Cusco & Puno Side by Side

Upon arrival, you are welcomed by your friendly and knowledgeable private guide who’ll be with you throughout your stay. From Cusco´s airport, we will drive into the Sacred Valley of the Incas, a tranquil oasis of cultural, historical, and agriculture richness. where we will visit Chinchero village and market, which are former agricultural center, composed of 12 ayllus (tribes) or indigenous communities. Its inhabitants are dedicated to agriculture. On Sunday there is a fair where local people meet to sell their products. From the Chinchero plateau we begin our descent into the Sacred Valley, with beautiful landscapes and the backdrop of snow-capped peaks. Then we will continue to Maras. About 7 Km (4.3 mi) away southwest from Maras is Moray, a very unique archaeological site, where enormous natural depressions or hollows in the ground surface where used for constructing irrigated farming terraces. What is surprising is that the difference of average annual temperature between the top and the bottom reaches even about 15˚C (59˚F) in the main depression that is about 30 m (100 ft.) deep. In these natural formations, nature has created an environment or microclimates that in modern times people create in greenhouses or hothouses.
Towards the northwest of the Maras Village are the famous “salt pans”, where considerable volume of solid salt is obtained; about 10 cm (4 inches) high from the floor. That solid salt is beaten granulated, then packed in sacks and sent to the region’s markets. Today that salt is being treated with iodine, thus its consumption is benign. In the neighborhood of these sites, we will have lunch with beautiful views if the surrounding landscapes.

At the end of the day, we will leave you at your selected hotel

Overnight in the Sacred Valley.
lunch

We leave early in the morning from the Sacred Valley, to the rock wall located in Pachar between Urubamba and Ollantaytambo. A Via Ferrata is a type of rock climb on an established route with a safety system permanently installed, it gives people with no experience in climbing and using minimal equipment, the opportunity to move through the spectacular mountain scenery. We will climb a rock wall 300 meters in a safest way. You will have the opportunity to have lunch while enjoying the mystical landscape of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. During descent, the 100 m of rappel will shoot an extra adrenaline you need to make this a unique experience. The ZIP-Sacred Valley Line gives you the opportunity to fly over this magnificent place in a safe and fun way. Zip-line has 6 lines or cables, from 100 to 500 m, for a total of 2000 m. To reach the first cable, you must walk through a beautiful path of 35 minutes, equipped with parts Via Ferrata, to provide maximum security and confidence. Return to the Hotel in midafternoon.

*Not recommended for those affected by vertigo, in this case, we would consider a different activity.

Overnight in the Sacred Valley.
breakfast/lunch

Before take the train to Machupicchu, we will visit Ollantaytambo, an attractive little village located at the western end of the Sacred Valley that has been built on top of original Inca foundations and is the best surviving example of Inca town planning. The town is divided in canchas (blocks), which are almost entirely intact. Each cancha has only one entrance (usually a huge stone doorway), which leads into a central courtyard. We will visit the Inca ruins situated on a hilltop landscape with surrounding terracing and with cyclopean rock carvings. From the hilltop there is an extraordinary view of the village below and the surrounding countryside. Finished our tour we will take the train to Machupichu that ride last two hours down the Urubamba gorge, and it changes from mountain vegetation to cloud forest. Arrival at the station of Machupicchu Pueblo and a half an hour bus ride will bring you to the citadel for a guided visit which on average takes three hours as your official guide walks you through the different sector of the hill-top citadel, with astonishing views, telling you aspects of life here that will take you back in time. Lunch is included. In the afternoon return to Machupicchu Pueblo where you will check into your hotel and use the evening to rest and relax.

Overnight in Machupicchu.
breakfast/lunch/dinner

Rise bright and early this morning for a second and complete tour in Machu Picchu with your guide.
Your insightful private tour provides a complete overview of the world-renowned complex and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
You may choose from a number of short hikes like the Sun Gate or The Inka Bridge but the most popular (subject to permit availability) are to climbing to Huayna Picchu or hike to the Machupicchu Mountain.
Later this afternoon and after having lunch, you take the train back to Ollantaytambo, and are driven to Cusco, where you check into your hotel.

Overnight in Machupicchu.
breakfast/lunch/dinner

After having breakfast, board the train to Ollantaytambo from where we will return to Cusco. This day the Sacred Valley of the Incas will welcome us again. We will visit the Inca and Colonial Pisac to discover one of the most beautiful archeological sites in the Sacred Valley located at the top of the mountain where you can have an amazing view of the colonial town of Pisac. Then, we will have a walking tour to the Colonial town where we will enjoy a delicious lunch. Then and on Route to Cusco, we will visit to the Ccaccaccollo Community to discover a women’s weaving cooperative where we will see and feed the Andean camelids, such as the llamas and alpacas, and where the women will show us all the stages of the traditional weaving process: hand-spinning the wool, dying the wool using natural dyes, and participating in a weaving demonstration. Ccaccaccollo is a community that still have their traditional and ancestors’ customs, with an original heritage and form where you could have an amazing view of the mountains.

Overnight in Cusco.
breakfast/lunch

We will get away from the crowds to visit Sacsayhuaman, an impressive fortress full of colossal structures surrounded by beautiful landscapes in complete communion with nature. We will then continue to the Inca shrine of Qenqo, with its awesome altar for sacrifices embedded in the side of the rock.
Finally, we wiil reach the Puca Pucara watchtower and Tambomachay, a monument of noticeable architectural excellence, considered one of the pillars of the Andean view of the world.
After visited all this amazing and historical inca sites, we will return to the City and on the way we will stop at San Cristobal to enjoy a panoramic view of the city delighting us with a small toast and then we will enjoy a traditional and delicious lunch in one of the best restaurant of the City.
After having lunch, our city tour continues visit San Blas Neighborhood, a bohemian place where the most important and representative artisans and painters was born. From here, we will walk down along the Hatun Rumiyoc Street, finding midway the Inca Roca Palace, today the Archbishop’s Palace; and where we can appreciate the worldwide famous Twelve Angles Stone. Arriving to the Main Square, we will visit the Cathedral that houses invaluable colonial works of art and then we will have the opportunity to visit one of the most beautiful and impressive museums in Peru, The Inka Museum that has a complete collection of our heritage, culture and history.
After visit all these beautiful and impressive places, we will go to San Pedro Market, where we will be able to appreciate the local flavors and learn about the local produce in this market where you can find everything and is the main supply center of the city. Finally, we will then continue to the Koricancha Temple that will welcome us with its splendor. The Sun Temple is the meaning of its name in Quechua and we can still feel the sumptuousness of its walls that were once lined in gold sheets and where worship was offered to the Sun God, the most important deity of the Incas.

Overnight in Cusco.
breakfast/lunch

Enjoy your free day in Cusco, walking around the city, its museums and getting to know Peruvian and Andean culture first hand. Optional activities available upon request - from half day to full day programs in and around Cusco.

Overnight in Cusco.
breakfast

The unforgettable experience of crossing the Peruvian Andes between Cusco and Puno, and visiting the world’s highest navigable lake, is made even more magical aboard the Titicaca Train.  This train was created to provide passengers with all the luxuries they could want in a trip, while offering them a chance to forge a mystical connection with nature.

Enjoy unrivaled service aboard this beautiful train, dining in 1920s-style Pullman carriages and absorbing breathtaking landscapes. The open-air Observation Car is a dream for photographers keen to capture the quintessential panoramas. The route covered by the Titicaca Train is considered by many travel magazines to be one of the most beautiful in the world.

The once-in-a-lifetime adventure lasts approximately 10 hours 30 minutes. At the start of the journey, you are welcomed at the Wanchaq Station (Cusco), where local musicians will provide background music as you board the train. Once aboard, you can enjoy the two dining cars decorated in the style of the Pullman cars of the 1920s. Also, during the trip, you will have the finest in gourmet food and indulgent afternoon tea. The quality of our personalized service is guaranteed.

You can bring your carry-on bag aboard the train, and the rest of your luggage will be stored safely on the luggage car, where it will be carefully received and stored.

NOTE: The Titicaca Train only depart on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. If you prefer, we would consider the trip by a tourist bus.

Overnight in Puno.
Breakfast/lunch

We will wake up in the morning and take a 1.5 - 2 hours bus ride along the shores of Lake Titicaca to the Llachon Peninsula. We will enjoy stunning views of the lake and the local communities. Arriving in Llachon, we will settle into our homestay and head out for a hike in the community to meet local people and learn their customs. We can see how they live along the shores of the great Lake Titicaca. We will have the afternoon free to relax, enjoy the beach and explore the area.

Overnight in a Homestay in Llachon.
B/L/D

From Llachon we will board our motorboat that will take us to Taquile Island, where we will disembark on the dock to visit the locals known as the Taquileños. These local natives work under a communal economy, which has allowed them to subsist for centuries. On this isolated island the legend says that these people escaped from the main land life, which was full of hardship, and developed a society based on mutual cooperation. Upon arrival to the island we will climb the trail to the main plaza and walk around the village. Then we will visit a lodge managed by a local family where we will have a typical lunch.

On our boat ride back to Puno we will stop at the Uros Floating Islands. Inheritors of an ancient culture, these lake nomads rely on the lake resources to subsist, just as their ancestors did, while living in their floating islands made out of Totora Reed, a unique way of life. From here we will get to Puno and be transferred to our Hotel.

Overnight in Puno
B/L

Morning transfer to Sillustani for a guided tour before heading to the airport, if time permits. The pre- Inca cemetery, on the shores of Lake Sillustani Umayo, is where we will find massive stone cylinders, which are known as chullpas -cylindrical necropolis-. This is where the great dignitaries of the Tiahuanaco culture were buried. Sillustani has been considered the religious capital of this culture.
Sillustani was considered a sacred place for those who populated the plateau for more than three thousand years.

Transfer to the airport to board ongoing flight. Connect in Lima for your international flight back to your country.