Machu Picchu Hike and Peruvian Cultural Immersion 15D/14N

Day 1: Welcome to Peru (Lima)

When your international flight arrives in Lima, look for a Private Machupicchu host holding a sign with your name! We know you will most likely be a little tired after your long flight, so we will save you the stress of trying to navigate and bring you straight to your Hotel, where you can shake off that icky flight feeling with a shower and sleep. Relax into the evening and enjoy a good night’s rest.

Touristic Private Transportation from Airport to Hotel.

HOTEL LIMA DOUBLE OR TWIN ACCOMMODATION 3*

Day 2: Explore Lima, Peru’s Capital City

Wake up refreshed and enjoy breakfast in your Hotel. At the appropriate time, we’ll collect you and bring you to the Pueblo Libre neighborhood, home to the Larco Herrera Museum. This museum houses the country’s largest collection of pre-Columbian artifacts (including extensive gold and silver collections and the infamous erotic archaeological collection). Enjoy rare open access to their exquisitely cataloged storage area, the perfect introduction to Peru’s multi-faceted cultural history.

Next, we will delve into the heart of Peru’s “City of Kings,” where you will visit the Plaza Mayor, featuring the current President’s palace, the Convent of San Francisco (including subterranean catacombs!) and the Casa Aliaga, which is the western hemisphere’s oldest mansion and still owned and inhabited by the 17th generation of the Aliaga family.

Upon completion of your tour, we will bring you back to your Hotel, where your guide will be happy to suggest some great places to have lunch within walking distance of Miraflores.

Includes: Touristic Private Transportation, Private Driver, and Official Tourist Guide. Entrances to Museums are also included. 

Day 3: Drive south to Paracas and tour the Ballestas Islands

Today we will start early to take a public bus for 4 hours to Paracas, where we will start our Ballestas Islands Tour.

Ballesta islands, known as the Galapagos of Peru, where you will see the marine fauna. Such as large colonies of sea lions, penguins, pelicans, cormorants, boobies, seagulls, tendrils, plus a wide variety of shorebirds.  

In addition, you will see magnificent rock formations in the Pacific Ocean. After you return on land, we will check in to a Local Hotel; spend the rest doing the day as you wish: resting or exploring Paracas town. 

Includes: Public Bus Transportation, Private Driver, and Official Tourist Guide, Entrance to Paracas, Tour of Ballestas Island

Optional Paracas Reserve tour

HOTEL PARACAS DOUBLE OR TWIN ACCOMMODATION 3***

Day 4: Tour of Caravedo Farm, Pisco, and Winery & Huacachina.

Pisco is the birthplace and name of Peru’s national drink; we will visit Caravedo Farm: one of the oldest and the biggest Pisco distillery in Peru; there, we will tour the cellar and taste Pisco and wine.  

We will continue to Huacachina Oasis to enjoy the most extensive sun dunes in the Peruvian desert as well you will have the opportunity to ride a sand buggy car. Afterward, we will take a 10-hour night bus to Arequipa.

Includes: Public Bus Transportation, Official Tourist Guide, Full Day Tour with tasting, Huacachina Oasis tour, Sand Buggies and Sandboarding tour

NIGHT SHARED BUS ICA TO AREQUIPA

NIGHT ICA TO AREQUIPA – Transportation from Ica to Arequipa 19.30 Hrs – 08.40 Hrs Arriving in Arequipa

Day 5: Free Day in Arequipa

Called the White City, Arequipa is at the foot of the imposing “Misti” Volcano; its figure crowned by snow accompanies us throughout the city. Peru’s second city in population and economic capacity, Arequipa, has beautiful countryside bathed by the Chilli River.

Today you will have a walking tour around the city, visiting some beautiful museums, such as the Santa Catalina Museum, and the downtown and local market in your free day after a long bus journey.

HOTEL AREQUIPA DOUBLE OR TWIN ACCOMMODATION 3***

Day 6: Drive to Colca Town (Chivay).  

Today, we start our journey to Colca town; enjoy this 4-hour drive with beautiful views of the Volcanoes in the background. We will have lunch in Colca Town and later visit “La Calera” hot spring.

Arriving time to Colca: 13.00 hrs. Free time during the Afternoon. 

Includes: Touristic Private Transportation from the Hotel to Colca Town and Tour Driver

HOTEL IN COLCA DOUBLE OR TWIN ACCOMMODATION 3***

Day 7: Colca Canyon, Andean Condors, and Puno City.

We will kickstart the day with an early 45min drive through the beautiful valleys of Colca Canyons until the viewpoints to observe one of the deepest canyons in the world surrounded by active and active volcanos.

From this point, you will have the opportunity to see and enjoy the biggest populated wild and biggest flying bird, the Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus); found in the Andes mountains and adjacent Pacific coasts of western South America, the Andean condor is the largest flying bird in the world by combined measurement of weight and wingspan. Then you continue driving to Puno, where we will spend the night. On the way, we have opportunities to see vicuñas and alpaca farms.  

Includes: Touristic Private Transportation, Official Tourist Guide, and Tour Driver.

HOTEL PUNO DOUBLE OR TWIN ACCOMMODATION 3***

Day 8: Drive to Lake Titicaca & Boat to Amantani Island.

Today we will have a short 45-minute drive to Lake Titicaca and board our motorboat. We will visit the floating island of Urus. Here you will learn about the lifestyle of the local people. After your visit, you will continue on a motorboat for 2 hours to Taquile Island.  

Hike up for 30 minutes to the community’s main plaza to learn about the island’s unique traditions and customs. After you have a traditional lunch, you will return to Puno.

Includes: Touristic Private Transportation, Official Tourist Guide, Tour Driver, Motoboat lunch, Tour of the Island and Lunch.

HOTEL PUNO DOUBLE OR TWIN ACCOMMODATION 3***

Day 9: Travel to Cuzco and Visit Raqchi.

Today you will take a seven hours bus journey to Cusco. With stark, beautiful scenery following the Peruvian Andes, with stops to enjoy the Altiplano región full of South American camelids such as Alpaca and Llama farms.    

Then you will arrive at the capital city of the Inca civilization, Cusco. You will have time to wander around the city downtown. Have a delicious dinner and prepare for the next day’s activity.

Includes: Touristic private transportation from Hotel to Cusco, Tour Conductor. Entrances to each place you are going to visit.

HTL CUSCO DOUBLE OR TWIN ACCOMMODATION 3***

Day 10- Relaxing day in Cusco

Cusco is situated over 3,000 meters above sea level; to help you acclimate to the elevation, we have chosen this day as a relaxing time to recover and have energy and start the Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu.

HOTEL CUSCO DOUBLE OR TWIN ACCOMMODATION 3***

Day 11: Start your Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu 

We will leave Cuzco at 5:00 am on a private bus heading to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. We will take a short break in Ollantaytambo for breakfast. The official beginning of the Inca Trail is called Km 82. Here we will meet our crew and register for our trek.  

After crossing the Rio Urubamba, we start the legendary Inca Trail. The first day of the trail is relatively easy and a good warm-up for the following days. On the way, we will pass a beautiful archaeological site called Llactapata before we reach Tarayoc. After that, we will continue our hike to Wayllabamba (3000m), the camping site where we will spend the night. 

Accommodation is in a 2-man tent. Elevation: 3400m to 2800m to 3000m, Trekking distance: 12km, Trekking time: 5-6 hours  

Day 12: Wayllabamba to Pacamayo 

Leaving early in the morning, our trail first leads through the Valley of Llulluchapampa (3750m). The first 4 km of trekking is steep and takes approximately 3 hours. From Llulluchapampa, the path continues less steeply for another 2 hours until we reach the Warmihuañusca Pass (Dead Woman Pass), the first of three passes on the Inca Trail and the highest point of our trek at 4200m. This climb is the most challenging part of the Inca Trail. After a short break at the summit, we continue our hike down with a long and steep descent to the Pacamayo River, where we will camp, overlooking the cloud forest. 

Elevation: 3000m to 4200m to 3580m, Trekking distance: 12km, Trekking time: 8-9 hours 

Day 13: Pacamayo to Winay wayna 

This morning we climb up to the oval-shaped ruin of Runkurakay, believed to have once been an Inca Tambo or post house. From here, we continue to ascend to the summit of our second pass, Runkurakay Pass, at 3900m. From here, you will be rewarded with spectacular views of the entire snow-capped Vilcabamba range before another steep descent. We will then climb up to our third pass, to Phuyupatamarka, an Inca ruin named “The Town in the Clouds” from great views of the Urubamba river are far below. From Phuyupatamarka, we continue to descend into a beautiful orchid-filled cloud forest, visiting the site of Intipata (Terraces of the Sun) before reaching our campsite at Wiñay Wayna. 

Elevation: 3580m to 3900 to 2650m, Trekking distance: 16km, Trekking time: 8-9 hours 

Day 14: Winay Wayna to Machu Picchu (via the sun gate) return to Cusco

An early start is required today, and we will have breakfast around 4:30 am to be ready to hit the trail. We say goodbye to our porters and set off on the final section of the Inca Trail to the famous Inti Punku (The Sun Gate), which will take around 2-3 hours. Weather permitting, from here, you will enjoy your first views of Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas. You will be given a guided tour of the site which will take around 2½ to 3 hours. There is also an option to climb Huayna Picchu, the famous mountain behind the ruins, but you will need to book a permit in advance. In the Afternoon, we will catch the Train from Agua Calientes to Ollantaytambo, where you will be met by our driver, who will transfer you to your Hotel in Cuzco.

The Inca Trail Portion for the Journey includes:

• Professional Bilingual English-speaking tour guide
• Entrance ticket to the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu
• Briefing; the night before your trek, you will have a trek briefing at your Hotel
• Porter for your personal Belongings (To carry your duffel, mattresses, and sleeping bag in total 7 KG).
• Porters are responsible for carrying all the camping equipment and food. Also, they assist the chef with all food preparation and setting up and breaking down each campsite.
• Trekking Chef; the chef will make prepare a nutritious breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 03 Breakfast, 03 Lunch, 03 dinners, snack, tea.
• We can provide vegetarian / Vegan options available.
• Boiled water, filtering it, and then cooling it down; we will provide water at each meal.
• Camping Equipment, inflatable mattresses, tents. TWO PEOPLE IN EACH TENT. Single tents are available ($120.00 US), we have large dining tents for clients to enjoy their meals, and all dining equipment, including chairs and dishes, are provided.
• Transfer to start trek Km. 82. You will be picked up from your Hotel on the morning of your trek. After the trek, we will drive you from the train station back to your Hotel or Air BNB.
• Transportation and Train in this trek, including the bus from Machupicchu to Aguas Calientes and your expedition train service from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo and bus back to Cusco. 
• First–aid kit and full oxygen tanks.
• Taxes and Fees; All the taxes and permit fees associated with this trek are included in our price.

HTL CUSCO DOUBLE OR TWIN ACCOMMODATION 3***

Day 15: Farewell Peru

Travel back to your home country.

We will take you from your Hotel to the Airport on our Private transportation.