Best of Peru “Machupicchu, Cusco & 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.

LODGING: Accommodation in Cusco Jungle Hotel*** or similar

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.

LODGING: Accommodation in Golden Sunrise Hotel*** or similar

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.

LODGING: Accommodation in Cusco Jungle Hotel*** or similar

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.

LODGING: Accommodation in Chinchero Hotel*** or similar

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.

LODGING: Accommodation in Cusco Jungle Hotel*** or similar

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.

LODGING: Accommodation in Cusco Jungle Hotel*** or similar

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.

LODGING: Accommodation in Royal Inn Hotel*** or similar

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.

Lodging: 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.

LODGING: Accommodation in Royal Inn Hotel*** or similar

DAY 10: DEPARTURE DATE FROM JULIACA -PUNO

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