Day 1: Arrival to Lima – Welcome to Peru!
Just cross the street when leaving the exit hall of the Airport. Your hotel is located only a few meters away on the Airport’s premises. Relax and get some rest for the next day.
There are no domestic night flights in Peru. If your international flight arrives in the evening, you’ll need to spend the first night in Lima. The Wyndham Costa del Sol Airport Hotel is located inside the premises of the airport, only a few meters away from the arrival hall. If you’re arriving to Lima in the morning, you can directly continue to Cusco, allowing for an additional day.
You may arrive any time to Lima. The itinerary will be adapted to your actual arrival time.
Day 2: Flight to Cusco & Sacsayhuaman Ruins
Enter the Airport for your flight to Cusco (approx. 1:30 hour). Visit Sacsayhuaman, the majestic Inca Fortress overlooking Cusco. After a first introduction to the Inca’s history and a guided visit, you will have time to explore the vast site on your own.
After lunch, visit Cusco’s Main Square, get familiar with the streets of Cusco and admire its beautiful architecture.
Day 3: Hiking Pisac Ruins
Drive by private car to the village of Pisac (approx. 45 minutes’ total driving duration), experiencing the fantastic Andean landscape as you gradually descend to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Stop by a view point and enjoy the stunning view over snowcapped mountains.
Drive up the mountain for a great view over the Valley and today’s highlight, a guided visit of Pisac Ruins on the Mountain’s top. Leave the crowds at the top and hike down to the village with more ruins on the way (approx. 3 hours’ hiking).
Enjoy your lunch at a local restaurant. Afterwards you’ll have time to explore Pisac’s famous handicraft market before driving back to Cusco.
Day 4: Mountain biking to Moray & stunning Inca Salt Flats
Mountain bike (optional) to the archeological site of Moray with its perfectly round Inca terraces, also known as the “Inca Lab”. Continue to the Inca Salt Flats and marvel at over 4,000 salt ponds built by the pre-Inca over 800 years ago, where the locals still harvest salt in exactly the same way as their ancestors did.
After lunch, drive to your nearby located hotel in the Valley and replenish your energy for the Inca Trail the next day.
The bike ride is optional, although ideal for travelers enjoying the outdoors. No former experience is required and the trail will be adapted to your preferences (easy to challenging). The car will follow the bikes the whole time, so you don’t need to carry anything.
If preferred, you can also choose to skip the bike ride and add in a hike instead or rather take it relaxed.
Day 5: Lares Trail Day 1: From the Valley to “Pumahuanca”
Get picked up in the morning at your Hotel in the Sacred Valley, drive to the starting point of the trek and meet your trekking team.
Starting at approx. 3,100 m.a.s.l., ascending the mountain on original Inca trail for about 3.5 – 4 hours to the lunch spot surrounded by the mountains.
Continue the ascend for about 2 – 2.5 hours until reaching the campsite, next to a beautiful lagoon (approx. 4,100 m.a.s.l.) and first glimpses on snowcapped mountains.
Relax at the campsite, enjoy your dinner prepared by your cook and the team and get a well merited rest.
During this first day hiking through pristine Andean landscapes, you’ll pass various small waterfalls, pre-Inca ruins of the Pumahuanca culture (“Temple of the Puma”), with the huge stones of their original quarry and a pre-Inca cemetery.
Day 6: Lares Trail Day 2: From Pumahuanaca to Quiswarani
After an early wake-up and breakfast, get ready to reach the highest point of your trekking adventure. Ascend the mountains for about 4 hours to the peak at approx. 4,600 m.a.s.l. rewarded by breathtaking views on majestic snowcapped mountains. Enjoy the sight of the whole Sacred Valley as well as Lares Valley, lying beneath you.
Descend to the lunch spot at approx. 3,900 m.a.s.l. (about 1.5 hour hiking) at the “colored lagoons” (lagoons of different colors due to the algae which live inside them). Enjoy the views and take a well-merited rest.
Now that you replenished your energy, continue hiking downhill for 2.5 hours to the campsite at the Native Community of Quiswarani (approx. 3,700 m.a.s.l.). Meet the native people of Peru, get introduced to their traditional lifestyle and observe their animals with big herds of llamas and alpacas crossing your way.
After dinner, relax under the fantastic starry sky of the Southern Hemisphere.
Day 7: Lares Trail Day 3 – To Lares & Train to Aguas Calientes
After an early wake-up and breakfast, hike for approx. 1.5 hours to the village of Lares, the connecting point between the people from the mountains and those from the jungle to interchange their products. You’ve made it!
Say goodbye to the team and continue by car to the village of Ollantaytambo.
After lunch, board the Vistadome-Train to Aguas Calientes. Enjoy the scenic train ride along the river and admire the gradually changing vegetation.
Relax and replenish your energy at your hotel for your visit of Machu Picchu the next day.
If preferred, swap the Lares Trek for any other alternative trekking route or the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu (provided availability of permits).
Day 8: The Sanctuary: Machu Picchu & Huayna Picchu (or Machu Picchu Mountain)
In early morning, meet your guide and drive up to the vast archaeological site of Machu Picchu for a guided visit. Climb challenging Huayna Picchu (or Machu Picchu Mountain) for a breathtaking view over the whole site.
Hop on the bus back to Aguas Calientes for lunch in a local restaurant. Then take the train to Ollantaytambo where your driver is waiting to get back to Cusco.
Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain?
For those who wish to add in an additional hike to the cultural visit of Machu Picchu should consider climbing one of the two additional mountains located on the site of Machu Picchu.
Tickets are limited per day and need to be purchased well in advance. The challenging hike uphill takes about 1 hour, rewarded with breathtaking views from the top. However, in case of Huayna Picchu, it’s important that you are not afraid of heights (narrow steps next to an abyss). In case heights are an issue, Machu Picchu Mountain would be the better choice.
Day 9: Free Day in Cusco
Explore Cusco on your own, stroll through the artists’ neighborhood San Blas, visit the Inca Museum and Cusco’s chocolate Museum, buy souvenirs or simply enjoy a well-deserved relaxed vacation day.
Day 10: Flight to Puerto Maldonado (Amazon Rainforest)
Get picked up at your hotel and drive to Cusco Airport for your flight to Puerto Maldonado (approx. 45 minutes). Your guide awaits you at Airport.
After a short drive, you’ll arrive at the headquarters. Pack the necessary gear for your expedition. The rest of your luggage will be stored in the safe deposit (to keep the boat ad cargo light).
Transfer to the River Port & Boat Trip to the Lodge. Get a first impression of the wondrous nature of the Amazon Rainforest (box lunch on the way).
Arrival at the Lodge: Orientation & Briefing.
Activities of your choice & Dinner.
Day 11: Rainforest activities of your choice
Explore the Amazon in company of your guide and learn more about the wondrous wildlife and vegetation of the Rainforest. You can choose the activities you like best when on the ground.
Day 12: Flight to Cusco
Travel back to Puerto Maldonado by boat and car for your flight to Cusco. Your driver awaits you at the Airport and brings you to your hotel.
relax and replenish your energy for the last part of your Peru adventure.
Day 13: Journey to Puno
After breakfast, get picked up and drive to the Bus Station to travel by comfortable and safe touristic bus to Puno (approx. 7 hours’ drive), with great views over the Andean landscape as you ascend to the Altiplano.
Arrived to Puno, meet your guide and driver to bring you to your hotel.
Add-on: Upgrade to Luxury Titicaca Train
If you are a little flexible with travel dates, consider upgrading to the luxury Titicaca Train for your journey to Puno, the most comfortable way to reach the Lake.
During your 10.5 hours’ train ride, enjoy your gourmet 3 course lunch on board of the train and admire the breathtaking landscapes from the observation car.
Departures: 3x weekly
Cost: Additional 230 USD per person
Day 14: Lake Titicaca: Uros Islands and Home Stay at Peninsula of Llachon
After breakfast, drive to the port and continue the journey by boat, navigating on famous Lake Titicaca to the floating Islands of Uros, unique in the world. You will have the opportunity to learn more about their history and construction technique.
Continue the journey by boat (approx. 2:20 hours) to the Peninsula of Llachon. Explore the surroundings and local culture. Enjoy your lunch and dinner at a typical local restaurant and spend the night at your rural guesthouse.
Day 15: Kayaking to Taquile Island & back to Puno
Meet your Kayaking-Team and specialized Guide. After a safety briefing, get changed and enjoy kayaking for nearly 10 km on the gorgeous setting of Lake Titicaca to Taquile Island.
Visit this beautiful island and go for an exploration walk and enjoy your lunch within the beautiful setting of the Lake and the mountains.
Return to Puno by motor boat (approx. 3 hours), arriving at approx. 4.30 pm.
Duration of kayaking: 2 hours and 30 min. Distance: 10 km
Difficulty: intermediate – good physical condition is required, but no previous experience needed
Day 16: Flight to Lima & Farewell
In the morning, drive to Juliaca Airport (approx. 50 minutes’ drive) for your flight to Lima (1:30 hour) & Outbound flight.
Safe journey home & come back soon!
There are only few direct flights from Juliaca to Lima. Depending on departure time of your international flight, you might want to consider to spend the last night in Lima or add a room at the Wyndham Costa del Sol Airport Hotel to rest and get refreshed before flying back home.
