the port of Amantani where we will be fired by the locals and we will continue our navigation until we reach the island of Taquile whose characteristic of its inhabitants is to throw off agricultural and textile work daily, in this place we will taste a typical lunch of the area Based on fish but if you are a vegetarian we also have the option for you, we will enjoy a general view of part of what Lake Titicaca is. Here we can also take advantage of buying some souvenirs made by the same inhabitants of the area who use textiles as an alternative to generate more economic income.
Finally we will board our boat to make a trip of approximately 2 hours back to Puno arriving at approximately 3 in the afternoon and then be taken to the hotel or in case you continue your trip to the country of Bolivia we can take you to the Terrestrial terminal of the city.
Day 10: PUNO – AIRPORT
Depending on the departure of your return flight to your country or if you continue your trip to another city or destination, our transport will take you to the terminal so that you can continue your trip.
WHAT IS INCLUDED?
- Free transfer Airport / Hotel / Airport
- City tour + Entrance Tickets + Private Tourist Transportation + Professional Guide
- Maras and Moray tour + Entrance tickets + Private tourist Transportation + Professional Guide + ATV honda 250cc
- Sacred Valley + Entrance Tickets + Buffet Lunch + Private Tourist Transportation + Professional Guide
- Machu Picchu + Entrance Tickets + Bus Tickets Aguas Calientes / Machu Picchu / Aguas Calientes + Train Ticket Ollantaytambo / Aguas Calientes / Ollantaytambo + English Tour Guide
- Rainbow mountain tour + entrance tickets +private tourist transportation +aprofessional guide + breakfast and lunch
- Humantay lagoon + entrance tickets +private tourist transportation +aprofessional guide + breakfast and lunch
- Return transportation Ollantaytambo / Cusco
- The Sun Route + entrances tickest + buffet lunch + profesional guide +tourist transport
- Lake Titicaca + entrances tickets + tourist guide +transport + food +1 nigth homestay
- Transfer to Juliaca Airport
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED?
- Hotel nights in Cusco / Aguas Calientes / Lima (if you want to include le tus know in advance)
- Drinks
- Meals not mentioned
- Tips
- Travel insurance
BENEFITS OF TRAVELING WITH TERRA PERU AVENTURAS
- Assistance 24/7 a week in English.
- Qualified professionals on all tours
- Professional Guides in English on all tours
- Free transfer from the bus station to the hotel
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Please read the following information carefully. This will help you resolve your doubts and/or questions about our services
ARRIVAL IN CUSCO
All our services start at the airport of the city of Cusco where our driver will be waiting for the arrival of your flight to be able to drive you to the hotel of your choice, this service has no additional cost.
For which it is necessary that you provide us with your flight details and confirmation 1 or 2 days before your arrival in the city, our staff will be waiting with the Terra Peru Aventuras sign which you have to locate.
THE BRIEFING
The briefing is the information that is provided to our clients prior to a trip, this will be done one night before the selected activity at the hotel of their stay. In general, the schedule will depend on the other activities that you have planned to carry out, but many times it usually takes place between 6 and 7 at night.
HOW CAN I BOOK THE TOURS?
To start a reservation, the first thing we request is your personal data along with the details of the date you would like to do the walk, or trip then we will request an advance payment of 40% of the total value of the walk in order to generate the purchase of the necessary tickets for the tour.
After the deposit, our reservation staff will send you the confirmation of the reservation of the Tour which will include the DATE, NAME OF THE TOUR, PERSONAL DATA OF THE CLIENT, AMOUNT DEPOSITED AND AMOUNT PENDING PAYABLE UPON ARRIVAL IN THE CITY.
Terra Peru Aventuras offers you different payment methods depending on your needs, from bank deposits, transfers via Wester Union, as well as PayPal (consider +8% to the deposit to be made for reasons of bank commissions)
WHEN DO I MAKE THE FINAL PAYMENT OF THE TOUR?
In general, the total payment must be made upon arrival, we recommend making the payment in cash, due to commission issues from international banks that may be unfavorable to you in case you want to make a payment with your credit card. Our staff gives you more details about it.
CAN I CHANGE THE DEPARTURE DATE AFTER I HAVE PURCHASED THE TICKETS?
For all our tours with the exception of Machu Picchu, Inca Trail, Salkantay, yes! is possible to modify the date without any cost, this must be communicated to our staff as soon as possible in order to carry out the procedures for the modification with a new date.
WHAT HAPPENS WITH ALTITUDE SICKNESS?
Any good experience will depend on a good physical condition, if you practice any physical activity regularly you should not worry about a possible altitude sickness, however as an additional recommendation we suggest acclimatizing, in this sense you should consider spending at least 3 days to do some walk and 1 day to be able to carry out some activity or cultural tour.
There are medications that could achieve better acclimatization, but since we are not doctors, we suggest you drink plenty of water and coca infusions to achieve better acclimatization.
WHEN THE TOUR ENDS, DO YOU TAKE US TO THE HOTEL?
Everything will depend on the style of travel that you chose. Our clients who travel in a private service have the option of ending the tours at their hotel. However, those who opt for a group tour, our tour ends in the Plaza Regocijo or close to it so that you can walk without any worries to your hotel.
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO BRING?
- Personal documents
- 30 liter backpack to carry only what is necessary for the 2 days of the tour
- Comfortable clothes
- Raincoat
- Long pants
- T-shirts or long-sleeved shirts
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Water
- Snacks
- Hat for the sun
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Personal hygiene items
- Ziploc bags or similar (to wrap your clothes and avoid soaking them in case of rain)
- Extra money for expenses not included in the tour