Highlights Peru

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Embrace the beauty of Peru on this immersive 8-day journey, where you will discover the highlights of the country. Learn more about Lima and Cusco, follow the footsteps of ancient civilizations while discovering the Inca ruins, and enjoy nature on the world’s highest navigable lake – Lake Titicaca. In addition, be stunned by the surreal beauty of Machu Picchu – one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Itinerary

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Day 1: Lima

Pack your passport, and board your flight to Lima. Upon arrival, hop in your transfer to your accommodation, and kick off with a private walking tour of the capital city. Cover the top sights accompanied by your local guide including Lima’s historical center, which is considered a World Heritage Site protected by UNESCO. With the rest of the evening free for your own activities, we recommend utilizing some of the recommendations you will get from your guide. Keep in mind that Lima has some of the best restaurants in the world! Stay overnight.

Day 2: Lima - Cusco

In the morning be transferred to the airport and board your flight to Cusco. Upon arrival, you will be transfer to your accommodation. Kick start your day with a private walking tour of Cusco accompanied by your local guide. Learn more about the rich history and everything that shaped Cusco into what it is today. You will cover all the highlights of the city such as Plaza de Armas, which is home to the main cathedral and colonial houses, the San Blas neighborhood, the twelve-angled stone, and the local San Pedro market. The rest of the evening is free at your leisure to acclimate to the 11,000-foot altitude and avoid sickness. Stay overnight.

Day 3: Cusco

In the morning hours we recommend taking it slow and staying hydrated to fully get used to the high altitude. In the afternoon you will visit the Incan ruins in the vicinity of the city, such as Sacsayhuaman and Quenqo. Your journey will continue to Pisac, a picturesque village in the Sacred Valley. Discover the archeological site and enjoy the captivating views of the valley. You will descend to the Pisac market where you can mingle with the locals and buy handcrafted local souvenirs. You will then return to Cusco, where you will have the rest of the evening for your own activities and to utilize recommendations from your guide. Stay overnight.

Day 4: Cusco - Ollantaytambo

The first stop of the day will be a small, rustic town called Chinchero, which is famous for its weaving techniques. You will visit a textile center for an introduction and learning experience in the art of Andean textiles, where local weavers will guide you through a step-by-step process of the ancient science of weaving. The next stop will be Moray and its spectacular terraces of concentric rings, which have been proven to be an experimental center for understanding the various climates of different crops and agricultural plants. After exploring Moray, you will descend lower in elevation to the salt mines of Maras, an important production center dating back to pre-Inca times. Here there are over 3,000 salt pools carved into the mountainside, filled daily by water seeping from the Earth, often called the tears of Mother Earth! All this exploring will certainly work up your appetite, so you will stop in Urubamba for a traditional lunch. You will then be transferred to Ollantaytambo. Check in to your accommodation and have the rest of the afternoon for your own activities. We recommend that you call it an early night; the next day you will conquer Machu Picchu. Stay overnight.

Day 5: Ollantaytambo

Be ready to start your Machu Picchu visit! You will be picked up from your accommodation very early in the morning and proceed to the train station. With beautiful scenery around you, the train journey itself is an experience. Following the course of the river down the Sacred Valley you’ll arrive to Aguas Calientes, where you will take a bus straight up to Machu Picchu. The guided tour will last approximately two-and-a-half hours during which you will learn more about the Incas, and visit all the most important areas of the citadel. Subsequently, you will be given free time to explore Machu Picchu at your own pace. There are various areas that you can stroll or hike, including the Inca Bridge. Your guide will give you all the relevant suggestions. In the afternoon, take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes for the train back to Ollantaytambo, where you will stay overnight.

Day 6: Ollantaytambo - Puno

Pack your bags and continue via the Route of the Sun towards Puno. On the drive, you will pass by Andahuaylillas (the so-called “Sistine Chapel of the Americas”), Raqchi (the only known Inca temple dedicated to the god Wiracocha, Creator of the Universe) and La Raya, the highest point that you will encounter, from which you can admire tall peaks and herds of llamas, alpacas, and vicuñas. In the evening you will arrive to Puno and check in to your accommodation. Stay overnight.

Day 7: Puno - Lake Titicaca

Prepare yourself for more discoveries, as a full-day boat excursion on Lake Titicaca awaits you. You will visit the ancient culture of the Uros and step foot on their floating islands. The islanders will give you a presentation about their lifestyle upon their man-made islands, built using reeds that grow among the shores of the lake. In addition, you will visit the peculiar Taquile Island. Here you will ascend the beautiful stone paths to the community that nurtures a culture full of art and tradition. After an eventful day, you will head back to Puno. Stay overnight.