Tour Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain, Humantay, Lake Titicaca (Puno) 9D/8N

Itinerary

• Day 1: Reception at Lima airport – City tour Lima
• Day 2: Fly to Cusco – Reception at airport – City tour Cusco
• Day 3: Sacred Valley tour – Train to Aguas Calientes
• Day 4: Machu Picchu tour – Return to Cusco
• Day 5: Rainbow Mountain full day tour
• Day 6: Humantay Lagoon full day tour
• Day 7: Route of the sun Bus tour from Cusco to Puno
• Day 8: Lake Titicaca tour Uros floating islands and Taquile
• Day 9: Transfer to Juliaca airport – Fly to Lima

DAY 1: RECEPTION AT LIMA AIRPORT – 1/2 DAY CITY TOUR OF LIMA

The 9 day tour will start with a personal reception at Lima airport by your guide and driver, who will accompany you in your private transport to your hotel in Lima. At 1:30pm you will be collected from your hotel to begin a 4-hour tour of the city of Lima. The first half of the tour you’ll visit the historic center of the Peruvian capital. Sites include:

• The Plaza de Armas (the main square)
• The Government Palace
• The Cathedral of Lima
• The Archbishop’s Palace
• The Cordano Bar (Lima’s oldest bar)
• San Franscisco Museum

The second half of the tour will be a visit to the Pueblo Libre district, which is home to the Privately owned Larco Museum. Here you will find more than 45 thousand pieces of original pottery, located in an 18th-century mansion, built on a pre-Columbian 7th-century pyramid. Marvel at the countless treasures displayed in one of the world’s most prestigious museums for gold and silver. The Larco Museum’s exclusive collection of pre-Columbian erotic ceramics, make it one of the most popular attractions in South America. At the end of the tour, you will be taken back to your hotel in Lima.

DAY 2: FLY FROM LIMA TO CUSCO – 1/2 DAY CITY TOUR OF CUSCO

Day 2 will begin with breakfast in your hotel in Lima.

Your private transport will then pick you up and drive you to Lima airport to board your mid-morning flight to Cusco.

After a 90 minute flight, you will land in Cusco to be greeted by your guide and driver, who will accompany you in your private transport to your hotel in Cusco.

Once at the hotel you can relax and enjoy an aromatic cup of coca-leaf tea and take lunch (not included) in one of the local restaurants, before beginning the afternoons’ tour of Cusco.

At 1.30pm you will regroup with your tour guide and private transportation to commence the tour of the Inca capital. The 4-hour tour will take you on a journey through Cusco’s most prominent historical sites such as the Temple of the Sun or Qoricancha, which was the religious, geographical, and political center of Cusco during the period of the Incas. The astounding Inca fortress of Sacsayhuamán, whose stonework is so impeccable that it is said ‘will endure as long as the world itself’. And finally Q’enqo, a sacred Incan pilgrimage site, that once served as an astronomical observatory and mummification house.

On the City Tour Cusco, your personal tour guide will also accompany you round the famous San Pedro market and Plaza de Armas before returning you back to your hotel for 6pm.

DAY 3: CUSCO – SACRED VALLEY TOUR – TRAIN TO AGUAS CALIENTES

Day 3 will begin with breakfast in your hotel in Cusco.

After a 1-hour drive through the Sacred Valley of the Incas, you will participate in a short cultural experience with the local community and their resident alpacas in the town of Chinchero. Your guide will then accompany you around the local market and take you on a tour of the Colonial Temple.

The next destination of the day will be the circular, agricultural platforms of Moray. An experimental and research centre of the Incas, due to its ever changing micro-climate and surrounding mountain range. After visiting Moray, you’ll be driven the short distance to the salt mines of Maras. A unique collection of salt wells that have been formed into stepped terraces, fed by a nearby irrigation channel. Here your tour guide will educate you on the traditional ‘mining’ practices of the local people and the historical significance of the salt mines to the region.

The afternoons’ tour will begin surrounded by the natural beauty of Urubamba. The largest town in the Sacred Valley and our lunch destination for the day. With a multitude of restaurants to choose from, you can treat yourself to anything from local cuisine to a buffet lunch from only $20 USD (optional extra cost).

After lunch, your transport will take you alongside the Urubamba River, to the picturesque town of Ollantaytambo. Here your guide will accompany you through the bustling local markets and the famous Inca fortress that towers above the town. The strategic position and architectural sophistication of the site, offers visitors some of the most spectacular views of the Sacred Valley from above. The exquisite stonework and rich history of Ollantaytambo will take you and your guide on an impressive journey through Inca antiquity, before you complete the days’ tour of the Sacred Valley at Ollantaytambo train station.

The final journey of the day will be aboard the tourist train to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town). The 1 hour 45 minute train ride will treat you to breathtaking scenes of snow-capped mountains, Inka farming terraces and of course more remarkable Inka ruins. Afterwhich you will once again be greeted by your transfer, and escorted to your hotel in the town of Aguas Calientes, the home of Macchu Picchu.

DAY 4: AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU TOUR – CUSCO

Day 4 will begin with breakfast in your hotel in Aguas Calientes.

At 6:30am your guide will escort you the bus station where you will board the tourist bus to Machu Picchu. The scenic route from Aguas Calientes takes you on a 30 minute bus ride up the mountainside to the entrance of the Inca citadel. Once inside, you will be taken on a 3-hour tour of Machu Picchu where you will make your way through the Inca city with your personal guide. Aswell as visiting the famous sites of the temple of the sun, the central plaza and the stepped terraces, you will have plenty opportunity to take the bucket list photos you came for atop the panoramic viewpoint of Machu Picchu. Before boarding the bus back down the mountain, your guide will also allow you time to explore the mysteries of the sanctuary alone.

Once you have regrouped with your guide and taken the bus back to Aguas Calientes, there will be time to take lunch in one of Machu Picchu towns’ many restaurants (optional extra), before boarding the train back to Ollantaytambo. There you’ll be greeted by your guide and private transportation who will take you on the 2-hour drive back to your hotel in Cusco. Arrival time in Cusco is approximately 6.30pm.

*There will also be time to climb Huayna Picchu mountain or Machu Picchu mountain in this tour after your guided tour of the Inca citadel. However please be aware, this will be an extra cost of $70 USD per person and will involve an extra 2-hours hiking. Return to Cusco will therefore be aboard a later train and arrival time in Cusco will be approx 8.30pm.*

DAY 5: CUSCO – RAINBOW MOUNTAIN TOUR – CUSCO

Day 5 starts with pick up at 5am from your hotel in Cusco.

Your private transportation will take you on a 2-hour drive through the picturesque towns and valleys of the Peruvian Andes until we reach the town of Cusipata. Here we will stop for a delicious breakfast in a local restaurant amidst the stunning backdrop of the surrounding mountain range.

After breakfast, your driver will transport you a further 90 minutes up the valley to the start of the hike. Accompanied by your guide, you will begin at elevation 4,650 m / 15,255 ft. If you do not wish to hike the 90 minute trail to the first viewpoint, our Rainbow Mountain tour offers you the option to hire the services of a horse to carry you for the first hour up the trail to viewpoint. Please bear in mind that if you wish to reach the highest viewpoint, you will need to hike the final 20 minutes on foot, to the summit at 5,040 m / 16,535 ft.

Once you have arrived at the viewpoint, you will be treated to the beautiful views of Vinicunca and its natural formation of mineral rich striking colours, including vibrant shades of red, orange, yellow, green, and blue.

The mountains surrounding Vinicunca comprise the breathtaking hills of the Red Valley. The mountains get their name from the distinct presence of iron oxide in the rock, giving visitors a unique viewpoint of a deep red mountain range. Should you wish to view the valley from the Mirador del Valle Rojo, your guide will accompany you along the trail for a further 30 minutes to treat you to an even more astonishing photo of the Red Valley. Thankfully, it is much quieter than the trails of Rainbow mountain, gifting you to an exclusive experience amongst the Cordillera de los Andes.

Once you have taken in your surroundings and bagged as many photos as you can carry, you will descend back down the mountain with your guide. Your driver will be waiting for you to return at the end of the hike, ready to transport you back to the restaurant in Cusipata for a well-deserved rest and lunch.

The final leg of the tour will be the 2-hour drive back to Cusco. Arrival at your hotel is approximately 4pm

DAY 6: CUSCO – HUMANTAY LAGOON TOUR – CUSCO

Day 6 starts with pick up at 5am from your hotel in Cusco.

Your private transportation will take you on a 2-hour 30 minute drive through the lush valley of the Apurímac River, until you reach the mountain town of Mollepata at 2,803 m / 9,200 ft. Here we will stop for a hearty breakfast at a local restaurant in the town square, before continuing on to the start of the hike.

After breakfast, your driver will transport you a further 90 minutes up the valley to Soraypampa at 3,850 m / 12,631 ft. From here, your guide will lead you on a hike up the mountain pass for 90 minutes until you reach the turquoise waters of Humantay Lagoon at 4,180 m / 13,714 ft. If you do not wish to walk to the lake on foot, then we offer you the choice of taking a horse up the trail (included in the package). The glacial lake of Humantay is located on the opposing side of the famous Salkantay pass. On a clear day, its crystal clear blue waters reflect the breathtaking snow-capped peak of the Humantay mountain. So as well as taking home some stunning souvenir photos of the Andes mountains, you will leave the shores of Humantay with a profound sense of peace and tranquillity.

Once you have filled your heart with joy and soaked up your moment with Humantay, your guide will lead you back down the valley to the car in Soraypampa. From there you will return to the restaurant in Mollepata to enjoy a well-deserved lunch amidst the beautiful panoramic views of the Apurimac valley.

When you’re ready, your driver will then transport back to your hotel in Cusco, arriving at approximately 4pm.

DAY 7: CUSCO – TOURIST BUS TO PUNO

Day 7 will begin with breakfast in your hotel in Cusco.

At 6:15am you will be collected in private transport from your hotel in Cusco and driven to the bus terminal ready for the 7am departure.

The Bus tour takes you on the scenic route from the Inca city of Cusco to Puno, a Peruvian city on the shores of Lake Titicaca. The 10-hour journey will take you through picturesque Andean towns and mountainous valleys, showcasing the beauty of the Cusco/Puno region.

The bus makes 5 stops along the way, treating you to 3 guided tours. These include the Sistine Chapel of America, the Temple of the god Wiracocha, and the Lithic Museum of the Pukará Culture. Aswell as a buffet lunch in the Andean town of Sicuani and an opportunity to take breathtaking photos atop the highest point of the route, the Abra La Raya Pass.

The tourist bus will be equipped with everything you’ll need for a comfortable journey to Puno. This includes; heating and air conditioning, toilets and sanitary facilities and refreshing drinks served on board such as tea, coffee, Coca Cola and water.

At 5pm, the bus will arrive in the city of Puno, where you will be met by your private transport and transferred to your hotel in Puno.

DAY 8: PUNO – LAKE TITICACA TOUR (UROS FLOATING ISLANDS AND TAQUILE)

Day 8 of the tour begins with breakfast in your hotel in Puno.

Your private transport will then pick up from your hotel in Puno at 6:45am. You’ll then be driven to the nearby port of Puno where you will take the 7:15am boat to the floating islands of Uros, located 10 km (30 mins by boat) from the port.

The indigenous Uru people, construct their islands out of huge blocks of Totora Reed, an aquatic plant native to Lake Titicaca. The islands are covered with a fresh layer of reeds every 20 days, and are able to float due to porosity of the blocks that release gases produced by decomposition. These blocks are then joined together and anchored to the lake bed using eucalyptus sticks.

The Uru culture is one of the oldest ethnic groups on Lake Titicaca, who have inhabited its waters since the Incas began expanding their territories over the plateau hundreds of years ago. They dedicate themselves to fishing and bird hunting and are entirely dependent on the Totora reed with which they build their islands, houses, rafts and also serves as food and fuel for the people.

After saying goodbye to the Uru people, you’ll take the boat a further 1-hour to the island of Taquile. When you arrive, you’ll walk along a wide trail to the Plaza de Armas, all the while admiring the breathtaking deep blue shores of Lake Titicaca. Throughout your tour of the island, you will visit places where local artwork is made and take lunch at a local family home.

After lunch, you’ll return by boat to the port of Puno and be transported by car back to your hotel in the city for 5pm. The evening is then yours to rest and explore at your leisure.

DAY 9: PUNO – JULIACA AIRPORT – FLIGHT TO LIMA

Day 9 will begin with breakfast in your hotel in Puno.

At the appropriate time, you’ll collected by private transport and driven for 1 hour to the Inca Manco Capac airport in Juliaca in time to board your onward flight to Lima. Here your driver will bid you farewell and direct you to the departures desk, where you will check in and collect your airline tickets.

In-flight time from Juliaca to Lima : 90 minutes.

Once you have arrived at Lima airport, you can rest and wait for your international flight back to your home country, or if you have sufficient time, you can take a walk through downtown Lima on your own, before returning to the airport for your international flight.

End of our services.