Best of Peru “Machupicchu, Cusco & Puno”

DAY 1: CUSCO – INKA MUSEUM AND KORICANCHA

 Accommodation in Cusco

DAY 2: SAQSAYHUAMAN – TEMPLE OF THE MOON – TRANSFER TO AGUAS CALIENTES

Accommodation in Aguas Calientes

DAY 3: MACHU PICCHU

Accommodation in Cusco

DAY 4: OLLANTAYTAMBO – MORAY

Accommodation in Chinchero

DAY 5: CHINCHERO (TEXTILE INTERPRETATION CENTER)

Accommodation in Cusco

DAY 6: ANIMAL SANCTUARY – PISAQ – PISAQ MARKET

Accommodation in Cusco

DAY 7: DEPARTURE TO PUNO (ROUTE OF THE SUN)

Accommodation in Puno

DAY 8: UROS (FLOATING ISLANDS) – AMANTANI ISLAND

Accommodation in Amantani Island (Homestay)

DAY 9: TAQUILE – PUNO

Accommodation in Puno

DAY 10: DEPARTURE DATE FROM JULIACA -PUNO

DAY 1: CUSCO – INKA MUSEUM AND KORICANCHA

• This morning will be reserved for resting or free time. So, in the afternoon we will visit the Inka Museum, home of thousands of years of Andean culture.
• Continuing, we will move onto the temple of Qoricancha Cusco, the famous Sun Temple of Qosqo, which was and still remains the pinnacle of organization, architecture, and religion of Inka civilization.
• During, its construction they had already achieved the greatest advances of their time,
• Also, this temple may have been the exact representation of the center, or “Navel of the World” and therefore the center of the world, as dictated by the pre-hispanic Andean cosmovision.

Accommodation in Cusco

DAY 2: SAQSAYHUAMAN – TEMPLE OF THE MOON – TRANSFER TO AGUAS CALIENTES

• We will go early to the Fortress of Sacsayhuaman to visit the entire Archaeological Complex.
• Later, we will continue our trip to Qenqo or the Temple of the Moon.
• After that, in the afternoon we will go to Ollantaytambo.
• We will take the train to “Aguas Calientes” Machu Picchu.
• Finally, dinner and accommodation in Aguas Calientes.

Accommodation in Aguas Calientes

DAY 3: MACHU PICCHU

• Firstly, we will wake you up at around 5:00 am have to breakfast, and then take one of the first buses to Machu Picchu.
• So, our guide will give you a tour around Machu Picchu telling you about the history of Machu Picchu and the most important temples and altars.
• After that, you will have free time to explore the site on your own again or if you still have plenty of energy you should climb Huayna Picchu Mountain.
• Once you feel that you have seen every corner of Machupicchu you will take a bus down to the village of Aguas Calientes to have lunch.
• Usually, we take the bus at around 1:00 pm. The bus ride takes around 25 minutes and your guides will give you the ticket.
• Finally, you will get your train and bus tickets back to Cusco in the restaurant in Aguas Calientes.

Accommodation in Cusco

DAY 4: OLLANTAYTAMBO – MORAY

• Return to “living” Inka town of Ollantaytambo by train and continue by car to Moray, an ancient construction designed for agricultural investigations and studies of different crops in a range of altitudes.
• Consequently, here the many concentric “rings” of terraces produce a fine gradient of micro-climates.
• Likewise, the warmth of the lowest central ring slowly dissipates as the rings ascend outward and upward, creating reductions in temperatures until reaching the ground-level norm.

Accommodation in Chinchero

DAY 5: CHINCHERO (TEXTILE INTERPRETATION CENTER)

• Chinchero: the rainbow village, home of the ruins of the royal palace of the Inka Túpac Inca Yupanqui, a picturesque community located on a high plateau overlooking the many snowcapped peaks of the Cusco region.
• Similarly, here we can admire the well-preserved Inka walls of the main square as well as the many altars.
• Also, we visit the beautiful colonial church, unique for its interior artwork and imagery.
• Moving on, we will participate in a wonderful introduction and learning experience of the art of Andean textiles.
• As a result, in the afternoon we will become acquainted with the wisdom of Andean weavings as maintained since long before Inka times. Traditional food will be prepared for lunch here.

Accommodation in Cusco

DAY 6: ANIMAL SANCTUARY – PISAQ – PISAQ MARKET

• Travel to the Sacred Valley of the Inkas towards the town of Pisaq. We will stop on the way to visit the Cochahuasi animal sanctuary: here we may observe many of the native Andean species such as the puma, Andean cóndor, alpacas, and many more.
• Further en route, we will stop at a spectacular viewing location to observe the Urubamba river as it curves like a serpent through the mosaic-like agricultural lands.
• We will observe the construction design of the archaeological site of Pisaq, which many say portrays the profile of a condor. Likewise, a famous craft market.
• Subsequently, we will have free time to wander the market and interact with the many local artisans.

Accommodation in Cusco

DAY 7: DEPARTURE TO PUNO (ROUTE OF THE SUN)

• Firstly, in the morning we will depart from the bus terminal and head towards Puno. Above all, this is a special journey by bus which allows us to visit the many diverse locations along the way on the route of the sun.
• Andahuaylillas: (the Sistine Chapel of the Americas, this temple is one of the best examples of the fusion between Catholic and Andean religions)
• Raqchi: A Inka temple dedicated to the God Wiracocha, construction of monumental dimensions. This is the only known temple dedicated to the God Wiracocha, creator of the Universe.
• La Raya: Midway point on our journey and the highest point on the road – 4335 m.s.n.m. This is the geographic border between two cultures, the Quechua of Cusco and the Aymara of Puno.
• Pucara: This ceremonial center is one of the oldest and most important of the high plains, well known for its lithic structures and tombs.

Accommodation in Puno

DAY 8: UROS (FLOATING ISLANDS) – AMANTANI ISLAND

• Firstly, we will visit the ancient culture of the Uros and step foot on their floating islands.
• The islanders will give us a presentation about their lifestyle upon their man-made islands, built using the Totora reed which grows among the shores of the lake.
• Likewise, we will learn about their existence on these small islands and how they have adapted to their conditions. Continuing across the lake, we will arrive at the island of Amantani.
• Here we will meet the Quechua families that will offer us a cozy home-stay style lodging and prepare us traditional food for lunch.
• After that, we will make the short ascent to the two hilltops of the island while observing the daily lifestyle of the local people.
• Consequently, a top of the island, we will visit two ancient pre-Inka temples, Pachatata and Pachamama (father & mother cosmos).
• In the evening after dinner, the community members will hold a small welcoming party for us.

Accommodation in Amantani Island (Homestay)

DAY 9: TAQUILE – PUNO

• Firstly, after breakfast on Amantani, we will board the boat again to make the short trip to the neighboring island of Taquile.
• Subsequently, we will ascend the beautiful stone paths to the community, a small and quite shy population, not to mention very hard-working and wise, a culture full of art and tradition.
• Above all, Taquile’s’ people are cheerful and proud of their origin and culture, happy to share with us the beautiful atmosphere of island life upon the immense lake Titicaca.

Accommodation in Puno

DAY 10: DEPARTURE DATE FROM JULIACA -PUNO

• So, a brief transfer from Puno to the neighboring city of Juliaca. (End the tour)

BEST OF PERU – TAQUILE ISLAND TOUR INCLUDED:

• 08 night’s accommodations (Based in Double occupation)
• 01 night at Amantani island with a homestay
• 09breakfasts.2 lunches.1 dinner
• Transportation.
• All transfers.
• Bus to Puno.
• Uros,Amantani,Takile tours.
• Turistic bus to Puno.
• Vistadome train to Machu Picchu (Round trip)
• tourist ticket
• Buses to Machu Picchu.
• All entrances in Cusco.
• Private guided tour in Machu Picchu.
• Entrances to Machu Picchu.
• Tour leader during the whole trip

NOT INCLUDED:

• FLIGHTS (International and Internal).
• Meals (only those mentioned).
• Entrance to Huayna Picchu or Machupicchu mountain: Additional US $ 85.00 per traveler.
• Change of train category to Vistadome (Peru Rail company): Additional US $ 60.00 (round trip), additional US $ 40.00 (one way or only return) per traveler.
• Tips
• Travel insurance.
• Route of the sun entrance fee

PACKING LIST (Best of Peru – Machu Picchu guided tours):

• Original Passport
• ISIC card (if you are a student and want to qualify for the discount)
• Waterproof jacket/rain poncho
• Warm jacket
• T-shirts
• Comfortable Trousers
• Sun hat
• Sun cream (factor 35 or higher)
• Insect repellant
• Personal medication
• Camera and film