The Best of Peru 6-Day: Cusco, Machu Picchu, Puno and Lake Titicaca

Day 01: Welcome in Cusco | City tour (opcional) | Sunset in Cusco

Welcome to the Inca imperial capital of Cusco, also known as the cultural capital of Peru! Upon arrival at the Cusco airport, we will wait for you with a sign with the name of the main traveler, we will take you to your hotel to check in, leave your luggage and freshen up. You will have some time to rest before finding a place to have lunch.

After lunch, and once you are ready, you will be able to choose whether to rest or take a city tour

CITY TOUR (OPTIONAL)

We will take you on a relaxed half-day tour of this stunning city to help you acclimatize to the high altitude (3400m/11,155ft).

A treat awaits you as you learn all about this historic place, which is the oldest continuously inhabited city in all of the Americas. People have lived in Cusco since around 1000 BC. C., and they considered it the center of the surrounding culture, which at that time was known as Qosqo. It has been a place of great importance and played an important role in all the civilizations that have lived in the area throughout history, beginning with the natives of Peru, long before the Incas, with whom we often associate the region in the present.

Once the Inca empire reached Peru and beyond, Cusco became the center of a powerful and far-reaching kingdom. After the Incas, the Spanish also used the city as a colonial and royal capital.

On your half-day city tour, you will learn much more about the history of Cusco and see some of the most important monuments and archaeological sites in the city. The attractions you will visit on the tour include:

It begins in the afternoon, with a visit to the main attractions such as the Cathedral of Cusco and its more than 600 paintings of the Cusqueña school, continuing with the tour we will go to the Coricancha on the way we will pass through the beautiful Inca streets, we will enter the Coricancha considered the main temple in the Inca era where we will learn about the Inca religion and architecture

Then we will board our transport and head towards Sacsayhuamán. We will start our tour always in the company and explanation of a guide about the enormous walls of this impressive Inca temple to the God Illapa (lightning). We will take our transport back to Qenqo where we will have a tour of this other ancient Inca temple.

We will continue (and we go to Puka Pukara and Tambomachay where we will visualize and learn about the importance of water in Inca times, at the end of the afternoon you will return to your hotel in the City.

• DIFFICULTY: Easy
• ACCOMMODATION: 3-star hotel in Cusco: Casa Andina, Munay Wasi Inn, San Agustin International or similar

Day 02: Cusco | Andean Weavers and Alpacas | Salt mines | Moray and Ollantaytambo Inca sites | Train to Aguas Calientes

1. Cusco

7:45 AM: After breakfast at your hotel in Cusco, we will pick you up and go to visit part of the beautiful Sacred Valley of the Incas, its beautiful views, its people, the artisan markets and the incredible archaeological centers. that make this tour an unforgettable place.

2. Chinchero

8:30 AM: After driving 1 hour from Cusco we meet the traditional town of chinchero, we will visit a local family, here they keep the weaving traditions alive. Their alpacas and llamas will welcome you and you can take a picture with them, you can even give them breakfast. In addition, you will learn about their fascinating weaving techniques using natural ingredients to create stunning fabrics by hand.

3. Moray Archaeological Park

9:30 AM: Imagine the impressive Inca terraces and the beautiful Andes in the background. This sight is simply impressive, the story behind it even more so. Your guide will teach you about the agricultural laboratory of the Incas and how they created different climatic zones on these terraces. We will enjoy this place for about 1 hour.

4. Maras – Salt mine

11:00 AM: Stand in front of thousands of salt ponds, still intact. Here you have the opportunity to take one of the most famous photographs of the Sacred Valley. Our guide will be happy to capture this moment for you. From here we continue our tour to enjoy a delicious lunch.

5. Urubamba – Tunupa Restaurant

13:00 pm: Enjoy an extraordinary buffet lunch (with vegetarian options available) in one of the best restaurants in the Sacred Valley. You have the option of trying more than 50 Peruvian dishes including salads, soups, entrees, and Peruvian desserts.

6. Ollantaytambo Archaeological Park

2:40 PM: Our last discovery of that day: The terraces and ruins of Ollantaytambo. This place was highly protected as it was the entrance to the road to Machu Picchu. Therefore, many things happened here during the Spanish invasion.

15:30 PM: Then we will take you to the station to board the selected train. This 1:45 minute train ride will allow you to see incredible views of mountainous terrain before seeing Machu Picchu.

7. Aguas Calientes

18:10 PM: You will arrive in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town) at the exit door of the train station we will be waiting to take you to your hotel where you will spend the night. Settle into your hotel. After check-in, you have the afternoon free on your own.

• MEALS: Buffet lunch at a high-end, colonial-style hacienda in the heart of the Sacred Valley
• DIFFICULTY: Easy
• ACCOMMODATION: 3-star hotel in Aguas Calientes: Inti Punku Machu Picchu hotel and suites, Casa Andina classic or similar

Day 03: Guided visit to Machu Picchu and in the afternoon return to Cuzco

Historic sanctuary of Machu Picchu

07:00 After having our breakfast at the hotel we will transfer with our guide to the bus station. This bus will take us to the main gate of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu where we will begin our unforgettable experience. Your expert guide will walk you through the main streets of these incredible ruins. Take the classic photo from the highest point, stroll through the city squares and climb the delicately carved stone stairs. Esoteric wisdom supports Machu Picchu as the new spiritual center of the world. There will be time to be alone and fully embrace this magnificent wonder of the world, letting this once-in-a-lifetime experience settle in. Once the guide is finished we will have additional time to explore on our own. After finishing the visit, we will take the bus back to Aguas Calientes where you will have time for lunch (not included).

2:00 p.m. At the indicated time we board the train that will not take us to the Ollantaytambo train station.

Ollantaytambo

Upon arrival at the train station in Ollantaytambo, our transport will be waiting to take you back to your hotel in Cuzco. Estimated arrival time 6.30pm.

• MEALS: Breakfast
• DIFFICULTY: Easy
• ACCOMMODATION: 3-star hotel in Cusco: Casa Andina, Munay Wasi Inn, San Agustin International or similar

Day 04: Cusco | The route of the sun | Andahuaylillas | Raqchi | Puca Pucará | Puno

In the morning after breakfast at your hotel, we will take you to the private bus station that will take you along the famous route of the sun to Puno. This is a special bus trip that will allow us to visit many different places along the way on the route of the sun. Several stops will be scheduled for us to visit the following places: Andahuaylillas; (The Sistine Chapel of America, this temple is one of the best examples of the fusion between the Catholic and Andean religions), Raqchi; An Inca temple dedicated to the god Wiracocha, construction of monumental dimensions, about 100 meters long, 26 wide, 14m high, This is the only known temple dedicated to the god Wiracocha, creator of the universe.

La Raya will mark the middle of our trip as well as being the highest point of the journey -4335msnm. The impressive views here will allow us to admire the rugged landscape at this altitude; full of high peaks, many of which are snow-capped, herds of llamas, alpacas and vicuñas. This is the geographical border between 2 cultures, the quechua of Cusco and the Aymara of Puno. Pucara; This ceremonial center is one of the oldest and most important in the entire plateau, well known for its stone structures and tombs.

Upon arrival in Puno, a representative of FLY CUSCO PERU will wait for you with a sign with your name on it to take you to your hotel. After checking – in you will have extra time and walk through the square of Puno.

• MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, drinks on board
• DIFFICULTY: easy
• ACCOMMODATION: 3-star hotel in Puno: Casa Andina classic, Intiqa inn Puno or similar

Day 05: Puno | Lago Titicaca | Islas flotantes de los Uros | Taquile

After breakfast at your hotel, have a comfortable pick-up for transfer to the main port in Puno, relax during a panoramic drive alongside to the resplendent Lake Titicaca. Climb aboard a motor boat and set sail for the Uros Islands, man-made floating islands made entirely of reeds. Enjoy a warm welcome from the friendly locals, who will show you around their rustic homes while your knowledgeable guide explains the fascinating history of the islands; Originally built as a defense mechanism, the islands were designed with flexible reeds to move easily during the attack. Learn about the logistical issues of rotten reed foundations, then return to the ship for the next leg of your journey.

Travel for around 30 minutes inside the lake.

Disembark on the island of Taquile, a place that has avoided the metropolitan development of the modern world; women still wear traditionally woven clothing and artisan treasures are created using ancient methods. Learn about gender role reversals and enjoy a light traditional lunch inspired by regional recipes. After your culturally enriching exploration, return to the ship and venture back to your hotel in Puno.

• MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch
• DIFFICULTY: easy
• ACCOMMODATION: 3-star hotel in Puno: Casa Andina classic, Intiqa inn Puno or similar

Day 06: Puno | Departure from Puno

Option 1: After breakfast, depending on your flight departure time, we will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the Juliaca airport (JUL) (located just an hour’s drive from the city of Puno) for your flight back to Lima. or other destinations.

Option 2: We will take you to the bus station to take a bus that will take you back to Cusco.

• MEALS: Breakfast
• DIFFICULTY: easy