Peru Culture and Hiking tour

Arrive into Lima airport early in the morning, exit customs and baggage, you will be warmly welcomed by our driver. You will be assisted with your luggage before driven to your hotel in a private vehicle, the Tierra Viva Miraflores. Free day at leisure.

After breakfast, enjoy a guided tour of colonial and modern Lima, including the cathedral, dating from 1654, the main square, which still houses the original bronze fountain built in 1650, and the San Francisco Convent and its catacombs. Known as the city of the kings, Lima was founded in 1535 by Pizarro and rebuilt in 1991, the same year that UNESCO declared it a world heritage site. One of the very few South American cities that preserve the colonial past, Lima was home to the Spanish viceroy during the time of the Spanish colonialists. The tour also includes a visit to the residential areas of San Isidro and Miraflores, stopping at Larco Mar to enjoy a view of the Pacific Ocean. Return to your hotel. Free afternoon.

After breakfast, you will be driven to the airport for your brief one hour twenty minute flight to Cusco, the ancient Inca capital of the Incas. In Cusco, you will be warmly welcomed and assisted with your luggage before your short private drive to the 3 star Hotel. We recommend the 3 star boutique Ruinas hotel. Excellent location close to the main square, and highly recommended. Free afternoon to acclimatise to the altitude.

Free morning. In the early afternoon, you will be met for a group tour of Cuzco including the four ruins nearby; the Sacsayhuaman Fortress overlooking the city of Cuzco, a pre Inca architectural masterpiece; Kenko, a rock sanctuary whose main attraction is the monolithic altar representing a puma, the red Fortress of Puca-Pucara and Tambomachay, a beautiful fountain fed by a spring forming a series of basins continue to the city of Cusco. You will also visit the Main Square, the Cathedral and the Koricancha or Temple of the Sun. Return to the hotel in the evening. Briefing on the upcoming Inca trail.

Early wake up in order to catch the train headed to Machu Picchu. You will ride taking in stunning views of the mountains all around, with snow-capped peaks in the distance as youslowly lose elevation and head into high altitude cloud forest. Your destination, the Machu Picchu gateway town of Aguas Calientes, is reachable only by train or air and is nestled among stunning steep mountains shrouded in cloud forest.
Here, you will start the Royal Inca trail, for which you will alight from the train before reaching Aguas Calientes. You will commence your hike (with about 6-8 other trekkers) by crossing a hanging bridge over the Urubamba River to approach the small but interesting Inca archaeological complex of Cachabamba. After a brief visit of this site you will begin a four hour ascent to the ruins of Wiñay Wayna 2700m/8829 ft; an important Inca spiritua site, and one of the finest of all Inca ruins. At this point the trail joins with the main Inca Trail. From here you will be walking on Inca pavement. The Inca Trail cuts across the ridge above Machu Picchu to finally reach Intipunku or Gate of the Sun, at 2700m/8829 ft. From here the trail winds downhill (45 minutes) into the lost citadel of Machu Picchu, at 2400m/7872. Arrival to Machu Picchu at approximately 16.00 and accommodation at the Sanctuary Lodge Machu Picchu.

Today, you will enjoy a full tour of Machu Picchu, the most incredible ancient city in the world. Built by the Inca Pachacutec, and comprising stone blocks fitted with masterful precision, Machu Picchu harmoniously blends into the mountain landscape. There are many theories as to the origins behind Machu Picchu but three of the most popular ideas include a emple to the sun, a fortress against the jungle inhabitants or a sanctuary for the Incas. This fabulous city has houses, temples, warehouses, a large central square, all connected by narrow roads and steps, and is surrounded by terraces cut into the mountain side which were used for agriculture. Lunch at the Sanctuary Lodge before return to Cusco and transfer to your hotel, the Ruinas.

Free day at leisure. Accommodation at the Ruinas Hotel.

Today you will enjoy a full day hike to Lake Humantay allowing to appreciate the Peruvian Andes. Lake Humantay is a glacial lake surrounded by Andean mountains Salkantay and Humantay which contrast with the turquoise-colored waters. Early pick up time from your hotel around 5:00 am to embark on a 2 ½ hour drive to the trail head of lake Humantay. A 2 ½ hour uphill hike from the trail head leads to lake Humantay The hike back down takes around 2 hours. Once in Humantay Lake, enjoy the breathtaking scenery and listen to the guide's explanations. Lunch will be in Mollepata before overnight in the Sacred Valley.

After breakfast at your hotel, start of a full-day's excursion of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, situated between Pisac and Ollantaytambo. It is an exceptionally fertile valley that was and remains the larder of Cuzco. You will visit the village of Pisac, founded during colonial times, and set at the foot of a hill crowned by the remains of an ancient Inca city. On Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, you will witness Indians bartering their products in the main square and artisans from around the area sell their woven alpaca wool blankets and ponchos. Lunch before continuing your trip to Ollantaytambo, the only Inca town that was not defeated by the Spanish with an opportunity to explore the ruins which tower above. You will then return to Cusco after this full day with wonderful memories of the heart of the Inca land.

We will pick you up early from your hotel and set out on a drive through the South Valley. The drive to the trailhead some 3 ½ hour's drive away. This will allow for an easier trek to see the Rainbow Mountain, taking just over 1 hour. After enjoying its beauty, you will have time to explore the area. You will have time to take pictures and enjoy the setting. We will spend approximately 30 minutes at the top. We then hike downhill the way we came. We will embark on the 3 ½ hour drive back to Cusco and drop you off at your hotel.

Today, enjoy a much more leisurely day with a trip to Minas Moqo near Calca to enjoy the thermal baths there. Entrance fee must be paid directly but is currently only US$1 per person. If time, why not visit the Huchuy Qosqo archaeological site located close by before returning to Cusco.

After breakfast, visit the less frequented archaeological sites of Tipon and Piquillacta, located about an hour outside of Cusco.
Tipon is unique and still has a functioning Inca irrigation system. Tipon was used for agricultural purposes and the large green space and surrounding ruins are great for exploring, photography, and relaxing on the grass in the sun. The site is uncrowded and boasts beautiful views of the nearby valley and mountainsides.
A visit to Piquillacta will show that these ruins are different from most of the others in Cusco as they are pre-Incan. They are believed to have been built by the Wari tribe, who conquered much of Peru around 1500 years ago. Return to Cusco in the early afternoon.

After early breakfast, we bid farewell to Cuzco and take a short drive in a private car to the bus terminal for the tourist bus to Puno. Along the route you will visit several archaeological sites and enjoy lunch before arriving to Puno. Transfer to your hotel, the 4 star lake side Casa Andina Premium.

After breakfast, transfer to the port, a short drive from your hotel. Here you will board the motorised yacht to start your full day's excursion to the islands of Uros and Taquile. Your first stop will be to the communal islands of Uros, otherwise known as the reed islands, whose islands are made entirely of tortora reeds and home to a small community dating back to a pre-Inca culture. You will appreciate how these people toil out an existence on such a remote setting complete with its own school.
After the visit, boarding of the yacht as you continue your trip to the Island of Taquile whose inhabitants are more closely related to the Aymara people of Bolivia than the Quechua Incas of Peru. You will enjoy a walk on the islands and visit the main town square where you will have time to enjoy your lunch box whilst appreciating the fine views of Lake Titicaca. After lunch, some free time to enjoy the local ambience before returning to Puno on-board your yacht and return to your hotel.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport in Juliaca for your return flight back to Lima and transfer to your hotel.

Free day at leisure. Transfer to the airport in time for your flight home.

End of our services.