Peru Package: Mystical Amazon & Andean Highlights

Muña Restaurant in the lovely Sacred Valley provides the venue for this ceramic class. Participants will learn the basics of Peruvian pottery-making and craft a personal piece to take home. A prestigious Peruvian ceramic artist will walk you through the entire process from preparing raw clay to learning traditional painting designs and methods. You will then use the techniques you just learned to create a one of a kind work of art. This two hour class is a great introduction to Peruvian pottery-making techniques and an ideal way to learn about the current and traditional art scenes in Peru.

Included: Ceramic teacher and instruction, all materials, transportation.

Not included: Bottled water, food, tips.

Note that each piece will need to be fired in the kiln and will be ready for delivery in Cusco after two days.

Experience the “Southern Valley” of Cusco with an expert guided tour of Tipon, Piquillajta and Andahuaylillas. At Tipon, you will discover a remarkable and extensive Inca site famous for beautiful gardens irrigated with fresh, cool water that runs through an intricate system of fountains.

Piquillajta, “the City of Fleas,” is an impressive and ancient Wari ruin built in the first century. Here you’ll explore this administrative capital of the southern portion of the Wari Empire which dates back to pre-Inca times.

You will also visit the small village of Andahuaylillas, home to a dazzling 17th-century church, known as the “Andean Sistine Chapel.” Built upon the site of an old Inca temple, the church’s altar is gilded in 24-carat gold leaf and adorned with both Christian and Quechua symbols.

Please note that lunch is not included in this tour. Meal options can be limited in this area of Cusco, so we recommend bringing snacks or a boxed lunch, if you would like to eat during the tour. The tour will end in the early afternoon at your Cusco hotel. The tour will last approximately 4 hours.

Included: Transfer to/from Cusco, expert English-speaking guide and entrace tickets to Tipon, Piquillajta and Andahuaylillas sites.

Not included: Bottled water, food, tips.

*Note: Prices are per person and based on private tour with a minimum of two travelers. For single traveler pricing, please consult with a Travel Advisor.

Enjoy a horseback riding adventure across the Sacred Valley to the Moray agricultural terraces. The tour starts with a pickup from your Cusco hotel and a transfer to the Sacred Valley, about 1-hour from Cusco by car. Here you will start your exploration on horseback.

From the Valley, you will head uphill until you reach K’asa, the highest point on the tour. From here you will be able to take in views of Pitusiray, Chicon and Veronica, the snow-capped peaks that surround the Sacred Valley. You will continue riding across the high plains until you reach Moray, home to circular agricultural terraces and believed to be a horticultural experimentation center. Each terrace level represents a different altitude and climate zone, allowing the Incas to develop crops that could be grown in a variety of locations. You will explore Moray with your guide before preparing to return to Cusco.

The experience will last around 4 hours, with approximately 2 hours of riding time.

Included: Transfers to/from Cusco, English-speaking guide, and entrance tickets to Moray.

Not Included: Bottled water, extra snacks, tips.

*Note: Prices are per person and based on a private tour with two travelers. For single traveler options, please consult with a Travel Advisor.

Experience the incredible landscapes of Cusco and the Sacred Valley from a different perspective – by water! With this unique tour you will explore Lake Piuray, located approximately 45-minutes outside of Cusco, on a Stand Up Paddleboard.

The adventure starts with a pickup from your Cusco hotel and a transfer to the lake. Here you will receive a full safety briefing and instructions on paddleboarding. Once you are out on the water, you will have time to get used to the board and practice different techniques before setting out to explore the lake. Lake Piuray offers a great paddleboarding setting, as there is normally little wind, and no strong currents or waves.

After exploring the lake by paddleboard you will return to dry land for a box lunch and time to enjoy the scenery of the area, before setting off for the return trip to Cusco by car.

The experience lasts approximately 6 hours total, with around 2 hours spent exploring the lake on the Stand Up Paddleboard, following the safety briefing and instruction time.

Included:

• Transfers to/from Cusco
• English-speaking guide
• Safety briefing and training on paddleboard techniques
• Box lunch
• All necessary equipment

Not Included:

• Bottled water
• Extra snacks
• Tips

*Note: Prices are per person and based on a minimum of two travelers. For single travelers or additional pricing options, please consult with a Travel Advisor.

Explore the Sacred Valley by mountain bike. This biking tour will take you to the sites of Maras and Moray as you experience first-hand the incredible landscape of the Cusco region.

The tour starts with a pick up from your Cusco hotel and a transfer to the starting point near the Sacred Valley, located about 1-hour by car from Cusco. From the starting point, you will bike to the Moray archeological site, the oldest known horticultural experimental center in the world. Here each terraced level has a different micro-climate in which different crops can be grown. The circular terraces descend 492 feet (150 meters) and the temperature difference between the upper and lower terraces is up to 59F (15C). You will stop for a break at the Moray site and enjoy a tour with your guide.

Next you will continue biking to the community of Maras, where you will explore the Maras salt mines. Here you will see pre-Inca salineras (salt ponds). Each terraced pond is polygonal in shape; salty water flows from an underground spring into the ponds, and evaporates in the sun. The Maras salt mines are still active today and maintained cooperatively by the Maras community. Here you will tour the site and learn more about how the salt is processed before meeting up with your transfer back to Cusco. The entire experience will last between 6 and 7 hours.

Included: Equipment, bicycle, helmets, gloves, first-aid kit, English-speaking guide, picnic lunch and entrances to Maras and Moray sites.

Not included: Bottled water, extra snacks, tips.

*Note: Pricing is per person and based on a private tour with two travelers. For single traveler pricing or group tour options, please consult with a Travel Advisor.

Raft on the Urubamba River with category 2 currents. This rafting tour is suitable for everyone, with no previous rafting experience required. During the experience you will learn the basics about rafting, as well as have the opportunity to take pictures and take in the stunning landscape. Along the way, your expert guide will provide details about the interesting history of the region.

The tour will take place in the Sacred Valley, located about 1 hour and 30 minutes outside of Cusco by car. You will spend approximately 2 hours on the river, and will be able to see the beautiful Sacred Valley from a different perspective. After the tour, you will have lunch before returning to Cusco by car. The entire experience will last between 5 and 6 hours.

*Note: This tour is only available from late April through early December each year due to weather conditions and water levels on the river.

Included: First-aid kit, bilingual guide service, canoeing kit, life-jackets, oars, waterproof pants, and transportation to and from Sacred Valley.

Not included: Bottled water, additional snacks, tips.

*Note: Prices are per person and based on a private tour with a minimum of two travelers. For single travelers or group tour options, please consult with a Travel Advisor.

If you aren’t afraid of heights and are looking for a unique adrenaline-filled adventure, this Zip Line and Mountain Climbing tour is for you!

You’ll start with a transfer from your Cusco hotel to the Sacred Valley, approximately 2-hours by car. Next, the adventure begins with mountain climbing up the rock formations that make up the hillsides of the Sacred Valley. Here you will use a helmet, harness and permanent cable system to safely climb with your expert guide. During this portion of the tour you will ascend nearly 1,000 feet (300 meters) and enjoy amazing views as you climb.

Once you reach the highest point of the climb, you will start to descend into the valley – this time on a series of zip lines. There are a total of 6 zip lines, each ranging between 300 and 1500 feet (100 to 500 meters) in length. Expert guides and all necessary safety equipment will ensure your security and fun during this adventure.

The entire experience will last between 7 and 8 hours, with approximately 4 hours spent on the Zip line and Mountain Climbing. Please note that this tour can be physically demanding and travelers should be in good physical condition, particularly for the climbing portion of the tour. This is not recommended for travelers who are uncomfortable with or have a fear of heights.

Included: Transfers to/from Cusco, English-speaking guides, a snack and all necessary safety equipment, including a helmet, harness and gloves.

Not included: Bottled water, additional food, tips.

*Note: Prices are per person and based on a group tour. For additional information about private tour options, please consult with your Travel Advisor.

Head off the beaten path to two unique sites located between Cusco and the Sacred Valley, Maras and Moray. The first stop is Moray, which is the oldest inca archaeological site in the world known for itrs horticultural experimental center. Each terraced level has a different micro-climate in which different crops can be grown. The circular terraces descend to 492 feet (150 meters) and the temperature difference between the upper and lower terraces is up to 59F (15C). For those up for a little effort, you can climb down to the lowest level to get a true sense of the magnitude of the site – just be prepared for the hike back up!

Next, Maras is located about 4 km from Moray, and is the site of pre-Inca salineras (salt ponds). Each terraced pond is polygonal in shape; salty water emerges from an underground spring, flows into the ponds, and evaporates with the sun. The Maras salt mines are still active today and maintained cooperatively by the Maras community. The white salt ponds contrast with the green hills and mountains that surround the mines and the views of the Sacred Valley from here are amazing.

The tour starts with a pickup from your Cusco hotel, and the entire experience lasts around 5 hours. You will return to your Cusco hotel by early afternoon.

Included: Transfer to/from Cusco, expert English-speaking guide and entrance tickets to Maras and Moray sites.

Not Included: Bottled water, food, tips.

*Note: Prices are per person and based on a minimum of two travelers in a private tour. For single traveler pricing, please consult with a Travel Advisor.

This horseback riding tour will take you to the beautiful countryside around the city of Cusco. Start the day with a pickup from your hotel and a short 20-minute drive to the starting point in the hills above Cusco.

During your horseback ride you will pass by traditional adobe homes and small Andean villages. You will ride up to Chacan, where you can enjoy a small waterfall and unique rock formations before continuing on to the ruins at the Cusilluchayoc Temple. From here you will visit the Temple of the Moon and an area known as the Zona X. Along the way the beautiful and varied landscape will impress as you catch glimpses of the city of Cusco from above. At the end of the tour, you will meet your vehicle for your transfer back to Cusco.

The entire experience lasts approximately 4 hours, with 2 to 3 hours of riding time.

Included: Transportation to/from Cusco hotel, English-speaking guide, and snack.

Not Included: Bottled water, extra food, tips.

*Note: Prices are based on a private tour with a minimum of two travelers. For single traveler options, please consult with a Travel Advisor.

Enjoy a delicious buffet dinner with both Peruvian and international foods and watch professional Peruvian dancers and musicians perform to traditional Andean music. Dinner is available starting at 7:30 pm and the folk show starts around 8 pm.

Included:

• A Pisco Sour (or non-alcoholic beverage)
• As well as a buffet of appetizers, main dishes, and desserts.
• Vegetarian options are available.

Not Included:

• Other beverages
• Tips
• Transportation to/from restaurant – however, the restaurant is located within walking distance of most hotels in Cusco.

On the outskirts of Puno you will find mysterious pre-Inca ruins called Chullpas (funeral towers). They sit on the windswept altiplano on a peninsula in Lake Umayo at Sillustani. The Colla people, a warrior tribe that spoke Aymara, buried their elite in giant cylindrical tombs, some as tall as 12 meters high (40 ft.). The stonemasonry is exquisite (many archaeologists and historians find them more complex and superior even to Inca engineering) and the structures form quite an impression on such a harsh landscape.

Enjoy an overnight stay with an Andean family on the Amantani Island of Lake Titicaca.

Day 1: Your day will begin with an early morning pickup at 8 a.m. from your hotel and transfer to the pier where you will board your boat. After a 40-minute boat ride you will reach the man-made reed Islands of Uros. Here you will learn how the ancient Aymara people constructed these islands to escape persecution from Inca soldiers. After learning about their culture and lifestyle, you will board your boat once more and sail toward Amantani Island or to the Luquina community.

Amantani Island stay: On Amantani, your host family will greet you upon arrival and take you to your new home for lunch and a short rest. In the late afternoon you will enjoy a tour of the ruins located at the top of the island. From this point you will be able see both the Peruvian and Bolivian shores of Lake Titicaca. From there you will return to your home for dinner and a short rest before attending the optional party of music and dancing with Amantani residents.

Luquina community stay: Your hosts of Luquina community belong to the Aymaran community. They will welcome you into their home, where you will have the unique opportunity to discover their traditional way of life. Off the beaten path, this small community is located amidst truly breathtaking scenery. After settling in and meeting your host family, you’ll have the chance to hike to the top of the nearby mountain to enjoy a spectacular sunset on Lake Titicaca. You’ll come back for dinner and evening with your family.

Day 2: Enjoy an early breakfast before you are back on the boat for the trip to Taquile Island. Here you will hike towards the main town for a delicious lunch. Then you will continue on a challenging* hike to the other side of the island where your boat to Puno awaits.

It is important for travelers to remember that while the Lake Titicaca homestays are a beautiful and worthwile experience, they should be prepared for very basic accommodations and meals. The houses of the Amantani people are humble but warm and clean. In some cases, bathrooms are outhouses.

*This part of the tour features many up and downhill stairs. Though not extremely strenuous, the region’s high altitude may make the journey difficult for some. Therefore this tour might not be appropriate for travelers with walking difficulties and/or senior citizens.

The two tours below are conducted on a luxury Catamaran Cruise Ship, the second of which gives you the opportunity to spend a night onboard. Both tours begin in Puno and both offer the choice of returning to Puno afterwards or continuing by land to La Paz, Bolivia, the world’s highest capital city.

Take an early land transfer to Copacabana Sanctuary where you will board the Catamaran Cruise Ship. Snacks are provided on-board while sailing to Isla del Sol, the legendary birthplace of the Inca Empire. Visit the Inca Garden and then the Inti Wata Cultural Complex including the Ekako Underground Museum, the traditional medicine and the Titikaka Reed Shipbuilders display centers, the Pachamama agricultural Inca terraces, a handicraft center, the Intica lounge and the Manco Capac lookout. You will board the catamaran again and sail to Chua harbor while enjoying a lunch buffet on board. You will then take a land transfer from the harbor to La Paz.

Take the Catamaran Cruise to the isolated Challapampa Village of Isla del Sol while enjoying lunch on board. Visitors have the opportunity to interact with one of the most unspoiled indigenous Lake Titicaca villages through an innovative program organized with the local community. You may visit their museum, chapel, school, a typical house, sail in their vessels to an Inca holy temple and walk on Inca trails. In the evening you will have a romantic candle-lit dinner and spend the night on board the Catamaran in cabins with lake views and private facilities.

In the morning, you will sail across the lake while enjoying breakfast and the breathtaking panorama. Land transfer to La Paz or back to Puno before noon.

Also available:
Optional trekking on Isla del Sol
Alternative hydrofoil tour with overnight on Island